Welcome To Your New Captain

Well thank you I certainly appreciate it

 

F**king hell, French has now got Luther on the case and is trying to conflate people being annoyed at a s**t player being given a new contract and the captaincy to racial abuse and link it to mental health and suicide.

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23693209.watford-legend-speaks-reaction-bachmann-news/

I understand that the Watford Observer wouldn't want to directly quote any of this 'abuse' that Bachmann has supposedly been on the end of but surely they have to at least allude to it with vague examples because at the moment it seems like they are going massively overboard and making offensive and disproportionate comparisons.

I'm sure these articles are nothing to do with Bachmann being one of the few players who is usually willing to 'front up' (mix of meaningless platitudes and admitting the team didn't try) after defeats by doing exclusive interviews with French.

 

Not often I disagree with Luther but he has merged playing ability and race into one thing when talking of abuse. “It can be……….playing ability or colour of skin”.

If we are going down this route, WO need to give some examples of what they think is and is not acceptable if a fan thinks a player does not have the ability to be worthy of a 5 year contract?

I think Bachman is as poor a first choice keeper as we have had since Scott Loach and I think he has a petulant attitude on the pitch and I think his lack of ability unsettles the defence.

I think he’s dreadful as a keeper.

Is that unacceptable Mr French?

 

Andrew will be writing a piece on this forum next.

 

I don't generally disagree with what Luther is saying and I think he is entirely right that abuse can take different forms.

However, I do wonder if all this extra attention is adding significant pressure onto Bachman and making much more of a spotlight on his captaincy than there ever was before from a small number of scummy keyboard warriors.

 

Some people went overboard in their comments but social media makes it very simple to block such people. (I’m not condoning such behaviour btw)

Most people, such as Jumb just now, posted constructive criticism of the club’s decision. So what’s the problem? It’s not as if the player concerned has come out and criticised any supporters or refused to accept the captaincy because of it. That would be much more of a story.

Seems to me a case of a quiet week of Watford news, so a story like this is in danger of getting overblown and receiving more coverage than it merits. An incoming transfer (perish the thought lol) and/or an actual game of proper football on Saturday afternoon and attention will soon get moved elsewhere.

I have an open mind on the club’s decision. Wait and see. Plenty of opportunity for sure to comment on it as the season unfolds.

 

Who in their right mind would buy him? One glance at his highlights reel would reveal his glaring shortcomings.

Furthermore, he's our longest serving player, just been made captain and given a new contract. It is almost certain he's now our highest paid player.

Let that sink in.

 

Nail on the head. This is just about driving clicks to the Wobby website. Bit odd this should be a quiet week for the local paper though - I'd have thought by now even if the transfer front is deathly quiet they could still be churning out the usual season preview content given the season starts on Saturday.

 

I take it you didn't read his article, then?

"Let me be clear – I am not suggesting that fans are not entitled to their opinions, that they must happily clap every decision and announcement, or that they should not voice their concerns, doubts or even anger.

As with so much in life, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.

Just like all those other high-profile careers – politician, pop star, actor etc – most work a footballer does is in full public view. It’s there to be critiqued. And because of their fame, the bits that are done in private often end up in the public domain anyway."

Pretty clear he and LB aren't referencing your type of comment, which is a completely fair comment to make.

 

Given the vast amount of critical tweets/posts were variants on mine then it seems a significant over reaction from French and Bachman’s social media team in that case then,

 

What's the threshold for when abusive tweets are allowed to be mentioned? And which part of French/Luther's assessment: "abuse is wrong and should be called out" do you disagree with?

 

Of course don’t disagree with it but don’t think it needed a lecture from French to the entire fanbase when it was a tiny minority. Do you even know what was said? I don’t and French won’t give examples.. if you have some examples im sure we would all be all able to agree that it was terrible and put the matter to bed. Shouldn’t these people be banned by twitter for that matter?

Do you think LouOrns being blocked for posting a goalkeeping stat was an over reaction by Bachman media team?

 

Wow - if posting a stat warrants a ban then he's definitely too thin skinned to be a goalie.

I completely agree with Luther, but questioning the contract and making him captain shouldn't be outlawed. French's article is patronised and nauseating - read like a communist newspaper praising the regime.

 

He put out an opinion piece in the newspaper he works for. It's not like the club put out an official statement and emailed it to every fan. No one forced anyone to read it. I saw comments that ranged from "**** off" to calling him a clown. And of course French alluded to comments about him being a disruptive influence. Not the worst pile on I've seen, but certainly wasn't the best look, and can't be helpful either way. We're all guilty of it, but I think it's fair to say it went too far.

Bachmann would be wasting his time attempting to get people banned from Twitter or Instagram, so I don't see the issue in him simply blocking anyone sending him something he doesn't think will be useful for him?

Louorns said Bachmann was one of the worst keepers in the league (since deleted) and has posted several negative tweets about him over the past year or so "I don’t want to see Bachmann in a Watford shirt again". Not to say they're abusive, or even that I necessarily disagree with all of them, but to say he was "blocked for posting a goalkeeping stat" doesn't quite show the whole picture.

 

Bachmann kept the score down yesterday but he's still terrible with his feet. I see Hamer was dropped for turning up late to a team meeting meaning Roberts was the sub keeper, to be honest I'd rather we went with that going forward. What's the point of Hamer sitting on the bench and Roberts in the stands? Give Roberts the experience and play him in the FA Cup. Neither are real competition for Bachmann at the moment though so Dan is free to make as many mistakes as he likes.

On a separate point that's now two of Ismael's 'leadership group' that have been dropped due to lateness. Not a great look is it.

 

I said that in a previous post. I think the cracks are beginning to show now.

Sure Leeds are one of the better sides, but the gulf in class should not have been as big as it was yesterday. Half the team couldn’t be bothered. Seen it all before, with players downing tools to force out a manager. Yesterday’s was as bad as anything we’ve had in the past couple of seasons.

 

Bachmann’s comment in his post-match interview where he said a number of our players were intimidated by playing at Elland Road was pretty worrying. That weakness of character hands the home team an advantage before kick-off. No wonder we haven’t won away since New Year’s Day.

 

The ease in how they walked through our team was alarming. If we have a team of feeble pansies, that’s all on Pozzo.

 

Re your last paragraph, at least VI is trying to install discipline within this shower. You won't achieve this overnight!

 

You mean Edwards.

 

I too would rather see Roberts than Hamer in the cup, but what extra experience does Roberts get by being listed as a sub? The 3rd choice keeper travels, even if there's no chance he gets on unless there's a Bonham situation (which, realistically is only slightly less likely than a sub keeper coming on anyway!)

 

Considering they couldn't hack Exeter away, maybe there's something to that!

 

I totally agree with you. I actually find this quite refreshing. A bit of discipline and about time too. I wonder how he would have dealt with Foster and his GoPro / podcast sideline.

 

I was very critical of Bachman when he got sent off last season. However, I do feel he is relishing his captaincy and is leading by example.

I know we are not doing as well as we would like, yet, but I am enjoying our refreshed regime and approach. Our finances may have forced the owner's hand, but VI'S new broom and improved discipline is exactly what we need going forward.

I am quite optimistic, but I think we need to give VI time and our patience. Let's hope Gino has the same thoughts.

 

He was very shaky for the first couple of games, but in the last few his play on the ball has not really been that much of a problem and didn't cost us any chances - let alone the fact that we've still not conceded a goal from having Bachmann play out from the back, as many expected would happen sometimes at the start of the season, and which seemed possible based on the first couple of games.

I've mentioned before but you won't be finding any Alissons or Onanas in the Championship and it's absurd to expect otherwise. As is, Bachmann seems fine with the ball at his feet relative to other Champ goalkeepers.

He even seems to have improved his coming out for crosses as well this season, which I don't think has been mentioned much.

 

Bachmann was the best player on the pitch against Leeds. More of the same this weekend please.

 

No Championship keeper is Onana or Ederson, but likewise the strikers are ******* too, which I guess as we've seen gives you a bit more leeway. Wouldn't say he's exactly smooth with the ball, but he has stopped giving us heart attacks, hopefully that continues! Can't say I've noticed much in terms of him improving from set piece crosses, I don't think we've been troubled much in general from set piece crosses (Leeds aside) which is probably in part because our defence is decent at this level (especially in the air) and in part because we have had most of the play in most games

 

Evening all - I’ve been meaning to sign up to the forums for some time. Not because I’ve got any delusions of grandeur, simply as it’s another way to engage with other fans.

I’m probably opening myself up to a load of abuse, but that sort of comes with the territory. I’m paid to write, to give opinions and I can’t do it anonymously!

Anyhow, I saw this thread (where I was taking some stick earlier in the season ) and thought it would be a good place to start.

I can’t promise I’ll reply to everything (because I won’t always read everything, not because I’m out to dodge things), but I’ll do my best.

Being 52 and a bit of a Luddite, I’m not sure if there’s a way to see things aimed towards me?

Whatever, what I’m not here to do is stop debate or be a snitch. Quite the opposite: I’ve signed up as me and I’ll be as open as I can.

Whether we agree or disagree, if you think I’m good at the job or absolutely ****, one thing we all share is wanting WFC to be the best of can.

Andrew, WO

 

AFWO!!!

Thank God you are here!!!

As the wonderful and insightful comedian Dave Allen used to say:

May Your God Go With You!!!

 

I’m afraid if you have no delusions of grandeur you’re in the wrong place. We can work on that though. Welcome!