The Italian press have got a bloody cheek - or short memories. They're complaining that Udinese sign too many players from us and pay too much for them. They may have a good point with Kamara, but Udinese have made some decent money out of us over the years by sending their dross to us on loan - and they paid less than market value for Deulofeu and Pereyra, whilst we paid well over the odds for Pussetto. Have always had suspicions about Success too - we paid a ludicrous amount of money for him to Granada only a week after Pozzo had sold the club - a deal that had to have been set up before the sale - and then made a massive loss when we sold him to Udinese. https://sportwitness.co.uk/club-criticised-signing-many-players-watford-prices-considered-high/
How much did they pay for Kabasele then ? I mean we could have told them most of Orr cast offs weren’t good enough!
Officially an undisclosed fee - but Transfermarkt say 6.5 million euro - which I can't believe. That would be around half a million less than we paid for him seven years ago.
Bit of a debate (well before it got a bit silly ) here about is Ismael being too strong in making disciplinary issues public rather than keeping it in house or is he right to do so . https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23878279.midfielder-becomes-third-watford-player-punished/ But does he need to be more consistent in the level of punishment?
He was asked the question about why the player wasn't in the squad and he answered it honestly. That's fine by me and hopefully the players will learn.
Yes true . People complain footballers and managers are too bland and hide behind things too often as it is. And tbh this would slip out eventually.
I think if the rules are clear, transparent, and consistently applied, that's fine. Players can suck up their punishment and know no one is bigger than the coach. The problem comes if you start to get inconsistency and favouritism, which I don't think is the case at the moment.
I think what needs to happen is that some fans need to pull their heads in - especially those of the "I run a business and he knows nothing about man management' variety. Having both run a business and coached football teams, I think I can safely say that they are two different kettles of fish. The common factor may well be human beings, but not all human beings are the same - and they can all respond differently in any given situation. A bit like teaching really - a lot of parents cry out for old-fashioned discipline, but fail to realise that one size doesn't fit all. Any teacher worth his/her salt would know that for a class of between 20 and 30 pupils (roughly the same size as a football squad) a wide range of behaviour strategies is needed. For a teacher, it's a question of knowing your pupils, and for a coach it's a question of knowing your players. In both cases, if you fail to do that, mayhem can ensue. As we've witnessed footballing mayhem over the last few years, I'd suggest that HCs need more time to know their players than Gino & co have been giving - it's as simple as that.
I am sure Louza and others will be ok tbh. Not like he hasn't played since and been totally discarded. And if isn't performing because of being told off then bad on him really. Sure every footballer going has had a talking to at some point.
Tempting fate, I know - but next week's trip to Huddersfield is looking promising. After being thumped 4-0 at home by Cardiff last time out, they're currently 4-0 behind at Leeds - and it's only half time...
We would have loved a couple of additional full days in Quito, one to get over the journey and at least one more to bimble around on our own. Galapagos there are a multitude of options either to hotel and take trips from where you stay or... We did 4 nights/5 days Seaman Journey, a catermerang. Takes in the four main southern most islands. You will want sea legs as the swell can be large and the overnight sailing can be choppy. Only a dozen passengers [14max] plus 18 crew. The boat, crew, food, cabins, itinerary, was exceptional to the point of being the best thing we've done, or are ever likely to do. A lot of getting on and off dinghies, wet landings, beach and hill walking. Take Factor 50 as a minimum and apply liberally. Rash shirts/trousers for snorkeling, invest in a waterproof camera, a good hat, and be reasonably fit. Mrs Fez did well and there were folks in their mid 70's giving it all a go.
OK, they had to fill some space with the number of managers at Watford, but apart from that a good report. King Ken becoming a fold hero? https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ken-sema-watford-diversity-work-31302044
One of the other articles Deeney as a future manager, if he has the experience in say 5 years and we are looking for a manager and all bridges have been rebuilt it has the potential to be a homecoming that could be good for him and us
Goals from Watkiss and Collins gave Watford a 2-0 lead. A Bristol penalty made the half time score 2-1 - then they equalised 5 minutes into the second half.
