I don’t really know what to write in this blog. I’ve spent more time writing it than any other which is something I didn’t want to do because just thinking about Saturday makes me ridiculously angry. I should be used to defeat and crushed expectation and hope but even after God knows how many years I am not. I really wanted to write about the Bangura situation and how it had united everyone at the club and galvanised the players. But it hasn’t, it seems to have made them even more distracted and lacking in confidence – the tension is there for everyone to see – each player is scared to do something wrong. In my opinion this just repeats all the problems I’ve said before about our play. To make things worse the only thing I hate more than watching Watford lose on a Saturday is Saturday Christmas shopping and yesterday was my last chance not to just to start it, but also to finish it because next weekend I’m in Sheffield. So after watching that excuse for a football match I found myself walking aimlessly around the Harlequin wandering in stores standing for ages before walking out empty handed. I seemed to lack the imagination of our players. Though unlike our players a brilliant 30 minute spell saw me victorious before the doors to the Body Shop (which for some inexplicable reason I’d wondered into for a second time) was finally locked. I tried to take a more laid back approach to the game yesterday for example, whilst those around me jeered the young Tamas Priskin for losing the ball I pitied the fact a clearly talented player who prefers to receive the ball to his feet was being forced to either head the ball for flick-ons or worse to shield the ball from 3 players with no one to pass to. My laid back approach lasted until the 75th minute when they enormity of the situation began to sink in and then all the anger was released in a torrent in the 88th/89th minute and lasted until well after the final whistle. Another miserable Sunday it was to be then. Put Eto, Henry or Messi in our team and they probably wouldn’t score a team goal – only an individual goal. We started brightly enough yesterday, the players looked up for it and I felt my more relaxed attitude would pay off. The defence looked solid and Ainsworth looked a very neat player on the right because he was not afraid to run at players his crossing was also good and it was a shame that neither of the strikers were willing to gamble. For the opening 10 minutes in the second half we were better but by the 65th minute we’d it seemed the effort or imagination had disappeared again. We persisted in throwing men forward but without creating any actual opportunities and when that happens it is always inevitable the opposition will seize the initiative to make a quick counter attack and score. For the third home game in a row fans left rueing a lack of creativity and careless defending. Yet again the winning goal came from the left hand side as Stewart was too high up the pitch and on one was covering. Hayles under no real pressure crossed the ball in, and an unmarked Norris scored. On the same subject is a point about our corners. If we are going to push everyone up, we might as well at least cross the ball first time. If not it is only a matter of time before our short, pointless corner routine goes wrong and we get hit on the counter with no defence. As I’ve said before Aidy only works in extremes. I can’t add much more about the game, I don’t want to, it will only be churning up the same reasons we lost as all the other games, moaning about the same reasons. Instead I will talk about the only moment yesterday afternoon that truly mattered, when passion from both a player and the fans was shown. Half time. When Bangura was brought out onto the pitch, the reality of his situation meant the match paled into insignificance for me. I was choked with emotion as I shouted out his name continuously, trying to clap my hands whilst holding up the poster. It is absolutely shocking that the decision was made to kick him out. Al has shown such determination to recover from the horrors he experienced at such a young age, has always shown huge levels of enthusiasm and under the belief he was allowed to stay has built himself a life. Only for some power crazy suit man, to take it upon themselves to potentially not just destroy but much more horrifically potentially end his life. Al’s situation is more than about being a footballer playing for Watford though. What gives the right for someone to decide whose life is in danger and whose is not? It doesn’t matter what his situation was he has now settled and contributes hugely to our community and as the poster says ‘He’s Family’. He probably contributes more (in terms of both money and time to charity) than most people living in Watford who have the right to do so (and take it for granted). Al has been my favourite prospect at the club since the promotion winning season, the way he flies into tackles without a care in the world, his determination is never ending. It’s true he isn’t the most skilful player, but not all players need skill, some just need to be able to do the basics – a quick pass to someone who can do more with the ball. For me his legend status was cemented when he broke down in tears at the final whistle at Cardiff, when he dropped to the floor as if in worship. Aidy said the players had to wear shin pads in training because of Al and that sums up his character. His speech though short was emotional, even when he couldn’t find the words to say anything everyone clapped and chanted his name. How could our players not hear the fans reaction and not simply thought ‘lets just go out there and win the game for Al’ as I thought they were going to? How could they lack the apparent desire that Bangura has in bucket loads? A result at Hillsborough looks incredibly unlikely at the moment and if we don’t start performing soon we will probably be out of the play-offs by January and that will no doubt result in a mass exodus. However if the papers are to be believed a certain key player is already on their way out as the club yet again finds it self in a financial mess after one season of achievement. It’s difficult not to be all doom and gloom at moments like this because I haven’t seen us win since (ironically) Sheffield Wednesday however since that match the fortunes of both teams have reversed.
A great read as always. Hard to disagree with much in there. We've got to do something with all your blogs one day. Are WatfordFC.com still accepting blogs because yours are way better than anything that's appeared on the officials IMO?
What a great show of self discipline, forcing yourself to go through that match again and write about it. As always it's a really good read and retains a sense of perspective when some are losing theirs. Admin is right, your blogs are better than what appears on the official site and there ought to be a compilation of the season's blogs. Don't stop.
