Any chance we could keep the last match's thread around in "The Hornets Nest" in addition to the upcoming game? It seems that the moment match threads are moved the conversation dies. It makes sense to move "old" match threads once they're done, but I think many might be getting moved too soon. Allowing active threads for the last match and the next match in the main forum at the same time seems a reasonable compromise to me.
From my point of view, we move the match threads to the archive section for a couple of reasons. To keep a chronological history and promote that section. To keep the general Watford section manageable Because the chat invariably after a day or so goes on to discuss things other than the match which has passed such as how to set-up for the next match or relative filings of the team / players which are better suited to the general section or the preview for the next match. We do leave permanent redirects which stay in the same place as the original position so it's only a matter of the same number of clicks to get to the thread in it's new home. I think what you're seeing is the natural decline of a thread rather then people not navigating to it? We can of course trial leaving them a bit longer if that is what people want?
The redirects fall down the forum at pace as other threads garner responses, which I think would significantly contribute to the drop off in thread participation. My proposal would be to archive the previous match's thread when the next match kicks off (i.e. move match 33 when match 34 kicks off), but I accept that's a somewhat arbitrary cut off.
How about pinning the redirect at the top until the next game finishes IE at the top you have Next Game Redirect to last game. Plus the other couple stats season previews etc. As I've done now.