Starts against Palarse so we can now make the deal permanent. If we like. http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/could-tom-cleverley-become-a-permanent-watford-player-this-weekend/story-30209526-detail/story.html
The sleepwalking comment was by the laughable Twitter poster 'WatfordFCBlog' who seemingly writes for the Watford Observer for free because he wants to be a journalist and believes tweeting lots on mutliple accounts is journalism. WatfordFCBlog is the sort of Twitter user that repeats Watford FC news like team line ups and transfer confirmations as if the official account doesn't exist. The fact that such wishy washy crap is given space on the WO website sums them up quite well.
Sounds like quite a heartfelt interview from Tom rather than the usual laddish platitudes of footballer interviews. It strikes me that this is a player who would really respond to the crowd's backing, or who could deflate if they get on his back. He had a rough time with the never-ending demands of the spoilt petulant brats who are invariably attracted to 'support' Manure. And then more from the whining scousers who didn't like him right from the start because he was ex-Manchester. Remember he was a regular England midfielder for a while and old tomato-nose Ferguson called him "potentially the best midfield player in Britain". However he ran into what the article describes as "an avalanche of abuse" on the every-charming social media. So much so, that he had to flounce off it. "Both within the club and among the fans, it felt like I had lost the faith of people a bit and I don't think I would get the benefit of being judged on a clean slate." "Being at a big club like that comes with pressure, but I think the reality is in the position that I play. I think the older I get, the more I accept that I am not going to be one of those players who is loved, like strikers or wingers." "I will always be thankful to the fans at Watford. They were great last time and they have accepted me again this time." "I want to become an influential player at a club like Watford, be a voice in the dressing-room, helping the young players, being an example to them. You want to be a big character and somebody the others look up to." It is in situations like this where proper fans can really help the club.
Some areas of the media are suggesting Clevs could be in line for an England return. If Fabian Delph can get in, Tom will be laughing.
Would be great for him, great for us (plus it would make watching England interesting for us, instead of the usual antipathy we all have), but he'd receive absolute dogs abuse from every other moronic fan of other clubs. Rubbish such as "is this how bad England are now?" would undoubtedly be trotted out. Tom seems like a confidence player, so his selection could work well for us - or the guaranteed abuse could have the opposite effect. If he's selected of course. Which he probably won't be, because of all the superb midfielders England have ahead of him.....
Isn't that what is said on here when somebody unfashionable (not from the big boys) gets selected? We like and rate him but most outsiders won't really know how Tom has played etc. Mind you at least he is playing! Unlike Delph/Livermore.. Your last point was very valid - there really is a lack of options in midfield.
Delph has looked solid. One thing I do like about Southgate is he isn't looking at names but those who are playing well and in form, except for goalkeeper. (Butland, Pickford or Heaton over Hart) When was this interview? Seems like a good read.
Overlooked and ignored for England again, whilst mediocre toot such as Joe Gomez and Ruben Loftus-Cheeky get debut call ups. Silly decision, but saves him from getting injured I suppose...
Yeah and additionally, I'd rather he wasn't included in the worst England squad of all time. The only thing missing was a Wilshere recall.
Agree with the above - putting on my Watford hat - quite happy with this, whilst it is an honour for any player to play for his country, from my perspective it's just an opportunity for a player to come back injured and disrupt our team. Gave up supporting the national team over 25 years ago, through continual poor form / let downs. My club is far more important to me.
In reality all the young midfielders are just filling in whilst Lallana and Wilshire get fully fit (if they ever do) As I say seem to be a few called up from the Under 21 era Southgate managed - like Loftus Cheek and Gomez - who by all accounts is a good prospect but hardly going to get a game ahead of Walker at full back. I suspect that is why Chalobah got selected as well - Southgate knew about him quite well. Anyway doesn't matter - come the World cup it will be the same old names and of course the likes of Kane and Ali will showing nothing like their Spurs form!
Very true, it's easy to criticise selections from other clubs who aren't household names. What I was mainly refering to regarding the abuse that Cleverley would have gotten is that he - more than others - comes in for extreme, savage abuse from other clubs fans, most probably because he was picked a lot whilst a Man Utd player (when he probably shouldn't have always been picked, if we're honest). Some utter moron actually launched a petition to have him banned from the world cup squad: https://www.change.org/p/the-fa-ban-tom-cleverley-from-the-world-cup-squad, something completely unwarranted (especially when you consider some of the dross that has been picked for England over the years). Anyway, he didn't get picked (no surprise there), so at least there's no chance of him picking up an injury. I would absolutely love for him to give a man of the match performance on Sunday, rounded off with the winning goal.
Hope this doesnt shatter his confidence. Two weeks to stew on this too. **** the international *****.
Would have thought his penalty miss at a crucial moment will put him right up there for selection for the England squad.
England can have the bottle job. Hope Silva has already told him that he's out in Jan after that penalty miss.
Hahaha - what a joke we are. Hamstring for most clubs = 6 weeks. For us a January injury and you're done till next season. Wasn't the Chalobah estimate January? He won't be ready till August either. Feck knows what has happened to Kaboul. When is Gino going to flush these useless clowns out? Edit on Chalobah - LMAO Watford performance director Gavin Benjafield added: "Whilst we can’t put an exact timeline on his recovery, we are expecting to see him re-integrating into the squad well before the New Year."
Any word of/from the Dr Nick character? WTF is going on? WFC are for me a hobby, an interest, something I’ve followed & at times been kinda stuck with for 49 years, the thing I’ve been interested in longest (predating first Bowie album by 5 years), when we win, a grand passion, & a general presence during my weekends. An entertainment. But this medical ineptitude makes me SEETHE. Person responsible? Pozzo.
Cleverley was asked at the Fans forum about how close he was and just said "I'm getting there"" which was hardly a clear indication of how he felt!
He’s still at the club as far as I know as he only joined in the summer? Anyway the season before this one was just as bad for injuries. It just seems an ongoing problem irrespective of what we change. Is it the facilities? The methods? The players themselves? We have a higher injury occurrence than other teams and often longer recovery periods.
Training but not ready for first team. He’s been out for 7/8 months. Had to double check but Kaboul was in full training in January following his hamstring and foot injuries hence my comment of not knowing what happened to him.