Potential Minority Investment

I think Fulham have tapped into it well with their swanky (and expensive) riverside stand, lots of tourists there. If we were a prem club and had yank owners, if we could get our ground up to say 30k there would probably be a decent tourist market for us to help us leverage the London proximity, problem is it only exists as a PL club,

 

When I visited the viewing floor of Horizon 22, you can see Watford. Must add a few ££s to the valuation. That's a free one for you Gino.

 

I don’t disagree with any of the above I just think our situation is different (and less favourable).
I remember that promotion by Charlton, but they were taking fans from an area without much competition, into rather than out of London, which seems an easier sell, and they themselves are in a part of London without the large clubs which are nearer to us.

And agreed about QPR and Arsenal, but they are clearly “London” clubs with appeal across the capital (potentially, if doing well) - we are outside London and in a small suburb, hard to see many kids from the capital ever identifying with us, as an investor might hope they would. I realise some of this is contradictory with my “well defined community” point, but if we do have the latter, it is small compared to most of our competitor clubs at the level we are at, never mind where we might aspire to be.

MK are starting from a base where people have to get over being despised across the country for choosing to support their local team - probably unfairly at this point in time (is my view, but that’s another matter!)

 

https://x.com/rookerymike/status/1857503176837955796?s=48&t=3S3JtmNjAB1S8-torSwaiQ

 

"be careful what you wish for!!!"

 

That must make for rather repetitive listening.

 

The Trans Europe Express!

 

Everything these days is so woke!

 

Any news from the “at our place” event last night? Was random ballot so not sure if anyone got to go from here.

 

I applied for a place and was unsuccessful.

By some mad twist of fate I reckon the FTRE boys and the usual lot were there for clammy handshakes and grandstanding.

 

We are now and I quote "Absolutely debt free. No question. Not a penny is owed to anyone. Ever. The transfer war chest remains available."
Oh, and flasks are still banned.

 

Haha

 

Same. I said in the other thread that I hadn't been to one since Boothroyd was waving his ******** around, I thought I'd go to one for a change but I reckoned they only like attendees who are dribbling idiots who fawn over everything said.

 

Anyone got a run down of the question and answers so I can continue my run of never listening to a Watford-related podcast.

 

Hey is everything going well?

Yes everything is going well

Thanks that had put my mind at ease and I am sure many others

 

Haha. FTRE run as well in “random” ballots as Southgate does in tournament draws

 

Jesus, let it go. He's gone; all you haterz got what you wanted.

 

It was a joke. Calm down ffs.

 

Er, so was mine, ffs!

 

Ffs

 

I hope your going to record this windfall in your tax return!

 

The DNSYE pod did a nice breakdown which covered most of the questions covered I felt.

 

I asked Google's NotebookLM AI to listen to the FTRE pod for me and produce a briefing note. Here's what it produced in about 1 minute:

Watford FC Fan Forum: A Detailed Briefing

This document summarises the key themes and takeaways from a recent Watford FC fan forum, as discussed on the "From the Rookery End" podcast. The forum featured a panel including Head Coach Tom Cleverly, Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury, Academy Manager Richard Johnson, Club Captain Dan Bachmann, Head of Recruitment Gian Luca Nani, and Head of Performance Alvaro.

Overall Sentiment:

The forum had an upbeat atmosphere, reflecting Watford’s relatively strong start to the season. Panel members were candid and open, acknowledging areas needing improvement while expressing optimism for the future. The event showcased a unified front and a shared commitment to the club’s success.

Key Themes & Insights:

1. Tom Cleverly: The Risk-Taker Focused on Building a Winning Mentality:

• Cleverly repeatedly emphasized his desire for the team to play with risk and a hunger to win, rather than settle for draws.
• He acknowledged needing to adapt his approach, particularly for away games, stating: "perhaps [I've] gone too exposed us to too much risk away from home gone wanting to win games."
• Cleverly is described as a "serious operator" who "means business", demonstrating a commitment to improving the team's mentality and performance.
• He highlighted the importance of patience in changing behaviours and fostering a winning culture: "things do take time and...we need to sort of remember that we need to sort of take a bit of time over those things."
• He addressed player situations openly and honestly, including Jebbison's struggles and the developmental loan of Rajovic: "he [Rajovic] is not up ultimately probably not up to the standard that he wants him to be."
• Cleverly is praised for his strong communication and people management skills, fostering a positive environment while maintaining high standards.

2. Scott Duxbury: Bullish on Stability and Watford's DNA:

• Duxbury remained characteristically bullish about Watford’s prospects, emphasizing the club's strong financial position and ambitious targets.
• He highlighted the importance of stability for long-term success, contrasting with Cleverly's focus on risk.
• Duxbury acknowledged past mistakes but focused on building a sustainable future for the club: “be the best version of what we can be”.
• He expressed confidence in the new Premier League financial deal boosting the club’s profitability.
• Duxbury addressed fan concerns about agent Mogi Bayat's influence, stating that as long as he delivers players, he is content. This response, however, was perceived by some as "putting his head in the sand" and avoiding a deeper discussion.
• Duxbury’s stance on the Premier League has shifted to acknowledge the challenges of staying in the division: “the Premier League is completely different now. We wouldn’t have got…those results against those established teams…to stay up and flourish”.

3. Academy & Personnel: A Strong Watford Connection:

• There is a clear focus on developing a strong Watford DNA throughout the club, particularly within the academy and coaching staff.
• Richard Johnson and Jimmy Gilligan are credited with restoring the "Watford ethos" within the academy, creating a positive pathway for young players and personnel.
• Several former Watford players are now involved in various coaching and management roles, creating a strong connection to the club's history and values: "the impact is going to be deeper and the…philosophies…will be greater if…that is a…pathway for the players but also for the personnel."

4. Dan Bachmann: Authentic and Honest Reflection from the Captain:

• Bachmann provided an honest assessment of the team’s performance, particularly the disappointing loss to Luton, which he attributed to "losing the fight".
• He acknowledged the difficulty of away games and the need for greater consistency in performance.
• Bachmann was effusive in his praise for his teammates and for Cleverly's leadership, expressing confidence in the current setup.

5. Other Notable Points:

• Gian Luca Nani discussed his dual role with Udinese and Watford, suggesting that this broader perspective benefits both clubs. However, the podcasters questioned the tangible benefits of this partnership, urging further scrutiny.
• Alvaro provided insights into the use of data and technology in monitoring player performance and managing workload.
• Duxbury addressed comments made by Wesley Hoedt and Troy Deeney, providing a more nuanced perspective on both situations. He stated unequivocally that they did not attempt to keep Hoedt due to his high wages. Regarding Deeney, he emphasized the player’s genuine character and commitment to Watford.

Overall, the fan forum offered valuable insights into the current state of Watford FC. The key takeaways are a unified and optimistic outlook, a commitment to developing a strong Watford identity, and an honest appraisal of both strengths and weaknesses. The event demonstrated a willingness to engage with supporters and address their concerns.

 

I love the fact even AI knows to put stability in bold when referring to Duxbury

 

Excellent summary by Mr AI. Just to add (I had the FTRE pod on in background while working);

Operating losses (£4m?) will mean we still need to player trade to make up for the losses.
Bayat was credited with finding us Chak
500 applied to attend. They tried to allocate based on 4 who had never attended before to every 1 who had, but specifcally excluded @Otter & @wfcwarehouse as a likely troublemakers.

 

For everyone one person who wants to go, four podcasts will be admitted.

 

That quote from the serious operator I’m putting on the office wall to inspire the troops.

“We need to sort of remember that we need to sort of take time over things”.