With regards to our first team squad who do you think will stay and go? This could be a bitter end for a few, Doyley springs to mind. We might even get Mariappa to stay ! And a quick push through the exit door for others, fingers crossed for Iwelumo and Garner. If we are going to push onwards and upwards and that's the Pozzo's message I'd axe them. Well there not exactly making the onion bag bulge every few games game, were they? Who knows what the Pozzo family have in store (will they always refer to themsleves at that?) but a big shake up is in store.....maybe.....????
I wouldn't like to speculate yet, but I suspect that we will carry a larger squad in future with players who do not look as they fit the "project" moving on quickly. I do not know how the contracts are organised by the Pozzos, but they seem to send out ones they don't need on loan. We will have to have a team come the first game and maybe it will be the bulk of last seasons players.
I think all we can do now is relax, if that is possible. I will only worry if we suddenly see big money transfers in. That is a tactic that does not seem to work in the Championship. Changing players at reasonable costs is what I would expect for a new manager but more so now that we are part of the Project. I would not be surprised if the team that plays Palace is very different from the one that played Middlesbrough. On the other hand, change may be slower. Given that the Pozzos say that they are in this for the long haul they may want to take a cautious approach. All we can do is wait and see.
it will take time for the new Manager, whoever it is..to work with the players and find out those that should stay in, and those that can go...i do hope Doyley stays...it would be awful to see him leave now... So yes...let's wait and see...i think a bigger squad is on the way...i can see Tiny not fitting in though...for starters...he's a hoofer
Well I'm pretty sure that it's bye bye Iwelumo. He did a good job though, after his Ellingtonesque Ramadan period. But he's nearing retirement and I don't know if he can go on another season.
Big worry for me is Eustace and not far behind that Tiny... My thought has always been that these two were here for the transition period of their careers to follow in the paths of the likes of Malky and Sean. That opportunity to transition to management looks like something the club will lose.
That's my fear too Aberdeen. A year ago Eustace looked odds-on to one day manage the club. I still think he might, but I'm nowhere near as confident.
I think we are all in the dark at present about what the team will look like at the start of the season. I expect that we will see a number of players come in on loan during the season, but it seems unlikely that there will be wholesale changes early on. What I don't expect to see though is older players from EPL coming to us, as that does not seem to fit the model. It also seems fair to say that not every young player who has come to us on loan has been a success.
i agree about Eustace...i thought he'd be coaching after he was done with playing..but now i think we've lost that side of our progression trail
The squad will be completely restructured, but there will be no "big money" signings coming in , nor probably a change to the wages cap. Maybe up to 5 or 6 development players in on loan from Udinese/Granada (goalie, full back, striker)--all under 23-- with rotation in both transfer windows.Mixed nationalities--South Americans, Africans, East Europeans. A bigger squad , and a younger one. No long term role for Doyley, Eustace, Taylor, Iwelumo, Nosworthy, Garner But Mariappa to stay for another season/half season, and be sold for a bigger fee eventually. Early decisions on our own younger players---Jenkins, Hodson, Murray.
gawd...you're right Roger..but...the changes are going to be huge...we won't recognise he club soon...good or bad thing? Yet to be decided...
Oh I don't know about Garner leaving - with his habit of falling over when breathed upon, he's the nearest we have to an Italian player. Given the expected influx of Sth Americans and Africans, I take it that the work permit requirement to play in England has been revoked?
I forgot the work permit restriction--maybe we will mainly get the development players from the EU countries....
I've pretty much decided. Bad. I loved having a team that weren't the most technically gifted but gave their all for the team, for their mates. Do you think that is going to continue? With no Dyche, Eustace, Deeney, Tiny, Nozza, Dicko Emu, all replaced with a bunch of european development players who barely speak the lingo? Sad. It's a different Watford now.
i agree, it does feel at the moment that we will lose the heart of our club and will be left with some plastic Italian model...but that's all speculation..we really need to know what's going on, right now it feels very uncomfortable...
Yes, it will be a different Watford---the "Stephenson plan" which had the target of 5-6 players from our own Academy in the first team as a goal will be a victim of the changes. We may see some good young players in the Watford shirt, but few of them will be here for long or will make their career here. "One season" wonders. It was good to see Cleverely here a couple of seasons ago, and we will always take an interest in his career, but I never think of him as a "Watford player" . So it will be with the Italians, Spaniards, Brazilians we get allocated to us for polishing up.
