Very well put together young man. Provides those who have an interest in our club, as well as those interested in what goes on behind the scenes in football generally, with a good snapshot. And good luck to the Gunners. With our adjacent training grounds, the thought of players shouting over the fence..."Can we have our ball back, please?" always amuses me. If our lot ever tried to take a shot in the vague direction of the goal!
Thank you for watching, I’m glad you found the video useful. Yes, I’m sure that’s probably happened before. Although, I think a few years ago with Aubameyang and co, we were the ones asking for our balls back!
This is actually one of your most interesting videos, Tom, and I've watched it several times. Let me play Devil's Advocate on one of the points that your pundits made. At 04:54 Peter (I think) notes with disgust that Watford sold João Pedro in April, when the season isn't even done yet. Here's why Watford did the right thing. Realistically, it was clear that they wouldn't be promoted, they wouldn't be relegated, and they were out of the cup competitions. So at that point the focus shifts to next season, and you can use the rest of this season to evaluate the players who haven't had much game time up to now. If some other club makes you an offer you can't refuse, take it. According to Transfermarkt, Watford bought Pedro from Fluminense for EUR 11.5 million on January 1, 2020, and sold him to Brighton for EUR 34.2 million as of July 1, 2023. That's what a selling club does. Like it or not, what Watford did here was in line with their business model.
@@TFSS Brentford certainly does too, they're renowned for how well they do it. The real difference is that they have the buy-in of their fans, and Watford clearly doesn't. But it's not a new idea. Back when giants roamed the earth, the clubs in Division Three and Division Four routinely had to produce one star player a year that they could sell to a Division One club in order to survive financially.
When Pozzo arrived he set out a plan to get the club in the Premier League and develop the ground, and he delivered. As Peter says, since 2019 EVERY decision made has been wrong in terms of head coach recruitment. This coupled with woeful player recruitment has seen a decline. Over the last 12 months the patience from the fans has started to run out. Fans trying to voice their displeasure have been targeted by sinister actions of stewards on match days with fans being watched, increased presence of the police and stewards, which become very evident when results are going against us. I hate Pozzo, despise him with every fibre of my being. I’m praying for a new owner to come in and buy the club. I’ve renewed my ST, however I refuse to buy any more merchandise, or refreshments in the ground. I want this owner gone, there is no way Pozzo can change my mind on that.
[Edited on May 11, 2023, to include a correction provided by Ken Green, below.] I grew up in North London, and I was about your age when the local pantomime villain, Jim Bonser, sold Watford to Elton John. All my mates supported either Spurs or Arsenal. I supported Spurs - no way would I support a club whose name begins with "Arse". 😂 But you couldn't afford to go there, so we'd all meet on the terraces at (Division 4) Watford at five to three. It was easy to find your mates, because they'd be the only the other people there. The men's lavs were a wall and a trough. A lot changed when Elton bought it. He stole a young Graham Taylor from Lincoln City, who had previously won Division 4 with a record number of points, and poured money into the club. The rest is history. All things end, and the modern Watford was never built to win. It's a selling club, built to showcase and sell the rising stars from the ownership group's overseas clubs. It needs to be in the Premiership some of the time, but not all of the time. It's such a pity that they have lost the path in the last few years. I would love to hear their side of the story. I disagree with some of the analysis in the video. Carrying asset-linked debt is not necessarily a disaster. For example, you could ask your dad if he has a mortgage on his house 🏠
@@TFSS That would be great, Tom. On a smaller scale, Elton John did for Watford what Rob and Ryan are doing for Wrexham. BTW, UA-cam steered me to your "Bog Special" short video. 🤣🤣🤣 I'm guessing that "Bog" refers to where you spent the next few days after you ate that stuff.
@@kengreen3575 Oops! Thanks for catching my typo, Ken. It was, of course, Lincoln City, in 1977. Lincoln had just finished a decent season in Division Three, having won the Division Four title the previous season. Watford then won the Division Four title by a lot in the 1977-78 season. BTW, there was a story at the time, attributed to Graham Taylor, that he had hung up on Elton John the first time that he phoned, because he thought it was a prank call! Elton John was very persistent!
Honestly, one of the biggest problems at WFC is the part of the fanbase that genuinely believe we should be an established mid-table Premier League team and nothing else will do.
I'm positive. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. We still play in a great league, have world class training facilities, we have arguably the best pitch in the country, the best fans. So, we've had a temporary hiccup. We'll be back!
@@martynhyde8968 You seem to have a selective memory bro. The Pozzos have bought us much success, even with their hire & fire strategy. No one was laughing then!
Really feel for the Watford fans over the past 5 years, clearly deserving of much better ownership than the lot they currently contend with, where if they prevent you from bringing in a banner it really shows how fragile their ego is. Fact that Rob Edwards went to local rivals Luton and won them promotion, IMO should be screaming at the owners that their system doesn't work anymore, where unless they win promotion this season it does feel that discontent will boil over. Although the managerial sacking that perplexed me most was Xisco during their last stint in the Premier League, correct me if I'm wrong about this but I believe he had them up to 13th, which for a newly promoted club is a brilliant start for about 12 games in, but then he was sacked and they wonder why they were relegated? Hope they pull through and stay afloat at least in the Championship, we've all seen what's happened to Derby, Reading, and Sheffield Wednesday in recent years.
I definitely agree, the owners system isn’t working and I think if promotion doesn’t come soon then things may take a turn for the worse. Hopefully though, as you say, Watford can get through this tough period.
Thanks for your concern pal but we’re fine thanks 🤣 the last 10 seasons have been arguably the second most successful period in the club’s history. It’s inevitable that Watford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford - all the clubs outside of the big 6/7 - will end up back in the Championship sooner or later.
@@Johnno1234 Ending up back in the Championship, yes there's an inevitability to such. But with the managing eating process in hyperdrive, and the mounting debts now with disinterested owners trying such ownership models. Will it really end there?
@@007ryanwilliams it’s hardly in hyperdrive and there are plenty of clubs that have had more managers than WFC over the last year. The appointment of Tom Cleverley suggests a real change of tack, a proper WFC legend who is a young and very highly rated coach. As for the finances, WFC has been the most profitable club in the EFL this year and we have a raft of young talent in the squad so I’m really not that concerned about the books.
@@VijaySuryaAditya I doubt there'll be much laughing at the bottom of the championship, that's where you're heading. We might spare you a few 💶 though.
@@trunky123 Our season was fairly average granted, but not totally disastrous. We did the double over both of the top teams and Norwich, spanked you lot at the Vic, & despite it being a poor season, plagued with injuries, the wrong sort of managers, & players, we still managed mid table. I doubt there will be much laughing at the foot of The Premiership either! You know it & I know it, every dog has it's day, and you've just had your day at Wembley. Treasure it, there might not be another.
@@VijaySuryaAditya You achieved mid table with all that talent and parachute money, and you're content? Oh and I forgot, you're the only team to get injuries 🤔
@@trunky123 Just teasing! I'd be an absolute liar if I said LTFC didn't deserve it. They were the 3rd best team this season and deserved promotion. Wish you joy bro!
Finally a UA-cam video on Watford! Great video lad
Thanks for watching!
Very well put together young man. Provides those who have an interest in our club, as well as those interested in what goes on behind the scenes in football generally, with a good snapshot.
And good luck to the Gunners. With our adjacent training grounds, the thought of players shouting over the fence..."Can we have our ball back, please?" always amuses me. If our lot ever tried to take a shot in the vague direction of the goal!
Thank you for watching, I’m glad you found the video useful. Yes, I’m sure that’s probably happened before. Although, I think a few years ago with Aubameyang and co, we were the ones asking for our balls back!
This is actually one of your most interesting videos, Tom, and I've watched it several times. Let me play Devil's Advocate on one of the points that your pundits made.
At 04:54 Peter (I think) notes with disgust that Watford sold João Pedro in April, when the season isn't even done yet.
Here's why Watford did the right thing. Realistically, it was clear that they wouldn't be promoted, they wouldn't be relegated, and they were out of the cup competitions. So at that point the focus shifts to next season, and you can use the rest of this season to evaluate the players who haven't had much game time up to now. If some other club makes you an offer you can't refuse, take it.
According to Transfermarkt, Watford bought Pedro from Fluminense for EUR 11.5 million on January 1, 2020, and sold him to Brighton for EUR 34.2 million as of July 1, 2023.
That's what a selling club does. Like it or not, what Watford did here was in line with their business model.
I agree, buying cheap, developing players, then selling high is a good strategy. I think Brighton follow the same policy.
In the description is the full interview, if you’d like to have a look. It goes into some more detail about Peter’s concerns.
@@TFSS Thanks, I'll take a look at it.
@@TFSS Brentford certainly does too, they're renowned for how well they do it. The real difference is that they have the buy-in of their fans, and Watford clearly doesn't.
But it's not a new idea. Back when giants roamed the earth, the clubs in Division Three and Division Four routinely had to produce one star player a year that they could sell to a Division One club in order to survive financially.
When Pozzo arrived he set out a plan to get the club in the Premier League and develop the ground, and he delivered. As Peter says, since 2019 EVERY decision made has been wrong in terms of head coach recruitment. This coupled with woeful player recruitment has seen a decline.
Over the last 12 months the patience from the fans has started to run out. Fans trying to voice their displeasure have been targeted by sinister actions of stewards on match days with fans being watched, increased presence of the police and stewards, which become very evident when results are going against us.
I hate Pozzo, despise him with every fibre of my being. I’m praying for a new owner to come in and buy the club. I’ve renewed my ST, however I refuse to buy any more merchandise, or refreshments in the ground. I want this owner gone, there is no way Pozzo can change my mind on that.
Great job with this vid. Bar the mic and the fancy production quality this channel could be on par with hitc
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed!
[Edited on May 11, 2023, to include a correction provided by Ken Green, below.]
I grew up in North London, and I was about your age when the local pantomime villain, Jim Bonser, sold Watford to Elton John. All my mates supported either Spurs or Arsenal. I supported Spurs - no way would I support a club whose name begins with "Arse". 😂
But you couldn't afford to go there, so we'd all meet on the terraces at (Division 4) Watford at five to three. It was easy to find your mates, because they'd be the only the other people there. The men's lavs were a wall and a trough.
A lot changed when Elton bought it. He stole a young Graham Taylor from Lincoln City, who had previously won Division 4 with a record number of points, and poured money into the club. The rest is history.
All things end, and the modern Watford was never built to win. It's a selling club, built to showcase and sell the rising stars from the ownership group's overseas clubs. It needs to be in the Premiership some of the time, but not all of the time. It's such a pity that they have lost the path in the last few years. I would love to hear their side of the story.
I disagree with some of the analysis in the video. Carrying asset-linked debt is not necessarily a disaster. For example, you could ask your dad if he has a mortgage on his house 🏠
I may make a video of the Elton John takeover - it's an interesting story. Hopefully they can return to the Premier League in the next few years.
@@TFSS That would be great, Tom. On a smaller scale, Elton John did for Watford what Rob and Ryan are doing for Wrexham.
BTW, UA-cam steered me to your "Bog Special" short video. 🤣🤣🤣
I'm guessing that "Bog" refers to where you spent the next few days after you ate that stuff.
Graham Taylor came to Watford from Lincoln City, not Notts County
@@kengreen3575 Oops! Thanks for catching my typo, Ken. It was, of course, Lincoln City, in 1977. Lincoln had just finished a decent season in Division Three, having won the Division Four title the previous season. Watford then won the Division Four title by a lot in the 1977-78 season.
BTW, there was a story at the time, attributed to Graham Taylor, that he had hung up on Elton John the first time that he phoned, because he thought it was a prank call! Elton John was very persistent!
Honestly, one of the biggest problems at WFC is the part of the fanbase that genuinely believe we should be an established mid-table Premier League team and nothing else will do.
Great video as always. Such a shame for the club
Thanks, it is!
I'm positive. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. We still play in a great league, have world class training facilities, we have arguably the best pitch in the country, the best fans. So, we've had a temporary hiccup. We'll be back!
@@VijaySuryaAditya I will have whatever it is you are smoking.
This football club is the biggest aughing stock around the country
@@martynhyde8968
You don't judge Pavarotti by how he sings in the bath!
@@martynhyde8968
You seem to have a selective memory bro. The Pozzos have bought us much success, even with their hire & fire strategy. No one was laughing then!
Damn good vid bro, keep it up!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed.
Im a luton fan but im sad we aint getting to verse you hopefully get you in the fa cup
Hopefully the derby will happen someway this season!
@@TFSS only way carabao cup or fa cup i hope and pray we get use next season
Really feel for the Watford fans over the past 5 years, clearly deserving of much better ownership than the lot they currently contend with, where if they prevent you from bringing in a banner it really shows how fragile their ego is. Fact that Rob Edwards went to local rivals Luton and won them promotion, IMO should be screaming at the owners that their system doesn't work anymore, where unless they win promotion this season it does feel that discontent will boil over. Although the managerial sacking that perplexed me most was Xisco during their last stint in the Premier League, correct me if I'm wrong about this but I believe he had them up to 13th, which for a newly promoted club is a brilliant start for about 12 games in, but then he was sacked and they wonder why they were relegated?
Hope they pull through and stay afloat at least in the Championship, we've all seen what's happened to Derby, Reading, and Sheffield Wednesday in recent years.
I definitely agree, the owners system isn’t working and I think if promotion doesn’t come soon then things may take a turn for the worse. Hopefully though, as you say, Watford can get through this tough period.
Thanks for your concern pal but we’re fine thanks 🤣 the last 10 seasons have been arguably the second most successful period in the club’s history. It’s inevitable that Watford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford - all the clubs outside of the big 6/7 - will end up back in the Championship sooner or later.
@@Johnno1234 Ending up back in the Championship, yes there's an inevitability to such. But with the managing eating process in hyperdrive, and the mounting debts now with disinterested owners trying such ownership models. Will it really end there?
@@007ryanwilliams it’s hardly in hyperdrive and there are plenty of clubs that have had more managers than WFC over the last year. The appointment of Tom Cleverley suggests a real change of tack, a proper WFC legend who is a young and very highly rated coach.
As for the finances, WFC has been the most profitable club in the EFL this year and we have a raft of young talent in the squad so I’m really not that concerned about the books.
Pozzo is a crook, his policy worked until it didn't. Pozzotive = negative. Against modern football.
Being a Luton fan this gives me great joy, as the old saying goes "he who laughs last, laughs longest" 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
I don't know, I'll always laugh at Luton, and the laughs will be plentiful next season.
@@VijaySuryaAditya I doubt there'll be much laughing at the bottom of the championship, that's where you're heading.
We might spare you a few 💶 though.
@@trunky123
Our season was fairly average granted, but not totally disastrous. We did the double over both of the top teams and Norwich, spanked you lot at the Vic, & despite it being a poor season, plagued with injuries, the wrong sort of managers, & players, we still managed mid table.
I doubt there will be much laughing at the foot of The Premiership either! You know it & I know it, every dog has it's day, and you've just had your day at Wembley. Treasure it, there might not be another.
@@VijaySuryaAditya You achieved mid table with all that talent and parachute money, and you're content? Oh and I forgot, you're the only team to get injuries 🤔
@@trunky123
Just teasing!
I'd be an absolute liar if I said LTFC didn't deserve it. They were the 3rd best team this season and deserved promotion. Wish you joy bro!
Watford are not 124 mil in debt
Joke of a club, I love Gino de Campo, the longer he stays, the further they will fall, always in the shadow of the mighty Hatters 🎩🎩🧡🧡
Do you reckon you’ll stay up this season? ⬆️ 🤔