Enter the Wilderness of Watford Football Club

Problems, big Problems! Is this the END?

2009-12-16T23:05:00.002Z

No statement on Watford's financial position but money owed to Jimmy Russo not due until tomorrow

7:26pm Wednesday 16th December 2009

Watford are not expected to release a statement confirming their financial position tonight but the Watford Observer understands the deadline to repay former chairman Jimmy Russo the £4.88m he is owed has been extended until tomorrow lunch time.

This morning a statement from the Hornets’ parent company Watford Leisure Plc stated Russo had demanded the immediate repayment of the £4.88m he loaned the club “on or before close of business on 16 December 2009”.

But we understand the club now have until tomorrow afternoon before Russo’s company Valley Grown Salads will demand its money back.

Failure to pay the cash could result in the club going into administration.

Russo decided to recall the money after he, his brother Vince and business associate Robin Williams all resigned from the board at the Watford Leisure AGM last night.

The trio stepped down as they felt they had lost the support of some board members and were going to be ousted by major shareholders Lord Michael Ashcroft and Graham Simpson regardless.

4-1 home win against Wednesday

2009-10-24T08:22:00.001+01:00

Quote from the BBC website....

"The next goal was vital and, with 10 second-half minutes gone, the home side crafted it.

Having seen an initial corner cleared, Lansbury collected outside the box, created space for himself on the right before feeding Harley in the box and the former Sheffield United man struck the ball past Loach and into the far corner.

Their two-goal cushion restored, Watford turned on the style.

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Cleverley picked up the ball outside the area, dribbled with intent around the right-side of the Wednesday defence before expertly picking out Lansbury in the middle and he made no mistake with a side-foot finish."

Great game....great skill...loved it!

Young guns....Oct 2009

2009-10-07T09:38:00.002+01:00

We purhaps have the youngest team ever at the moment. We have little dept in our squad because of looming debt, but we are doing better than I expected. Players like Cleverley and Lansbury have done well. Cleverley has probably been our best player.

Scott Loach though has been a poor. He is very inconsistant and let in a 50 yard goal against Cardiff.

Things are falling apart a bit. We lost 4 - 0 to Cardiff with this team last weekend.

Watford

01 Loach
02 Mariappa
12 Doyley
22 Cathcart
33 Hodson
07 Cowie
14 Jenkins
20 Cleverley
28 Eustace
10 Graham
18 Hoskins

Substitutes

16 Lee,
15 Harley,
17 Bennett,
04 Severin,
05 Lansbury,
19 Henderson,
25 Ellington

Looking back at....

2009-10-07T09:32:00.002+01:00

Heres a snap from this seasons Borehamwood pre season friendly...

Developments at the Ground

2009-08-30T09:54:00.002+01:00

We have now sold Tommy Smith and Jobi MacNuff. Going to miss Tommy.

The ground is coming on though. There was a point at which we thought things had stopped but it has come on over the summer.

In the ground, last game of the season

2009-06-10T08:10:00.000+01:00

Rodgers goes to his beloved Reading.

2009-06-10T08:09:00.001+01:00

"Reading have confirmed the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The Royals have paid "substantial" compensation to bring Rodgers from Championship rivals Watford, ending his seven-month tenure with the Hornets."

Well it was the job he ulimately wanted....he did well at watford for a short time. Stopped us from going down.

Ground Works atthe Vic - April 09

2009-05-11T12:52:00.003+01:00

Brendan Rodgers.....

2009-03-03T20:07:00.003Z

This is a quote from the Watford website;

"WATFORD boss Brendan Rodgers has been nominated for the Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month for February 2009.

The Northern Irishman guided the Hornets to three league victories with wins over Swansea City, Blackpool and Crystal Palace.

Crucially, as well the Golden Boys becoming harder to score against - they have succeeded in keeping clean sheets in all of the games above."

Is the man forging his own style? It seems so. But I am now listening to the away Plymouth game and he has left smith and McAnuf out...could that be costantly and destroy this momentum?

This was taken at home during the 2-0 win over Palace

Early in 08'09 Season

2008-11-01T21:07:00.002Z

Note which stand is empty....

New Season 08'09'

2008-08-09T12:57:00.002+01:00

Well my favourite player has been sold....Shittu has gone to Bolton and Henderson has been sold to Derby, both picking up £2 million. Bargin for Shittu. This season is going to be hard work, no doubting it as we have no money and no decent strikers. The club is struggling to stay afloat and more players might still have to be sold. It looks very bad indeed. Backroom staff have been sacked and work on the ground cancelled or postponed. Last seasons terrible finish is also still ringing in our ears and the teams form in pre-season has not raised any hopes. We might be lucky to avoid relegation this season espically if we have to sell Jobi and Tommy. Bring on the pain.....we kick off at Crystal palace in two hours.

Pre-season Friendies....08

2008-08-05T17:34:00.003+01:00

Have been to Borehamwood and the side played ok....
Also went to MK Dons and was amazed by the stadium.....not the football as we lost....

Still in top six....but hopeless anyway

2008-04-13T08:39:00.004+01:00

1	Stoke	43	12	72
2	West Brom	42	29	71

3	Bristol City	43	0	71
4	Hull	42	18	69
5	Watford	43	9	69
6	Crystal Palace	43	10	65

7	Wolverhampton	41	2	62
8	Ipswich	42	7	61
9	Charlton	43	6	61
10	Cardiff	42	5	60
11	Sheff Utd	43	3	60
12	Plymouth	42	8	59
13	Burnley	43	-3	58
14	QPR	43	-2	55
15	Preston	43	-3	54
16	Norwich	42	-8	52
17	Barnsley	42	-10	52
18	Blackpool	43	-3	50
19	Southampton	43	-16	50
20	Coventry	43	-13	49
21	Leicester	43	-2	48

22	Sheff Wed	42	-5	48
23	Scunthorpe	43	-25	39
24	Colchester	43	-19	37

Here we go! Amazingly we are still in the top six after being completely useless for the past three months. This is quite simply the worst championship ever! Whoever goes up will come straight back down...I mean all three teams.....with possibly the worst set of total points on record. Watford have had some key players out and Marlon King has gone but they still look terrible! Yes I have bought my season ticket for next year! Mental!

Season Disaster - Eustace Ban

2008-03-22T12:10:00.002Z

"WATFORD'S John Eustace will face an FA disciplinary charge of improper conduct after referee Rob Styles cited him in his report for failing to leave the field of play in a timely manner after his recent dismissal in the Stoke City match.

That means that added to his current three match ban for the red card Styles showed him last weekend, the midfielder may be liable to pick up a further two-match suspension, as well as a fine."

This quote from the Watford Site is potentially a disaster because the new Watford signing Eustace has been hold the team together through really hard times and without him we will sink....if he is out for five games then in my eyes you can knock automatic promotion on the head. Disaster!

Recent Picture

2008-03-17T07:34:00.002Z

Action shot....Watford play Norwich

Tommy Tommy Smith!!!

2008-02-17T08:15:00.002Z

Tommy Smith has been playing incredibly well recently and his Actim Index rating has reflected this.

	Name	Team	Index Score
Coca-Cola Championship Top 10 players
1	J Walters	Ipswich	494
2	L Lawrence	Stoke	489
3	P Parry	Cardiff	466
4	R Shawcross	Stoke	444
5	K Phillips	West Brom	444
6	Z Zhi	Charlton	441
7	T Smith	Watford	432
8	A Gray	Charlton	418
9	P Robinson	West Brom	416
10	R Fuller	Stoke	415

Only yesterday did he sweep in a shot for O'Toole to deflect in. He is generally very instramental and at times our only attacking option.

King of Kings

2008-01-17T18:43:00.000Z

It saddens me to read today that Marlon King has left Watford for Fulham. He is a highly talented player who had a major set back through injury and has struggled in blow standard team who have poor supply to the front men. I feel robbed and gutted. We deserved a good premier season out of him and it is fact that Watford made him what he is. He could be in a bad position when Fulham go down and Watford go up. Although it looks highly unlikely that a lack luster Watford will be promoted. I feel that he probably feels he has to go now because the spirit in the team has been destroyed by some strange team selections and lack of faith in some players by Aidy.

I'll miss the Vicarage Road King of Kings a great deal and wonder what I have to look forward to now when I go to the home games! Aidy why did you do it!!!!!

Take a Look at this.....

2007-11-10T09:13:00.000Z

Table

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship : Table
06 Nov 21:57

			\| Home					\| Away
	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Watford	15	5	1	1	10	7	6	1	1	17	9	11	35
2	West Brom	15	6	2	0	19	4	2	1	4	12	12	15	27

3	Bristol City	15	4	3	1	12	8	3	3	1	9	6	7	27
4	Charlton	15	3	2	2	10	7	4	2	2	9	8	4	25
5	Coventry	15	3	2	2	8	10	4	1	3	12	10	0	24
6	Wolverhampton	15	4	1	2	9	5	2	4	2	8	10	2	23

7	Stoke	15	3	2	2	10	11	3	3	2	12	10	1	23
8	Barnsley	15	5	2	1	14	9	1	3	3	6	12	-1	23
9	Ipswich	14	6	0	0	17	4	0	4	4	8	18	3	22
10	Plymouth	15	2	4	1	7	6	3	2	3	12	12	1	21
11	Scunthorpe	15	3	2	3	12	12	2	3	2	6	7	-1	20
12	Southampton	15	3	2	3	11	13	3	0	4	13	15	-4	20
13	Hull	15	3	2	2	13	9	2	2	4	5	8	1	19
14	Sheff Utd	15	3	4	1	14	10	1	2	4	8	12	0	18
15	Burnley	14	2	3	2	11	11	2	3	2	9	9	0	18
16	Leicester	14	2	3	2	8	5	1	5	1	6	6	3	17
17	Colchester	15	2	4	2	15	14	1	3	3	10	11	0	16
18	Sheff Wed	15	2	0	5	5	11	3	1	4	12	14	-8	16
19	Cardiff	14	1	3	4	9	12	2	3	1	10	8	-1	15
20	Preston	15	3	4	1	9	5	0	2	5	6	12	-2	15
21	QPR	14	2	2	4	6	11	1	3	2	7	12	-10	14

22	Blackpool	14	1	5	0	8	7	1	2	5	9	14	-4	13
23	Crystal Palace	15	1	3	3	8	12	1	4	3	7	7	-4	13
24	Norwich	15	2	2	4	8	12	0	1	6	2	11	-13	9

Watford are well and truly storming the league this year and it's a wonderful thing to see! Eight points clear! I put it down the the fact that the team really learned from their year up in the Premiership especially how to deal with the last 10 minutes of the game.

Radio Commetry

2007-09-19T19:57:00.000+01:00

Amazingly I turned the radio on this evening to listen to the Cardiff v Watford game (expecting to discover that I have difficulty finding and tuning in) to find that the game is being covered on the unusual three counties as well as London Radio....which was gloriously bad. The main commentator seemed to know nothing about football! Watford have had an excellent start to the season though!

First GAme of the 2007-08 Season

2007-08-12T18:38:00.000+01:00

Got back from London to the pub just in time to catch the end of the first half. We were playing wolves and virtually the minute I arrived the wolves scored. Darn. The game dragged out with Watford having most of the play, in fact there was only 8% of the play in our third. But the wolves were holding out until Stuart banged a free kick in the top left hand corner with a hand deflection helping it on its way. We deserved the goal. 1-1 seemed okay but just as we were piling on the pressure Kaba went into the box and was up-ended. Penalty and the pub (New O'Neils on Hatfield road) erupted. Love it! Marlon dispatched it with skill and we were 2-1 winners in the 94th minute. Hey that's more luck than we had all last season. Boy I have missed the football, bit of a bugger being back in the Championship though.

Picture from last season....

2007-07-02T19:17:00.000+01:00

I found this picture from last season. A last glimpse of the premier season.
Oh also saw on the Watford website that James Chambers has gone Leicester City. I quite liked him as a player but he probably could do with a change os scene seeing we have a few new players in.

Young Bloodied

2007-01-19T16:53:00.000Z

Ashley Young is finally leaving the club it would seem after much speculation. A fee of 8 million has been accepted from Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa and today Young is descussing terms. It should be decided very quickly as I'd imagine they'll be offering him a substancial wage increase and the chance to stay in the top flight.

The truth is though we wouldn't miss Young that much. He is touted as Watford's best player after King but the fact is he hasn't been playing well, very inconsistantly and he still can't cross the ball. Yes he can take a direct free kick well sometimes but these have become rarer and well his corners are just crap. I hope that lad does well.

Solid as Dan Shittu

2006-12-07T14:05:00.000Z

I was amazed to see Dan Shittu left out of the Sheffield United game starting eleven. Shittu is an outstanding player who gives his all in every encounter, for every game. He has managed to maintain a high standard of play even when faced with the toughest adversary. If at anytime he has seemed to dip in concentration you can shift the blame from this goliath of a man to the fact that the whole team has slipped and that it is impossible to carry so many players for so long all the time. His presence was vital in the Man City game last Monday and I feel Sheffield United wouldn’t have score if we had of had the big man back there bullying the opposition.

Not only does he defend but he is an amazing attacking force. But I have to say bringing him on as a centre forward for the last twenty minutes of the Sheffield United game did send out only one message to the world. We are desperate. Bring on the transfer window.

Sing on! “Chim-chimney chim-chimney chim chim charoo who needs Sol Campbell when we’ve got Shittu”

Is that our First Team Backup?

2006-09-20T11:15:00.000+01:00

Watford played their reserves in a terrible game against Accrington Stanley in the second round of the Carling Cup last night. It was a scrappy untidy game full of long balls, missed passes and hopeless players. This was our reserve team true but on the face of it any one of those poorly playing bodies, bobbing aimlessly around that pitch could be playing premiership football if we happen upon a series of injures in our first team squad. This was the reason why Aidy played the reserve team, and he was criticised for it, but we just can not afford to have any injures in our first team. Just look at the crap we’d have to replace it with.

Another massive issue that was highlighted that evening was the fact that we have virtually no forward options in the squad. King is a premiership player, one of about six in the team and Henderson is a Championship player lacking the strength, fitness and skill to be a top flight man, but he struggles on and is our second best option. Priskin looked shocking against Accrington! Enough said. Any other forwards?

We did scrape through on penalties. I am glad we made it because we can field our reserves in the next game to give them some more match practice.

Back in the Big Premier But Down on Our Luck

2006-08-19T23:16:00.000+01:00

Everton (Away) were Watford's first opponents this season and we put up a good battle it would seem from the Beeb highlights. We lost 2-1 but what bad luck!!!!

Firstly: Johnson one of the Watford's 'love to hate' and 'we beat you in the playoff' players looked like he had scored a great goal after a one two. But as it turns out the shot was well sliced and recieved a wicked deflection off Doylay to slot, out of reach, in the top left hand corner.

Secondly: Young blasted a cross in and a Blue Defender vertually bats it down with his left hand and arm. Penalty? Nope. Stunningly bad discision.

Thirdly: Everton player crosses from the right and it hits new defender Powell who, in his slide to make the excellent block, goes low and the ball hits him in the face. Hang on....What was that? Well slap me with a kipper the Ref has given a penalty!!!!! Sheer white sticking it!

Fourthly: We played damn well and didn't deserve to lose, Alan Shearer said so.

The Unbelievable is Happening

2006-03-25T09:14:00.000Z

Watford have been on cloud nine for sometime now and not just because they are winning everything but also results have been going their way. Last Tuesday Leeds lost to Crystal Palace which meant that Watford remain a point ahead of them, in third, after beating Coventry away 3-1. Sheffield United have also been having a horrid time of it as they have been losing on a regular basis which leaves Watford just three points behind them with six or seven games left.

The battle is now on for automatic promotion with Watford the apparent favourites after this weeks results. But I hope that this won't be bad thing as the bubble could easily burst; the result of the new found pressure. There is great belief in the team though and with Ashly Young and league top scorer Marlon King performing out of their socks we should hold strong. Spring and DeMerit have also been on top form and DeMerit might wonder if he will get a world cup call up, for the USA, as Watford are so dramatically pushing for promotion.

I am so proud of Watford for what they have achieved this season and no matter what happens as a conclusion we can truely hold our heads up with pride and sing 'Come on you 'Orns'.

Bolton Show Their Class

2006-01-07T21:08:00.000Z

Watford were out classed today in the FA Cup to lose 0-3. Bolton were by far the better team and it has to be said opened our eyes to the difference between a good priemier team and a half desecnt Championship team.

But there were some strange things about this game, other than the fact that it was bloody cold. Watford used the wrong tactics. We are still punting the ball way up there when ever they can! How annoying when we have excellent pacers who can take on the defence. I just wish he Aidy wouldnt rely on Henderson's height so much...he's not that great in the air anyway. Also Aidy made a strage sub at the end. He took off a forward and put on a midfielder when we were two down. Figure that out?

Third in the League?

2005-11-22T08:04:00.000Z

Yes we are third in the league and are looking amazingly comfortable. I guess that's because a series of things have happened to Watford. Firstly Ben Foster has had a blinder in a number of games after appearing to be some what dodgy at the beginning of the season. Secondly we seem to be having an extremely rich vain of LUCK. Now I'm not trying to do the boyz down at all, we have played well, no doubt, but at times we have looked very misplaced. There have been many up and down performances when we have won halves and lost them. Penalties that have been missed, Maradona style goals scored (hand of god and all) that have been given, teams that have stamped all over us and not scored, moments of brilliance out of nothing. But the fact is we have rarely had such good luck so we should enjoy this feeling of strangeness, the 'we would have lost that one last season' condition and just get on with cheering from the stands.

Of course the luck could be something to do with an inspirational manager who has fast gained a reputation as being the championships José Mourinho.

The game against Sheffield Wednesday was a strange one. We scored two lucky goals, yet there's that word again, the second being a slip up by their keeper who let the ball slip through his hands for King to put in at the far post. Easy. Then the second half came and we just held on and on until our super keeper made one slip up in the 90th minute. All in all we won and that's what matters.

One more thing worth pointing out is that our little spell of losing and drawing happened to coincide with the absence of THE KING Marlon. Since he has been back the side has been winning. So between aidy and marlon, the heirs apparent, we can't seem to do much wrong. How long can we keep this up? All bloody season I hope....roll on Premiership.

The King Returns but Faces the Harsh Truth

2005-10-16T07:13:00.000+01:00

Marlon King returned to the Golden Boy's Ranks yesterday in the 2-1 home defeat against Leicester to find things had changed since he'd been away. Gone has the smooth passing we were all amazed by at the beginning of the season and in has come the long ball. There were times when we did have flashes of excellence on a most beautiful day, one that seemed like mid summer, and these came from man of the match Ashley Young but all in all the ball hit the heavens far too frequently.

Young was a man rejuvenate by the return of his striking partner Marlon and produced one of the runs of the season slipping the ball past a defender to pelt half the length of the field to pass the keeper and then send it goal bound. But the leather seemed to grip the surface and it was slow enough for a charging defender to snatch it from the jaws of the up rights. Oh brilliance, Oh the injustice, Oh stolen luck. I knew when that one didn't go in that we were going to have our work cut out.

All too often the ball went back to Foster who pumped it up the field and at times it would just bounce on through to the opposition keeper or a calm defender. Again the ball would work across the midfield and Mahon would receive it look up and back it went to the man with the big kick and boy can he kick it! You almost felt that he was an out field player.

But perhaps another reason why we didn't score the equalizer was that the formation was slightly compromising. Marlon wasn't allowing himself to remain in the centre, under obvious instruction, and ended up floating out to the right. What this did in effect was keep McNamee from moving forward into space. The little man was also tracking back far too much and defending long balls. How stupid? So he had no space to do what we consider a very special brand of Watford magic, he couldn't run at the defenders.

It could have been 2-2 or we could have won the game but the Hornets have woken up to the fact that we're not two from the top of the league and that post new season luck has run dry. It's pure hard work from now on, but I believe once the King has settled in and the side plays to his strengths then we'll once again become those unlikely crusaders.

Two Blinders and a Win Over Norwich...Nice

2005-09-17T08:19:00.000+01:00

An incredible thing happened last Tuesday. Not only was it a glorious night but Watford score two amazing goals in the first half of a victory over Norwich that not many attending will forget. Two men, one fairly younger than the other knocked the winded out of an amazed crowd.

Watford over the years haven't been a 'flare' team so to speak, they have been battlers, a teams team. No massive players taking the lime light and in many ways they are still like that but something has changed this season. I put it down to two people; the manager and Marlon King. King for his obviously superior finishing skills and enthusiasms and Boothy because he has inspired the team beyond all expectations. So for the golden boys to score two megatron goals was some what surprising but exceptionally welcoming.

The first was King who seems to herald the beginning of the goals this season with a nonchalant style. It's like he said 'right guys I like scoring so I'm going to bloody well do it, okay?' He plucked the long ball from the air, cleverly taking it to his left shielding it from goal and defender and with his quick turn of speed, turned it to the by line and just before he had reached it squared his body to goal and place it high and with his right. It was almost as quick as a click of the fingers. The crowd paused for what seemed like an eternity and then erupted the cries echoing shock and delight! It all happened so quickly and smoothly. King had written this part of the script before the ball had reached his foot, it was as if he knew what was going to happen. So be it. One to remember, and surely the only wonder goal this game? No.

The second was Young. King passed the ball to Young who slipped past one defender to the corner of the box and gave himself space against another. This released enough time for him launch a cracker from 17 yards rising like a bullet into the top right hand corner of the goal. Stunning! The power that he drove into the ball was blistering and unstoppable also because his placement was spot on. The keeper stood no chance. Could King's experience be guiding this young man to brilliance?

Two amazing goals, a beautiful night, a victory against Norwich, what more could you ask?

A Leader, A Manager

2005-08-31T22:21:00.000+01:00

Boothroyd as seen here in my little sketch proved one major thing last Bank Holiday Monday when we had a mighty victory over Derby; he is leading a team that wants to be lead by him. He is an inspiring manager despite being the youngest in the whole of the league but yet a very cool character.

We beat Derby in an amazing way on that Monday. We truly battled and came back from one down and when big Carlisle headed home the winner in the 89th minute it was a testimony to Boothroyd that the player should run to him and jump into his arms, like father and son(puke) and like Boothy had said to the man that he could do it, he could win. The Boyz did good.

Listed in the Football Directory

2005-08-30T08:29:00.000+01:00

So that you all know this blog is now listed at http://www.the-football-directory.co.uk/directory.asp. Cheers

Wedding Day Steal

2005-08-29T07:56:00.000+01:00

After seeing Watford walk all over Notts County on a beautiful Tuesday night and achieve a rare consecutive 3-1 win I was regretfully having to miss another home game on the following Saturday. My sister-in-law was getting married. Now you might argue that this is or isn't a valid reason but for my wife it was and so I had to go to the wedding.

But I had a plan and sky was in my favor. The game was kicking off at 5:15, on sky TV, and by this time there might be a break in play (at the wedding) where upon I could sneak out to the bar and watch the match. I had arrange with the bar man before hand to have the football on. Everything was going to plan, except dinner was served at about 4:30. I had to eat up and then came a moment when I could duck away and pretend to take my time and find something for my daughter. I sat in the bar watching the football, went back found another excuse and then came back. The first half was a touch bitty and as the dinner speeches passed I realized that now I had the chance to settle down in the bar and watch the whole of the second half.

There was a slight problem; I had my baby son with me and I'd already had about five glasses of wine. But in some strange way these two things focused me and I managed to feed him two jars of food and watch the football as well.

I was amazed to see Watford putting on an excellent performance against arguable the best side in the league. I felt a welling of pride in my chest, whether this was tempered by the merriment of wedding days and excessive wine I'm not sure but there was no doubt that this was in some way connected to what I was seeing on the set overhead. Young and McNamee were amazing and the little man was heavily praised in the News of the World the next day. 0-0 it ended but it felt like we won all three points and oh yes I was completely happy by the end of the evening, well come on it was a wedding.

Two Big Wins and Ten Goals in Four Games!

2005-08-23T17:43:00.001+01:00

This was my first home game this season...and Watford's second. I embraced the feeling of home as I took up my season ticket seat, it was good to be back and to be entertained in such a way just topped it off. I knew there would be many hard and cold nights and afternoons to come, frozen extremities, frustrated and triumphant cries but it would be all worth it. Being part of something even if it didn't run that smoothly is integral for the human condition otherwise life would be so boring. And having Watford in my life (don't puke) almost makes the winters worth while.

3-1 and we pummel Burnley who admittedly aren't the greatest of sides and sport a couple of Watford old boys; Noel-Williams and Hide. Both received a round of applause as they came on. But old Gifton was a inept as usual falling down and loping around like someone of stilts. He could have been such a great player, his first appearance for Watford was when he was 16.

Watford ran the shop, moving quickly, having a few problems with the final ball but all in all looking good. We were also taking shots from outside the area, Captain Mahon scoring for the first time in 18 months with a delicious deflection. But once again my man of the match was Marlon King. He looked quick, skillful and most importantly confident. Here we see him cool and collected as he slots home the first and a deserved goal.

Pub Demolition

2005-08-19T13:55:00.000+01:00

It was a few days ago that I saw Watford beat Cardiff 3-1 and I was down the local when it happened watching the golden boys on the big screen. Deep within my head there is a room, now closed and occasionaly opened, where the shock of seeing a Watford player score a spectacular goal resides. That room was the pub that day when Marlon King early in the first half made himself some space, while holding off a defender, to curle the ball around the keeper and low into the bottom right hand corner. GOAL!

A wash of something unexpected came over me, not only was I enjoying a beer, sitting with my Watford mates and reveling in the fact that my two kids weren't lapping around my feet but I was also thinking that there would be more of this glory to come from the King. It was great to see and I am looking forward to the next game, hope in my belly.

Watford moved with confidence and speed during most of the match. Direction perhaps taken from the fact that they scored three in the last game and that maybe Marlon King believes that this side can offer more. At this stage I ordered a bottle of wine, yes I know not really a football drink but who cares and by the time the third had gone in I was merry, another bottle down, unbelieving and hell yes over the moon. The next day a grey mist hung over my vision, but it didn't matter because that little room in my head had been opened (no I'm not crazy) and it's delightful contents still lingered in my minds eye taking the edge off the pain.

Radio Drama 3-3!

2005-08-11T07:49:00.000+01:00

When your side comes back from 3-1 down to level at 3-3 you'd think that you'd be over the moon. Well I would normally but on this occasion two things linger in my mind that seemed to take the shine off a valiant fight back;

1- We were down because of terrible defending and keeping, something that reminds me of last season and is made worse by the fact that we have over the years prided ourselves on a solid back four. 2- That we dominated the second half and should have won but Blizzard didn't make good enough contact with the ball during a brilliant chance.

(Okay I know a touch harsh, but I am worried that we could be having a roller coaster of a season when my nerves are already shot after looking after two babies, here in my humble abode.)

I was also crouched over my radio for this match as Plymouth is a fair old distance to drive on an evening from the glamorous Hertfordshire that we all know and lo...Hate. So I am not in the best position to judge the minor details of the match. Yet how come I feel worried...? An inexperienced manager? A 17 year old in the centre of the field? (rightly replaced with Mahon) The keeper making mistakes again? Holes in the defense? I'm repeating myself......

But hell's bells Young scored two amazing goals! The skinniest player on the pitch, with legs like golf clubs, is surely not maturing as a player? He is twenty, as light as a feather and very skilled at times. If he can turn on the style we could be in for a treat. I hope he can because we need it.

One more thing, a positive thing (I know shock horror). King scored a strikers goal, yes he picked up a rebound off a MacNamee shot and scored. This is rare for Watford as we just generally fail to get men in the box to collect stuff like this. Could we have a good old fashion goal hanger? I hope so, I hope so....

Missed the First Game!

2005-08-08T07:41:00.000+01:00

I unfortunately missed the first game of the season which has never happened before and I feel like I failed to be a loyal supporter. But I was on holiday in Cornwall with my family having a great time. The Match 1 ticket will probably remain in my season ticket wallet for the rest of the season to remind me of the sacrifices we have to make in life.

I picked up the News of the World on the way home, let this choice of paper not judge my character, and sat down to read a good sized article about the match. With no premier matches the championship had the limelight.

Watford 1 Preston 2. The article written by an ancient looking Fred Burcombe seemed to be say that there was hope despite the lose, after taking the lead on 9 mins through Henderson not the mighty and transferred helguson (now at fulham for 1.3 million, we will miss him). I feel slightly unsettled by the similarity between their names as if Boothy had to buy someone who sounded the same to pacify the fans. Let us hope he is as good.

There is an excellent article at Blind Stupid and Desperate another Watford Website about Heidar...I recommend a read. http://www.bsad.org/gone/helguson.html

As for the rest of the game apparently Marlon King was good but I wasn't there so I can't say much more about it.

I will say this though. I looked at the team sheet and felt strangely lost as the list of names which confronted me seemed somehow alien. Players that were on bench last season, new signings, people on loan, ANTHONY McKAMEE starting! Hang on is this Watford or has the side been randomly shuffled with three other teams and then eleven dealt on the hallowed green of Vicarage road. Wait a minute this is quite exciting!

Bored in the Woods and Meadows

2005-07-16T19:56:00.000+01:00

I went to Meadow Park with two fellow Watford supporters today, for the pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood FC. The Wood are in the Southern Football League, quite far down the ladder and so I was looking forward to a good six goals.

We got three in the end during a period of five minutes at the start of the second half. The game was scrappy despite Watford having a large percentage of the play. There were a couple of problems which pulled me back to the landslide of last season. Get the ball in the Box! We have a great difficulty in crossing the ball. Just let it rip! We hardly ever shoot.

Comedy moment; First goal. Ashley Young receives an excellent cross from the days best player on the pitch Anthony McNamee. He rather than smash it home gently side foots it into the keepers lap who in turn fumbles it into the back of the net.

Comedy moment; Second Goal. Hameur Bouazza gets awarded a goal that bounces back off one defender changes direction and then deflects of the keeper.

We have a lot of work to do. Toumani Diagouraga looked good out there though, maybe there is hope. By the way the weather was spot on.

A Watford Fan Blogs in

2005-07-16T18:36:00.000+01:00

I live St Albans and have supported Watford FC for the whole of my conscious life. My name is Toby. That's all you need to know for now as more will follow.

It is approching the beginning of the 2005-06 season and I have decided that seeing Watford did so badly last season that I might need an outlet to vent my worries and frustrations for the coming roller coaster ride. This is it so please Enter the Wilderness of Watford Football Club.