It’s been a long time since I wrote about our 2.0 victory over Bristol City on 10th February 2010 so forgive me if my writing skills have become a bit rusty. I don’t know what caused me to stop, I guess writing the blogs had become a habit but once I’d let one or two slip I was out of the routine. http://thewatfordnest.blog.com/2010/02/10/two-out-of-three-ain%E2%80%99t-bad-watford-2-bristol-city-0/ After the Bristol City match we went on a pretty dire run, the real low point being a 3.1 home defeat to Crystal Palace which left us in a precarious position, staring relegation in the face and left me feeling emotionally drained. But we survived and on reflection that is all that mattered. The intervening years haven’t been particularly kind to us, but they could have been a lot worse, of that I am in no doubt. Each summer our best players were sold yet we somehow uncovered new gems to replace them or existing players stepped up. Malky left and took half the back room staff with him but the essence of ‘little old’ Watford remained the same. It always will whatever happens. For us, a top half finish against all the odds last season was something to be proud of, especially our performance in the second half of the season. For me the Tottenham match changed the season as the fans really got behind the players for the first time and wow did the players respond. Whilst the result could have been better it was the performance that mattered. It showed everyone involved with the club what we could achieve on our day. I’d taken my Australian housemate to that match; her first experience of a football match in the UK and I left feeling truly proud. It wasn’t a bad introduction to our club. Off the pitch it also appeared that we had finally found some relative stability (by our standards at least). Plans were made to re-open the Red Lion, to relay the pitch and even talk to finally start work on the derelict east stand. Whilst since 2010 we continued to battle on, papering over the cracks as they appeared to get bigger there was genuine optimism at the end of the 2011/2012 season that we were at least moving in the right direction. But there was always a nagging doubt that the hope was merely a mirage. Aidy Mariappa the player of the season was being linked with a move away and Troy Deeney who had finally found some form ending the season top scorer faced a court hearing (and later received a prison sentence). In the modern day of the internet, rumours can spread like wild fire and the constant need for information can become almost obsessive. On 28th May a message on twitter claimed ‘it would be a big week for the club’. Everyone immediately wanted to know exactly what was happening. Was it bad news or was it good news? The stepping down of Graham Taylor as Chairman on 30th May came as an unexpected bombshell to me; whilst he’s been at the club things have always felt safe. Without him everything felt that little bit more insecure. Over the course of early June it appeared the rumours of a takeover were false and the optimism from the end of the season slowly started to fade. Then on 18th June: “THE Board of Directors, acting on behalf of Watford Football Club, is pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached in principle for the transfer of ownership to the Pozzo family” Owners of Udinese and Grenada they sounded perfect for us. They knew how to run a club of our stature, and whilst the press raised fears we would become a feeder club to an Italian side, isn’t that what we had been to the Premiership clubs anyway? It seemed like a matter of time before the ownership would be completed. But there was no further announcement. Then on the way home from work on Friday 22nd June I saw the message that the deal was off. I felt gutted, there is no denying it. The hope I had felt evaporated. A golden chance to start a new chapter missed. Then later that same evening what seemed a miracle. The deal was back on (technically it was never off). DESPITE recent remarks, the deal for the sale of Watford FC to the Pozzo family is progressing nicely. The drama just couldn’t be made up and even with our sale we as fans were put through all the emotions we experience when we watch our beloved team play in 90n minutes. Hope, Disappointment, Resentment, Surprise and Joy. (a perfect 3.2 scoreline to the ‘Orns with a 90th minute winning screamer). The announcement which many had hoped for on Monday did not materialise and the drama dragged on as the need to know what was happening intensified. On the 26th June the club released what in hindsight can be interpreted as a leaving speech from Bassani. He raised some good points but by now the fans had seen the opportunity of change, the opportunity to be part of something special rather than being consistently mediocre. Even those like me who had previously been on the fence had jumped off. The sooner the ownership was confirmed the better. The week dragged on with no further update until Friday 29th June 2012: FOLLOWING a healthy amount of rainfall recently, the hallowed surface at Vicarage Road is showing the first signs of fresh grass. Oh wait, that’s the wrong statement…THE Club is today (Friday) delighted to confirm that the agreement for the transfer of ownership of Watford Football Club has been completed, subject to Football League approval. Excitement reached fever pitch. It was official. A sigh of relief, perhaps even a clenching of the fist. The press have bemoaned the fact the national team struggles because the youngsters aren’t taught in the same way as those on the continent. Well now we are part of a wider football family and with our Harefield academy it gives us a real chance to create something special. Most importantly it appears our future is secured for the foreseeable future. There have of course been sacrifices, Sean Dyche and the coaching staff did a superb job last year and rightly leave with their heads held high and the support of the fans. But the new owners have a vision and in all fairness to them they should make any changes now rather than prolong what may have been inevitable. It is a huge risk and it’s a danger not to have any continuity from last season but time appears to be on our side at last. The owners appear sensible and don’t expect a quick result. They’ve made the changes and next season will probably be one of consolidation, results possibly no better than the intervening years since 10th February 2010. Like the owners we should not expect instant success either. After all Rome wasn’t built in a day One final point Zola was one of my favourite players in the 1990’s and I have to admit I’m thrilled that he will be our manager next season. Despite his skill he always seemed modest, he was certainly a professional and most importantly he seemed honest. At the end of the Bristol City blog I said “we aren’t going to be fixed over” That still seems appropriate. The pride and passion has always been there but whisper it quietly we now have a little bit of hope again.
Thanks, hopefully I wont need to do another next week unless the fake Watford observer article that oxhey67 posted in the other thread becomes a reality...!!
