I Despise This Football Club

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Jumbolina, Oct 5, 2022.

  1. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    I have a confession to make.

    When Swansea winner went in I actually cheered in my living room. I have paid for two season tickets this season out of habit but have only bothered to go to two games. Can’t stand our club under Pozzo and cannot stand a sizeable proportion of our fans on here or on social media.

    I am now playing the long game. I’ll be supporting our opponents from now on. If we can get a reset club after administration that’s good by me wherever we land. Anything to get this poisonous owner out of our club. Maybe it will be a 30 point financial irregularity penalty that tips the balance, but it is coming.

    If Bilic clicks and up we go I imagine this thread will be bumped time and time again for mocking and that’s all good. I can take a ribbing.

    But I do know Pozzo has taken my club away from me. I remember Barnes scoring v Oxford and that first moment of elation when a goal means something. A Porter winner at Oxford when we were awful and I felt on top of the world. Even Lee Nogan scoring and I felt he was a household god. Early Pozzo jubilation whether that be Abdi/Vydra/Battochio.

    But Sarr scored tonight and I just felt cold. Nothing. Sorry my friends I have run my course.

    I think if we go up it will just lead to more plundering of cash flow. Fans will acclaim Pozzo but it will just result in money being extracted to he and his associates (via legitimate means). But the team will be dreadful, have no team spirit and be hammered. And round we go,

    No. Enough. It’s time for us to reset, however painful that may be. I will be celebrating opposition victories and i would understand if I am removed to prevent antagonism.

    I have had enough of Pozzo. Can’t stand him.
     
  2. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    I can get a lack of enthusiasm, but I can't understand actively wanting us to lose, even if it is for the 'greater good', I don't see how us continuing to lose makes the Pozzos any more likely to sell up, the way I see it, it just means more of the same but in League 1 is likely!
     
  3. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    Great. Go support someone else and leave this forum.
     
  4. RS2

    RS2 Squad Player

    I don't think you know how a forum works.
     
  5. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    In administration he is forced to sell. I’ve arrived at an extreme viewpoint now I do appreciate.

    I honestly thought our fans would be upset after the Edwards fiasco, but after the reaction on here after the 4-0 win and the “we sack who we want” chants I have gone postal. Apologies.
     
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  6. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    I’m okay with leaving if that is what people want.
     
  7. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Don’t want to speak on behalf of Jumbo but he does say “if we can get a reset club after administration” so in that scenario Pozzo wouldn’t need to want to sell, the administrator would need to find a buyer.
     
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  8. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Tbf administration isn't a given, we still have players we could flog to keep the wolves away from the door, and even so, it's a 'solution' which leaves a lot the poor ****s who are absolutely blameless for this mess in the ****

    As for the chants at the weekend, yes, our fans are gutless, but despite the lies, I guess when the manager is so dispensable, it becomes a lot harder to become attached emotionally to them, and a lot easier to rationalise their sacking
     
  9. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    Jumbo, first off none of the Staff on this forum are going to ban you for voicing your inner thoughts, so do not freat about that.

    Secondly, I do agree with what you of said. I haven't been to a home game since Wolves last season. Reason being is the culture of this club is dying and I do not want to be part of this machine at the Vic. I love this club, I always will but right now it is very, very hard to feel as connected as I once was. I do miss the old squads - the try hards, the not good enough for the PL but did it for shirt week in week out. Beating Coventry 1-0 at the Vic in 2000 and seeing the togetherness of the fans' even after such a torrid season. Nothing that has happened on the pitch, especially in the past three years, has been even close to that unity of the players, the fans' and the town.

    Gino has done some good things for this club. Our stadium is brilliant with a fantastic pitch, London Con. is a PL level training pitch and we have had some wonderful players come through our doors. Doucoure', Capoue, Iggy, Delafoo, Anya and many more. Problem is, all that goodwill they have built up has almost gone now. Problem two is, they don't care. Only way change will happen now is relegation or administration. Both of those could happen within the next two or three years. Thats' a huge worry for us as fans. It would hurt if we were relegated again and I want us to stay a top two division club. A hard reset was never going to happen by bringing in Rob Edwards, we are crippled with debt and house players who clearly only turn up and put in a shift when they feel like it. Everybody can see that who isn't one of three stooges who run this club. I would love Elton to come back and kick some arses and give a few harsh words. Get the used car salesman out the club as well.

    My two cents.
     
  10. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Why? Is it really just an echo chamber of falsely positive voices people yearn for?

    Jumbo is perfectly entitled to say how he feels. As is anyone who is overly positive without a bad word to say. Telling people to leave the forum is pretty low regardless.
     
  11. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

    As I said in the match thread...

    I am so f**king sick of this sh*t football club.

    I honestly don't even like nevermind love anything about it any more. It doesn't bring anything good or positive to my life, it's just a depressing, boring, disappointing, embarrassing pile of crap.

    I pay attention to it out of habit at this point, rather than feeling any actual connection or real passion.

    Cheers, Gino.
     
  12. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    I genuinely think we are seeing this Pozzo-era in it's 'Death March' now.

    It may still take a couple of years for them to realise it and move on....but I think the highs of PL football have gone personally. I don't think they will be able to repeat it. It's too much of a mess regardless of who the manager is, or whatever smattering of talented players we have who largely flatter to deceive anyway.

    Given last week's antics, I wouldn't be surprised if Duxbury is already on some sort of 'Gardening Leave' or reduced duties until an amicable is announced. Likely preparing the NDA as we speak.

    It'll be a largely mid-table EFL outfit for a season or two, with Mogi trying to funnel as many players as he can through the place - and I predict Gino may even pocket the remaining parachute payments to offset his personal debt.

    From the few snippets I shared in the shoutbox tonight from info I've been given elsewhere, its been laid out pretty clearly to me that Gino simply doesn't give a f*ck at all about what the fans think. He just does not care. It's his club and the fans can simply get stuffed. We don't deserve to hear from him and he has nothing to say. 'Arrogant', 'Conceited' 'Zero care for anyone else...'

    Thats not just my opinion - that's the actual words and version of events I've been given by someone who has sources close to the situation.

    Well kudos to anyone who can swallow that and accept it - but I can't.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2022
  13. wfcwarehouse

    wfcwarehouse First Team Captain

    No, please stay. You’re entitled to state how you feel, even if it is too much for those who think building a stand is more than enough reward for ten years under the despot.

    Whilst I didn’t watch tonight (I couldn’t be bothered and the other half’s shifts finally matched up with mine meaning we spent the evening together), I agree with everything you’ve said.
     
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  14. foxywfc

    foxywfc Reservist

    The soul has been ripped out of this once fantastic club. I agree with you jumbo. On the bright side Udinese are flying high with our ex superstars


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Halfwayline

    Halfwayline Reservist

    I’ve also never felt like this before and I’ve supported Watford since 1972

    the heart has been ripped out of the club. Yes we’ve had far worse squads but we’ve never had the level of debt that we currently do

    I don’t know what’s more draining…watching the games where the same mistakes are repeated by the same players or seeing the ownership making the same mistakes or the fans that defend this entire situation on the basis that it’s not Bassini.

    With no medium term plan this club has a real chance to follow the derbys, Boltons et al and have to asset strip hugely to balance books. The squad is diabolical now, what would it be like if we sold anyone with value and not replaced
     
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  16. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

    A little extreme.
     
  17. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    I know exactly what you mean to be honest

    I wanted us to win of course but there was a time when a late goal for the opposition was like a punch to the gut, last night I just found myself amused, same as Brentford last season

    Even during the worst of the Bassini times you could still turn up each week and watch ****inson, Taylor, Eustace, Deeney, Doyley, Sordell, Murray, Hogg etc. give it a good go and punch above their weight in results and league position

    Pozzo and Duxbury have sucked the soul out of this club, for the first time in 20+ years of being a season ticket holder I feel more likely than not that I will not renew
     
  18. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    Not sure it's just this club.

    Football as a whole at the highest levels (believe it or not we are still there or there abouts) has changed. Things move on and for some it's just not as enjoyable as a couple of decades ago when players played for the club rather than for themselves and their career.

    Think you probably need to start watching some lower league stuff of maybe support the ladies, they're playing on Sunday I think at Wealdstone FC. They're currently doing quite well.
     
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  19. artvanderlay

    artvanderlay First Year Pro

    This is exactly it. The demands of modern football mean that unless you have hugely wealthy owners, you'll always be struggling to make ends meet, which in our case forces the owners in to desperate decisions to try and maintain success because the alternative would be financial disaster. Players are commodities and are traded accordingly, but are also along with agents pretty much the only people making good money out of the game.
     
  20. StuBoy

    StuBoy Forum Cad and Bounder

    Tend to agree with you meister, and last night was a case in point for a couple of reasons:

    1) the ref comms debacle, why do they need this connection? As the fans chanted, all you need is a flag and whistle like many Sunday leagues up and down the country, football is really not a complicated game is it?
    2) all the injuries, timewasting, gamesmanship, this has always happened to some extent, but I feel now it is totally draining and watching it last night really was off putting

    Add this on top of the usual limp performance last night and it makes me think top level football isn't worth it at all now. I'm looking forward to the day where my son and daughter are old enough for me to take them to one of the local clubs around where we live, Camberley Town, Farnborough, Aldershot etc... I miss the days in the 90's where I'd go to watch a very different Watford to the one we see now one week, and then Slough Town the next, halcyon/rose tinted glasses days.

    Some of what Burnsy was relaying on the Shoutbox last night just made me thoroughly down and concerned about our situation. I'm lucky enough to have only witnessed Watford at League One level for two seasons in the 90's (one of which was brilliant by the way), I get the feeling those times could be here again soon.
     
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  21. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I was back to thinking about this while driving home last night. The killer question for me is how do I get my kids interested in this farce? No one supports Watford because they expect or feel entitled to wins or PL football. But how could I take an 8 year old along to that, just like I was at her age or my mum was at that age, and demonstrate this is something worthwhile and enjoyable? The football is ****, the fanbase is split and the atmosphere is awful, the head coach changes every two minutes and half the players on her 2022 calendar have already gone. She was trying to ask me about Joshua King while watching highlights of the Stoke game on Monday after school bless her. How's a kid supposed to get an affinity for the club and have favourites if they change every 10 seconds?

    Add in the 3hr+ round trip and we're left with "well at least it's something to do together" as the only saving grace. Which is nice but I can probably think of cheaper things to do which don't involve hours on the road. The club will lose people soon. I see little point in renewing my ST next year. That doesn't mean I won't go to games but it certainly means I'd go less. Last night was very much an 'oh alright, if I have to' type affair anyway and my reward was yet another farcical delay in an evening fixture which meant getting home later than planned and a non-performance on the pitch.
     
  22. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

    I was "lucky" enough that mine are now teenagers and first started going when we went up under Slav, so they had good times, figures like Deeney and are invested. No idea how you sell it as a product other than outright bribery with sweets, a shirt etc. and make a day out of it.

    Even then, my daughter said to me last night at the final whistle "What the f*** is going on? We are a f**king joke. Can't you get on the forums and get people to do something about it" (no she doesn't have tourettes, just a foul mouth and has obviously never spent any time on here). But even those at the age who should enjoy it most are getting seriously frustrated.

    My mates who always backed the board and were very reserved in their views have turned after the Edwards sacking. We have become a soulless, burnt out mess of a club. I doubt we see attendances over 12,000 next season.
     
  23. HampshireHorn84

    HampshireHorn84 Academy Graduate

    Agree here, football is a prime example of an industry trying to embrace technology without knowing why they need yo or what they're trying to achieve by doing so. Through my job it's a known fact that Football Clubs (along with Local Goverment!) are some of the easiest to sell to simply on the "keeping up with the Jones's " premise!

    In terms of gamesmanship, as you say it's always been there I think what we've seen however is some clubs (St Eddie Howe FC) really learn how to master it - unfortunately for us we have players that aren't smart enough to not fall into the trap or carry enough aggression to react and stop it. What we then do is empower the opposition more . . .I hate to say it but when those horrible lot up the road come to the Vic in a few weeks we will see it full flow, and our team will just roll over and offer up their tummies for a tickle.

    Does Canberley still have the pitch at a 45° Angle?!
     
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  24. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I despise what we have become.
    I despair for all my friends of many years standing who have seen the cruddy times,the dog track,pre SEJ and GT and the glory years.
    We've had terrible owners in the past.
    Bonser,Helmet,Salad Boys,Petchey wasn't great.
    However none have had the wealth from the PL years that Pozzo has accrued and wasted on an idea ( I can't call it a plan!) that hasn't worked for many years.
    My flimsy hope is the return to GB of Elton and hope he can broker a deal to buy the club.
    Jeepers creepers he knows everyone!
    There must be some money left in the world mustn't there?!
    Lord help us,as SEJ often used as an alias.
     
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  25. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    I don't know if there is any truth in the rumors that Gino has talks with other investors on hold till the summer. If we are not a PL club by them we will be worthless and nothing will happen. I think we might need to do a Wimbledon to some extent if nothing changes. Start from scratch at the bottom of the fooball pyramid and inject a bit of life into the club again. Problem is, this can only happen if the club goes bust and is bought out by an outside party or a fan consortuim (something I cannot see us doing). Gino runs this club second fiddle to his beloved Udinese. He had to borrow 16M from Pappa Pozzo to keep us in business ffs. What a clueless moran who continues to flush our capital and our future down the toilet. I'm sick of him.
     
  26. J.B

    J.B First Team

    Going to the match is an absolutely miserable experience these days. S**t, disinterested atmosphere - even when we score nobody seems arsed except the g1mps trying to force 'limbs'. Then when we inevitably go behind instead of turning on the hierarchy and making their displeasure known our fans (led by the awful, witless and compromised 1881) start singing 'We've got/lost the ball' in an attempt to go viral on social media and quell any vocal dissent from individual supporters.

    And apparently Duxbury was at the match last night? Only at Watford would a chairman who spent the entire summer lying through his teeth and selling the more gullible of our fanbase a dream be allowed to carry on like nothing has happened. Unless I've missed anything there has been no statement, no cosy chat with his spin doctor at the Watford Observer and no explanation of all his bluster being shown up as such in record time. He just goes back to his usual seat in the Upper GT sat next to Bayat and Pozzo and makes plans about how they can use our club to further serve themselves going forward knowing full well that the effete, bootlicking fanbase that they hold in utter contempt will let them all get away with it. Speaking of which, I see it's been announced today that we have a new NFT partnership with yet another shady, unaccountable company that targets vulnerable and underage supporters. 'Original Family Club' indeed.

    The only consolation is that the fans know. Even the stupid ones aren't that stupid. Eventually it will get so bad that even they can't keep their heads buried in the sand or deride those who have been proven right time and time again with 'be careful what you wish fors'. I just wish they'd f**king get on with it and if that takes us losing games and spending years in the lower Champ or even League One then so be it - as long as in the end we have something resembling our club back then it will absolutely be worth it.
     
  27. HampshireHorn84

    HampshireHorn84 Academy Graduate

    My eldest is also 8, so totally empathise with you here.
    At present I think he enjoys the games he goes to, as it gives him and I some one-on-one time without his younger siblings (its kind of our thing). Also as I cancelled my season ticket this season after just growing disillusioned with the whole club (and started to truly measure the expenditure) its meant that the games we've gone to have been more of a "treat" and spontaneous.
    When I think back to going to football with my old man, it was this that really mattered, being seen as "old enough" to be around more adults, being with my Dad and the whole expirience, fish and chips on the way home etc. I don't think the scores or results really mattered until I got to ages 11 or 12 so by then I was ingrained. I remember fondly the late 90s with the return of GT and then going to Wembley with "that" Nick Wright goal.

    It's this that I hope for my eldest (and other kids if they want to come), his whole blasé attitude at the moment is refreshing "how did Watford do last night?" . . "We lost in injury time" . . "Well at least we scored 4 goals against Stoke that was amazing, so I'm thinking of asking Santa for some nerf guns and Knex for Christmas do you think I've been good this year"
     
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  28. HampshireHorn84

    HampshireHorn84 Academy Graduate

    Agree with everything you've said, and would highlight one particular point . . The 1881.
    Now I'm not knowledgeable so much on the "Ultras" or whatever they see themselves as of other clubs but I'm fairly certain none have got them selves so intrinsically tied to their club that they're scared to speak out for fear of loosing their privileges.
    The Gino banner paraded previously, the "it's for you Pozzo Family" song always felt uncomfortable in as it was more akin to a Communist style presentation through Red Square than a football club . . .and clearly only fed the narcissist nature of our owner.
    Now we're left with arguably the one group in a consolidated are of the stadium who could make a noise of discontent impotent because of the handouts they took... its sickening
     
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  29. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    If anything usually ultras are the ones who start protests and lead chats against things they don’t like etc I think .
     
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  30. We hate 48

    We hate 48 Reservist

    Great cartoon by David Squires in the guardian on Tuesday-sums up modern football
     
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  31. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    I'd rather League one with a modest owner who cares about the team, than Pozzo. I've made my points clear on the matter many times, but I'm sick of our club being owned by someone who considers the team and the fans as beyond tertiary concerns.

    We don't take any major strategic decisions which benefit Watford FC. They are all taken to suit Pozzo Inc.

    These are not the same thing. Being in the Prem with a bunch of ephemeral mercenaries for a bit doesn't make that palatable to me.
     
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  32. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Seriously?
     
  33. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    It's my personal take on what he said. I agree with his statement in general and like I said in my reply this club is going backwards and nothing is changing for the better just the same mistakes over and over again. I miss going to matches and enjoying the football but it's a chore now to see 11 players put in a performance when they feel like it. 16 managers in this era have proven the manager is not the problem, it's the players and the board. As fans, we just have to like it or lump it, and that is not the Watford I remember going to see when I was younger with my sister running excitedly to the programme stand and getting a snack from the store in the highstreet before the game. Things may still turn, but can you really see that happening in the short term?
     
  34. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    See, mine are the other way, especially my eldest. They used to love going to games as it was daddy daughter time, and we'd see my dad, their Grandad there.

    They love Harry the Hornet (Gareth) and they love Luther Blissett, but like you, they struggle to identify with any of the players, because the turnover is far too fast for them to keep up. Deeney was favourite, then Dennis, now, it's JP by default.

    However, for me, the matches are arduous. We've just had so very little joy at home games for about 4 years and like Jumbo, I'm past caring really. I was enthused that the fanbase was somewhat mobilised after the absolute farce that has taken place since relegation.

    The club lied to us, for the umpteenth time. Through Dux and player interviews, it painted a picture of radical change, hinging on a new, likeable, young British Manager, who was going to signal a change of direction. We were going to bring someone in with a bright future, back them in the transfer market and then give them time to build something. Except we didn't. We bought Gaspar, Bay and Manaj, sold Cucho and then completely shat the bed when we couldn't get our inflated valuations for JP or Sarr.

    I said in the summer, that our team has Prem class forwards in JP and Sarr (though they don't always play like it) but mid table championship or worse players nearly everywhere else. It still seems that way to me today.

    And that's fine. I don't expect us to be able to sign world beaters, but our ownership cannot assemble a squad of random signings and pap and then demand promotion. Look at the players we put out weekly. Signed because they are good enough 'on paper' but absolutely no focus on whether they suit Watford, or the Championship or even English football.

    I'm bloody sick of it and would take a double relegation if it meant the back of Gino.
     
  35. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    The progress amongst the fans in turning to reality is painfully slow. Those Sunday Service guys are doing God's work but still, one 4-0 win was all it took to placate the majority of our moronic fanbase after being utterly deceived and our club's reputation, or what's left of it, completely coated in dung.

    Most of our fans are so, so very dumb that they will still be praising the Pozzos until the truth about the state in which they've left the club comes out (I have only suspicions). Remember, many of them did that for Bassini until the very end.
     
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