Fernando Forestieri [Udinese - Watford] Undisclosed, believed to be free transfer The two clubs have the same owners, who by the way I believe also own Malaga football club in Spain. Udinese for a comparatively small Italian Serie A club, have a very large number of registered players, many of whom are out on loan at Watford and Malaga. Now we have the first instance, I believe, of a free transfer between two of the clubs of a player who has been on loan at Watford since the start of the season. Should we be concerned at this? It is not allowed for the same owners or persons to be involved with more than one club in the same country for very good reason; it is to stop any dirty/crooked dealings. Yet this free transfer could be a convenient way around the loan regulations which limit the number any team can include in the starting eleven and maybe the bench (not too sure of the regulations on that) I smell something unpleasant going on with this cosy arrangement but will the FA or Football League do anything, especially when the same player goes back to Udinese also on a free transfer.
Got to admit it seems unfair, They got that 1 kiddy, Vyadra? Hes quality one fo the top goal scorers too
Vydra is on a season long loan that cannot be terminated.Udinese cannot recall him or sell him. However playing at Watford gets him in the shop window much more than Udinese reserves does. Forestiere was signed on a 5.5 year deal so that he also is worth more money to transfer. (Didnt think that much of him against us last year, but he has put in some decent performances since then). Watford have some pain to come, as their old owner had the transfer money from selling Danny Graham into his personal company account (Watford FC Holdings) and has refused to allow it to come back to the club. This breaks FA regulations too. Something is going to happen to these guys...I hope. Maybe they can save us, like Portsmouth last year.
Not sure if any of you remember but some years ago we had an arrangement with Glasgow Rangers, but I dont remember them ever giving us anyone who was any good !!!!
What sort of arrangement? I'll bet nothing like Watford/Udinese where both clubs have the same owner(s)
Its not Malaga it's Granada CF, how they own 3 clubs I'll never know but Watford aren't breaking any league rules with the amount of loan players, they got some good players though
Apologies BCFC Red, you are correct. They can have any number of loanees ? But only have so many in the match day squad?
As long as they feature six home-grown players in the matchday squad they won't be breaking any rules
Yes shiny, that is with the academy and its Borussia Dortmund even...! I couldn't believe that when I saw it, they are only the current German champions and are the ones that would have beaten Man City about 15-1 on aggregate over 2 legs if Joe Hart hadn't played out of his skin in both games... They play fabulous football and if even only a smallish bit of this rubs off on us, I will be very happy...
If so, why the **** aren't we calling in some favours? The Bundesliga is probably the best league in football at the moment. It's fiercely competitive and there is some ridiculous future talent coming through the ranks. Their approach to helping the national team is also admirable and is something the Premier League could learn from.
Well we are playing Watford or Udinese reserves tonight. They are on a real roll and could well win promotion this season; SOD confirmed in an interview that there is not any limit on the number of loan players from abroad that an English league club can play (English limit is 5) So let's take this forward a couple of years and Watford have qualified for the Europa Cup. So have Udinese. They are drawn in the same pool of four clubs. ????????? No person can have an interest in more than one club in any country. This is in place to stop skullduggery in matches between two clubs owned by the same person. It's not beyond the realms of probability that this could happen with Udinese, Watford and Granada. Would anyone then believe that the results in matches between these clubs would be genuine and without any wrongdoing? We are going along a very dodgy path if this situation is allowed to remain.
We all need to look at some of the concerns brought to light in this thread and realise that there are many things that go on in our leagues that can be questiones as to their legality or morality. When it comes to everything Bristol City we never appear to step over the line of acceptability and I often ask why not. Some of the backroom deals that go on throughout the entire Football League beggars belief and now I see the government are stepping up to the plate and saying they want to be involved by having their say in how the game should be run. If that happens then the last vestiges of morality and common sense will disappear out the window as quick as you can say government and anything don't mix. The Football League management have had a difficult time instigating the rules that they set on prudent ownership and stewardship of the national game so the hope for the future will fade in to oblivion and public inquiries if the politicians get involved. The simple fact of the matter is that clubs will get away with whatever they want to do until someone comes forward and tells them they are bending the rules to suit their own purposes. Will that ever happen - not in our lifetime.
Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll fears Watford's policy of recruiting overseas players on loan is detrimental to English football. Watford's dressing room resembles football's equivalent of the United Nations this season, with a total of 12 players having been recruited from foreign clubs on a short-term basis. The Post
