Watford model not one football should follow (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Typical dullard, forming an ill-thought out view of what's actually going on at Watford.

Let me make it simple, our former owner is currently being charged by the FA because of illegal loan sharking against the security of transfer fees involved in the Danny Graham move. He was driving the club in one direction and it was to follow L*ton. So it's either that, or where we are now.

Anyway, you bang on about our '50' and the homegrown player rules, etc, we still field more academy produced youngsters than our opponents seem to manage, despite the influx of talent from the Pozzo network, also, as you've sort of half mentioned, the fact that they're on loan is purely an administrative formality, four of the players are joining permanently in January, but of course if you'd actually looked into the situation, you'd have found that out.

Also, things weren't always so rosey with Dyche as people like to make out, him being forced out was probably a blessing in disguise as his football wasn't pretty, he had a beyond awful start and was saved by the loan signings of Kightly, Kacaniklic, Kuszsack and Nosworthy. Whilst now we're playing nicer 'carpet' football if you will, got players that excite and look to be actually going places.

Don't let me stop you joining a blind bandwagon though.

"What happens when these loan deals expire, where do Watford go then?"

I can answer that.......WFC have the option to buy ALL of the loan players, so when they expire we either buy them or we dont, pretty simple really.

Another ill informed article no doubt influenced by Martin Samuel at the Mail.

We've had 6 youngsters in and around the 18 man squad all season, including Tommie Hoban who's one of our best players.

We've also agreed to buy the four best loan players in January

Simplistic view of the Watford set-up. You don't object in principle to a takeover by wealthy investors, presumably; I don't see a takeover by wealthy investors with relevant assets (a scouting network, lots of good young players) being any less reasonable.

The loans from Udinese are loans in name, they're effectively free transfers potentially. "Unfair"? Only in the sense that any foreign investment is unfair, I don't see the difference.

As for the suggestion that young players won't get a chance... three of our best have been given five year contracts by the new regime and the kids are getting no less gametime this season than last... Dyche was cautious in this respect.

I've written more on this here

http://thetwounfortu
nates.com/a-bluffers
-guide-to-watford-cl
****-of-2013/

Also, again, if you looked into it (I know, shock, but I think you're meant to do these things when you write for a living, not too sure), but the players Udinese sent to Granada in 2008, well some of them are still there now, despite being "on loan"

Again, don't let the facts get in the way of a good old "FOREIGNERS ARE TAKING OUR JOBS!" story.

32 players on our books??? Last time I checked it was actually 42... Can this woman not count? It's even already numbered for her if she can read the match programme properly. Just because lots are currently out on loan doesn't make them any less part of our overall squad and on our books!!!

I always afford myself a chuckle when people talk about loan deals expiring or players being recalled. As Gianluca Nani (Watford Technical Director) said, we effectively only have one player on loan, and that’s Nate Chalobah. All other players we have the option to sign permanently. Forestieri has already requested a permanent move. Pudil has moved his family to Watford. And my personal favourite case is with Marco Cassetti: signed for Udinese on a one year deal and joined Watford on a season-long loan on THE SAME DAY. In fact, Udinese never went public about signing him.

“Ethically and morally, however – well, that’s a different matter” – you see Rio Ferdinand being hit by coins, racist gestures aimed at players from fans, yet the finger points to Watford when it comes to ethics and morals.

This is a poor, poor article from Ms. Geldard. Almost like a belated jump on to the Watford-bashing bandwagon. Better luck next time, Suze.

How many youth team players get in the Burnley side?

0

What an embarrassingly inaccurate article. Watford have a proud history of producing there own youngsters, and this season has seen the inclusion of Tommie Hoban and Connor Smith. Their youth development is still very much there.

I believe if the Pozzo's didn't take over, Watford would be in administration. Saving a club that has produced many good players isn't wrong in my book. Loaning players from Udinese is effectively cutting Watfords wage budget - which again, I see nothing wrong with financial control.

There's a lot of other clubs who are a disgrace before you pick on Watford.

Suzanne - You've truly embarrassed Lancashire with this ill-though out article. Please engage your brain before your next piece.

Echo all the above sentiments, a ridiculously ill-informed piece, at least Samuels had the good sense to get his out before there was any evidence to contradict his already formed opinion. Anyway looking at the last games for Watford and Burnley, Watford had 3 academy graduates in the squad, Burnley, 1, Chris McCann at 29 years old, perhaps the tone should have been more about how despite 14 loans Watford's youth policy is still delivering the goods?

Crikey. Where to start.

Firstly, I'm glad Burnley supporters have taken Sean Dyche to their hearts. Having met him on a number of occasions I can confirm he is a fine, upstanding chap, with a sense of humour to match his passion for football. He's a top man.

Whilst Sean Dyche's sacking at Watford was undoubtedly harsh, to say it was for "not being Gianfranco Zola" is hopelessly simplistic. The Pozzo family have a vision of what they want to achieve and how they want to make it a reality. Watford are playing the best football seen at the club in generations, and Zola has guided the team to 6th. Difficult to say that the switch hasn't been a success so far, isn't it? It's equally hard to be confident that Sean Dyche would have achieved the same results...

I'm not even going to dignify the "largely British playing staff" comment with a response, other than to wish you luck with your presumably ongoing mission to work at either the Daily Mail or Express.

You ask where Watford will be when the loan players go back? Well, you've already identified the fact that these aren't traditional loans, so firstly , how do you know they WILL go back? And what if, god forbid, the plan works and within a few years Watford are in the Premier League? Why WOULD they go back? Watford could find themselves in a situation where they have a settled squad of high quality players, that, shock horror, haven't cost an arm and a leg.

In terms of Watford and youth development, the link up with Harefield continues to be a success, and the Pozzo family have rewarded several graduates with five year contracts. If that's not showing commitment to our young players, I'm not really sure what is. Also, one of the front runners for player of the season this year is Tommie Hoban. On loan from...oh, hang on wait. He's a teenage Academy graduate.

I can understand opposition to Watford's current model, many Hornets fans have their own misgivings. What I can't understand is a lack of willing to investigate it fully and pass a considered judgement. I'd suggest it isn't Watford and the Pozzos that are bad for football. It's poor, ill thought out and barely researched stories like this that are the real cause for concern.

I'm sure we'll be back when you're ready for a serious debate.

I really don't understand what you mean by "ethically or morally" and making out that Watford are the scourge of the game (unless of course you're just copying statements already written by the likes of Martin Samuel or Michael Calvin). Is it better that Watford go into administration due to being owned by a clueless buffoon, rather than knowledgeable football people who have developed players such as Alexis Sanchez? Or maybe some Middle Eastern/Russian billionaires who will just throw money at the club and bring in mercenaries on big wages? The club is being properly run, on all players, whether "on loan" or youngsters being given a chance (yes, another inaccuracy in your piece) are buying into the club and its community roots. But don't let that stop you writing such lazy pieces. See further comments at www.eachgameasitcome
s.com

Pleasant change from having all the rovers "fans" polluting a Burnley story, welcome to all you Hornets.

Still, at least your response provoking diatribe has won the LT some page hits I guess.

Hello to all you Hornets supporters commenting on this story.

I hope your not thinking that this story is the thoughts of any true Clarets supporters or real football fans . Nor That of Sean Dyche?

What counts most is that Watford have a good manager and a team that are playing well at present and owners investing In the Club.

Good luck for the rest of the season but not for Saturday .

I think she can't find anything better to write about.

UTC

I physically 'face-palmed' whilst reading this article

6 months in and we are still forced to read the same lazy, ill-informed, poorly researched garbage each week

Number of academy products featured in Burnley's most recent match day squad: 0

Number of academy products featured in Watford's most recent match day squad: 3

Give it a rest will you

Pompey Claret - I think it's very clear that she doesn't speak on behalf of the Burnley fans. Any true Burnley fan would join in with Dychember, but clearly she can't be bothered with that either.

@rookerymike wrote:
Crikey. Where to start.

Firstly, I'm glad Burnley supporters have taken Sean Dyche to their hearts. Having met him on a number of occasions I can confirm he is a fine, upstanding chap, with a sense of humour to match his passion for football. He's a top man.

Whilst Sean Dyche's sacking at Watford was undoubtedly harsh, to say it was for "not being Gianfranco Zola" is hopelessly simplistic. The Pozzo family have a vision of what they want to achieve and how they want to make it a reality. Watford are playing the best football seen at the club in generations, and Zola has guided the team to 6th. Difficult to say that the switch hasn't been a success so far, isn't it? It's equally hard to be confident that Sean Dyche would have achieved the same results...

I'm not even going to dignify the "largely British playing staff" comment with a response, other than to wish you luck with your presumably ongoing mission to work at either the Daily Mail or Express.

You ask where Watford will be when the loan players go back? Well, you've already identified the fact that these aren't traditional loans, so firstly , how do you know they WILL go back? And what if, god forbid, the plan works and within a few years Watford are in the Premier League? Why WOULD they go back? Watford could find themselves in a situation where they have a settled squad of high quality players, that, shock horror, haven't cost an arm and a leg.

In terms of Watford and youth development, the link up with Harefield continues to be a success, and the Pozzo family have rewarded several graduates with five year contracts. If that's not showing commitment to our young players, I'm not really sure what is. Also, one of the front runners for player of the season this year is Tommie Hoban. On loan from...oh, hang on wait. He's a teenage Academy graduate.

I can understand opposition to Watford's current model, many Hornets fans have their own misgivings. What I can't understand is a lack of willing to investigate it fully and pass a considered judgement. I'd suggest it isn't Watford and the Pozzos that are bad for football. It's poor, ill thought out and barely researched stories like this that are the real cause for concern.

I'm sure we'll be back when you're ready for a serious debate.

I was going to comment but I think you covered it all here Mike!!

It's a shame the News of the World isn't around anymore, I think they'd have identified a budding journalist here!

Pompey Claret wrote:
Hello to all you Hornets supporters commenting on this story.

I hope your not thinking that this story is the thoughts of any true Clarets supporters or real football fans . Nor That of Sean Dyche?

What counts most is that Watford have a good manager and a team that are playing well at present and owners investing In the Club.

Good luck for the rest of the season but not for Saturday .

I think she can't find anything better to write about.

UTC

Pompey Claret, every village has it's idiot I guess, we know this is not the view of most/all Claret fans.

Pompey Claret wrote:
Hello to all you Hornets supporters commenting on this story.

I hope your not thinking that this story is the thoughts of any true Clarets supporters or real football fans . Nor That of Sean Dyche?

What counts most is that Watford have a good manager and a team that are playing well at present and owners investing In the Club.

Good luck for the rest of the season but not for Saturday .

I think she can't find anything better to write about.

UTC

Pompey Claret, every village has it's idiot I guess, we know this is not the view of most/all Claret fans.

TommmB wrote:
I physically 'face-palmed' whilst reading this article

6 months in and we are still forced to read the same lazy, ill-informed, poorly researched garbage each week

Number of academy products featured in Burnley's most recent match day squad: 0

Number of academy products featured in Watford's most recent match day squad: 3

Give it a rest will you

Seen as u seem to be so interested in getting facts right, number of homegrown players in last burnley squad was 1 Chris McCann, also sold lafferty and Rodriguez in last few seasons who also came through, for the record I quite like Watford and usually a good game when we play each other so looking forward to Saturday , up the clarets

Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

Congratulations - a very late entry but winner of the most ill informed article of 2012 - an absolute disgrace.

You have no idea what you are talking about, all the players from Udinese are available for Watford to sign, so only those we do not want will go back. Of our current squad, we have tommie hoban, sean murray and lloyd doyley from our academy, plus several more younger players who are out on loan. So before you make claims like you have, you should probably do some research.

RookeryHorn wrote:
Still, at least your response provoking diatribe has won the LT some page hits I guess.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your fellow Horneteers for writing:
well-reasoned, educated, literate and articulate postings in this rag.
It's more than I've come to expect of both professionals and distinctly un-gifted amateurs flitting in and out of these putative 'soccer pages.'

You're welcome anytime. It makes a refreshing change.

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

No. The phrase was 'most recent Burnely squad'. ie the squad that played the last match. So the figure of 1 was correct.

Also, I think you'll find that the comparison was made not to have a pop at Burnley, but to highlight the fact that the article doesn't seem to be massively well thought out.

Fair play to you for missing the point so well though, you've done almost as good a job as the articles author in that respect.

Cheers.

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

The difference is, the fan in question is not paid to research the facts!

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

Congratulations, we had 5 that day.

Besides, surely you've just proven our point? We currently 2-4 in our match day squad (Being Doyley, Hoban, Smith and Murray) yet, we're everything that's wrong with football? With that out look, what does that make Burnley?

All the best for the season after Saturday.

Wow, this has certainly stirred up a Hornets nest has this typically innaccurate Suzanne Geldard article.

You have to admit though guys that the model of loaning players between the owner's respective clubs is stretching the rules somewhat?

I appreciate you are 'doing nothing wrong' as far as the rules are concerned, but are you not concerned that you have lost the flow of academy players into your first team that you have previously had?

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:
Wow, this has certainly stirred up a Hornets nest has this typically innaccurate Suzanne Geldard article.

You have to admit though guys that the model of loaning players between the owner's respective clubs is stretching the rules somewhat?

I appreciate you are 'doing nothing wrong' as far as the rules are concerned, but are you not concerned that you have lost the flow of academy players into your first team that you have previously had?

The difference is that we're now only using the youngsters that have got a shot at being championship standard or better.

Over the past 10 or so years, we've had to promote so many due to financial restrictions.

The club have given 5 year deals to Hoban, Murray and Smith - all of which have featured in our first XI this season. Zola has been more willing to give playing time to our younger players than Dyche did

Er hang on a minute, last time I looked Watford were 6th and Burnley 17th, and its not working??? Wonder what'll happen when it does.
Typical keep on hanging on this its coz as british rubbish, thats why you are 17th and when flash in the pan austin leaves in Jan you can have a british themed relegation party.
Dick van dyke can provide the entertainment doin the ol bamboo and you can have a right knees up, maybe chas n dave will appear in your wood burning stove supply of a ground.
Chim Chiminee.

Return of the Magnificent se7en wrote:
Er hang on a minute, last time I looked Watford were 6th and Burnley 17th, and its not working??? Wonder what'll happen when it does.
Typical keep on hanging on this its coz as british rubbish, thats why you are 17th and when flash in the pan austin leaves in Jan you can have a british themed relegation party.
Dick van dyke can provide the entertainment doin the ol bamboo and you can have a right knees up, maybe chas n dave will appear in your wood burning stove supply of a ground.
Chim Chiminee.

And where are Blackburn and their multi-million pound squad?

How's your new manager doing?

How are your fantastic owners?

Congratulations on it being exactly two years to the day since you sacked Big Fat Sam Allardyce.

Now run along back to your hovel

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

Return of the Magnificent se7en wrote:
Er hang on a minute, last time I looked Watford were 6th and Burnley 17th, and its not working??? Wonder what'll happen when it does.
Typical keep on hanging on this its coz as british rubbish, thats why you are 17th and when flash in the pan austin leaves in Jan you can have a british themed relegation party.
Dick van dyke can provide the entertainment doin the ol bamboo and you can have a right knees up, maybe chas n dave will appear in your wood burning stove supply of a ground.
Chim Chiminee.

And where are Blackburn and their multi-million pound squad?

How's your new manager doing?

How are your fantastic owners?

Congratulations on it being exactly two years to the day since you sacked Big Fat Sam Allardyce.

Now run along back to your hovel

Blackburns manager? I was under the impression that Blackburn and Wolves shared the same manager.

What is a tech-nical area?

All you Hornets have forgotten the goalkeepers. Jack Bonham and Jonathan Bond are academy boys and have made the match squad this season, also Jonathan Bond has started one game this season - which probably would have been more if Scott Loach, who was at Watford from such a young age he appeared to come from the academy, had stayed.

Good afternoon,

I read with some dismay the above article, bemoaning as it does, Watford Football Team's use of Italian football players. I would point out to you that Italy is a good, Christian country and Watford are to be congratulated on their willingness to promote young Christian boys ahead of less welcome outsiders.

My main reason for visiting this afternoon however, is to inform you that for the first time this season, we - The Watford Christian Fellowship (part of the Family First Network) are hosting one of our ever popular events at your Turfed Moor ground on Saturday.

We will have football-themed thimbles, coasters and other memorabilia for sale, the proceeds of which go to the vital fight against stem-cell research. I hope you will have an opportunity to come and visit us at the entrance to the cricket club from 1.30pm.

Best wishes,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

I said in your last game

Pretty sure Jay Rodriguez plays for Southampton now...

As far McCann, yes he is a youth product but hardly a 'hot young prospect'. We are still bringing through teenagers and playing them week in week out at Championship level

TommmB wrote:

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

I said in your last game

Pretty sure Jay Rodriguez plays for Southampton now...

As far McCann, yes he is a youth product but hardly a 'hot young prospect'. We are still bringing through teenagers and playing them week in week out at Championship level

And how many of these teenagers do ou think are likely to get a first team chance now that you have 14 players on loan?

Who do you think will get first dibs on a starting place - a random Italian loan player being paid a decent amount every week or Johnny Homegrown on a couple of hundred pounds?

Zola would play the player HE signed every time.

Again, wrong:

1) Zola didn't sign those loan players, Nani did.
2) We have ONE Italian player, your stereotype is pants.
3) Our very own Tommie Hoban has been played ahead of 3 other centre backs brought in on loan on occasion.

I won't add very much to the abundance of well grounded counter-arguments to an inaccurate, one-sided (somewhat envious) piece of lazy journalism... other than to say that we are doing infinitely less damage to our community, the football family and the future of our own club than these billionaire-owned Premier League clubs spending £50m on squad players.

Along with taking the time to do a bit of research in advance of publishing this sort of tripe, it might also be a good idea to direct your resentment more appropriately.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

TommmB wrote:

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

I said in your last game

Pretty sure Jay Rodriguez plays for Southampton now...

As far McCann, yes he is a youth product but hardly a 'hot young prospect'. We are still bringing through teenagers and playing them week in week out at Championship level

And how many of these teenagers do ou think are likely to get a first team chance now that you have 14 players on loan?

Who do you think will get first dibs on a starting place - a random Italian loan player being paid a decent amount every week or Johnny Homegrown on a couple of hundred pounds?

Zola would play the player HE signed every time.

What are you on about?

They are playing every single week

18 year old Tommie Hoban has 14 starts at centre back this season, whilst Fanchone from Udinese sits on the bench

19 year old Sean Murray has 12 appearances whilst Battochio from Udinese sits on the bench

19 year old Connor Smith has 7 appearances already in his debut season

This is a meritocracy, if they are good enough they will play every single week

Pieboy wrote:

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

Return of the Magnificent se7en wrote:
Er hang on a minute, last time I looked Watford were 6th and Burnley 17th, and its not working??? Wonder what'll happen when it does.
Typical keep on hanging on this its coz as british rubbish, thats why you are 17th and when flash in the pan austin leaves in Jan you can have a british themed relegation party.
Dick van dyke can provide the entertainment doin the ol bamboo and you can have a right knees up, maybe chas n dave will appear in your wood burning stove supply of a ground.
Chim Chiminee.

And where are Blackburn and their multi-million pound squad?

How's your new manager doing?

How are your fantastic owners?

Congratulations on it being exactly two years to the day since you sacked Big Fat Sam Allardyce.

Now run along back to your hovel

Blackburns manager? I was under the impression that Blackburn and Wolves shared the same manager.

Blackburn folk also share their close family members too.

RookeryHorn wrote:
Again, wrong:

1) Zola didn't sign those loan players, Nani did.
2) We have ONE Italian player, your stereotype is pants.
3) Our very own Tommie Hoban has been played ahead of 3 other centre backs brought in on loan on occasion.

Oh, that's alright then - they weren't signed by Zola who actually manages the team, they were signed by the 'Director of Football' - are you being serious?

Seeing as you are playing pedantic games you actually have TWO Italian players (Battocchio and Forestieri)

I'm a Watford fan and I'm sorry but you haven't really done your research. I agree Dyche was treated badly and I was very sad to see him leave. I also agree that the influx of loan players will make it harder for home grown youngsters. However, we are far from "a finishing school for foreign teams" as you suggest. We have the option to buy all the loanees, with the exception of Chalobah from Chelsea. As well as this, there are still youngsters breaking into the team with Tommie Hoban being perhaps the best example.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

RookeryHorn wrote:
Again, wrong:

1) Zola didn't sign those loan players, Nani did.
2) We have ONE Italian player, your stereotype is pants.
3) Our very own Tommie Hoban has been played ahead of 3 other centre backs brought in on loan on occasion.

Oh, that's alright then - they weren't signed by Zola who actually manages the team, they were signed by the 'Director of Football' - are you being serious?

Seeing as you are playing pedantic games you actually have TWO Italian players (Battocchio and Forestieri)

Actually we have 1, and you failed to name him. Forestieri and Battocchio were born in Argentina and in effect are dual nationality.

Marco Cassetti is Italian.

nathwfc wrote:
I'm a Watford fan and I'm sorry but you haven't really done your research. I agree Dyche was treated badly and I was very sad to see him leave. I also agree that the influx of loan players will make it harder for home grown youngsters. However, we are far from "a finishing school for foreign teams" as you suggest. We have the option to buy all the loanees, with the exception of Chalobah from Chelsea. As well as this, there are still youngsters breaking into the team with Tommie Hoban being perhaps the best example.

Correct me if I am wrong,but when a player is deemed surpus to requirements and is loaned out to a lower league club - aren't the majority of loan deals set up with an option to for the loaning club to purchase the loanee if required?
We did the same thing with Kieran Tripper and Ben Mee - loaned them from Man City for a season and then bought them permanently in January

Pieboy wrote:

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

RookeryHorn wrote:
Again, wrong:

1) Zola didn't sign those loan players, Nani did.
2) We have ONE Italian player, your stereotype is pants.
3) Our very own Tommie Hoban has been played ahead of 3 other centre backs brought in on loan on occasion.

Oh, that's alright then - they weren't signed by Zola who actually manages the team, they were signed by the 'Director of Football' - are you being serious?

Seeing as you are playing pedantic games you actually have TWO Italian players (Battocchio and Forestieri)

Actually we have 1, and you failed to name him. Forestieri and Battocchio were born in Argentina and in effect are dual nationality.

Marco Cassetti is Italian.

Wiki (admittedly my only source) calls them Italian, so that's good enough for me - you then have THREE Italian players.

:-)

Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed.

Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself?

Thank you,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

wow, did the author get all her source material from old daily mail articles.
Put some research into the subject before you put it to print.

@ Blackburn fans love horses - Cristian Battocchio is Argentinian not Italian (you could do with doing some research as well)!

TommmB wrote:

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

I said in your last game

Pretty sure Jay Rodriguez plays for Southampton now...

As far McCann, yes he is a youth product but hardly a 'hot young prospect'. We are still bringing through teenagers and playing them week in week out at Championship level

You did put it like that and to me it read like you meant the last time we played each other, simple case of misunderstanding but you still got a players age completely wrong whilst criticising someone for being ill-informed so my point stands.

But if you want me to focus more on the actual point you and your fellow Watford supporters are making then fine - if the Pozzo's are really keyed in to allowing Watford to develop their own homegrown players what about the downscaling of your academy from what was already approved as a category 1 down to category 3? This makes the "5 year deals" sound more like short term fan appeasement to distract from this - seems to be working?

On our own youth front we have been making more investments on this front recently but obviously this takes time show results. We're starting to see the results now - last year our youth team made the FA Youth Cup semi-final and just last week knocked Manchester United out of the same competition at Old Trafford. One of our under 18's is already a full international and represented his country at the Olympics and is being tracked by Liverpool and Newcastle. Howieson and Hewitt have both been in match days squads and were rewarded with pro deals ahead of schedule in the past year. I believe once Dyche settles into the role and has time to assess the youth prospects at the club we'll start to see more making the step up.

watford_anne wrote:
Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed.

Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself?

Thank you,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

What makes you think I am male?

And you are sexist (Mrs) Ferguson.

Oh, and by your last comment I will not be buying one of your tacky thimbles now either.

Goodbye

ClaretSince94 wrote:

TommmB wrote:

ClaretSince94 wrote:
Love the irony of the Watford fan criticising the article for being ill-informed before going on to say the last time we played them we had only one academy graduate in our lineup - a 29 year old Chris McCann...

Well for starters Chris McCann is 25 and for seconds we also had Jay Rodriguez in that lineup which means we had two academy products...pot, kettle, black etc.

I said in your last game

Pretty sure Jay Rodriguez plays for Southampton now...

As far McCann, yes he is a youth product but hardly a 'hot young prospect'. We are still bringing through teenagers and playing them week in week out at Championship level

You did put it like that and to me it read like you meant the last time we played each other, simple case of misunderstanding but you still got a players age completely wrong whilst criticising someone for being ill-informed so my point stands.

But if you want me to focus more on the actual point you and your fellow Watford supporters are making then fine - if the Pozzo's are really keyed in to allowing Watford to develop their own homegrown players what about the downscaling of your academy from what was already approved as a category 1 down to category 3? This makes the "5 year deals" sound more like short term fan appeasement to distract from this - seems to be working?

On our own youth front we have been making more investments on this front recently but obviously this takes time show results. We're starting to see the results now - last year our youth team made the FA Youth Cup semi-final and just last week knocked Manchester United out of the same competition at Old Trafford. One of our under 18's is already a full international and represented his country at the Olympics and is being tracked by Liverpool and Newcastle. Howieson and Hewitt have both been in match days squads and were rewarded with pro deals ahead of schedule in the past year. I believe once Dyche settles into the role and has time to assess the youth prospects at the club we'll start to see more making the step up.

ClaretSince94 - Scott Duxbury (our CEO) not the Pozzo's put the academy at Category 3 because he is trying to re-organise the football club's finances and make us more self-sustainable.

We already have the coaching setup, the amount of hours, the facilities that better all Cat 2 and a lot of Cat 1 academies, we just choose not to play in that pointless 'Development League' and choose not to invest the required amount.

When we progress (and/or go up), we'll be re-visiting that choice.

Cat 1 isn't a necessity to attract and produce youngsters, we've still managed to pull off signing one of the more sought after 14 year olds in the world, as an example.

I should also correct you in saying that we were never Cat 1 in the first place, so we haven't downgraded at all.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote:
Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed.

Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself?

Thank you,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

What makes you think I am male?

And you are sexist (Mrs) Ferguson.

Oh, and by your last comment I will not be buying one of your tacky thimbles now either.

Goodbye

Because women in Burnley and indeed across all of Lancashire, have no freedom to write without permission of their husbands - such is the effect of rampant immigration into this once great, Christian country

All good points Watford fans and I do actually applaud the youngsters you have brought through, however remember 100% I these talented youngsters currently in your first team were scouted and nurtured under your previous regime, there is no guarantee this will continue (as there is none that it won't).

If I was a young player now aged 12 I would think twice about joining a club who have loaned so many foreign players so quickly, whether or u sign then permanently or not. Personally I hope they keep your youth developing ethos and you continue to reap the benefits

watford_anne wrote:

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote:
Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed.

Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself?

Thank you,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

What makes you think I am male?

And you are sexist (Mrs) Ferguson.

Oh, and by your last comment I will not be buying one of your tacky thimbles now either.

Goodbye

Because women in Burnley and indeed across all of Lancashire, have no freedom to write without permission of their husbands - such is the effect of rampant immigration into this once great, Christian country

And now the lovely Mrs Ferguson throws racism into the mix.

At first I though you were just being a little sarcastic, but unfortunately it appears you are now showing your true colours.

Are you sure your name isn't Griffiths (Mrs)? You embarrassment for a person.

watford_anne wrote:

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote:
Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed.

Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself?

Thank you,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

What makes you think I am male?

And you are sexist (Mrs) Ferguson.

Oh, and by your last comment I will not be buying one of your tacky thimbles now either.

Goodbye

Because women in Burnley and indeed across all of Lancashire, have no freedom to write without permission of their husbands - such is the effect of rampant immigration into this once great, Christian country

Disgraceful.

watford_anne wrote:

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote: Young Sir, I think you will find Wikipedia is mainly used by those of a very low intelligence to spread fear and misinformation, neither of which we should be prepared to accept at this most important time of the year in what is still a Christian country, in case you had not noticed. Might I suggest you keep your vile, leftist, secularist, anti-British, anti-Christian thoughts to yourself? Thank you, Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

What makes you think I am male? And you are sexist (Mrs) Ferguson. Oh, and by your last comment I will not be buying one of your tacky thimbles now either. Goodbye

Because women in Burnley and indeed across all of Lancashire, have no freedom to write without permission of their husbands - such is the effect of rampant immigration into this once great, Christian country

P*** off you religious bigot, we have enough problems with Rovers fans without needing input from you. Stay away from Burnley, you and your ilk aren't welcome.

RookeryHorn wrote:
I should also correct you in saying that we were never Cat 1 in the first place, so we haven't downgraded at all.

But as I understand it you had category 1 in the bag but went back on it. If it was a case of avoiding the Development League then surely you would have just cut back to category 2 rather than 3. Category 3 does effect what you can do because you can't sign players until they are older so the number of coaching hours is lower and you risk losing your best players for a pittance to category 1 teams. Plus I'd prefer to play in the Development League, surely that's a pull for youngsters in of itself?

If your club was being developed by the Pozzo's surely they would have made the investment? By not doing so, by dropping down from what you had the facilities for for financial reasons seems to suggest they would prefer you to develop players from their parent club?

I am not racist

Racism is a crime and cime is for non-Christians

I believe it's rife in your part of the world, quelle surprise

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

Its widely accepted among those involved in the game that Watford has the best youth academy set-up in the country. We consistently produce quality players. The regime/manager/coach
ing set-up has no bearing on the players produced, if they're good enough they will get first team football.
One of the main reasons the club was purchased was the youth set-up. It complements the Pozzo scouting network perfectly and will no doubt make them and the club a lot of money.

re. signings; The club have already stated that 6 of the "loan" players have agreed to sign in January. The only reason they didn't sign previously was because of an embargo imposed by the football league. (worth reading into, we were allegedly nearly bankrupt by our former Chairman).

There's a real stink of jealousy from the small clubs in the league but accusations of foul play are completely unfounded and unfair.

(1 )http://www.just-foo
tball.com/2011/11/wa
tford-fc-youth-acade
my-hertfordshires-ve
ry-own-la-masia/
(2) http://www.theharefi
eldacademy.org/page/
?title=Watford+FC+De
velopment+Squad&pid=
320
(3) http://www.bbc.co.uk
/blogs/paulfletcher/
2010/12/watford_offe
r_a_glimpse_of_the.h
tml

watford_anne wrote:
I am not racist

Racism is a crime and cime is for non-Christians

I believe it's rife in your part of the world, quelle surprise

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

No, you are evidently a WUM.

I find it ironic that a Watford fan feels the need to comment on Burnley's racial issues - when in factWatford is a subdivision of the Greater London Area, all of which means you are part of a city that now has a 55% ethnic MAJORITY.

u0rns. wrote:
Its widely accepted among those involved in the game that Watford has the best youth academy set-up in the country. We consistently produce quality players. The regime/manager/coach

ing set-up has no bearing on the players produced, if they're good enough they will get first team football.
One of the main reasons the club was purchased was the youth set-up. It complements the Pozzo scouting network perfectly and will no doubt make them and the club a lot of money.

re. signings; The club have already stated that 6 of the "loan" players have agreed to sign in January. The only reason they didn't sign previously was because of an embargo imposed by the football league. (worth reading into, we were allegedly nearly bankrupt by our former Chairman).

There's a real stink of jealousy from the small clubs in the league but accusations of foul play are completely unfounded and unfair.

(1 )http://www.just-foo

tball.com/2011/11/wa

tford-fc-youth-acade

my-hertfordshires-ve

ry-own-la-masia/
(2) http://www.theharefi

eldacademy.org/page/

?title=Watford+FC+De

velopment+Squad&
pid=
320
(3) http://www.bbc.co.uk

/blogs/paulfletcher/

2010/12/watford_offe

r_a_glimpse_of_the.h

tml

'Small' clubs in the league?

Seems like you have got the Blackburn syndrome sunshine - have a look at our respective histories and then come back and see who is the 'small club'

re. EPPP
Why would we pay £ 2 million to sign up to a youth league and to guarantee Prem clubs won't poach our players? The academy is already widely acclaimed as the best in the country and if a Prem club tries to sign a player we don't want to sell the owners can just transfer his ownership to a club not covered by EPPP, like Udinesse or Granada. Players protected, academy still churning out quality players, money still in the bank.
EPPP isn't a way of improving the nations youth system, its a way to stop smaller clubs from charging Premier League clubs top price for decent youth products.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote:
I am not racist

Racism is a crime and cime is for non-Christians

I believe it's rife in your part of the world, quelle surprise

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

No, you are evidently a WUM.

I find it ironic that a Watford fan feels the need to comment on Burnley's racial issues - when in factWatford is a subdivision of the Greater London Area, all of which means you are part of a city that now has a 55% ethnic MAJORITY.

You just had you a*se handed to you, Anne.

There are few owners that can run a football club as a profitable business and no doubt the Watford model would fail should others try to imitate it. The Pozzo's big advantage is an unrivaled worldwide scouting network, without it they'd be competing in the transfer market and ultimately they would bankrupt themselves so it's hard to see any kind of a trend as the author obviously fears. I concede this gives us an advantage over clubs without rich owners but that's all, that we are blessed with owners that understand the value of player markets and can profit from them is in no way unfair, it is just fortunate that they chose us.

WFC are operating under Fifa rules, rules that were written for the gain of the European giants with feeder clubs and that we have turned the tables on them if anything should be applauded. Perhaps now authorities will see fit to banish their unfair regulations, perhaps not but the Pozzo's are honorable folk who will always act within set parameters (unlike their predecessor).

Assuming the plan works and we are promoted it will do English football no harm, our academy continues to thrive and that their will be Brits having learnt comprehensive continental systems and techniques could have a positive impact internationally, few would deny that we and the home nations have been lagging behind for decades.

Geography not your strong point? Watford is in Hertfordshire. That's like saying Burnley is in Yorkshire?!? Pointless comment miles off subject and incorrect.
Back to the point - 1-4 on Saturday and then you can moan about how unfair it is again ;-)

u0rns. wrote:
Geography not your strong point? Watford is in Hertfordshire. That's like saying Burnley is in Yorkshire?!? Pointless comment miles off subject and incorrect.
Back to the point - 1-4 on Saturday and then you can moan about how unfair it is again ;-)

1-4?? you want to stop drinking vino in the afternoon matey, you will be lucky to escape with a point.

I expect an easy three points for the Clarets to be honest, we are in decent nick at home and Austin is due a goal or two.

Dyche is a great manager. but what you are writing is complete and utter jealousy. Just because you can't do it is your problem. I don't see you nearly go into administration, and still finish respectably,

Some seem to be misinformed about the EPPP ... Cat 1 is basically designed for Englands top 12-16 biggest clubs and is going to be culled accordingly, to qualify WFC would need to double input, output and coaching staff and treble expenses. For Cat 2 we would be tied to too many unhelpful fixtures against cloggers, limiting our ability to loan out our youngsters for first team experience without increasing input/output, coaching staff etc. With Cat 3 we can keep the group small and quality high. Arranged games can be to a required standard e.g. our recent encounter with Brighton and can involve older players, once again allowing us not to over-expand. As long as we can (and we can) keep our lads from Premiership clutches then Cat 3 suits us perfectly, who knows what happens in the future when we can sensibly afford to expand but when we do, you can be sure we'll do it properly.

Lloydinio wrote:
Dyche is a great manager. but what you are writing is complete and utter jealousy. Just because you can't do it is your problem. I don't see you nearly go into administration, and still finish respectably,

Well the season we went up to premier we had half a season under a transfer embargo and were in serious difficulty, that respectable enough finish for u?

Lloydinio wrote:
Dyche is a great manager. but what you are writing is complete and utter jealousy. Just because you can't do it is your problem. I don't see you nearly go into administration, and still finish respectably,

Why would we be jealous of Watford? I would rather be owned and run by people who are fans of the club like we are. Run by people who have the club's best interests at heart. I would rather be in our situation than yours, I'd be naturally untrusting of foreign owners with big promises but no real affinity for the club - Birmingham, Portsmouth and Blackburn have learnt the hard way, you could be next. You may not be, but you might.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

u0rns. wrote:
Geography not your strong point? Watford is in Hertfordshire. That's like saying Burnley is in Yorkshire?!? Pointless comment miles off subject and incorrect.
Back to the point - 1-4 on Saturday and then you can moan about how unfair it is again ;-)

1-4?? you want to stop drinking vino in the afternoon matey, you will be lucky to escape with a point.

I expect an easy three points for the Clarets to be honest, we are in decent nick at home and Austin is due a goal or two.

haha, I settled for a point away last season, we need to improve on he 4 points we took off you lot.
Not sure who's gonna score the goals though, Deeney has 9, Vydra 8, Abdi has 5, Yeates 3, Forestieri 3, Anya 2, Hoban 2 and 5 others on 1.
Its a sure bet that we'll score a few though.

watford_anne wrote:
Good afternoon,

I read with some dismay the above article, bemoaning as it does, Watford Football Team's use of Italian football players. I would point out to you that Italy is a good, Christian country and Watford are to be congratulated on their willingness to promote young Christian boys ahead of less welcome outsiders.

My main reason for visiting this afternoon however, is to inform you that for the first time this season, we - The Watford Christian Fellowship (part of the Family First Network) are hosting one of our ever popular events at your Turfed Moor ground on Saturday.

We will have football-themed thimbles, coasters and other memorabilia for sale, the proceeds of which go to the vital fight against stem-cell research. I hope you will have an opportunity to come and visit us at the entrance to the cricket club from 1.30pm.

Best wishes,

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

This woman does not represent us. Especially me.

Blackburn fans love horses wrote:

watford_anne wrote:
I am not racist

Racism is a crime and cime is for non-Christians

I believe it's rife in your part of the world, quelle surprise

Anne Ferguson (Mrs)

No, you are evidently a WUM.

I find it ironic that a Watford fan feels the need to comment on Burnley's racial issues - when in factWatford is a subdivision of the Greater London Area, all of which means you are part of a city that now has a 55% ethnic MAJORITY.

at astounds me that Britain is still called Christian. Britain, especially Watford is packed with different faiths and can only be considered multi cultural. People moving around the planet looking for something better has happened for thousands of years

Mrs ferguson I believe the site u are looking for is bnp, your racist remarks are not welcome here, do one

How can you not realise that Watford anne is a wind up!! That joker has had you over! Gotta learn not to reply then the wum's get bored.

Wind up or not I don't want to be reading her comments, ignored all afternoon felt I now needed to tell her/it to shut the hell up, yes it might not work but it made me feel better

I can't believe someone can have such a narrow view in this day and age. I suppose you'd agree with the idea that supporting the use of condoms in places like Africa is wrong aswell? It's much more 'christian' to see someone 'of colour' die from aides.

Anyway getting back to point, what the Pozzos are doing is just fine by me. Any way of doing things is better than what we have had for many many years now. People can spout I'll-informed rubbish if they like, we will just get on with it. If true fans of other clubs realised how close we have come to going bust, I would now hope they are pleased we have real football people at the helm who have steered us away from very stormy waters. I hope it's a good game Saturday, best of luck to Burnley after Saturday.

darrenbazeley wrote:
I can't believe someone can have such a narrow view in this day and age. I suppose you'd agree with the idea that supporting the use of condoms in places like Africa is wrong aswell? It's much more 'christian' to see someone 'of colour' die from aides.

I fully agree with your sentiments about narrow minds. However, I do not follow the false logic about condom use in Africa (or anywhere else for that matter). As far as I understand it, Christian teaching is that sex should be 1) in a marriage AND 2) without condoms. It is clear that if they followed both teachings then nobody would die of aids. It appears that many are very willing to ignore teaching number 1) but not teaching number 2). To blame the pope when it is they themselves who are not taking their own responsibilities for safe sex seriously is ludicrous.

To the football - I still have a bad taste about how Dyche was sacked and I'm glad he's back in football. The current Watford set-up does at first sight seem odd, but many of the loans were last-minute (before deadline day).

I do think this system has some benefits though (for Watford and Udinese) and perhaps "small" clubs might explore this further. It may yet be a way of levelling the playing field against the bully-boy money-men who own the so called BIG clubs. What is more ethical, sharing between like minded clubs or throwing money you don't have at buying "big name" players?

blimey its odd how short sighted fans can be - aka most of above - Watford fans?

Ah well, you get what you vote for eh!

After 3 months of Sean Dyche most watford fans wanted him sacked if we are honest...then he made changes and it worked out pretty well and he is a nice and unlike many managers ( Harry Redknapp ) for instance very honest bloke.It was difficult for many fans to understand what was happening to little old watford at first but now we are playing the best football seen since early 80's and watching players who are just mouth watering to watch. Our youth set is is fantastic and all this dribble about EEEP cat 1 etc is rubbish. If your good enough as a youngester you will play in our team...we have just raised the bar in terms of talent. Some players that did play in our first team will no longer be able to get in as they are simply not good enough for the level with now have....thats life. Phil Jones was too good for Blackburn...simple..
.Charlie Austin i believe will want to try his luck in premership and might go to Reading or Villa but too good to stay at Burnley. We will only get better as season goes on and if we dont get lucky this year next year we will i believe. Many of you wont get to see Forreisteri tomorrow as has slight injury but one day you will see him in Prem with us or someone else. Good luck to Burnley and Sean have a good season...Blackburn you have have a bunch of jokers in charge...Sevi singh or whoever the guy is knows nothing about football at all and you fans will now reap the rewards of treating Keen so badly. He may not been the best but better than what you got now or will attract in future , Leeds and Forest and Bradford did what you your doing and it takes time to get back.

Not sure quite how this thread has been sidetracked in such a ridiculous way but to get back to the point, which I'm sure has already been made many times above, this is a dreadful article, ill-informed, biased, poorly researched and completely misunderstands what is happening at Watford.