Yes.... we'd be far better off buying a collection of £40M players who don't work out either and then we end up in administration. If GP hits on 1 in 6 of these blokes he's done brilliantly. These rest he is at worst breaking even on. It'd be lovely if GP was a Russian oligarch or Qatari sheik who could waste £90M a year on *name* players who we could all brag about down the pub, but he's not. That doesn't make any of this sort of thing bad business. It wasn't long ago that people were slagging off Doucoure in exactly the same way.
I’m sure we make losses on quite a few transfers but as you say, the overall model works, and I much prefer it to spunking £75m on Sigurddsson and Keane.
No, of course not. But the overall approach has led to us staying up and turning a profit whilst expanding the stadium and modernising everything about the club. We're positioned well to push on into European contention.
I disagree. I think we’ve been too complacent and now we are now left with the 3rd/4th weakest squad in the league. Strikers and centre backs unimproved. With our injury chaos on top of that I think we will finish 19th or 20th.
I think we'll go down too. Think we've put too much faith in what we could achieve with a fully fit squad. I still maintain that, notwithstanding the issues at either end of the pitch, a Watford team with the whole midfield firing would finish top ten. After this pre-season I have no faith we will see a fit midfield at any point this season (rightly or wrongly, I've written Chalobah off for the season and don't think we'll see Cleverley before Christmas) and this exacerbates the weaknesses in other areas of the squad that we've done little to address. Our big money signing so far is Deulofeu, who is known to be inconsistent and flaky, even if he can be a match winner. Gracia will be scapegoated by the fans as he's doesn't show enough "pashun" and will get sacked this winter. I'm quite sanguine about relegation though - if we go down then at least we might win more games than we lose and truth be told, I prefer the Championship. It will feel like a bit of a shame as we'll look back on it thinking that we would never have been anywhere near a relegation scrap if we could've kept players fit, but it turns out that chronic fitness and injury concerns are every bit as important as coaching/recruitment. I don't think Mazzarri or Silva would've been sacked if the squad hadn't suffered such terrible injuries, but at least both started with almost fully fit squads so we got some points in the bag. This season we're starting with a significant list of absentees/walking wounded and I can only see it getting worse.
Oh no the end is nigh! Cheer up mate we haven't even kicked a ball yet. I do think a quality striker is a must, a good start highly desirable and we need to get or keep more of our players fit. If we address those issues in particular we should be fine.
A must-read for all those who think we wasted money by buying Dodi. If this actually happens, it seems that we may not have... http://sportwitness.co.uk/suggestion-germany-watford-bayern-munich-transfer-expensive/
Sportwitness so it's pretty much guaranteed to be 100% true. Once it's published there and HITC it's effectively fact.
Sarcasm aside, you may well be right. The article does quote Rheinische Post as the source, but my German isn't good enough to find anything on their website.
Would be the greatest transfer since AC Milan signed Luther thinking they were getting Barnes. The next step in the money-laundering process...
They're run in totally different ways. Sports Witness almost exclusively quotes foreign media talking about our players. It's not the source of the material so you have to judge it like anything else you read. I find it quite useful more often than not. HITC meanwhile is run by work experience journalists overseeing monkeys with typewriters producing worthless clickbait.
I think there's a good chance Lukebakio is going to shove a lot of people's opinions back down their throats. Written off far too early by many of our fans.
No you won't, because it won't happen. 1. because he'll never play for us again 2. because he's ****.
I really pleased that this guy is doing so well. It's a real bonus if he turns out to be a star striker. The nonchalant way he scored his goals was impressive, and this was at Bayern Munich no less. Cucho looks like the real deal, but Dodi could be a sneaky little gem.
Some Dodi stats; League: 10 appearances (started 5, used sub 5). Total minutes: 525. Goals: 5. Assists: 0 Cup: 2 appearances (started 2). Total minutes: 158. Goals: 4. Assists: 1. Total: 12 appearances (started 7, used sub 5). Total minutes: 683. Goals 9. Assists: 1
Very good stats, but the German league isn't quite as strong as the Premier league, so that has to be taking into consideration. Looking at the loan agreement, it seems that he's at Dusseldorf until 30/06/19. Not sure if we have a call-back clause, however, would he get into our side? He plays on the right, which is where Deulofeu plays, so it would seem his opportunities would be limited. He is still an under 21 player for this season, as he didn't turn 21 until September, so he wouldn't take a squad place. Personally, I would leave him where he is. He's having a good season, creating a reputation, which will increase his value. Next season Gracia & co can take a look at him and decide whether they want him in the 25 man squad at that time.
I totally agree with leaving him at Dusseldorf. Like any player out on loan, if they hit a purple patch there are always calls to bring them back and stick them in the side. But they've been sent out for a reason, namely to get used to playing games in a competition of a higher standard than they've previously been used to. The Bundesliga may be different to the EPL but he's doing well, in a statistical sense, for a side struggling near the foot of the division. It's a tremendous learning curve for him football wise and as a person. Likewise Cucho at Huesca. After a terrific season with success & plaudits (not the Nigerian front two by the way!) last year, he's now finding out how tough football can be. It may look damning that he has only scored once but going through runs like this will be a real test of character. I also think that was his first assist today and as we all know, the modern forward isn't judged solely on goals - at least he shouldn't be - but his overall contribution to the side. For Lukebakio, he still looks relatively slight. He certainly did when he signed so this year he'll hopefully put some muscle on too. Also, in the clips from today he reminded me of Danny Welbeck in the way he runs at pace. I know Welbeck gets plenty of stick on here but early in his career he looked a very natural athlete with the ability to ghost past defenders at times. At the moment he's doing well and as you intimate, it'll either get him the chance to impress Gracia for next season or give Watford further weight if they decide to sell sooner rather than later. Either way, Watford will be benefiting from his current good form.
One that has been sent out to increase his financial value. He’ll get snapped up by one of the top bundesliga teams after his loan period. Very much doubt he’ll play for us again.
Why? I don't think there is a precedent here so no way of being so certain he hasn't been bought for Watford. In recent years, although we've sent a lot of youngsters out, very few of them have done enough whilst on loan to suggest that they could make the cut in a Premier league team and so have - understandably - been sold off or disappeared. Of those that have looked decent, they have (or look likely to) come here. Thinking here of Doucoure, Penaranda, Cucho (and, via a slightly different route, Success). If Lukebakio continues to do well in Germany this season, I see no reason why he wouldn't join up with the squad in Summer with a view to being part of the team next year. Now, if we were to sell him and Cucho in the Summer I would agree that would suggest we are going down a different road with these loans.
You’re falling into the trap of believing he exists pal. Look who started this thread for further evidence.
Don't look back in anger has the makings of a great football chant. Therefore I want him back as soon as possible, even if it ruins him as a player.
Lille Manager Christophe Gaultier has been interviewed on video saying Lukebakio is the number one choice for them to replace Nicolás Pepe who will be leaving for £60m+. They’ve been watching him for a while and really want him apparently.... https://twitter.com/breakingsporttv/status/1133065348218085377?s=21
