True, but others managed to run around and show a little bit of fight for the cause! Admittedly not many of them!
Looks like we did the cancelling and pissed off Millwall a bit. Surprise surprise. https://newsatden.co.uk/85394-millwall-aim-to-replace-cancelled-watford-friendly/
To be fair to Sarr he isn't generally a smiley person (he can do a good sulk as we know). He is probably thinking about lining up against Sheff United when he would rather be sitting next to Salah or Maine on the team bus.
I'd rather have them than not. Don't buy the "couldn't get visas in time" line at all. How can there be trust between club and fans when you lie more blatantly than Walter White?
Seems a change in tone from the social media guys - I’m sure it’s nothing to read into. But Edwards seems very keen on fostering a positive atmosphere throughout the whole club - from training, social media, etc etc. The club in its infancy (this summer) started off with loads of training images of Cathcart and Cleverley. They were in almost every shot. Now it’s Baah, Kamara, Asprilla, JP, Sierralta. Maybe (probably) I’m overthinking it - but I wonder if Edwards keeps abreast of social media comments etc and how that feeds into the fan base etc. So has asked them to switch focus. As I say, might be nonsense and probably giving them too much credit. But the change has been noticeable.
Fair point. But I’d suggest if we sorted one for Asprilla, there’s no way we couldn’t have sorted one for our biggest value players. It’s a clear lie. And given the comment from Giaretta saying those 2 players would prefer to leave, it’s a pointless lie as well. Zero reason not to tell the truth in the circumstances.
Looks like the sort of low grade office bonding excercise you might have seen at Wernham Hogg . Edwards certainly has a bit of the David Brent about him
This sounds like horseshit: It’s highly likely that if they are here when the season starts, they will be available for first-team games if Rob chooses to select them,” said the club’s sporting director Cristiano Giaretta Last time in the Championship Luis Suarez, Estupinan, Pereyra, Welbeck all could've played some league games before they left later in transfer window. You're not telling me Ivic didn't want any of them to play, even if only for a few games.
There is one fundamental difference. None of those players you listed wanted to play for Watford in the Championship. Dennis and Sarr would prefer to play at a higher level but are still prepared to play for Watford in the Championship and it’s a huge credit to both of them they have that attitude.
I still find it crazy that the club lets this sort of thing happen. A player signs a legally binding contract with the club. They should be training and playing with the team as Watford players until they get a transfer that the club are happy with and they agree personal terms on. I appreciate that a coach probably wants to focus on the players that will definitely be here come the start of the season but Sarr, Dennis, etc are not guaranteed a move. How the players and club handled the start of the championship last time was ridiculous. From a prospective buyer, I’d be looking at player attitude closely and if a player hadn’t travelled with their team or refused to play I’d avoid. However the club should be assuring the player that they are doing everything they can to sell them on for a fee that they are happy with. Surely there must be a clause in the contract that makes the player liable if they down tools? Even if it just covers past wages?
Huge credit especially to Dennis, one year into a five year contract and he might actually stay! Top bloke, great attitude.
Well I for one like the positivity that seems to be emanating from the training camp. It seems miles away from the miserable unsmiling days of the Hodgson time. We seem to be going back to the Munoz era of players actually looking happy, and that can only be a good thing. It would be great if the main thing that comes out of the week in Austria would be an improved team spirit and a happy camp. In my opinion that will be worth a few extra points as the season progresses. The Sarr/Dennis issue would seem to be a delicate balancing act. I suspect both will be gone before the window closes, but what do we do if it goes to the wire? Logically both should be considered for selection. Few of us want a repeat of the farcical start to the last Championship season. I would like the decision to be made by RE, and definitely not see a situation whereby he is told who can and can’t play. That would be a very bad start to his time here. He would then have to weigh up the possible short term gains versus the issue of both then leaving and having to be replaced in the starting eleven so we are a bit unsettled. He will also have to consider their attitudes, as there seemed to be a few reports linking them as being part of the unrest under RH. Which may not have been true, of course. Difficult decisions could have to be made but let’s hope it’s left to the proper people to make them.
The way I see it is I think both Sarr and Dennis will actually enjoy playing for Watford next season. The vibe and culture is such that they will easily fit in and enjoy their working environment. So I can see both of them happy to be part of things for now but it's understandable they would like to play at a higher level and will go only if the right offer is received. Sarr posting that photo yesterday clearly shows they are both happy. Remember the appalling photo the club posted of both Suarez and Estupinan a couple of seasons ago. Their facial expressions told you everything you wanted to know and it was no surprise they both left shortly after. Now, I have no doubt if Dennis and Sarr play for Watford they will play for the team, the only downside I can see is the few days leading up to transfer window deadline. This is the danger time for Watford. Clubs will see Watford were not bluffing and if they want our players will have to offer the going rate. If they do, then that leaves us with a hole to fill. No doubt if we start using Sarr and Dennis they will quickly become integral. If they go on transfer deadline day, it leaves us with very little time to find replacements, as I doubt we'll make anymore signings in this window until at least one of those players go.
Who can say? It’s very hard to get into the minds of other people and know what they are thinking privately. Both have said they want to leave. In all likelihood, both probably will. There were obviously problems at the end of last season, and a few smiling pics on social media won’t really convince many people that things have magically turned around and they’re both now happy to stay and play for us at a level and wage lower than they covet, even if Rob is a good guy and the atmosphere around the club has now changed. I suspect neither are in our plans for next season, both will go before September and we will probably then waste the transfer fees we receive for them, but that’s only how I see it.
As ‘if’ is doing all the heavy lifting in that sentence there is really nothing wrong with it. All it is saying to other clubs is that we would rather play them than give them away. The chances are they won’t be here, nor if they are and a transfer seems imminent, that they will play, but the club can hardly say that under no circumstances will they play.
Mattie Pollock “obviously “ looking forward to the season ! https://mobile.twitter.com/DBachmann1/status/1545709522785865728
Yes my guess is they would both like to move up but are happy to stay and be involved until that happens but the club are concerned that one might get injured and Edwards doesn't want to build his team around the two of them given they are both more likely than not to move.
