There has been much criticism from football fans, managers and the media throughout the season regarding the approach Watford FC have conducted in the transfer market. *There has also been much valid counter-argument from Watford fans, highlighting above all else the hypocrisy in the attacks made against the club. *An angle that hasn't really been touched on from what I've read though, is that a shift to pan-European families of clubs such as being erected by the Pozzos might represent the future of football, and a positive future at that. In a world where the very biggest clubs in Europe command global support and are, in many cases, bankrolled by billionaire owners, the ability of smaller, local clubs to compete*financially is increasingly difficult. *Add to that the huge and widening gap in the relative price of success and failure, promotion and relegation, and the very existence of middling clubs straddled across divisions becomes acutely precarious. *The risk associated with ambition is huge. *Success means top-flight football and the riches that involves. *Failure means administration and potentially going out of business.. *The stakes in modern football could not be higher. So is it not a good thing that mid-sized and smaller clubs across Europe spread that risk by pooling resources? *By joining the Pozzo family Watford are able to lower costs, share scouting networks, build up the squad affordably and ensure long-term financial security. *There are marketing opportunities through our relationship with Udinese and Grenada (The Pozzo Cup anyone?) and potentially outlets for young British talent to play abroad (if we get to a place where we have a sustainable, top-tier Academy - but that's another story). *Surely this is a better place for Football League Clubs to be than always being a relegation away from bankruptcy? What the Pozzo's have done is make the next logical leap forward from the system of informal relationships, "feeder clubs" and "football partnerships" that have been in place for at least a decade. *For all the hyperbole about exploiting loopholes, many chairmen and managers across the league recognise this. *So it is not*hard to imagine a world where there are still a few big clubs who can stand alone, but the majority exist in partnership with others from different European leagues - competing families of clubs that are financially stable and able to mix it with the big boys. *In this sense, Watford are pioneers for the future of football, which is a pretty nice place to be.* Give me that over administration and insecurity any day.
A great first post I think we all see the possibilities and have an exciting future. It's great to be trailblazers and I can see other clubs following suit particularly when we get premiership success without breaking the bank. Am looking forward to upsetting the big boys again like we did in the early 1980's. Happy days.
I didn't realise we were partners with the whole of Grenada. Maybe we can loan in a Usain Bolt like sprinter or two?
Welcome to the board ainzrocker, you are a person after my own heart, as I have agreed with many of the points you make in some of my past posts :sign15::sign15::sign15:
Great first post!!! Perhaps we should put together a list of some possible relationships.... What would happen if the owners of Real Madrid bought S****horpe (for example). Is that likely?
Barcelona and Crystal Palace.... Wear the same colours and what Holloway was suggesting after his 'Udinese' It's not fair' rant
