So, the rumours have already started about who we might get next season. I can't imagine there's smoke without fire and get the feeling it's just a formality now to make the announcement that Flores has done what he's been asked to do and without any signs of improvement from that point, he's out the door. So, so far i've heard Guidolin, who will be free once the lovely Judas Rodgers takes over at Swansea. And so it begins....
I think that the job may be becoming a bit of a poisoned chalice. Come to Watford - you will have no choice of the players you buy - will earn less than the star players - and will be gone after a year at the most without having the chance to build a real team together (even though you actually achieved the goals - firstly promotion, and then staying there). We have said that Flores is stubborn, but what about the Pozzo's - when will they recognize that their model can only achieve limited success in England ? Guidolin is well suited to the Pozzo's - has already been manager at 15 clubs (like so many Italians).
Nobody is beyond reasonable criticism but any doubts in our owners should be tempered with the realisation of how far we have come since they took over. In the safety of their stewardship it is easy to forget the less effective previous owners, some just out of their depths, some downright crooks. Gino has plainly expressed his view that the longterm interest of the club is paramount. Given his record so far I am confident he knows what he is doing. If you meant do the Pozzo's have doubts then I would say clearly not, the financial rewards of the EPL are so important to the three clubs they own.
I will not be critical of what the Pozzo family have done for the club, they have brought it from the edge of the abyss to a proper football club again. It is not unfair though to ask questions about some of the ways in which the system operates and explore if it is the right model for an English league team. No coach or manager can be certain of bringing success to any club. Is it the best way to have players given to the coach and have him mold a team from them, or let the coach have a plan, then recruit players to suit? It looks as if some of the players brought to Watford have not been suitable for the system, as they are being played out of position simply because better ones are not within the club. QSF has achieved what he was asked to do, keep the club in the PL, but at what cost to some of the players who he does not rate too highly? It seems that they could feel that if they are not getting game time they will be shipped out, but some of them are thought to be good enough to play at international level, and want to be seen to be playing. Discontent is bound to happen. The highly thought of scouting system is designed to find raw talent, mold it, then sell it on at a large profit. Some of the players that we have bought are playing for other teams as part of their development, but I am not sure that we will ever see some of them before they are sold on. Probably better than spending an inflated fee for someone who has never played in England, then finding that he is on a decent contract and no one else wants him when he fails to deliver. Some of the players who have held this team together have played here and know what is expected. With the riches coming to the club next season, should more attention be paid to players who do know what is required, but cannot be certain to perform at the required level anymore than someone from abroad? As this thread is about QSF, he comes with huge experience and a successful record, if not in England. Looking at the previous coaches one has to ask where are they now and how have things gone for them since they left Watford. Not very well generally. The usual list of ex-managers with experience of football here is not that inspiring, so it would be odds on that another one from somewhere in Italy or Spain would be brought in, and we would have to start the learning process all over again. It would be a huge shame having come this far if the club lost it's fan base. Take Arsenal where the owners are very pleased with the annual balance sheet because the manager is very cautious when it comes to spending money, but for several years many of their fans have been unhappy with the lack of on the pitch success. Trying to find the right balance seems to be very difficult.
The Pozzo family are currently being investigated for possible tax evasion in Spain. Watford FC President Raffaele Riva is also being investigated, it apparently centres around failure to report commissions from the sale of players.
Strange is how things happen with Watford. Our successful manager Slaviša Jokanović is removed and replaced by Enrique Sánchez Flores. We were surprised and happy the club could get a man of such level. The critics said we would fail and we have not and I still hear five managers in a year comments. I know this is said many times that we would be happy first with surviving and then with a game in the FA Cup semi final and surviving nearly mathematically with four matches to play. I think the criticism of QSF is only because we started well. If the team had arrived at this position at a steady speed we would not complain only to arrive so early then stop advancing is the problem.
Any potential manager of an EPL club thinking he will survive two seasons is being optimistic. QSF probably only planned for a one year stay to experience England's top league and would have been prepared to stay if everything was hunky dory at the end of the season. He may choose to go when his reputation has been enhanced and remains relatively high.
Can we stop repeating the 'we'd have taken where we are now at the beginning of the season' mantra. I think we all agree on that. However, it is right to look at the bigger picture and assess the season as a whole. I think QSF should stay, however he has flaws that we all recognise. Are these flaws enough to see him removed? I suspect they are.
Despite us all being experts at running a football club nobody is in a better position than Gino Pozzo to judge who should be the Watford FC coach for next season. He has access to our players' views, potential other coaches, and the experience of working closely with QSF.
At last, a comment with some rational sense to it - such a relief from the diet of moaning we have had since January. Yes some games have been disappointing, some results have been lucky (WBA recently) , some unlucky (Man Utd away) but the players have stuck at it. It's really hard work playing well when the goals have dried up. Drawing with Everton twice, Chelsea twice, not losing to WBA - that takes immense effort. This season has seen every game played to an intensity level which, I think, has tired every one out. The main difference between ourselves and Palace on Sunday was that Palace have had more seasons in the Prem and were more used to the intensity. If, as seems likely, we end up as the best of the promoted teams, is that not progress in itself , quite apart from the stated hope of EVERYBODY on here last April, namely '17th is fine !' ? The system whereby we have a 'Head coach' rather than an all-powerful 'manager' is one we shall have to accept. Players move on, so do Head coaches in this system. Does it work ? Well look at the progress since Pozzo's took over and ask yourselves ? Not every acquisition has worked - they never all do. However, where is Iturbe to be seen? Who rejected him ? Oh yes, I remember. The ONLY thing that matters is that we have next season in the PREM to look forward to, and maybe, if we progress, Europe in 3 years. Contrast that with some recent Cup winners (Portsmouth and Wigan). Who would you rather be following? Finally, consider this. Before the season started, it seemed to me playing in the Prem would be like before a single game against a bigger club, more powerful, more money, better facilities, where you might beat them once in a blue moon. At half time, (i.e. like after 19 games) we were 2-0 ahead. At the end of the game, ( = end of the season) we drew 2-2. What's not to like ?
In my humble opinion, QSF should be given to the end of this season, all pre-season and 12 games of next season. He should be told that he has done an amazing job. He´s kept Watford up FFS. He should also made to "up it" a bit more next season. Making it more attacking, hopefully with a couple of strong signings over the summer.
His main aim looked like stop them playing then there fans start to get on there backs and we hit them on the break .You cant lose a game with a clean sheet . Terry Venables came to the Vic with QPR and got slated be the press for losing 1 nil by playing the offside trap and trying to park the bus. He come back to them with "the last time QPR played at the vic and tryed to out play us barnes and co spanked them 4 nil LOL
yes.. I think QSF 's tactics have worked up to a point... but since the oppositions started sussing out.... man marking Ighalo and on to TD ... we have had so few chances to score..... and thus have not been getting the points
So very good balanced and sensible posts. As has been written many times, this time 12 months ago we had just been confirmed as being promoted. If any of us have been asked if we would be happy with a finish inside the top 15 and a FA Cup Semi final, we would have bitten the hand off of the asker! Of course it is the nature of modern football that head coaches come and go and we really have no clue what goes on inside the club and at the training ground - maybe Flores does not want to stay? Personally, I crave stability and for someone whose job it is to manage change, I hate it in my life! But as football supporters we have to accept MNF and Super-Sundays and Sky switching games - and if Flores does not stay, it's something we will accept and move on. I really want him to stay, but come August I will be back...
To go then.... http://www.wdsport.co.uk/2016/04/watford-to-replace-quique-sanchez-flores-as-head-coach/
