(1) Daniel Bachmann

I suppose his view will be that we ain't seen nothing yet.

He's certainly gone into overdrive there.


I'll get me coat.

 

Neither are, though I'd say he's better than Foster. Both aren't good enough.

 

I like his attitude. At least he wants to play football not make podcasts.

Wilmot left because he wants to play and develop. He'd easily get into our team at the moment on his Stoke form.

 

Seriously? Do we have to start counting both our substandard goalies as potential attitude problems?! He got the job by default through injury and spent half a season in the Championship behind the meanest defensive unit the league has literally ever seen, where even so his (significant) limitations were quite clear for all to see, and apparently that means he's earned the right to start giving loaded interviews where he makes threats of game time or he'll prance off somewhere else within eight games of the new season, several of which he actually started?

I'm one of the legion of people who would currently rather see him playing than the vlogger, but still, this seems a bit mad. We've lamented the seeming total lack of consideration given to mentality and attitude in our recruitment policy many times before, but it's a bit ridiculous at this point - are we purposefully packing the most disagreeable and contentious cast of characters possible into the dressing room as some kind of social experiment? Is this the next evolution of Fossybear's Youtube channel - a 24/7 survival reality show with the Watford squad as contestants?

 

Cheerio

 

In fairness if he could force his way out and somehow attract a transfer fee we could use that to bring in an actual Prem-level keeper (probably a veteran who's too old to attract significant offers from any team less potless than us, but with the requisite talent and not actually yet riddled with full-body arthritis) #UnexpectedOpportunities

 

We should have sold him in the summer after he did relatively well for Austria, and his stock was as high as it’ll ever be.

Definitely a missed opportunity to cash in, and I don’t think he’d have been hard to improve on.

 

For sure, I totally agree; we should very legitimately have done what I said in that post, and I did actually write a comment on that during the summer, talking about the idea of bringing in a goalie to be one of our few USPs - it would have been a way to get a huge upgrade for very little/no money.

There was some suggestion of Romero going about earlier in the year, and that would have made so much sense that there's absolutely no way we were ever going to do it.

 

Like when Ighalo was linked with a move to China for £35m+, didn't Bachmann want to stay? I mean, I think it was Ajax and Arsenal who were in for him, but only with us did he have a chance of actually playing regularly in the Prem

 

Romero (or similar) would have been a giant upgrade on Bach, and we’ve had great success with keepers of his ilk, those who have lost their starting roles at the very top level, but have more than enough to give us a few years solid service. Almunia, Gomes and even Foster in the early part of his second stint with us are very much in the Romero mold.

 

Yup. Doucoure is another that comes to mind. When it comes to failing to sell players at their peak value, or keeping players beyond their peak performance years, Gino and Scott undoubtedly do business properly.

 

Yeah, it's literally been a key part of our model and success to this point, because it is the only thing that makes sense given our financial and 'attraction' position relative to the league as whole. Another reason why 'A' grade transfer window assessments were hard to stand up, and another inexplicable departure from an established pattern from Gino - either more over-sentimentalism, or a further weakening in their ability to assess the players we possess.

 

What I mean is, didn't Ighalo want to stay then? Didn't Bachmann want to stay in the summer? In fairness, I'd say Doucoure would have wanted to leave!

 

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19704663.daniel-bachmann-considering-watford-future/

I like Dan, I think he's better than Foster and should be playing. But I wouldn't be surprised if the 'non-sporting reasons' are the fact that this season he's already spoken to media at least twice about looking for a move away.

 

I think he's a championship standard keeper who would be fine for us next season but I fully understand why he'd want to get himself a loan or transfer in Jan so as not to blow his WC hopes. No idea what the "non-footballing reasons" are - maybe he means that he's as good a keeper as Foster but Foster is being picked for his greater experience ?

 

I don't think he's good enough and don't like him whining so publicly about wanting out, as nothing can be done in November anyway. But it would be peak Pozzo if we turned down decent offers in the summer and then half a season later end up selling him for a low fee just to move him on.

 

Arsenal and Ajax were 'interested'.

However, Arsenal went for Ramsdale but I'm not convinced their interest in Bachmann was for the number 1 spot - clearly Arsenal had the money if they're paying £30m for Ramsdale.

Ajax's situation was more complicated, their first choice keeper was banned for 9 months for doping and their back-ups were both 38 years old, but I can't see them meeting Watford's valuation.

Were there any concrete bids?

 

I don’t really like the speaking out but there’s nothing wrong with a player wanting to play games.

He’s currently Austria’s number one keeper, and he is a decent enough keeper, but with that serious flaw of not dominating his penalty area. Until he develops that he’d never be a number one for long in a top league.

It seems his ambition outweighs his ability.

Now we have Okoye, and he’s clearly been told he’s coming as the number one keeper going by his interview, then that’s the end of the road for Bachmann.

I’d happily sell him, as I’ve never really rated him that highly as some have, and Foster has always been the better keeper in my eyes.

I wouldn’t have a problem with Foster staying for another season as a number two, to help Okoye develop his game. I’m sure he’d be happy with a mentor role.

We’re going to have to make a decision on Dahlberg soon as well. Can’t keep loaning him out every season, unless he extends his contract and is happy to be loaned again.

We extended Elliot’s contract by 3 years in the summer, so he’ll be around for a couple more years.

I think we’ll be a bit inexperienced if Foster does go. Okoye No1, Dahlberg as the No2 and Elliot as N03.

 

I always think we should have an experienced keeper but when you think about it does it actually mean anything? Foster this season has made some great saves and some howlers, Dahlberg is 16 years younger and has made some great saves and some howlers.

 

Sell him please ,he isn't good enough end of

 

I don't think he's good enough but I can completely understand how he feels. He didn't put a foot wrong last season and Spurs aside hasn't made any massive errors this season. Along with that his replacement is making big mistakes every week and is one of the most unprofessional players to have ever played at this level.

 

Bournemouth away.

 

We did what now?

 

Elliot got a two year deal.

 

I doubt he would, he is nothing more than an average championship defender. Our bunch of misfits equalled the record for least goals conceded in a Championship season last season and look **** in the Premier league.

 

And then he ****ed up and cost us a point.

 

I’m not buying the ‘non sporting reasons’ bit. Foster is in the team despite his shenanigans over the Liverpool fan etc, even though he was fined. That is the type of thing that could in theory keep a player out of the team, so it would’ve have to be something worse than that.

I think he’s simply trying to save face over being dropped for being less than convincing and clinging to his line like a kitten stuck up a tree. Much less likely to lose his spot in the Austria team if he can put a spin on it being something other than him just not being very good.

 

I think Baachman is a good shot stopper but I have no faith in him and our defence looks like they don't either. Just look at the goals we conceded against Wolves, the fact he is always planted to his goal mouth makes our bang average at best defenders even more nervous. I don't think Baachman is Premier League quality and I am not blinded by the fact he is number 1 for a below average national team, it is not like he is battling top quality goalkeepers to be Austrias number one.

 

Offer him and a few million quid to WBA in exchange for Sam Johnstone.

 

Sounds great for us, just the small problem of Johnstone more than likely not wanting to play for us lol. Bachmann would be a good short-term option for a West Brom team who will have eyes on the Prem, although who knows whether they'd want to keep him if they do go up

 

Well obviously we'd have to negotiate - but whether we think he's good or not, it shouldn't be that hard to market an international No.1 GK, who played every game at the Euros and was wanted by some big clubs less than 12 months ago. Not to mention his stats last season when we achieved what WBA are after.

As for getting Johnstone? No I don't suppose it would be easy at all. But at some stage we are are going to have show we are serious - and we really should be looking at PL ready players , and even more so those who have little time left on their deals. He may well choose to go elsewhere but it would be disappointing if we chose not to even compete hard for his signature - better to try and fail than not try at all. Plus I really do (perhaps stupidly) think Ranieri will have been promised that we might be bold in the transfer market...I have huge doubts that he would have come here had we told him 'the squad is what it is and will remain as much - unless we choose to dump some dross at your feet of course'... I just don't think he would have taken the job if Gino had told him the status quo would not change. I think he's been given a certain amount of assurance that things could change.