Aidy: We weren't good enough
11:48am Thursday 22nd May 2008
By Kevin Affleck »
A week after Watford's dream of a swift return to the Premiership died Aidy Boothroyd has given a blunt assessement of why the Hornets failed to win promotion.
"People will look to Marlon King leaving, Gavin leaving, the style of play and the expectation," he said. "People are even talking about Keith Burkinshaw.
"At the end of the day we didn't go up because we weren't good enough," he said.
"We weren't hungry enough and we didn't do over a period of time what is needed to go up. If we had turned two or three of those eight draws we had on the bounce into wins and then it's a different story. But ifs and buts are no good.
"The slant on things seems to be that things went wrong but that's because if you set high standards then you have got a long way to fall," he added. "If you say, Lets see how we go' then sixth would have been a massive success."
Your Say YourWatford
Andy, St Albans says...
12:16pm Thu 22 May 08
So who's fault is it that they weren't "hungry" enough and there wasn't enough quality?
Perhaps £3.5m could have been spent on player(s) who had quality and were hungry for football rather than their new found religion or geriatrics on a last pay day.
Perhaps £3.5m could have been spent on player(s) who had quality and were hungry for football rather than their new found religion or geriatrics on a last pay day.
SIMMO, BUCKS says...
12:54pm Thu 22 May 08
People will look to Marlon King leaving, Gavin leaving, the style of play and the expectation," he said. "People are even talking about Keith Burkinshaw.
YES they will Boothroyd because none of us agreed with the sales particularly KING but we TRUSTED you so gave you some slack BUT you let us down ,you said selling King would cost us £60million YOU got that right it kicked the team in the guts NO other promotion hopefull team would dream of selling there top scorer and fans favourite BUT you did and guess what we could not score goals ,you proved you could not manage an unhappy player and to now say the team was not hungary is the most damning of statements yet BUT most of all YOU have not once shown any humility ,said sorry to the fans or admitted YOUR mistakes WE are forgiving fans at WFC but not FOOLS your spin does not wash with us IF you get WFC fans turning you really do have problems because as i said we are far more forgiving than others .YOU can sack as many backroom team as you like BUT they were your appointments the football world will watch AND what decent qualified coach like Bate would want to work with you ,you should have taken responsibility and offered your resignation BUT no you blame others ,i could have forgiven and forgot if there had been some humility but now i will continue as always to support MY club but not you Mr Boothroyd but looks like we are stuck with you
YES they will Boothroyd because none of us agreed with the sales particularly KING but we TRUSTED you so gave you some slack BUT you let us down ,you said selling King would cost us £60million YOU got that right it kicked the team in the guts NO other promotion hopefull team would dream of selling there top scorer and fans favourite BUT you did and guess what we could not score goals ,you proved you could not manage an unhappy player and to now say the team was not hungary is the most damning of statements yet BUT most of all YOU have not once shown any humility ,said sorry to the fans or admitted YOUR mistakes WE are forgiving fans at WFC but not FOOLS your spin does not wash with us IF you get WFC fans turning you really do have problems because as i said we are far more forgiving than others .YOU can sack as many backroom team as you like BUT they were your appointments the football world will watch AND what decent qualified coach like Bate would want to work with you ,you should have taken responsibility and offered your resignation BUT no you blame others ,i could have forgiven and forgot if there had been some humility but now i will continue as always to support MY club but not you Mr Boothroyd but looks like we are stuck with you
Peter Cartwright, Ilford, Essex says...
1:40pm Thu 22 May 08
I would like to feel that the stadium will be close to being full next season. That will consolidate the atmosphere and improve our chances of performing well at home. How to achieve this? People will be attracted by value for money. Recently, I attended a classical concert by the the London Symphony Orchestra, with a massive backing choir and one of England's greatest conductors - and the ticket cost £25! To watch Watford FC, I require either a fall in ticket prices or an improvement in the quality of play. Live football will always be attractive because of the athletic vigour and the uncertainty of outcome. But there must be skill also. Who is guiding our existing players in developing their skills?
The Rover, Watford says...
2:14pm Thu 22 May 08
On the WatfordFC website AB is talking of bringing back the good times of 23 years ago and that that is the time it takes Saturn to orbit the sun. Aidy, your talking out of Uranus!. Forget the astrology, put your telescope away and lets play football instead!
Hornetboy84, ricky says...
2:48pm Thu 22 May 08
Surely Priskin was 100% Hungary?
Mark, Watford says...
3:27pm Thu 22 May 08
Can we sort of move on from last season otherwise we will not get anywhere?
oxheypaul, watford says...
3:45pm Thu 22 May 08
You're a little wriggler, Boothroyd.
Why don't you either
a) Take some of the blame
or
b) Shut the hell up
Incidentally, the transfer window is open. How about directing your energy towards improving our pitiful squad and offloading a dozen or so of the knobs you have previously bought.
Why don't you either
a) Take some of the blame
or
b) Shut the hell up
Incidentally, the transfer window is open. How about directing your energy towards improving our pitiful squad and offloading a dozen or so of the knobs you have previously bought.
Dollyhat, Stevenage says...
3:47pm Thu 22 May 08
Fully agree Mark. I am totally sick and tired of this debate. We didn't get promoted. For God's lets move on and look forward to next season.
Brian, Northwood says...
3:53pm Thu 22 May 08
Oh dear. But WHY weren't we good enough or hungry enough? The manager chose the squad, team, tactics, formation, and motivated them. And he continually talked about automatic promotion, so any sense of expectation was entirely generated by the club.
chris, the vic says...
3:58pm Thu 22 May 08
here we go again raking over the ashes.
Be fair to Aidy he didnt want to let King go, but King wanted out and according to GS didnt want to wear the shirt again.
My guess is that he was tapped up, wasnt liking the soccer saw a chance to cash in and went for it.
Can't blame marlon for cashing in on his opportunities and difficult to blame Aidy.
So lets move on ..hope Aidy improves the team.
Roll on 2008/2009 and forget the forgettable! (2007/2008)
Be fair to Aidy he didnt want to let King go, but King wanted out and according to GS didnt want to wear the shirt again.
My guess is that he was tapped up, wasnt liking the soccer saw a chance to cash in and went for it.
Can't blame marlon for cashing in on his opportunities and difficult to blame Aidy.
So lets move on ..hope Aidy improves the team.
Roll on 2008/2009 and forget the forgettable! (2007/2008)
Corrective Party, wondering where the dog track has gone that used to be. says...
4:53pm Thu 22 May 08
"Judge me at the end of the season" ... well, Judgement Day is upon us, AB ... how do you plead?
true supporter, hemel says...
6:07pm Thu 22 May 08
the seasons finished and you are still talking ****,give it a rest and start taking the blame for once
Stewart, Home says...
6:13pm Thu 22 May 08
Sane old negative repetitive crap posted on here by usual suspects. Move on!! WE know what happened!!I hope all you whingers haven't renewed in the hope of seeing Man Utd.
Des, Hatch End says...
6:28pm Thu 22 May 08
I'm sure we'd all like to put the most spirit sapping season behind us but Hoofers won't let us.
He continually spouts crap which we are meant to accept without any comeback.
Sorry but this shouldn't be allowed.Hoofers has used up all his goodwill(and more)and deserves to be criticised for his continued failings.
The bottom line is the whole team failed and as he is head of that team he has to accept the greatest responsibility.Unfor
tunately he hasn't done this.Instead he has tried to deflect the blame to various other things/people.The people will be sacked(if they haven't already.)
Let's make no mistake this was his team with his staff and his tactics.They were nearly all wrong.He's lucky to remain in a job.
I hope he proves all his doubters wrong next season but I just don't think he has the ability to do that.
He should now just shut up and get on with planning for next season.If he does we will all be able to move forward.
Des
He continually spouts crap which we are meant to accept without any comeback.
Sorry but this shouldn't be allowed.Hoofers has used up all his goodwill(and more)and deserves to be criticised for his continued failings.
The bottom line is the whole team failed and as he is head of that team he has to accept the greatest responsibility.Unfor
tunately he hasn't done this.Instead he has tried to deflect the blame to various other things/people.The people will be sacked(if they haven't already.)
Let's make no mistake this was his team with his staff and his tactics.They were nearly all wrong.He's lucky to remain in a job.
I hope he proves all his doubters wrong next season but I just don't think he has the ability to do that.
He should now just shut up and get on with planning for next season.If he does we will all be able to move forward.
Des
true supporter, hemel says...
6:53pm Thu 22 May 08
plese just shutup
BooRaider, Hillingdon says...
7:50pm Thu 22 May 08
People should look back over the last 10 years to get an idea of the sort of club WFC is.
With the exception of the last few years, you will find that WFC is a mid-table championship club.
By finishing 6th they have actaly exceeded their natural expectations.
As for the King debate, as far as I'm aware, he wanted to go so his heart wouldn't have been in playing for WFC. His contract was up at the end of the season and would have gone for no return. Selling was the right thing to do.
Lets leave the 07/08 season now, ITS OVER, and wait and see what 08/09 brings. If it brings the hope of promotion/play offs them WFC will have 'punched above their weight' AGAIN!
With the exception of the last few years, you will find that WFC is a mid-table championship club.
By finishing 6th they have actaly exceeded their natural expectations.
As for the King debate, as far as I'm aware, he wanted to go so his heart wouldn't have been in playing for WFC. His contract was up at the end of the season and would have gone for no return. Selling was the right thing to do.
Lets leave the 07/08 season now, ITS OVER, and wait and see what 08/09 brings. If it brings the hope of promotion/play offs them WFC will have 'punched above their weight' AGAIN!
Mark, Watford says...
8:06pm Thu 22 May 08
Ofcourse we should not expect to play the fast free flowing top clubs do and we are not a club that has a right to be in the Premiership...howeve
r the board think so and we have spent money again unwisely in my view unlike in Aidy's 1st full season which was a great success.
r the board think so and we have spent money again unwisely in my view unlike in Aidy's 1st full season which was a great success.
mohican, sutton says...
8:24pm Thu 22 May 08
How can be 6th be a massive success, you sure A B is not a barrister. Why cant he just put his hands up and admit and say we blew it.
Less old chat, get the tennis ball out pre season..Try training wrong leg first touch..Head tennis...Maybe he gets a few people of this site to help out in there thoughts, because clearly something is very wrong with the background crew who must also take part of the blame for sad end of season..
Less old chat, get the tennis ball out pre season..Try training wrong leg first touch..Head tennis...Maybe he gets a few people of this site to help out in there thoughts, because clearly something is very wrong with the background crew who must also take part of the blame for sad end of season..
rosh99, hereford says...
10:30pm Thu 22 May 08
Hoofroyd is boring the crap out of me now. Can he not stop dissecting what went wrong last season and instead try and do something constructive.
There's a great big transfer market out there so he needs to offload some of the players and get the right players in. The question is, does he know what the 'right' players are as his track record of signings over the past 18 months has been nothing short of woeful. Without a decent number 2 to guide and advise him (without getting sacked), how will he know who or what to go for?
So many questions, let's see what next season brings.
There's a great big transfer market out there so he needs to offload some of the players and get the right players in. The question is, does he know what the 'right' players are as his track record of signings over the past 18 months has been nothing short of woeful. Without a decent number 2 to guide and advise him (without getting sacked), how will he know who or what to go for?
So many questions, let's see what next season brings.
Hexham Hornet, Hexham says...
11:48pm Thu 22 May 08
Is this saying anything we didn't already know? Many have been saying, at least since Christmas, that we are not good enough. If Aidy is surprised that people mention Keith Burkinshaw then he should look at the timings - KB leaves and our bad run starts. To be fair though, we weren't playing great football when we were picking up points - I remember in October referring back to the GT days when we took the league by storm and yet came away from matches wondering how we managed to win them and said it seemed to be the same this season. What went wrong Aidy was basically that you did not play to your players' strengths until the last two games of the season and everybody got complacent because we all thought it would be easy to go straight back up and the team took their foot off the pedal once we were 9 points clear. Sometimes you should keep your thoughts in-house, as you said that you were aiming to get automatic promotion and anything less would be a failure. Well we are still in the Championship so now you need to cut the cr*p, stop spinning and get back to running the team, as you did in 2005/2006.
Ralph, Sofa says...
12:12am Fri 23 May 08
How many ways to skin a cat?!?!
Same old crap over and over again in different forms and still going nowhere in terms of how he/them/we are going to put this right.
For Christ's sake, close that chapter immediately and start the new one and start thinking about progression now.
What went wrong is in the past, CANNOT be changed and never will.
Move onwards and upwards, look at shifting the bloody dead wood and don't leave the new additions to the last minute as we always seem to do.
We'll all be there next season regardless so let's also get behind the manager/squad and hope we can go that step further next year and set ourselves up for the seasons after that, hopefully in the Premiership.
Anyway, it's getting late and the Playboy channel is calling me so goodnight Hornets fans wherever you are!
Same old crap over and over again in different forms and still going nowhere in terms of how he/them/we are going to put this right.
For Christ's sake, close that chapter immediately and start the new one and start thinking about progression now.
What went wrong is in the past, CANNOT be changed and never will.
Move onwards and upwards, look at shifting the bloody dead wood and don't leave the new additions to the last minute as we always seem to do.
We'll all be there next season regardless so let's also get behind the manager/squad and hope we can go that step further next year and set ourselves up for the seasons after that, hopefully in the Premiership.
Anyway, it's getting late and the Playboy channel is calling me so goodnight Hornets fans wherever you are!
Nick H, Hungary says...
8:09am Fri 23 May 08
Just heard from a mate whos a Derby fan that the Rams are back in talks with Ellington
chris, the vic says...
8:12am Fri 23 May 08
Well said ralph.
The fans often forget the managers inexperience and flawed character.
Yes he is too stubborn by half and yes he does say far too much at times like now when silence would be a better option.
The past is past and Aidy yep if the draws were wins we would have gone up, and yes if we hadnt lost at home to two teams who when we played them in the run in were bottom three and lost both games, but heigh ho we didnt.
However you are young enthusiastic and I suspect getting better at your job as you get more experienced. Become more forgiving and let your actions speak for themselves.
The fans often forget the managers inexperience and flawed character.
Yes he is too stubborn by half and yes he does say far too much at times like now when silence would be a better option.
The past is past and Aidy yep if the draws were wins we would have gone up, and yes if we hadnt lost at home to two teams who when we played them in the run in were bottom three and lost both games, but heigh ho we didnt.
However you are young enthusiastic and I suspect getting better at your job as you get more experienced. Become more forgiving and let your actions speak for themselves.
Winston, watford says...
8:49am Fri 23 May 08
Nick H wrote:Derby County are in talks to sign Watford striker Nathan Ellington fom Derby County we site
Just heard from a mate whos a Derby fan that the Rams are back in talks with Ellington
gc, says...
8:59am Fri 23 May 08
clappers defend Aidy because of our 6th spot finish. But this is not the whole story. As Aidy said, had we started badly and then finished strongly we would all be happy and this for me is very true. BUT WE FINISHED like a JOKE. Our current form will make the bookies mark us down for potential relegation, so of course we are going to be very unhappy at the current situation.
Some people use Charlton, Sheff Utd as examples of how well we have done, BUT on current form they will start next season in a much much stronger position than us. So again we have reason to be concerned.
Aidy said 'judge me at the end of the season'
Here's my verdict:-
1) I am not delighted with 6th place because of the money we spent and the start we got but it would never warrant sacking the manager.
2) The style of football and the current melt down, would certainly get the manager the sack at any other club.
3)We used to say that Aidy was a 'football genius' that for me is so ironic, because this year he has made an endless list of basic and fundemental mistakes. What worries me is he has stopped listening and his stubborness has been the reason we have failed this season.
bottom line- if I were chairman and had to decide whether Aidy stays or goes?
I am afraid I would persuade him to resign. Yes he may well go on to have a succesful career, but like a relationship, to much has gone on here for him to stand much chance to turn it around.
Obviously that is not going to happen, so we all wait to see what happens in the summer market in's and out's. And hope that one way or the other our team can start getting results again.
ps the person who said that ditractors should 'support Man utd'. Stick it up your**** arrogant patronising ****
It is our club, it is our duty to be involved.
Some people use Charlton, Sheff Utd as examples of how well we have done, BUT on current form they will start next season in a much much stronger position than us. So again we have reason to be concerned.
Aidy said 'judge me at the end of the season'
Here's my verdict:-
1) I am not delighted with 6th place because of the money we spent and the start we got but it would never warrant sacking the manager.
2) The style of football and the current melt down, would certainly get the manager the sack at any other club.
3)We used to say that Aidy was a 'football genius' that for me is so ironic, because this year he has made an endless list of basic and fundemental mistakes. What worries me is he has stopped listening and his stubborness has been the reason we have failed this season.
bottom line- if I were chairman and had to decide whether Aidy stays or goes?
I am afraid I would persuade him to resign. Yes he may well go on to have a succesful career, but like a relationship, to much has gone on here for him to stand much chance to turn it around.
Obviously that is not going to happen, so we all wait to see what happens in the summer market in's and out's. And hope that one way or the other our team can start getting results again.
ps the person who said that ditractors should 'support Man utd'. Stick it up your**** arrogant patronising ****
It is our club, it is our duty to be involved.
ab11uk, watford says...
9:29am Fri 23 May 08
I can not believe this.
Anyone rmemebr seeing all those stupid tv interviews aidy did saying king wont be sold for less than 60 million only for two months later to go at a cut price because they were desperate for the money. They had a perfect chance to keep him after he "failed" his medical. we all know he didnt fail it but fulham sensed the board were desperate to sell and wanted to renegotiate the price. but instead we sold him for about 2 mill only 58 million short. Mahon was treated terribly stripped of captaincy then left to blame by boothroyd. I thought mahon's leaving interview was great. he made boothroyd look a absolute mug. "i was told i wont be good enough for premiership football next season considering its january boothroyd is certain watford are up"
to be honest i dont mind the style of play if we are winning, Vialli style of play was supposebly great but god we didnt win a game and watching ramon vega and galli pass the ball to eachother for twenty mins then lose it and the other team score was never gonna take us anywhere.
this is just another one of those fan pleasing media articles he likes to put out. If i hear him say when we lose 3-0 4-1 or by a big margin. "this is the best result of the season for us" I think I'l scream.
He bottled it in the playoffs, he played the same style to the playoffs and knew we wouldnt get through so tryed to please the fans. 6-1 later he is saying he is building a team to play football. Williams is his starting block???? I've even heard a excuse was al bangura's plight during the season. I think the news of the world summed up what kind of personality this board is willing to back.
Anyone rmemebr seeing all those stupid tv interviews aidy did saying king wont be sold for less than 60 million only for two months later to go at a cut price because they were desperate for the money. They had a perfect chance to keep him after he "failed" his medical. we all know he didnt fail it but fulham sensed the board were desperate to sell and wanted to renegotiate the price. but instead we sold him for about 2 mill only 58 million short. Mahon was treated terribly stripped of captaincy then left to blame by boothroyd. I thought mahon's leaving interview was great. he made boothroyd look a absolute mug. "i was told i wont be good enough for premiership football next season considering its january boothroyd is certain watford are up"
to be honest i dont mind the style of play if we are winning, Vialli style of play was supposebly great but god we didnt win a game and watching ramon vega and galli pass the ball to eachother for twenty mins then lose it and the other team score was never gonna take us anywhere.
this is just another one of those fan pleasing media articles he likes to put out. If i hear him say when we lose 3-0 4-1 or by a big margin. "this is the best result of the season for us" I think I'l scream.
He bottled it in the playoffs, he played the same style to the playoffs and knew we wouldnt get through so tryed to please the fans. 6-1 later he is saying he is building a team to play football. Williams is his starting block???? I've even heard a excuse was al bangura's plight during the season. I think the news of the world summed up what kind of personality this board is willing to back.
bomber, oxhey says...
10:58am Fri 23 May 08
SIMMO wrote:Well said Simmo!!
People will look to Marlon King leaving, Gavin leaving, the style of play and the expectation," he said. "People are even talking about Keith Burkinshaw. YES they will Boothroyd because none of us agreed with the sales particularly KING but we TRUSTED you so gave you some slack BUT you let us down ,you said selling King would cost us £60million YOU got that right it kicked the team in the guts NO other promotion hopefull team would dream of selling there top scorer and fans favourite BUT you did and guess what we could not score goals ,you proved you could not manage an unhappy player and to now say the team was not hungary is the most damning of statements yet BUT most of all YOU have not once shown any humility ,said sorry to the fans or admitted YOUR mistakes WE are forgiving fans at WFC but not FOOLS your spin does not wash with us IF you get WFC fans turning you really do have problems because as i said we are far more forgiving than others .YOU can sack as many backroom team as you like BUT they were your appointments the football world will watch AND what decent qualified coach like Bate would want to work with you ,you should have taken responsibility and offered your resignation BUT no you blame others ,i could have forgiven and forgot if there had been some humility but now i will continue as always to support MY club but not you Mr Boothroyd but looks like we are stuck with you
KL massive, Kings Langley says...
1:15pm Fri 23 May 08
What i think is unbelievable is that every word Boothroyd says is twisted or recieved with utter contempt by the usual suspects. Is it best he says nothing at all?..then I am sure all you whingers will be comnplaining about the lack of comment.
For you lot I think your mind is made up...I dont see how this polarized attitude will help support the team next year?
Maybe just moaning on these boards is your idea of supporting Watford...takes all sorts I guess.
Anyhow; enjoy the summer and hopefully we can start next season in a positive way...all of us.
Stay Yellow.
For you lot I think your mind is made up...I dont see how this polarized attitude will help support the team next year?
Maybe just moaning on these boards is your idea of supporting Watford...takes all sorts I guess.
Anyhow; enjoy the summer and hopefully we can start next season in a positive way...all of us.
Stay Yellow.
Peter Reason, California says...
7:41am Sun 25 May 08
You can please some of the Watford supporters all of the time, and all of the Watford supporters some of the time, but you can't please all the Watford supporters all of the time.
harry uk, dunstable says...
9:33am Sun 25 May 08
the 99% majority of the comments made above are plainly accurate to all supporters. I give Aidy half a dozen games at home next season, people aint gonna take that crap again at over inflated admission prices. I sit near Simpson and Ashton in their ivory towers at the expense of people booted out and friendships lost because of it. He might need barbed wire on top of the expensive glass windbreakers installed.He didnt mention that expense either..!!
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mellow_yellow, watford says...
12:14pm Thu 22 May 08
Maybe if you stopped giving them a diet of marketing mash and told them green things were something the ball should be played along it might have been different. Starve them of nonsense and feed them reality... if you've got any in your cupboard.