Yes this last 18 months is starting to look like we need Red Adair to sort it out, but Norwich haven't come close to establishing themselves in the prem for a long time. We were there for 5 years, not amazing, but over that time we've outperformed them consistently. IT's really only the last 12 months there's been any comparison, and most of that is our self inflicted lunacy rather than their brilliance.
No one is trying to take responsibility away from the owners. However we have been more successful than Norwich in recent years so they can't be that well run, when was the last time they actually finished the season above us? There is no denying that we have brought in some good young players as well.
The problem is that Norwich are financially sound as they don’t spend the PL money as and when they’ve gone up. We’ve spent longer in the premier league than they have recently, but it’s cost us a significant amount to do so. We’ve now got a lot of players on expensive contracts that aren’t worth what we paid so will be difficult to shift. If we don’t go up this season we’re in real financial peril. Norwich look like they might go up this year but if we don’t we’ll likely fall into obscurity and they’ll enjoy the greater success over the next five years. As fans we’ve had the greater time of it recently, but we’re very much at a crossroads that could see us swap fortunes over the coming five years or so.
I cant wait to see our players response to the new guy. I can see us being scrappy at first as Norwich will want to get at us early, but I just hope the players will feel a bit more "off the leash" and play to their strengths. I have always felt that if you put too many rules and tactics into a players head, they start "thinking" rather than doing what comes naturally. I think this has been the main issue under Ivic, players receiving the ball thinking "right firstly don't just knock it forward, make an easy pass". To me the key issue is whether Capoue can get back to his best or whether he just isn't interested in staying.? I think Capoue and garner would be OK as the two DMs, with Hughes in the middle of the three, with say Sarr and Sema. Deeney and Perica up top...
I liked the description of him by one poster on here a few years ago as being like a pinball machine, with a pass to him bouncing off his foot fast and in a random direction.
He seems to get away pretty much scot free with breaking Government lockdown rules meaning because of people like him others cannot have a Christmas or will lose jobs etc. It's probably no wonder other players feel they can do what they like when they like. Personally I am more cross with people like him than Deeney going on a radio station and putting his side of things. Up to the club to stop that happening if they don't like it.
Dwight Gayle has played 4% of possible minutes for Newcastle this season, and he hasn't even made the extremely rejigged starting XI for this Carabao Cup game against Brentford. It's a no-brainer: get him through the ******* door on a loan deal on January 1st.
At his absolute worst he would be the third biggest **** in our current strike force, so I'm not sure how we could possibly afford to be clutching our pearls on that basis.
What is also useful for them, is the fact that the nearest clubs to them are Ipswich, Cambridge and P'boro, all way below them nowadays, so they can hoover up all the local talent. My cousin has a kid in the academy there, and it's apparently amazing, all top notch personalised plans over the lock down etc, even for 11 year olds.
Makes them sound like Real Madrid do they really have extremely talented youngsters? Do they only sign quality players that want to win? If so last season could have fooled me.
Deeney's place will be at risk he will fall out with Xisco the players will lose games and Duxbury will sack Xisco.
What are the odds of us going 'Total Watford Circus' this week: Xisco strips Deeney of the captaincy before the Norwich game and is sacked 4 hours later. Deeney feigns ignorance and says he was giving Tommy Mooney a massage at the time. Gino then sacks himself while Duxbury disappears up his own ass. Deeney then declares himself Supreme Leader of Hertfordshire and we scrape a creditable 2-2 draw with 2 Deeney pens following dives from Deeney and Sarr. Stranger things have happened.
I agree mostly. I'm also very jealous that Norwich are able to integrate so many high quality youth team players into their squad, and that they allow their manager to build a project, instead of sacking them at the first hurdle. But then you look at their fortunes compared to our basket case club over the past 8 years, and who's had the better of it? Premier League Seasons since 12/13: Norwich: 4 (11th, 18th, 19th, 20th) Watford: 5 (13th, 17th, 14th, 11th, 19th) League Cup: Norwich: QF (2013) Watford: Never further than Round 4 (2019) FA Cup: Norwich: QF (2020) Watford: SF (2016), Final (2019) Promotions: Norwich: 2 (2015, 2019) Watford: 1 (2015) So even though Norwich are a better run club on the face of things, we've probably had a more successful time in the last 8 years. Although I would guess Norwich have a more stable financial situation than us right now, although I haven't looked too much into their spending.
They probably haven't got anyone on 70k a week which might help them. I guess Pukki will be the highest paid player but he does at least give value by scoring goals.
Helpfully they have already filed their accounts for the year to July (ours to June are not yet). They made a small profit despite relegation. Norwich have -£10m loan secured on TV money + £9m outstanding player purchase costs + £4m of other debt. Total £23m. -£43m cash in the bank -Spent £18m on players but sold £12m. Player values are £24m in the books Post the year end they sold Godfrey and Lewis for £40m in total and spent £9m on 5 players That's how to run a yo-yo club
Norwich have both Yo Yo's and Clubs? Whereas at Watford the Wagon Wheels have come off, we're United in our misery, and it's counting down to our next defeat 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Maybe we should form a Breakaway league?
Well, they've introduced Aarons, Madison and Cantwell, and got probably more money than they were worth for Godfrey (signed as a kid from York) and Lewis. Our nearest equivalent is Mariappa.
New manager bounce, easy win. Prediction Watford 5-1 Norwich Sarr (23), Deeney (pen 41, pen 78, pen 85), Garner (62); Foster (deliberate OG 90+2 due to it being Christmas) Watford fans declare us champions elect.
Cantwell was the only player originally in their academy, they did sign Aaron's from Luton and he played for their academy. Maddison however come through the youth academy at Coventry and had played half a season of first team football at Coventry City, Godfrey had played senior football at York City. So you could argue that they are in the same category as Richarlison or Pedro even Wilmot. I mean they are all talented players but to call them extremely talented seemed a bit far fetched to me.
As Cantwell was the only player that actually went through their academy system out of all those players which you have mentioned I have to disagree that our equivalent is Mariappa. Godfrey come through Middlesbroughs academy and had played first team football with York City, Aaron's was signed as a 16 year old from the scum, James Maddison come through Coventry Citys academy and played half a season for their first team. So in my eyes that puts them in the same category as Richarlison, Wilmot, Pedro, Tom Dele and Ngakia.
Yeah, fair point that only Cantwell came through the academy, but only Richarlison is comparable and he'd played at a higher level before joining us than the players who'd joined Norwich. Tom may get there but he's had little chance to show it.
I think JP has the potential to be far better than Cantwell its easy to forget that JP is approximately 5 years behind Cantwell.
Can I first of all wish everybody on here a safe and Happy Christmas. I know it’s a very difficult time with many now being in Tier 4 etc, but I hope despite all the restrictions everybody here can have as good a few days relaxing and chilling as is possible. Thank you to all of you who’ve made this tough year slightly more bearable with all the virtual friendship shown on here, as well as the lively discussions and even the arguments which have helped pass a few hours stuck alone in lockdown lol. I firmly believe things will improve from Spring onwards, even if the vaccination process will no doubt be long and at times infuriating. While Christmas comes every year, our lives only come once, so please all stay healthy and safe. Talking of improvements, my malaise over Ivic has obviously lifted and I feel quite positive. I like the look and sound of Munoz so far and I’m predicting a home win on Saturday night to give us all some festive cheer. I think the shackles will come off our sulky and frustrated group of players, and they will give us all a performance to be proud of. And no, I haven’t been on the Baileys early lol.
