[RELEASED] Joshua King

A+ to the power of +

 

The King is dead.

Long live the King (Ken)

 

Yeah, but when we repeat exactly the same M.O. this summer and you criticise it, exactly the same people who defended it last year will defend it with exactly the same stock phrases.

 

Not sure we can rate Louza as a hit just yet.

 

I’m not going to argue things were great, but Etebo was more bad luck surely? He looked ok and nailed on for a major role until injury. And Sissoko was fine, certainly one of the best of a poor bunch, if not exactly value for money.

 

Louza has talent. He just needs a ball winner along side him.

 

What? I don’t think they’re worried about technical errors. Edwards has been quite clear that he wants players to feel part of a group and that they are selected on merit alone. Having a squad which would require players to be left out on the basis of their homegrown status, he has said, would undermine the group ethic he is trying to build. Now personally, I think having 1 or 2 extras and assuming that one will be injured or unavailable at any given time, seems to me to be worth the risk and worth getting in good non-HG talent for (or not shipping are best foreign talent). But if Edwards (as he has said publicly now at least twice) believes this is necessary for the squad and group ethic he wants to create, that’s his prerogative. He’s the title-winning EFL coach and I’m not.

 

Louza is a ball winner.

 

Rose was a terrible signing. Spurs, Newcastle and Watford fans all knew it would end in tears.
Nothing Watford can do about it.
Opinion 1. Keep paying his 60k a week till his two year deal is up.
Option 2. Offer him a pay off and see if he takes it.
Rose will not accept the pay off. He will turn up as expected and collect his money as his contract states.
He should be sacked for false representation, but we all know it will not happen.
I feel Rose knew that he would never able to make good on his contract, but Watford didn't do any due diligence and Rose certainly wasn't going to tell them about his issues on and off the field.
He will be remembered in a similar way to players like Winston Bogarde. The thing is Bogarde could actually play. Rose can no longer play and doesn't want to

 

He can win the ball, but that was not his role at Nantes.
He is a playmaker if given the chance

 

Etebo's still a miss, even if an unlucky one. Sissoko was one of the biggest disappointments given what he's achieved in his career. Just because he scraped a 5/10 season when others was lower, doesn't make him a hit in my book - should be judged to higher standards.

 

He’s not on 60k a week.

And again, let’s not speculate about any issues off the pitch with any players.

Professionalism, fitness, attitude - fine. But let’s leave it at the things that are fair game for a footballer and not the things which are unfair for a human.

 

I would say it's fair to want to know why we signed a player that openly talked of not enjoying football, about being very glad to retire as soon as possible, was out if shape when signed and in some games simply stopped trying. I think either he opens up about his problems (it could help others) or the club should explain what is going on.

 

His mental health is private and he shouldn’t be forced or pressured into being public about it. That’s just how it works in that regard.

I am not defending the guy - I’m flabbergasted we signed him when there was seemingly not enough due-diligence done and I think he’s been unprofessional in his fitness and attitude on the pitch.

But what I will say is that his comments about not enjoying football and being glad to retire were isolated to interviews regarding racism in football.

As I’ve said, questions and critique of his attitude, fitness and professionalism are fair game. As are questioning the statements he’s publicly made.

But he, nor the club, don’t have a duty to publicly update fans on his mental health status at all. You’re correct in saying it could help others if he did - but it could harm him. It’s entirely up to him and I don’t think it’s fair to judge him on that matter.

As an aside, if the club didn’t do their homework and then handed him a contract for huge sums - then they are just as much to blame, if not more so.

 

I get what you mean Burnsy.

 

I don't agree with you on both issues.
I do see your point, from a distance.
His issues were well documented, both in print and via the TV.

 

You can disagree with me if you want regarding 60k a week - but he’s not.

His previous issues are well documented in print and media. He returned to the football pitch since they were highlighted. Can you point me to him documenting any current issues publicly?

Because if you can’t, then it’s supposition and personally I think it’s distasteful to talk about peoples mental health without any current grounds to do so.

As I’ve said, there’s plenty of things he can be criticised for so I don’t really see the need to go down the mental health rabbit hole.

 

I didn’t mention mental health in my recent post l have in the past.
Is it illegal to find out or be told?
He made his issues clear, so he is open to criticism, fair or not.
He continued to try and do something that he could no longer achieve.
Unless there is some secret written agreement between Watford and Rose regarding his role, he signed on as an able bodied professional footballer.
How many boxers go on for one fight too many and taint their career?
He is lucky as he is still on the payroll at Watford.
I do wish him good luck

 

Tricky though isn't it? Your post #49 was spot on but I think we have to be careful we don't become too absolutist in approaching this topic. For example, when football fans talk about a player visibly lacking confidence that is, to all intents and purposes, commentary or speculation about that player's mental health. Is that off limits?

 

No, and obviously it’s a sticky wicket. I agree with you.

 

Rose 42k a week plus add ons.
4kg of Margarine £10.80
Anyway, that is enough about him. I am done.
He was an dreadful signing, end of..

 

Not to mention that if someone's professionalism, attitude and/or fitness are clearly well off acceptable levels, that could very well be down to poor mental health. Depression, for example, is known to often cause significant weight gain. It's very difficult to see where you draw the line at times, especially when we what amounts to little more than a letter box view into what's going on behind the scenes.