What ever happened to.....

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by nornironhorn, Dec 5, 2017.

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  1. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    Meister's thread in Taylor's Tittle-Tattle gave me an idea of doing a short feature every so often on the post-Watford careers of some of our former players.

    I'm starting with Josh Walker, who signed for Watford after being released by Middlesbrough in August 2010. He was a former England U15, U16 , U17 and U20 captain and made his Premier League debut at 17 (and also scored against Bayern Munich while on loan at Aberdeen) so expectations were fairly high for the young player. He made a few substitute appearances very early in his Watford career before going on loan to Stevenage in November 2010 but rarely featured for Watford after that.

    Having failed to make the grade at Watford (after various loan spells at Stevenage and Northampton) he signed for Scunthorpe United, at the end of a loan spell with them, on a free transfer. Having started well at Scunthorpe, he unfortunately got injured towards the end of his contract in the 2012/13 season and was released.

    His next move was to Gateshead in the 5th tier of English football. Despite scoring 6 goals in 34 games he was released after one season where his career took an interesting twist. He ended up moving to the I-League in India which is one of India's two top-tier football leagues, but not as famous as the Indian Super League (which is a graveyard for past their prime footballers). He signed for reigning champions Bengaluru FC and was one of their marquee signings, featuring on billboards promoting football in India. He also said in an interview: "The fans are that fanatical, you're known. It makes you more professional because you're an idol to them." which I imagine was some change from playing for Gateshead (as was playing in front of 7,000+ crowds).

    However, Walker was unable to help Bengaluru defend their title as they finished runners up (he did win the Fedeation Cup though!). Due to injury, he had to leave the club and returned to the UK, where he signed for Edinburgh City (Jan 2017) . In his first half season, he managed to score 3 goals in 13 games in Scotland's fourth tier and was subsequently made captain of the side for this season although they are currently bottom of Scotland's league 2.

    Interestingly, Craig Beattie (Beattie scored 1 in 4 games on loan at Watford in 2012/13 season) is also playing for Edinburgh City with him and a 27 year old product of Juventus' youth academy so at least Walker's career didn't plummet as much as Jesus Garcia Tena's!

    [​IMG]
     
    nornironhorn, Dec 5, 2017
    #1
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  2. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    I remember this lad, thought we had a right steal on our hands when he signed up. What is the standard of Indian football like nowadays?

    I like this idea norn, can't wait for the next one!
     
    Optimistichornet, Dec 5, 2017
    #2
    nornironhorn likes this.
  3. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    According to the man himself, he was surprised how good it was. I didn't recognize any names in his team though so think the league he played in was to a lower standard than the Indian Super League.
     
    nornironhorn, Dec 5, 2017
    #3
  4. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    This highlights the numerous aspects required to become and to sustain a career as an elite athlete.
    Good parenting,good advice,being in the right place at the right time and of course,staying free of injury!
    After that you have to work your socks off every day!
     
    I Blame Pozzo, Dec 5, 2017
    #4
  5. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Makes you think about how many of our players had their career significantly blighted by injury....im sure Norn will unearth a few more over the upcoming years.
     
    Optimistichornet, Dec 5, 2017
    #5
    nornironhorn likes this.
  6. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    So I was curious about the quality of the I-League. Picked out some highlights of the huge game between the giants of Mohun Bagan and the Titans of DSK Shivajians.



    Seems pretty physical, although some of the goalkeeping and defending is absolutely dreadful.
     
    Optimistichornet, Dec 5, 2017
    #6
    nornironhorn likes this.
  7. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Also found this...

     
    Optimistichornet, Dec 5, 2017
    #7
  8. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    nornironhorn, Dec 5, 2017
    #8
    Optimistichornet likes this.
  9. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    This feature is a great idea, Norn. I'd also be interested in some of the early foreign Pozzo 'failures' if you can dig up anything on them.
     
    WillisWasTheWorst, Dec 5, 2017
    #9
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  10. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    Great interview would like to think he will stay in the game after he retires. He would make a great youth coach, could teach the youngsters some things about biding their time.
     
    Optimistichornet, Dec 5, 2017
    #10
  11. reids

    reids First Team

    Despite being 29 and most likely in the peak of his career, Watford legend Jean-Alain Fanchone is plying his trade in the French 4th division.
     
    reids, Dec 6, 2017
    #11
  12. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    There is no greater insult:

    upload_2017-12-6_10-5-10.png
     
    Otter, Dec 6, 2017
    #12
    neraksarrab, oxhey67, Jossy and 2 others like this.
  13. reids

    reids First Team

    Last I heard he was playing futsal wasn't he?
     
    reids, Dec 6, 2017
    #13
  14. Levon

    Levon Squad Player

    Good read, that. The fact that he talks about growing up is refreshing; too often I've read interviews with former players who blame the clubs they played at for their downfall or lack of progress. Uche Ikpeazu, Ross Jenkins and Gavin Massey are three examples of players who have left during the Pozzo era and later complained about not getting the game time they were 'entitled' to.
     
    Levon, Dec 6, 2017
    #14
  15. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    All the heroes, all the Shakespearos?
     
    BigRossLittleRoss, Dec 8, 2017
    #15
    The undeniable truth likes this.
  16. reids

    reids First Team

    reids, Dec 8, 2017
    #16
    hornmeister likes this.
  17. nornironhorn

    nornironhorn Administrator Staff Member

    nornironhorn, Dec 8, 2017
    #17
  18. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    Giano Munari - currently holding down a regular midfield spot for table-topping Parma in the Italian second division.

    1 goal in 11 games so far this season.

    [​IMG]
     
    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin, Dec 8, 2017
    #18
    wfcmoog likes this.
  19. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    What about the guy standing next to him. He used to play upfront I think ?
     
    The undeniable truth, Dec 8, 2017
    #19
    kVA likes this.
  20. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    They watched their Rome burn, didn't they ?
     
    The undeniable truth, Dec 8, 2017
    #20
    BigRossLittleRoss likes this.
  21. Levon

    Levon Squad Player

    I remember him. Did a decent job at Leicester and kept them up before they unfairly sacked him.
     
    Levon, Dec 8, 2017
    #21
  22. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Uche ikpeazu is joining Hearts .

    That a big step up from mid table League Two football or not ?!
     
    wfc4ever, Apr 18, 2018
    #22
  23. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Neuton is now 28. Brilliant on football manager, think he's now in the Cypriot league. I'm sure it's still a better standard I could play but seems he didn't quite hit his pozzo potential
     
    Aberystwyth_Hornet, Apr 19, 2018
    #23
  24. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    The Pozzos' crack scouting team should be off out there, then!
     
    Happy bunny, Apr 19, 2018
    #24
  25. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    When we played a pre season friendly v Hearts ( for the opening of one of the stands?) I swapped scarves with a Jambo. He was 'vehh,vehh,drunk' but very friendly too!
    Ever since I've adopted them in Scotland, so good luck to Uche at Tynecastle.
     
    I Blame Pozzo, Apr 19, 2018
    #25
  26. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    We played an end-of-season friendly against Hearts as Steve Sherwood's testimonial. It was John Barnes's last game in a Watford shirt. The Hearts fans were great, even starting up choruses of "there's only one Steve Sherwood".
     
    Happy bunny, Apr 19, 2018
    #26
  27. Jossy

    Jossy Reservist

    [​IMG]

    If we'd only known then of the horror that was about to unfold over the next couple of months.....:eek:
     
    Jossy, Apr 19, 2018
    #27
  28. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    I'm glad we didn't.
     
    Happy bunny, Apr 19, 2018
    #28
  29. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Why Hearts I wonder ?
     
    wfc4ever, Apr 19, 2018
    #29
  30. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    Possibly because they ruled their heads, but also, if I remember correctly, because they were attractive opposition at the time, having done well in a league that wasn't then crap and being a rare chance for us to see an exotic team from another country.
     
    Happy bunny, Apr 19, 2018
    #30
    wfcmoog and wfc4ever like this.
  31. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    As sad as it is, I reckon I remember all of those Hearts players as football 87 was the first panini sticker album I completed!
     
    Timbers, Apr 19, 2018
    #31
  32. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky First Year Pro

    Looking at that team sheet I'd kind of forgotten how good a side we had in GT's final season (first spell)
     
    Tricky Dicky, Apr 19, 2018
    #32
  33. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    Umtil Bassett sold half of them
     
    Happy bunny, Apr 19, 2018
    #33
  34. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Ah ha!
    That's the one!
    I Blame Bassett!
     
    I Blame Pozzo, Apr 19, 2018
    #34
    Happy bunny likes this.
  35. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Steve Leo Beleck, Apr 20, 2018
    #35
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