Problems And Solutions

The whole Pozzo model is a problem.
The talent we had never signed up for this shore so pissed off.
Leaving behind players asking questions why they never got to piss off.
Young talent that was scouted with their worlds best network chucked on loan with no help ( someone wrote a great example on Peneranda somewhere in here)
Relegation has screwed up their plans big time they have no clue how to deal with it as they’ve been left with nobody who wants to be here.


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He talks like Stanley Unwin, but with an Italian accent

 

I really hope you are a billionaire with money to burn Moog, because now is the time to put your money where your mouth is and buy out the Pozzo's

 

The club needs an experienced Director of Football or someone who just works closely with the head coach that will tell Gino and Scott when they're being *****. This would also require Gino and Scott listening to this person, which we know would never happen. There desperately needs to be someone in the set up who is here long term and knows what they're doing because the current lot haven't got a ******* clue.

 

This is quite the saddest thing I’ve read in connection with Watford FC in recent times. While I think the Gray interview was well-meant, I agree it was certainly ‘ham-fisted’ and the result is it has upset our greatest ex-player who loves the club as much as any of us fans do. Someone in authority should issue an apology to Luther immediately. If they don’t they will have lost the support of many more of us, especially those of my generation.

 

It's a bloody disgrace

 

There are three people that have been synonymous with WFC and the success it has achieved and gone on to achieve in the last 45 years, Sir Elton John, Sir Graham Taylor and Sir Luther Blissett, The problem with those running the club now is they don’t know, appreciate or apparently care what the likes of Luther did for our club, will wait with baited breath for an apology from Duxberry, the man who couldn’t be bothered to thank Marriapa for his 10 years service.

 

I’d like to think, if we were able to attend the stadium, some banners would have been produced to express how the fans are feeling about this, in support of Luther and/or in criticism of the management of the club.

 

He probably speaks in Italian-inflected Harvard-esque Business Speak which wouldn't make much sense to us anyway.

 

I’ve got a call with Dave Messenger pencilled in for this week (genuinely)...

Very happy to collate people’s views and concerns and pass them on and let you know the outcome? Feel free to post them here or DM me.

 

I don't know how much power Dave has but I think he needs to make it clear to Gino that fans deserve to hear from the owner of a club which is nose diving at the moment.

If there is a way of getting our concerns across to Gino then is he able to give us answers?

 

He definitely has the platform to allay those concerns to Gino and it’s something I’m already planning on talking to him about.

The fear though is that Gino listens and then delegates the response to Duxbury who will 100% park the issue.

 

In terms of the problems and solutions that are in Dave’s purview (obviously transfer policy or manager recruitment or financial mismanagement is not) I think the focus has to be on communication and transparency.

An At Our Place would be a place to start, but only if those there are willing to engage with the tough questions rather than deny or ignore them as Duxbury did last time. Of course, I and many others think Gino participating would do a world of good but that’s just us.

Away from that, I’d like to here from Giaretta or Dowling every few months. What he’s been up to, what the short and long-term strategy is in terms of recruitment. Maybe even a review of the previous window, both ins and outs. Barnsley put out this great summary that was transparent and interesting and went a long way to showing fans the logic of those decisions (https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/murphy-update/) They did one in November also. What’s strange is that this sort of stuff seems to be quite par for the course in Italy and Udinese’s Sporting Director does it fairly regularly.

 

The trouble with communication is, as it appears we are discovering with Xisco,is that it has to be pertinent.
LeedsOrn has illustrated this with the Barnsley article.
Communication is one of the four pillars that tennis coaches are taught to use,as you would understand,alongside energy,enthusiasm and good demonstrations.
However many coaches misinterpret this as talking incessantly. This is just white noise. Unfortunately it appears that the statement delivered by Gino and Duxbury last summer is just that,empty,hollow platitudes.
A clear,concise update from Gino is required,the sooner the better.

 

Whats his favourite cheese?

First Album?

What was his first car?

If you had to have spaghetti for hair would you prefer uncooked and short or cooked but long?

 

2023 was Capoue's contract.

"Deeney has two years left on his contract and it’s believed that a third-year option will be triggered when performance targets or a specific number of games are played this season."

So at minimum Deeney, if he sees his contract out has another year here at least and the article makes it sound likely he could get another year on that with those clauses.

 

If correct, that would be 5 years too long. Pretty big margin for error.

 

The main thing, I suppose, is to express to Dave exactly how fractured the relationship between many long-standing supporters and the hierarchy at the club is becoming. They must get themselves out of the puerile Twatter-bunker they seem to have focussed all their communication strategy upon and realise just how disillusioned many fans are.

 

This is certainly the most disillusioned I’ve been with Watford since the Boothroyd/Ashton era, but I would like the club to realise that it is nothing to do with our position in the league.

 

Pozzo doesn't do 'listening'. He may 'hear' but he is too arrogant to listen and understand. The culture in the club is 'you are just fans, you know nothing'.

 

To be fair, if the club uses this forum as a barometer that's not an unfair conclusion on most things.

 

My question: After relegation we were told that lessons had been learned. What were those lessons and what has been done to implement them?

My guess is never again employ a strong-minded coach with a lot of experience as a manager, even if ( maybe especially if) he knows the English leagues.

 

What first attracted to you to the cheap as chips coaching option of Xisco Munoz?

What can you do about the widespread perception that the players rule the roost?

What is the thinking behind continually signing ageing players to long term contracts when they have no resale value?

Are they bothered that so many fans say they're sick of the way the club is being run?

Why are there so many gaffes with the Comms team that just inflame things?

 

The temperature check on most things in here would have saved the club about 150m over the past 18 months if carried into decision making by Gino.

 

Ask him

 

The much maligned Supporters Trust have now written to the club. It's a good letter, but I very much doubt it will cut any ice.

The board are arrogant beyond belief and will do things their way, like it or lump it, and to hell with the fans who are not happy (ungrateful pr***s).

Watford FC Supporters Trust publishes statement | Watford Observer

I can see this all coming to a head sooner rather than later, and it's going to get messy. Fans are turning in their droves and anger is bubbling up. Once you see the placid, diplomatic, even-tempered and "see both sides" type of fan turn, you know you have big issues.

 

‘The club were approached for comment but declined to respond.’

 

Can someone paste the letter here. For some reason I can't open up the WO website.

 

The full statement reads: "Since taking ownership of Watford FC in 2012 with the club in a state of turmoil, Gino Pozzo and his leadership team have brought the club stability and its period of greatest success: promotion to the Premier League, five seasons in the top-flight, significant and sustainable investment in the training facilities and stadium, and many good memories along the way. The club simultaneously maintained its family and community focus, particularly during the pandemic with its support for the NHS Hospital staff and Watford fans who need help.

However, the club and football are in a difficult period. The Watford Supporters Trust believes the past 18 months show there are significant issues that require a careful consideration of the current model to ensure the club’s financial stability and achieve its stated goal of returning to the Premier League.

When Vladimir Ivic was fired in December, we suggested the club examine its player and head coach recruitment efforts, management approach and communication with supporters. We also encouraged Watford’s players take responsibility to improve their performance on the pitch and actions off it.

Since then, supporters have been increasingly frustrated and confused by the situation at the club, including the hiring of a head coach with limited experience, seemingly strange decisions during the January transfer window, and uninspired on-pitch play. This has been exacerbated by very limited explanation and communication from the club on its priorities, strategy and financial status. While the running of the club is the responsibility of the management, during this strange, difficult period it is particularly important for fans to understand the factors shaping the club’s actions and performance

We have now called upon the club to quickly begin improving communication with supporters. This should include a series of fan forums over the coming months and a commitment for regular communication from Gino Pozzo and Scott Duxbury. Restoring the connection with fans when we are more distanced than ever from the club because of COVID-19 is essential to prevent unhelpful speculation and unrealistic demands.

In addition, we have encouraged the club to review its approach on and off the pitch, and to share its findings with supporters, who are eager to see the club succeed. The Trust has offered to support this process, using our experience helping Watford navigate two past periods of difficulty to provide constructive feedback.

After relegation, Gino Pozzo and Scott Duxbury promised “there will be lessons learned and changes made” and “it’s how you react that defines you”. Their actions unfortunately have not matched up with their words. Now is a pivotal moment to take decisions that will ensure the future success and stability of the club and maintain the confidence of supporters.

We welcome the input and feedback of all supporters, so we can continue to represent your views to the club."

The club were approached for comment, but declined to respond.

 

It's not beyond the wit of them to issue a holding reply is it?
"We recognise the concerns expressed in the letter and will issue a reply in the near future".
How hard is that?
Took five seconds to type.
Deeper and deeper into the pit we fall.