The incentive is in carrying that form into next season. You also have to look at the Summer....if we finish higher up, players might be more keen to join or stay.
It's worth pointing out that the Red Lion is a listed building, but I'm still inclined to agree with Charlie Livesey was my hero. Even if the price tag were anywhere near £2m, the only plausible explanation for doing the Red Lion rather than the SW corner is so outlandish an anti-Baz conspiracy theory that even I wouldn't entertain it.
And there was me thinking that they didn't even need any incentives with getting paid thousands of pounds every week and fans travelling all over the country to watch them play???
Well, I'm pretty sure we have the second worst away following behind Reading this season. We also don't pay that much either....... End of the day, the players want success, money, adoration, playing time and comfortability....if possible all at the same time. If you're at a team who finished higher last season...you're more likely to be successful in the coming season, more likely to have more fans attending, have a happier dressing room and maybe get promoted....so more money (or at the very least be less likely to get relegated....where you would probably take a wage cut).
Dont pay that much, how many people do you know that earn thousands a week? Barnsley have a worse away following than us by the way.
Put it in perspective. How many footballers in the Championship do you know that earn thousands a week? Loads.....quite a lot of teams pay more than us. Whether or not they get more than your average person is irrelevant. In my opinion, footballers get paid what they deserve. please log in to view this image This is two or three games old I think (??) so maybe it went up a little for us....but it still paints the picture.
Good point Moose but by saying that look at Reading, been near the top last few seasons, had a great unbeaten run and were in the automatic promotion places but they have an average of 760 away supporters, in fact the worst in the division.
My point, is that no professional footballer should need any additional incentives to go out and perform/work hard in every game. They are expected to do this anyway. Those that do need the extra incentives dont deserve to be playing the game at such a high level. Im not talking about Watford here, just football in general.
I think it's very easy for footballer's heads to be turned. End of the day, more money is more money. You can still work hard every game, but ultimately prefer to go to teams who will most likely have more success, and will pay more. Pretty much sums up Tommy Smith, or 99% of players for that matter. No need to be satisfied with £5k p/w and not aspire for anything more just because some other people in the world don't earn nearly as much. Surely that is just a no brainer, and I don't begrudge anyone for wanting more money or more success. Obviously if you act unprofessionally then that is different.
I wasn't talking about ambition though, that is an entirely different matter altogether. Im on about players attitudes and mentality.
Where are the days of playing for the shirt?I think that should be first and foremost at all levels. Money has to play a part in the pro game as on average you've got up to 15 years to cram a lifetimes earnings in. One of the great things about Watford under everybody since GT with exception of V**lli and b*ss*t is that the players have with just very few exceptions wanted to be here. Any estimates of costs from the salad brothers you should factor in the 75% contingency they had for rabbit food...Still hate chelsea and their supporters!!!!
An interesting article on this topic. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/24/secret-footballer-cash-trophies
