Furphy provided glimpses of WFC’s potential. Sadly, the tide soon washed away his footsteps in the sand.
Yeah, as Vic said. Gracia's legacy isn't on the same planet as GT's. It could happen but not in this decade.
Up to GT, you'd be correct. He has the potential to I think as his attitude and personaility do reflect the best of this club, but that would take years of consistent success.
A cup win would put Gracia firmly in second place behind GT. Continuous success thereafter would be the only way JG could be compared.
Nobody other than GT has got us into a major final. Nobody other than GT has got us such a high number of points in the top flight. Surely that puts Javi a clear second
QSF keeping us up with no fear of relegation at any point that first season, with a squad largely full of utter dung is more impressive than Gracias modest achievements imo.
It’s not ridiculous to think that Javi won’t even be here beyond next season. I think he’ll be here to start our next campaign, but let’s face it, even if he doesn’t win the cup, yet produces a similar season in terms of fighting for Europe again, you’d imagine he’d be on the radar of bigger clubs, be it here or abroad. Hard to know whether he’d be willing to pass up the opportunity to move up the ladder. Equally, if we find ourselves around the bottom half or looking nervously over our shoulders at the relegation battle, discontent about a lack of progress will emerge and the calls to sack him will begin to grow amongst our fickle fan base when form takes a dive. To come even close to GT, Javi is going to have to produce miracles. To build a legacy beyond more than 2-3 seasons is almost unrealistic in the modern game.
Ha it's harsh on slater to even compare the two. Though did slater score a single goal apart from that belter against someone or other? He tore those chumps up the road apart in that 4-0. Good times
I think God himself said to eclipse what was done in his first era at Watford, someone would have to be deliver a Watford team that were champions of England and win the FA Cup. But I reckon winning the FA Cup would rate the Pozzo era as the greatest in the clubs history. We have a good chance of getting seventh too, which would equal his achievement of getting into the second tier of European competition.
I've got a feeling / half a hope that loyalty might actually mean something to JG. I think I read it somewhere in an article, that at one of his previous clubs, he wanted to stick with the same players who got him promoted but the owners didn't so he left. Something along those lines. Obviously if big money came calling he'd go but if we're in Europa League, then it'd have to be a Champions League club who won't get knocked out at the Group Stage. Due to the money and power of the Prem, only clubs with history could tempt Javi as he's not going to Madrid, Barca and alike. Spain: Athletico Madrid, Sevilla or Valencia? Italy: Roma, Lazio, Napoli, AC or Inter? Germany: Leverkusen? It seems crazy to say it but we might even be top 30-40 most attractive clubs in the world right now. I certainly can't name many.
In time I would not be surprised if he's parachuted in to Udinese to sort them out. After his purple patch with us comes to an end, which let's face it will happen at some point. I would think JG now fits into the category of being one of the Pozzo family 'in house' managers. One of the inevitable factors of this successful period is that in the next 12/24 months we should in theory be able to attract a step up in class in terms of managerial appointment. Not that they go down that route but it would be very interesting to see a big name manager in the dug out at some point.
Not sure I’m persuaded by this. If a manager is good enough for Watford, he won’t be going to Udinese. If he’s not good enough for Watford, he’ll be out. I don’t see Gino appointing a big name. Gracia is an excellent fit for us & I can see him being here a long time.
I think the lack of speculation around javi right now is a direct result of the club’s stance on silva, and it shows the long term importance of making that statement. Attack is the best defence and all.
Worked for Swansea for quite a while until Man City called upon their “officials assistance” card, twice. The double of diving and offside (again). Are they ever caught offside?
The offside rule doesn't apply to City. They've probably scored at least 10 offside goals this season.
Not often. That is part of the problem vs Citeh. They break like lightning & are allowed to stand wherever suits them. At Citeh, JG started with 3 in midfield (inc Clevs) & Gray up top but Deeney assisted Del within a minute of coming on. Interesting selection. I guess so long as Foster doesn't play then SEJ will be happy.
It does, they just have a special dispensation which means it only applies when 7 or more players are offside.
Not to worry though. If they try to score an offside goal against us in the cup final next month they'll anger god and his booming voice will soon alert us to his intervention.
Javi has done wonders, but let's not pretend that he hasn't had a better platform on which to build than the vast majority of his predecessors at the helm of Watford. GT took over a 4th division side and had them finish second in the league and then runner up in the FA cup. He did this with some investment from a pop star, but with comparatively **** all compared to the bigger sides we were brushing aside. Javi has one of the lowest wage budgets in the division, I believe, which means he's very much got us punching above our weight, but that's not that exceptional. Sean Dyche managed a top 7 finish with a crappy side and other unfancied sides have been the cup final. Win or lose, finish 7th or 9th and Javi will still be remembered for being a great Watford coach, but in order to be even seated on that bench outside the Hornet shop, he needs to be here for 4 or 5 years and achieve more consistency. GT transformed the club, Javi has had a very good season. The achievements are miles apart.
News from bonny Scootland suggests Chelsea are interested in Javi: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport...vi-gracia-chelseas-shortlist-replace-14323189
From a journalist who is recommended by Watford’s own Kevin Affleck no less... https://twitter.com/kevinaffleck/status/1116289881871933440?s=21
Flattered to deceive for a while but now back to business as usual. I suspect he'll quietly leave the club after our record cup final defeat.
Jute, journalism & jam. The Scots reputation for hard arsed factual reporting is peerless. Except, obviously, in this case.