AUDIO: Barnsley boss David Flitcroft praised Watford's recruitment policy and Gianfranco Zola

11:15am Sunday 17th March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor

Picture: Action Images Picture: Action Images

There have not been many opposition managers who have praised Watford’s recruitment policy this season but Barnsley’s David Flitcroft says he “loves” the way the Hornets took advantage of the current loan system.

There also haven’t been many teams who have nullified Watford’s threat for 90 minutes and the Tykes boss was delighted his game plan worked yesterday following his team’s 1-0 victory.

Flitcroft said: “I am completely buzzing. We set up a game plan after Tuesday against Brighton and it really worked.

“There has been a lot said about Watford, what they have tried to do and the way they have done things; I think it is brilliant what Watford have done and I love their creativity.

"I love the way they took advantage of a situation and instead of moaning about the players they have, like a lot of other managers do, you have to accept you are playing Watford and playing some top, top players. You have to deal with them and we dealt with them.

“At the start of the season we were over-run by them and run ragged by them. Today we got up close and personal. We got in and around what they do, we put them under pressure and we have returned with three points and victorious.

“It is an honour to manage this football club at this point.”

Flitcroft was also full of praise for Gianfranco Zola, who was on the same coaching course as the Barnsley boss.

You can listen to the rest of Flitcroft’s press conference below. Zola’s press conference will be uploaded later today.

listen to ‘WatfordObserverSport talk about Flitcroft praises Watford and Zola’ on Audioboo

Comments(11)

HunsburyHornet says...
11:56am Sun 17 Mar 13

Well done to Dave, a good honest manager, and a deserved win, their game plan worked. GF will no doubt take it all on board, and we will be better for it. The train journey back seemed to take twice as long, missed my connection at Leicester, had to wait 45 mins for the next one, so had an enjoyable time with some Leicester fans returning from Derby. This is what it's all about. It's only a game, isn't it?

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endean2 says...
11:58am Sun 17 Mar 13

ha ha,you can say what you want when you play us of the park

I doubt he would have said that if we had won.

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rogeruk says...
1:35pm Sun 17 Mar 13

HunsburyHornet wrote:
Well done to Dave, a good honest manager, and a deserved win, their game plan worked. GF will no doubt take it all on board, and we will be better for it. The train journey back seemed to take twice as long, missed my connection at Leicester, had to wait 45 mins for the next one, so had an enjoyable time with some Leicester fans returning from Derby. This is what it's all about. It's only a game, isn't it?
Congrats on a being a great fan.

As to only a game it's worth remembering one of the all time great Liverpool managers Bill shankley.

When Bill was asked is this game today a matter of 'Life and Death'? Bill took a moment then replied Nae it's more important than that!

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SAHornet says...
1:55pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Get in there you stripey's Sebastian's

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garston 'orn says...
1:56pm Sun 17 Mar 13

I'm a real fan of this guy and he's doing brilliant for barnsley. After he managed to win a few after keith hill was sacked i hoped he'd get the job. Seems like a genuine character which once again has shone through his interview. Fair play if he believes his tactics which obviously were affective won it then let him have his moment.

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Bush Hornet says...
3:00pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Just goes to underline what a d1ck Bolloway is. And Palace lose today. Great result.

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Bush Hornet says...
3:01pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Bush Hornet wrote:
Just goes to underline what a d1ck Bolloway is. And Palace lose today. Great result.
That was a typo but I like it

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watford1881 says...
6:20pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Wonder what he would have said if he'd have lost..

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The Not-so-enlightened one says...
8:54pm Sun 17 Mar 13

endean2 wrote:
ha ha,you can say what you want when you play us of the park

I doubt he would have said that if we had won.
Why not have the good grace to accept his comments at face value? His game plan worked and, like GZ has done on plenty of occasions this season, he gave a honest assessment of both teams/clubs. They beat us, we deserved it - end of.

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HunsburyHornet says...
9:18pm Sun 17 Mar 13

The Not-so-enlightened one wrote:
endean2 wrote:
ha ha,you can say what you want when you play us of the park

I doubt he would have said that if we had won.
Why not have the good grace to accept his comments at face value? His game plan worked and, like GZ has done on plenty of occasions this season, he gave a honest assessment of both teams/clubs. They beat us, we deserved it - end of.
Agree, I think he would have said the same, win or lose, as indeed he mentioned in his interview. I was at the game, and his plan worked, which was to stifle us and not give us any time on the ball, frustrating as it was to watch. Some of these managers are doing their homework on us.....

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mkhornet says...
10:40pm Sun 17 Mar 13

This guy sounds like he's a really good motivator, fair play to the bloke. Barnsley deserved their win, more teams are now going to approach games against us like this. We now need to learn that we need to roll our sleeves up in games, win the battle then play the sexy football. That's the thing with games in the Championship you have to earn the right first then you can play.

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