Watford accept King bid
2:22pm Thursday 17th January 2008
Comments (258) Have your say »
WATFORD have accepted a £5m bid from Fulham for Marlon King.
Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson saw his £5m cash offer for the 11-goal striker accepted this afternoon and King will have a medical at Craven Cottage before signing a lucrative three-year deal. King is likely to make his debut against Arsenal, his boyhood club, on Saturday. Collins John, who rejected a move to Watford this time last season, will join on loan with a view to making the move permanent in the summer. For the full story, see tomorrow's Watford Observer. To give your ratings on Aidy Boothroyd's signings since he became Hornets manager click here.
Your Say YourWatford Observer
Darren, Canada says...
2:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
spindoctor, says...
2:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
"But it is quite simple - we don't need to sell. Especially to a club who we might be changing places with.
"In order for a player to move I've got to want him to go, the player has got to want to leave, the money has got to be right and there has got to be a replacement.
"None of those four criteria are being met so I don't care how many times it gets flashed across Sky Sports News or how much speculation there is, I want him to stay so he stays. That's it." So there you have it boofers wants king to stay, but do Ashton and Homer????????
Take the Money, says...
2:48pm Thu 17 Jan 08
5 million for Marlon today is good business, he may still retain an exsquisite first touch but he has lost that half a yard of pace which made him so dangerous two years ago.
I say take the money!!!
JohnBoy, Watford says...
2:48pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Rob, HERTS says...
3:00pm Thu 17 Jan 08
it is a joke time for the fans to show what they think on Saturday to the board
Live tv and all
colin, st albans says...
3:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
here you go £5 Million for the player Boofers said he wouldn't sell for £60 Million plus 2 carthorses Collins John and Bocanegra.
What do you clappers say to that?
realist, MK says...
3:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Clap clap clap...at least it isn't moan, whinge and abuse.
Des, Hatch End says...
3:25pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It's sad when any of the players we like leave but the PL clubs have so much more money(and prestige)that all our players want to play in it.
The sad thing is Hoofroyd will probably only get 3M of this while the rest goes to the directors.
Our squad needs a big increase in quality and selling our best player isn't going to help.
What happened to the 30M from playing in the PL plus the money from the Ashley and Hameur sales?
67 horn, surrey says...
3:27pm Thu 17 Jan 08
chris, the vic says...
3:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
So it follows a week ago Marlon didnt want to go...we had no replacement and £4m wasnt enough...
Therefore, unless Aidy has changed his mind/Marlon has changed his mind/£5m is enough and we have found a replacement
there seems to be no decision to make..it is a thanks for the offer but NO...
Alternatively we shouldnt believe a word that comes from the BBC...or from Aidy or it was never Aidy's decision..
I guess we will have to wait and see and then decide...
Golden, says...
3:32pm Thu 17 Jan 08
An extra £500,000? Apparently we didn't need the money and we loads of it according to the manager, so it can't be that.
King wants to go? Well according to Boothroyd he didn't at the weekend, so unless he's had a rapid change of mind . . .
The same could be said of Boothroyd - he didn't want him to go at the weekend, so has he changed his mind?
The fourth thing Boothroyd said was a replacement had to be in place. So it must be that - mustn't it.
Nope it's none of the above.
More spin, less truth.
TheOutsider, says...
3:33pm Thu 17 Jan 08
realist, MK says...
3:40pm Thu 17 Jan 08
All I was doing was making the point that Aidy does not make the final decision to seel a player just as he can't just go an buy just anybody. He may well want King to stay but if the board want to accept the offer then that is the end of it. The same goes the other way, I dare say Idy would love to buy Ronaldo but he isn't going to be able to - the board won't let him. Yes I know that is probably an unfair comparison but let's say then that he wanted to bring back Heidar and Bolton said yes but for £6m....now we may well be able to afford that but the board would almost definitley not sanction it. Aidy said he wants £60m for King (obviuosly not realistic but pointing out that he wants to keep him) but the board probably have a figure of about 10% of that in mind that they will accept. Do you not answer to anyone when making decisions at work? I'm just being realistic. This is why in europe managers are only called head coaches -they deal with the team but have no authority as far as the financial side goes.
Anyway, let's wait and see what happens and as I say I will still be supporting them ieven if some of the more fickle out there only want to support a premier league team or a team that play sexy football all the time.
Ta ta and clap clap clap.
me, here says...
3:42pm Thu 17 Jan 08
And i've heard we're getting beckham on loan for two months, and i also just found out this weekend lottery numbers!!!
Paul, watford says...
3:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
pete, Guildford says...
3:55pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I hope this is an option and we can get rid of him. Fingers crossed he is OK but he has been very poor on the few occassions I have seen him.
TheOutsider, says...
3:58pm Thu 17 Jan 08
gary, Watford says...
3:59pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Golden, says...
4:03pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I have followed the team, regularly both home and away, for more than 30 years.
However, I feel as disaffected now as at any time in my supporting lifetime (and that includes some bad times, as you are well aware!).
I just cannot accept that the club see fit to say one thing, then do another - time and time again. And they expect us fans just to take it opn the chin, without question, complaint or criticism.
Do they think we are stupid? Blindly allied to the cause? Unable to put two and two together correctly?
Yes I do answer to people in my line of work - however, before I make a statement to anyone else, I first ask those that I answer to whether what I am going to say is in line with their thinking, policy, budgets, targets etc.
I think my future in my job would be pretty grim if I didn't do that and just said what I thought was best - or I did consult with my directors, and then just said something else.
Are we saying that Boothroyd made his statements about King without knowing the club had a price at which they would sell?
Or are we saying he ignored that and said it anyway?
Either way, it amounts to poor managment of the situation and a general disregard for the intelligence, emotions and passion of the supporters.
Did Boothroyd really want to sell but didn't want the fans to think ill of him, so he could then defend his position later when a deal was done?
Or did he know King wanted a transfer but decided not to tell us, so that King might look the villain of the piece when he had a 'change of heart'.
I'm all for supporting through thick and thin, but when both the manager CEO and Manager make public pronouncements about no need to sell, no need for cash, not wanting to sell etc, and then days later the sale goes through, I think I have every right to feel very bitter.
Of course, this deal may not go through - but even then, I think the way the club handles itself in such situations leave plenty to be desired.
Having said all that, let's hope for the right result on Saturday.
Voice of reason, Watford says...
4:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Collins John is s*** and with that deal our promotion aspirations have bitten the dust.
I am simply appalled, we should all group together and let the powers that be how we all feel......GUTTED!!
Marc, Brighton says...
4:09pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren, Canada says...
4:09pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Andy, Garston says...
4:11pm Thu 17 Jan 08
The player will now undergo a medical at the Clubs training ground. Further details regarding his potential move will be communicated at the appropriate time.
yellow fever, Watford says...
4:11pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Unfortunately, for the fans it simply leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and casts a gloomy feel over the impending visit of Charlton in 48 hours time.
Colins John is no replacement for King, on form or not. John has made it more than clear in the past that he does not want to play for us, so is unlikely to show any passion.
Can't blame King for going to Fulham, although they're not likely to be a Premiership club next season he'll likely still find that he gets more service from a better team.
Chris Coleman left Spain yesterday - I wonder if he fancies a stay in Vicarage Road?
Mark, Riverside says...
4:16pm Thu 17 Jan 08
What an insult!
sam, Watford says...
4:17pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Golden, says...
4:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Give me the song to ra-ra-ra along to while we digest this story.
And, blind followers of the club, let's not forget that we have to pay Forest a sell-on fee and if we want to sign Collins John, we'll have to pay Fulham. So, that £5m suddenly drops down by a large chunk.
Can someone tell me what happened between the statements made by Ashton and Boothroyd about having lots of money, not needing any more, not wanting to sell etc etc?
For months on end those of us who have criticised and questioned the club on here have been told we have no faith, the club are telling the truth, get behind Aidy and Co.
Can someone tell me, in the light of this charade, why us moaners are wrong and the clapping seals are right?
Andy, Oxhey says...
4:23pm Thu 17 Jan 08
realist, MK says...
4:24pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It isn't the 1st time the "crown jewels" have been sold and won't be the last. We are a selling club like 75% of the football league are. In the past we never wanted to lose the likes of Blissett, Barnes, Callaghan, Falco, Coton, Miller, Young and dozens before. It happens. Deal with it and support the club or stay away. Your choice. Simple. I will still go though.
James, Watford says...
4:27pm Thu 17 Jan 08
gary, Watford says...
4:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Smullens, Hayes says...
4:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
ROB, herts says...
4:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
dan, northampton says...
4:29pm Thu 17 Jan 08
i agree with the feelings of anger and disappointment on the back of boothroyd's statement a few days ago saying he would not be going but it would have been naive to take that as read. the club's propaganda machine has been in overdrive in recent years, desperate to portray the club in the best possible light, even if that meant alienating supporters.
in some ways, the most galling aspect of the deal is the arrival of collins john, who made it abundently clear last season he didn't want to play for us in the premier league. now, all of a sudden, he is willing to come and play for us in the championship. i dread to think how much he is being paid in order to change his mind.
for marlon to score 11 goals with the complete lack of service he has received all year is a decent achievement and he is well worth the £5m. if john scores more than five between now and may i will be (pleasantly) surprised.
it may well be seen by some as a lack of ambition by boothroyd and the the board but it could be argued that they had little alternative, and their hand was forced by marlon announcing he wanted to leave.
either way, the pressure is now on. the next two weeks will be pivotal to boothroyd's continued reign at vicarage road. buy well, and he will be forgiven, buy badly (or not at all) and he can say goodbye.
Golden, says...
4:30pm Thu 17 Jan 08
However, surely even you must find it hard to understand and annoying to be told so definitively by two senior club officials that there will be no sale, only for the sale to happen a matter of days later?
Enough time hasn't passed for a quantum change of view from anyone, so you must agree that while they were saying one thing, they had a good idea something else was going to happen.
And that just ain't good enough, no matter how devoted you are.
David, SW says...
4:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
chris, the vic says...
4:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ashton said we have no need and Boothroyd categorically stated the four conditions but no doubt he met that with his vascillation.
As usual except when Elton was around with GT we have been sold down the river...GS will tell us its for the well being of the club and when he rebuilds the East Stand we can call it the SIMPSON stand...it may of course like the ground be near to empty...For sure we are not run by John Madjeski and Steve Coppell...I hope Royal fans know how lucky they are.
In meantime I hope the season tickets are cheap next year as I guess I will still support the golden boys but words like frustrated..disappoi
nted...economic with the truth etc all flash through my mind as i dwell on our ambitious board & management as does a phrase overpaid....but what sticks in my throat the most are the clappers (decent folk and great supporters) who were more trusting of our leaders
Dave, Cheltenham says...
4:33pm Thu 17 Jan 08
realist, MK says...
4:37pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I agree with you. It's very dissapointing and I am getting more and more peeved with the board. I think Aidy has his hands tied as I have previously posted and I expect that Marlon has been approached and decided that doubling his money at his age would be lovely - wouldn't we all. Don't like it all but it happens at almost every club and we just have to accept that we will never ever hold onto our best players for long. We just have to enjoy them while they are about. Sad fact of football.
Still, in 5 years time we will be moaning about the same thing with another player that we can't do without...probably some kid in the academy now or at a lower division club. Endless cycle.
Clap on!
stuart, rushden says...
4:39pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Arthur, says...
4:39pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I seem to recall they were the gutter press, sh!t stirrers, Affleck should be sacked etc etc.
Of course, the manager and chief executive, who stated publicly that King would not be sold, that we didn't want to sell, that we didn't need any money etc etc, will not be subjected to similar vitriole from the people who attacked this newspaper and its staff.
Some people should be ashamed of themselves for the way they always assume the WO is in the wrong.
chris, hemel says...
4:39pm Thu 17 Jan 08
There's still two weeks left for this transfer window madness.
We need a left back, a central midfielder, and a centre back.
C'mon AB lets see who you can bring in,that is unless GS has grabbed the cash.
Andy Head, Oxhey says...
4:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Keith, watford says...
4:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
WFC fans need to realise we are being lied to constantly. We dont need the money, we are not a selling club etc. How do you think the board and Boothroyd get their nice pay rises? The worst part is we are getting Collins John, he is useless. We sell MK for 5M, a pre-arranged price of say 3M for CJ and we end up with a rubbish player and 2M? Worth it? Dont be stupid! I suggest if MK has gone by sat we all BOO CJ and AB when he comes out. Then turn our backs on him for 2 minutes before backing the team. It is the only way we can put our point across. Money grabbing G*ts. I would understand if he wanted to go to Villa for 9M like Ashley.
Rob, herts says...
4:42pm Thu 17 Jan 08
the sell on to Forest is 25% i.e 1.25MILLION !!!!!!!!!
SO WE GET 3.75MIL AND COLLINS JOHN ON LOAN
P, Brighton says...
4:43pm Thu 17 Jan 08
He is joining us because he has hit the bottom and has no other option. It, like Boothroyds tactics, is a f**king joke!
Golden, says...
4:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It's just I remember a time when Watford communicated more honestly and openly through more channels than they do now. There has never been such a desire to control every word said to the fans, and to try and find a positive spin (at the expense of accuracy).
If Boothroyd has got his hands tied, then perhaps you should consider speaking up about that on here more often, as I have done.
After all, if Boothroyd is a wonderful manager but is working under restraint, how much more will he take?
The question in my mind is this - did he and the others know all along how this would turn out? if so, their messages to the fans were as insulting as they were inaccurate.
I just find it a little hard to believe that the manager really didn't know more than he was letting on.
Marlon, on a beach says...
4:47pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Mr B Feeter, Tower of London says...
4:49pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Voice of reason, Watford says...
4:49pm Thu 17 Jan 08
MikeS, says...
4:50pm Thu 17 Jan 08
neil, says...
4:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Collins John though? Whats the point of that? He didnt want us so we dont want him. NE was top scored in the championship he's a good player, give him a run till the end of the season, see how we go.
Last point - forget the Premiership, take a look at Derby and their points total compared to ours last season and that shows AB is a decent manager but we will NEVER be able to compete in that league Marlon King or no Marlon King
Ben, Watford says...
4:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Dr Watford, Milton Keynes says...
4:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Why don't we go the full hog and just sign Sam Parkin for £1m from Luton's bench and complete AB's list of useless targets.
realist, MK says...
4:53pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I have intimated that he doesn't have final say on a lot of things over the months but my own opinion is that he is told what to do by a board that is losing my respect. I think they were good when they 1st came but in my eyes they are changing for the worse. Again only my opinion but I reckon Aidy will be off at the end of the season because of players being sold off from under him. What manager wants to lose his best team? Especially when he is being told that they don't need to sell and then are. I just woory about what crap will come in next having watched a revolving door of bad managers over the years pre and post GT. Remember Perryman and Lee for example. I think MOST of us want the best for the club but and will support them anyway - maybe after a good moan and a few pints!
Come on you 'orns.
stuart, rushden says...
4:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
the sell on to Forest is 25% i.e 1.25MILLION !!!!!!!!!
SO WE GET 3.75MIL AND COLLINS JOHN ON LOAN
plus whatever we have agreed to pay for john so take off at least another million as thats wht leicester were quoted sack the board dont except it anymore the w/o have been saying how badly the club has been run for months stop this happy clap sh** and turn on simpson NOW
Robbo, Letchworth says...
4:55pm Thu 17 Jan 08
chris wrote:Exactly right Chris. Marlon had his head turned a while back- the rumours were rife- and frankly if someone offers you the lolly you'd do the same. He's a loss but don't forget he's got a dodgy knee.Good luck to him, lets move on.
MK wanted out, his recent performances showed this. Take the money, move on and lets see who else is brought in. There's still two weeks left for this transfer window madness. We need a left back, a central midfielder, and a centre back. C'mon AB lets see who you can bring in,that is unless GS has grabbed the cash.
Adam Cummings, Watford says...
4:56pm Thu 17 Jan 08
In life and in business I have always been taught to be honest and to tell the truth and here is a man (Bothroyd) earning many thousands of pounds a week more than me throwing that truth back in my face. I feel sick.
He must have known last Saturday, when he made those comments about Marlon King, what was happening. You dont suddenly wake up one morning and say Ill sell my best player for a twelfth of what I said he was worth six months ago and for his replacement I will buy a player who couldnt even get a regular game for Leicester City when he was loaned to them earlier in the season.
I have always said (to those who would listen to me) that Bothroyd in the perfect example of the Emperors new clothes in that he was all front and no substance. His obsession with facts and figures that were designed for baseball is frankly an insult to anyone who loves the soul of football. The unwatchable stuff that we saw last season and for all but a few games this and still people talk of him as a future England manager? God help England.
And dont get me started on Ashton, another non fan who appears to be bleeding the club dry.
Thank goodness the Watford Observer is prepared to stand up to these bullies and print the truth. It seems the Trust and most supporters have been blinded to what is really going on. Wake up guys and do something before we dont have a club to support.
A Friend, Bushey says...
4:56pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Dave wrote:Nice ground - but NO Saracans!
It's official. Watford will not be promoted. Will have a nice ground though.
greg evans, s london says...
4:59pm Thu 17 Jan 08
two seasos ago there was a new hope at this club. Something is not right at this club anymore. Something very wrong. How can the spirit have been knocked out of our club. We as the paying punters and the people who come week in week out for most weeks in our lives deserve to know. The owners of this club will only be here for a short period while they try to blood our small club. They do not care. I think they should come to the town centre and explain themselves to the fans. DISgrace.!!!
We are the club the fans. We are the ones who sit in the cold and the rain through thick and thin and we deserve more. It seems the loonatics have finaly taken over the asylym.(scuse spelling).
i hope AB has behaved in this way because his hands have been tied i like him and he has done a lot for this club. This whole affair stinks of something higher up. I woulldn't be surprised if aidy followed shortly. Bye Bye prem 4ever
Harold, says...
5:00pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Spot on.
Watford as we knew it is evaporating fast.
stuart, 317-481 says...
5:00pm Thu 17 Jan 08
stuart, says...
5:02pm Thu 17 Jan 08
neil, says...
5:02pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Paul Davies, Welwyn says...
5:06pm Thu 17 Jan 08
MikeS, says...
5:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
hn into the players they can be, like he did with King.
sam, Watford says...
5:11pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Paul, Garston says...
5:14pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
5:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
What's happened. All us shareholders need to get to together as we all put money in when it was needed and now we have been kicked in the teeth!!
The Chairman & Board are rapeing the club and assets and it will continue until something is done. I hope all you shareholders look through the accounts and look to see where all the money goes??
quote
gary, Watford says...
5:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Good bye
Bring on Charlton
Voice of reason, Watford says...
5:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Why bring in another striker that'll be warming the bench at best, he isn't any better than TP and what's the point of Kabba, why on earth hasn't he been loaned out? Robert Erneshaw is available, why didn't we get him instead if AB thought he needed another scorer, he is proven after all, CJ is utter cr*p. I have to say that if we also sell Danny we'll have no other decent players left, I'm getting extremely disappointed
with all things Watford. We need defenders and midfielders.....Wher
e are they?
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
5:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
quoteCan we please have some truth on whether Danny Shittu is going to QPR for 3.75 million. Can any truth come out of the club??
Is this why we are now playing Matt Jackson on a regular basis to see if he can replace him???
Does anyone else know??
quote
JohnBoy, Watford says...
5:19pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Simpson and Ashton will hate bad publicity believe me.
Graham Simpson, Watford says...
5:20pm Thu 17 Jan 08
jackie.sheppard@watf
ordfc.com
DONT LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. HE ONLY WANTS THE MONEY TO GIVE HIMSELF ANOTHER PAY RISE.
stuart, rushden says...
5:21pm Thu 17 Jan 08
MikeS, says...
5:24pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Carl, bicester says...
5:27pm Thu 17 Jan 08
we are becoming a joke. i thought we are meant to be building for the prem.
the team and us fans low at the moment so what do we do sale the best forward that we have got a get in a player that did not want to sign for us...
This is going to be make or break for Aidy and the board if we dont go up then someone should pay with the jobs
stuart, rushden says...
5:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
spindoctor, says...
5:29pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
5:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Is this why Matt Jackson is playing more in central defense??
Any comments please??
quote
P, Brighton says...
5:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
"We haven't received a bid and Derby haven't got enough money. As long as I am here, he will stay." AB last summer.
Know stay true to your word and leave please. Im sick of your arrogance.
Jim, London says...
5:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
£5m for King, who must've been lured to Fulham by a hefty salary hike.
Collins John coming the other way on loan people - remember that. ON LOAN. The £5m is (quote) 'guaranteed'. So we could quite easily pack John back off to Fulham at the end of the season if he really turns out as bad as some of you think he is.
HOMER OUT, HELL says...
5:34pm Thu 17 Jan 08
jackie.sheppard@watf
ordfc.com
and tell homer what you think
Voice of reason, Watford says...
5:37pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Harold, says...
5:38pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Come on, I'm not going to believe Boothroyd didn't feed us a load of cobblers with his quotes.
And the £5m for King? Take off Forest's sell-on and you're getting down towards £3m - for own "crown jewel".
Sorry, but there's nothing positive in this I'm afraid. I've listened to the "constantly positive" brigade on here for too long.
But this misture of spin, half-truths and empty statements is too much this time.
MikeS, says...
5:39pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Harold, says...
5:43pm Thu 17 Jan 08
No, my issue is with those running the club who think us fans will swallow big helpings of spinsh!te and keep coming back for more.
But this time, I think they may have gone too far for even the most blinkered fans to bear.
WatfordKev, Watford says...
5:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
5:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Cause at the end of the day we are all feed up of the lies and bulls--t!
quote
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
5:48pm Thu 17 Jan 08
We have spent no more than £6m?
£11 million left and we are a team chasing promotion?? NO not really!!
quote
carl, bicester says...
5:49pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ralph, Noose around the neck, bedroom says...
5:53pm Thu 17 Jan 08
WatfordKev, Watford says...
5:58pm Thu 17 Jan 08
"I want him to stay so he stays. That's it. I don't need any money so there is no fee for Marlon."
"In order for a player to move I've got to want him to go, the player has got to want to leave, the money has got to be right and there has got to be a replacement.
"None of those four criteria are being met."
Either AB knew about this and was talking the price up, or he has had the player sold from under him.
Ralph, 066-817 says...
6:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Boothroyd out, Coleman in. We might start playing a bit of football then
EssexOrn, Loughton says...
6:02pm Thu 17 Jan 08
However, having long supported the current management team I am now growing sick and tired of the spin which comes out of the club.
Boothroyds transfer dealings have overall been poor - I now truly believe King & Hendo were pure luck.
And I am no-longer convinced by his tactical know how. How long does it take to make a substitution for gods sake????!?????
Louise Tucker, somerset says...
6:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
tony, Slough says...
6:09pm Thu 17 Jan 08
spindoctor, says...
6:09pm Thu 17 Jan 08
YellowRibbon, dejectionland says...
6:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Will not be re-newing my season ticket.
Sold down the river yet again.
Graham Tatlor .. you are and always will be SIMPLY THE BEST.
Redbooth, Despair says...
6:16pm Thu 17 Jan 08
DW, Putney says...
6:17pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Before the sale of King I thought our net transfer spend was roughly zero since we were promoted in May 2006. Out, Young (£8m), Bouazza (£4M), Carlisle (£0.3M), Spring (£0.2m) and Gav M (£0.2) = £12.7. In = Shittu (£1.7M), Frances (£1.5M), Mcanuff (£1.7M), Ellington (£3.75M), Williamson/Hoskins (£1M), Williams (£0.5m), Priskin (£1M) = (£11.2). The wages paid to the "free transfer" of Powel, Jackson and Poom would easily eat away at the surplus.
All that said, it is still concerning where the rest of the money has gone especially as we have sold the corners of the ground for approximately £4M as well. Assuming the gate money was equal to the cost of paying the wages of the entire club, which is probably not an unreasonable assumption, especially as we got to the semis of the FA cup the club is left with the £10M from sky. Is this the money that is being put aside for the development of the East stand?
Paul, Pub says...
6:23pm Thu 17 Jan 08
quoteI'm gutted. Can't believe this club. "We won't sell, we don't need to sell". Well you have yet again and lied to the fans. Either Boothroyd has he hands tied by the board on this one or he is a good at bluffing as he really has pulled the wool over our eyes on this one. Collins John? He refused to sign for us last season & by all accounts was very awful on loan at Leicester-City. Also we will have to pay a fee if we want him at the end of the season! So we will probably have to pay Fulham £1.5 to £2.5 million for him meaning not much of a profit on a striker Boothroyd wouldn't apparently see for £60 million!
Bomber, S Oxhey says...
6:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
colin wrote:You generally talk sense Colin,but John will be a success at Watford and will certainly contribute more to the team than King has done for the last 6 games.As I said in my previous site visit King is not a Premier player as Fulham will find to their cost.Again I said Watford will win 2 nil tomorrow.I am even more confident now that discontented,swollen headed striker who Watford rescued from the scrap heap has gone.I don't often agree with the Mafia at Vicarage Road but they have pulled off a coup.Cheer the team tomorrow.They will play better now "look at me" King has gone.
More to follow means they know something is afoot. here you go £5 Million for the player Boofers said he wouldn\'t sell for £60 Million plus 2 carthorses Collins John and Bocanegra. What do you clappers say to that?
B G White, says...
6:29pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Hindsight is an exact science, but now demonstrates that the the players attitude got us promoted, not tactics. Lets hope they can get us out of this mess.
Aidy was extremely lucky and since then we have heard nothing but hollow rhetoric.
The Board and Aidy have traded down ever since with a poor transfer policy and obvious capitalisation. Positioning for a sale Graham?
LARRY BROOKS, Gerrads Cross says...
6:30pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ambitious team wanting top ten Premiership status by 2010? Aidy may ahve his hands tied but why sell your best player if you genuinely want promotion and why take Collins John who when we treid to buy him last year didn't want to come. Why not bid for Leroy Lita? Where is the central nidfile genral / playmaker we need? Where is the left back? In fact where is the backbone in the boardroom? Saturday will be interesting*****!
dave, northants says...
6:35pm Thu 17 Jan 08
not at all surprised though, knew it would come to this.
what is going on at our club?!?!?
i hope the powers that be know that the fans are becoming disallusioned....
Phil, Watford says...
6:37pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Pete, oxhey says...
6:38pm Thu 17 Jan 08
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/dna/606/A31230451
pete, oxhey says...
6:38pm Thu 17 Jan 08
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/dna/606/A31230451
Snorebens, 'Ackney says...
6:39pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Up the football league we go,
When we get promotion, this is what we'll sing,
WE'VE GOT MAR...Oh.
Er, we've got no chance, we've got no chance, of promo-tion.
neil, says...
6:40pm Thu 17 Jan 08
pete, oxhey says...
6:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Snorebens wrote:i think you mean
E-I-E-I-E-I-O, Up the football league we go, When we get promotion, this is what we'll sing, WE'VE GOT MAR...Oh. Er, we've got no chance, we've got no chance, of promo-tion.
E-I-E-I-E-I-O
Down the football league we go.
When we fail promotion,
This is what we'll sing,
Why did we sell, why did we sell, why did we sell king! :(
Darren, Canada says...
6:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
6:46pm Thu 17 Jan 08
quoteWe seem to sell all our good players to Fulham.
Have you forgotten Heidar Helguson he left us and went to Fulham and failed!
Then Bouazza and he has done nothing!
Bad Mistake in my eyes King??
quote
Jez, Oxford Horns says...
6:47pm Thu 17 Jan 08
pete, oxhey says...
6:47pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P wrote:maybe we should rename ourselves Fulham 2....
quoteWe seem to sell all our good players to Fulham. Have you forgotten Heidar Helguson he left us and went to Fulham and failed! Then Bouazza and he has done nothing! Bad Mistake in my eyes King??quote
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
6:55pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Does not make good business sense to me. To expand and invest in the ground normally you would want a waiting list for season tickets like Man U, Liverpool etc..
We don't, waste of money in my opinion
quote
Sean, Chalfont says...
7:00pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Will we crown the Duke?
Graham, Hazlemere says...
7:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
spindoctor wrote:boycott the game and let the Tv audience & Homer & Bart see the empty stands. 3 season tickets in this house will not go. I don't blame Marlon and there has always been an undercurrent between him & Hoofers - bad choice of club mind Marlon! It's just the **** lies & deceipt I cannot take. Lets go for Coleman or Davies & hopefully a takeover.I'd even take Blackwell!!!
We are live on TV, this weekend,lets make it plain what we think of ashton, homer and boofers selling us down the river. Suggestions?
Ian, Surrey says...
7:09pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I have to say I hope I have to eat my hat again. This really is a ridiculous bit of 'business', especially in light of comments made in the past few weeks. At the moment I feel like we have blown our chances of promotion completely and that the board have been extremely short-sighted - surely they would make more money by WFC getting promoted?
I am pretty gutted. Yes MK may have slowed down and look like he doesn't care as much but he's still scored 11 goals this season and could have held the key to us going up.
If this decision has anything to do with AB then shame on him. If he has made the decision because King is disrupting the dressing room though, fair enough. I fear though it's just the board's decision and if that's the case then not only will we lose our best players, we will lose Boothroyd as well when he gets sick and tired of dealing with the dregs.
Really not happy and certainly not clapping at the moment. Let's just pray with Marlon gone we have a Thierry Henry leaving Arsenal moment and the rest of the team raise their game.
Snorebens, 'Ackney says...
7:11pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Out: Carlisle, Young, Bouazza, King, Parkes (on loan), Mahon, Helguson, Spring.
Out: Boofroyd, Ashton
In: Coleman, Davies, John Collins
Steve, hemel hempstead says...
7:14pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Sipmson - is a greedy so and so,
Its time we voted with our feet do not go to the game, I know this does not help the team, but these two must go, they do not love watford, like GT and Elton and like us.
They have screwed our club and we will end up like Luton.
Send his PA an e-mail and get him to meet us if he dare.
Its time he goes
hertshorn, says...
7:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
RichM, West Watford says...
7:20pm Thu 17 Jan 08
But I do take issue with Messrs Boothroyd, Ashton and Simpson. All the fans want is some honesty, not spin and bluster.
These three men have done plenty of good things for the football club - but their recent conduct leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth.
How can we ever trust what the three of them say ever again?
Voice of reason, Watford says...
7:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Paul, Garston says...
7:33pm Thu 17 Jan 08
4boys, Hemel Hempstead says...
7:36pm Thu 17 Jan 08
New board & new manager who know what they're doing (with AMBITION Please)
Roger, Weybridge says...
7:46pm Thu 17 Jan 08
DW wrote:Sky money was £17million
Darren P, Rickmansworth Before the sale of King I thought our net transfer spend was roughly zero since we were promoted in May 2006. Out, Young (£8m), Bouazza (£4M), Carlisle (£0.3M), Spring (£0.2m) and Gav M (£0.2) = £12.7. In = Shittu (£1.7M), Frances (£1.5M), Mcanuff (£1.7M), Ellington (£3.75M), Williamson/Hoskins (£1M), Williams (£0.5m), Priskin (£1M) = (£11.2). The wages paid to the "free transfer" of Powel, Jackson and Poom would easily eat away at the surplus. All that said, it is still concerning where the rest of the money has gone especially as we have sold the corners of the ground for approximately £4M as well. Assuming the gate money was equal to the cost of paying the wages of the entire club, which is probably not an unreasonable assumption, especially as we got to the semis of the FA cup the club is left with the £10M from sky. Is this the money that is being put aside for the development of the East stand?
£1million reaching FA Cup semi final
(1million Turkish sponsorship money
£5.5million parachute
Scotshorn, Aberdeen says...
7:47pm Thu 17 Jan 08
What I'm interested in is seeing Saturday's team selection. If Collins John is in at the expense of Ellington, then I think we really need to start crying foul. From what I've seen of him (admittedly only highlights on the box), we already have 6 other strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Surely Flam have a spare midfielder of full back we could have?
Rob, Epsom says...
7:51pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Benny Kay, Borehamwood says...
8:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
terry, Borehamwood says...
8:03pm Thu 17 Jan 08
who's dealings turned out to be shady
Simpson his boss
did not give a toss
as long as he got the gravy
mick, berkhamsted says...
8:03pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
8:06pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I've had enough this season. Terrible football,£3.5 spent on an over-rated striker. Graham can i have a refund on what's left on my season ticket. PS Not much doubt where the money is going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tel, here says...
8:08pm Thu 17 Jan 08
"Once I knew of Fulham's interest there was only one thing on my mind. Obviously I'm disappointed to leave Watford because I've got a lot of fond memories, but this is a new chapter in my life.
"Adrian Boothroyd didn't want me to go, but I knew in my heart it was an opportunity to seize upon. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think they had a chance to stay up."
Steve, hemel hempstead says...
8:14pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Look at Hoofers and Simpson, we have now sold Chambers, King, young,Bouzza,Carlise
,Mahon,Spring
and replaced them with rubiish, we are in trouble , any business that makes decisions like they have need to be accountable and if we finish outside the top 2 then they must be made responsible.
Lets see if they invite a fans forum to answer any questions- fiver says they dont.
All those happy clappers out there open your eyes and engage your brain, things have gone on and are going on that just do not add up.
Lets not be naive we had a lucky season and since then most managers with that recors would be sacked.
Stop listening to the clubs spin and when you do remember what was said last week, 'to sell King we would have to tick 4 boxes and we dont tick one, so we are going back to fulham to tell them leave King alone'.
We ahve recieved 3.75m for King after Forest recieve their payment......come on this is crazy especially when we are joint second.
If anyone things we are in a good postion on and off the field they are blinkered and its a shame Leavesden hospital has closed down
Give me back my club and get the money people out, Hoofers and simpson got a pay rise last year.....WHY?
Voice of reason, Watford says...
8:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
8:16pm Thu 17 Jan 08
chris, hemel says...
8:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
However I do feel cheated like so many fans who pay their season ticket money and expect to get proper value. Selling your best player again mid-season is not best value.
The point that really gets me is that after just six months from the Prem we can be in such disarray as a club.
Angry confrontations at the AGM, where GS is caught out trying to slip £1/2m bonus payment through an 'Employee Benefit Scheme' for one employee. The half truths and spin from his sidekick Ashton over the ground re- development as well as the disgraceful staff turnover (all masked with compromise agreements)The constant war with the WO, for whom I'm very grateful for their accurate reporting of events. The mysterious sacking of the Russo's after they sank £m's into the club.
As for AB, I'm not his greatest fan. To me he's run out of ideas and is like a hare caught in headlights. Everything he does makes no more sense to me from his mutterings and spin, his tactics or lack of, his team selection and substitutions.
So far this month the club hs lost 2 key staff members, the Chief Scout, the Assistant Manager, and their star striker.
It all adds up to an extra ordinary level of dissatisfaction with OUR club.
JohnBoy, Watford says...
8:20pm Thu 17 Jan 08
It seems that a lot of his predictions are coming true
Conor, Bushey says...
8:25pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Pretty annoyed he has gone our best player but now who is going to score the goals??
Paul Alston, Aylesbury says...
8:29pm Thu 17 Jan 08
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
8:32pm Thu 17 Jan 08
And you all have to realise statements get made for business and managerial reasons. AB statng MK isn't going may have persuaded MK to stay as he would have felt wanted. And making a statement like that can up a price.
Dissapointed to see him go but that's life. Fingers crossed CJ is a good signing, if not we have the option of saying no thanks and looking else where so that is good business.
PS the total lack of respect from some of you towards the man who took us to the prem when we were supposed to come 24th astounds me.
Tiger, Romford says...
8:38pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ian wrote:Boothroyd leaving Watford?? You must be joking,what decent footballing team would employ him? Aidy knows where his bread is buttered.Compare him to Colemam who has resigned his job in Spain due to players moving without his say so.Can you see Aidy doing that?
I believe in supporting not slating the team and the manager generally. I also sent an email to Graham Simpson to complain about AB's appointment and he had the good grace to send a personal reply. I ate my hat on that occasion (and emailed GS again to say so) and believe we have one of the greatest young British managers in the game at the moment. I have to say I hope I have to eat my hat again. This really is a ridiculous bit of 'business', especially in light of comments made in the past few weeks. At the moment I feel like we have blown our chances of promotion completely and that the board have been extremely short-sighted - surely they would make more money by WFC getting promoted? I am pretty gutted. Yes MK may have slowed down and look like he doesn't care as much but he's still scored 11 goals this season and could have held the key to us going up. If this decision has anything to do with AB then shame on him. If he has made the decision because King is disrupting the dressing room though, fair enough. I fear though it's just the board's decision and if that's the case then not only will we lose our best players, we will lose Boothroyd as well when he gets sick and tired of dealing with the dregs. Really not happy and certainly not clapping at the moment. Let's just pray with Marlon gone we have a Thierry Henry leaving Arsenal moment and the rest of the team raise their game.
JohnBoy, Watford says...
8:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Do we have to be a product of Bliar Britain?
Ralph, says...
8:43pm Thu 17 Jan 08
sir stanley, pitch side says...
8:43pm Thu 17 Jan 08
He added: "Once I knew of Fulham's interest there was only one thing on my mind. Obviously I'm disappointed to leave Watford because I've got a lot of fond memories, but this is a new chapter in my life.
"Adrian Boothroyd didn't want me to go, but I knew in my heart it was an opportunity to seize upon. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think they had a chance to stay up."
Aidy didnt want him to go, but it shows you what player power has come too, a contract aint worth the paper its on !!!!
Very dissapointed in Marlon,I could understand if he was going to a mid table team, but Fulham ??? , I hope we change places with Fulham but it looks more likely that we will be playing championship football against each other !!..
Not happy with colins john, he didnt want us, so the feeling is mutual !!!!
We need some good signings now more than ever ..
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
8:44pm Thu 17 Jan 08
The question I'd like to ask is am I the only fan who believes currently we have the worst midfield in the division? Why oh why was Gavin allowed to go when no replacements were in place? I'd better stop.
DORSETHORN, DORSET says...
8:45pm Thu 17 Jan 08
When marlon comes back to the Vic next season !!!!
Lets give him a BLOODY BIG CHEER .
P.S. Don't get up tight about Colin , it is all to do with the size of his penis
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
8:49pm Thu 17 Jan 08
King going is a blow, don't get me wrong but if he wants to go what do you do?
Silver Fox, Leicester says...
8:50pm Thu 17 Jan 08
pete, oxhey says...
8:53pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Silver Fox wrote:we can guarentee you that it won't be.
Feel sorry for you Watford fans... Selling your best striker when you are in line for a push for promotion, then you get Collins John with a view to a permanent deal!! John is a very lazy player, unless you invest the 5 mill wisely (2 weeks left of transfer window)then i am afraid you will be sliding down the table.
Ed, leicester says...
8:53pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Dave, Cheltenham says...
8:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Steve, says...
8:56pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Stop living in the past, cant stand people who keep talking about what he did 3 years ago.
Know your facts , look at the stats and open you eyes
Idiot
Harry the real hornet, Vicarage rd says...
8:56pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Why does AB want a player who publicly turned us down last year.Has he lost the plot ? There must be better players on Fulhams books that we could have got on loan.
Voice of reason, Watford says...
8:57pm Thu 17 Jan 08
No EB that doesn't wash with me, what about Forest and Leeds then? We're having all this money in transfer fees and premiership money, we want that spent on premier type players not Mr average from the lower leagues in the hope of turning them into something, that worked with Marlon but that's gonna be a rare case. We are in a weaker state now than we were before got promoted, that's not right is it?
pete, oxhey says...
8:57pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ed wrote:maybe not, but promotion money would definately have helped.
As much as it hurts to say - Good Biz, Biggest earner off the books, realism struck, unlikely to get promoted, cut costs now and cash in some assets. Parachute money doesn't last forever.
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
9:02pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I do agree on the midfield comment though, with the exception of Smith I'm not really inspired by them. I don't think GM was any better in the end though. O'Toole could be good in the future.
spindoctor, says...
9:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
m
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
9:08pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Priskin Never gets stuck in, rarely scores. Not a crowd favourite so lets play him.
Steve Kabba. Um!!
Gareth Williams
Will Hoskins
Moses Ashikodi
Nathan Ellington. How many goals has he scored so far?
Douglas Rinaldi
We could bring back McNamee he's as good if no better than most of the ones listed.
Clarke Carlisle why did we let him go?
I liked Springy.Remember his goal at Palace.
Gavin did a job.
Clearly something's not right when you start thinking about who's going and who's staying.
Mark Stow why has he gone?
I'm sure Graham will explain all in this weeks programme.
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
9:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Now to your comments. You see 3 years as 'the past'? No wonder AB is the longest serving manager in the championship at the moment. Fans have become totally unrealistic. How do you expect to build?
Manager in, new players, short term success, bad spell, sack the manager and the cycle repeats itself.
AB has also had a part to play in setting up the Harefield scheme, which is very exciting as in theory puts us one step ahead of even the likes of Man Utd!
Oh and 'The facts' that you want me to look at. 3rd in the league? Shocking.
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
9:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Rob wrote:
One word - gutted
quoteI agree with you!
The real problem lies with the Board and not the Manager.
The Manager is doing his job as I believe NO Manager wants to sell his "best" players. However, he is just an Employee like every other Member of Staff. The boot comes back on Simpson & Ashton please for some explaining. Saturday would be a good opportunity for the truth on TV
quote
Alex, Ricky says...
9:13pm Thu 17 Jan 08
BUT and a big but, why have we accepted collins John ? He has rejected us at least twice, his wages must cost us at least £500 000 for the remainder of the season. WHy oh why. If boothroyd gets handed the 5 mil to get a LB and CB and another winger. We have enough strikers.
Mr.Halifax, oxhey says...
9:13pm Thu 17 Jan 08
AND IF WE'RE NOT PROMOTED,
THIS IS WHAT WE'LL SING,
WE SOLD MARLON,
WE SOLD MARLON,WE SOLD MARLON KING!
sam, Watford says...
9:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
GIBBSY wrote:Hands up anyone who knows what a contract means.
sorry but MK says on sspts he wanted to go--doubt if GS or AB wanted that but may have had little choice. stupid comments re greed,etc from morons.
Stupid comments like 'little choice' etc from morons.
ALex, ricky says...
9:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
I wonder if the chief scout leaving had anything to do with king's departure ?
John, says...
9:16pm Thu 17 Jan 08
What do we get in return Ellington, who Aidy had to beg us to join and has shown nothing to prove his price tag/Wages and that F'king Donkey Collins John who turned 'us' down?
And then again, only on loan.
I read on this board that we were interested in Earnshaw he now looks favourite to rejoin Cardiff.
The board are not really giving us the fans the message for ambition and a return to the premiership. We are now even more toothless up front.
Maybe this is the start of the board and AB jumping a singking ship. No other message than that appears to be coming across to the fans.
Supersi, Milton Keynes says...
9:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Whilst every club needs to manage their finances, Watford seem to have quite a bit of money going in through transfers and recent visits to the top league
I feel sorry for the Watford fans - this is lack of ambition. Watford are clearly a selling club
Ralph, Sofa says...
9:18pm Thu 17 Jan 08
JohnBoy, Watford says...
9:21pm Thu 17 Jan 08
doublecarpet, says...
9:24pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ralph wrote:That's because no one else ever does!!
How ironic, Saturday\'s trailer for the game on Sky has just shown King scoring!
Steve, says...
9:26pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Aidy is such a good manger, he did not even want King he chased parkin for months and King was his second choice.
Proves he cant even pick his nose.
When I can be bothered to entertain you I will
Ralph, Sofa says...
9:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
9:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Our performance started to wilt when Adam J was released to go back to Boro. Then Keith B was released and he was one of the men guiding Boothroyd. He was and still is a proven Manager at top level, what went on here, the the Club Captain goes, now chief scout etc.etc.
Something is a adrift and someone at the Club needs to speak out and perhaps this would be best done by Simpson & boothroyd either in the programme for Saturday or on the microphone on the pitch.
Come on!!
quote
Paul Davies, Welwyn says...
9:30pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Voice of reason, Watford says...
9:34pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ralph wrote:Sold already to Q.P.R
Let's hope Nigeria get an early exit as Shittu's our only other goal threat right now!
John, says...
9:40pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Something is going very wrong, behind the scenes at the Vic
Darren P, Rickmansworth says...
9:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Stow the Chief Scout has been relieved of his duties today. Has he paid with the loss of his job due to the legal costs and money spent on fighting Bangura's case to ensure he was not deported back to Sierra Leone?? As he was the chap that introduced him to WFC?
Does anyone know??
quote
quote
sam, Watford says...
9:41pm Thu 17 Jan 08
JESUS H CHRIST wrote:Why bother with them then? Gibbsy's not half as dumb as you is he?
Wot do contracts mean? in football very little! & u call Gibbsy stupid! WOT A PRAT U R!
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
9:44pm Thu 17 Jan 08
My stand will be to boycott the game on Sat and to write to GS telling him we want a top team not a top ground!
I'd like to see other fans take a similar route. What a great chance given that the match is live on Sky.
With empty seats everywhere they would have at least to offer something!
Ask yourselves now. How many games have you enjoyed at Vicarage Road this season and then think of this. It could get worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
9:44pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Go and make your sack the board and the manager banner, but if it happens keep hold of it as you'll be doing this all again in 2 years time.
You all going to moan if we still go up??
Voice of reason, Watford says...
9:44pm Thu 17 Jan 08
sam wrote:HANDBAGS!!!!!!!!!!!
JESUS H CHRIST wrote:Why bother with them then? Gibbsy's not half as dumb as you is he?
Wot do contracts mean? in football very little! & u call Gibbsy stupid! WOT A PRAT U R!
Darren P, Ricky says...
9:48pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Does this spark another return??
Keegan has gone back to the Toon for the third time!! And this increased tickets sales within an hour to 20000 for the FA cup replay.
quote
Ralph, Sofa says...
9:49pm Thu 17 Jan 08
2 (AC)Sqn, RAF Marham says...
9:50pm Thu 17 Jan 08
The words of Marlon.
Not mine, not some t*t Lut8n based Bin Laden supporting scum bag called "Colin" (Nice name BTW) -Marlon's
I just want 11 players who WANT to play for Watford. If they have some ability that is a bonus. He has the ability BUT DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY FOR WATFORD. Fine. Lets all move on and blame who the hell we like!
Mike, Oxhey says...
9:52pm Thu 17 Jan 08
"...It's disappointing because I've got a lot of mates at Watford.
"The fans have been magnificent to me, and the chairman and manager didn't want me to go.
"But in my heart I knew it's an opportunity I've got to seize and I'm looking forward to the new challenge.
"I'm going to be a Watford fan now and look out for their result - hopefully Fulham stay up and that'll be the ideal fixture for me next season..."
So Simpson didn't want him to go either? So it's all down to King by the looks of it & I can understand his reason why. I think, just as a few posters have mentioned already, that player power is so powerful these days. I'll draw your attention to Lassana Diarra who today left Arsenal whom he only joined from Chelsea at the start of the season. Not too loyal either, especially as he's already quoted as saying that he'd accept a move to a big club if it was forthcoming!! The modern game is different - it's mostly about money, both for the businesses (clubs) and the workers (players & managers). It's sad as a fan but true non the less.
Snorebens, 'ackney says...
9:55pm Thu 17 Jan 08
lamby, says...
9:58pm Thu 17 Jan 08
as for aidy he's been in management for 2 years. give the guy a break. what he's done so far for watford has been nothing short of miraculous. ok, he's made a few dodgy signings, but name a manager who hasn't. i'd rather have aidy than all the other failures before him (excluding GT!)
Lee, B/wood says...
10:01pm Thu 17 Jan 08
sam, Watford says...
10:05pm Thu 17 Jan 08
2 (AC)Sqn wrote:There is a lot of speculation about me leaving Watford, but I just get with it. The newspapers are always in the changing room so everyone reads them. They are always a good source of banter. I am under contract here and have a job to do. I'm happy - we are top of the league. I could do with scoring a few more goals though. I have 11 so far this season.
"It's disappointing because I've got a lot of mates at Watford.The fans have been magnificent to me, and the chairman and manager didn't want me to go.But in my heart I knew it's an opportunity I've got to seize and I'm looking forward to the new challenge ." The words of Marlon. Not mine, not some t*t Lut8n based Bin Laden supporting scum bag called "Colin" (Nice name BTW) -Marlon's I just want 11 players who WANT to play for Watford. If they have some ability that is a bonus. He has the ability BUT DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY FOR WATFORD. Fine. Lets all move on and blame who the hell we like!
These are the words of Marlon King 10 days ago on the FA website, not Colins or some air stewardess. Do you believe these words too?
Doomed, says...
10:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ipswich went up, remind me what happened to Huddersfield, and where they have been since???
B, says...
10:07pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Mike, Oxhey says...
10:10pm Thu 17 Jan 08
2 (AC)Sqn, RAF Marham says...
10:12pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Its all about the money my friend.So either way he was lying. Or some new event took place- like someone said "have some more cash."
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
10:14pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ralph, Sofa says...
10:15pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Ipswich went up, remind me what happened to Huddersfield, and where they have been since???
Still in Yorkshire!
Only £1.4M profit for King, Mid Table by March says...
10:16pm Thu 17 Jan 08
hertshorn, herts says...
10:21pm Thu 17 Jan 08
The Main Man, Noddy's Land says...
10:22pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Only £1.4M profit for King wrote:
Marlon was 50/50 on moving to Fulham, the loss at Preston last weekend put more doubt in his mind, he has been **** off at the tactics for weeks, but the final straw that made him want a move came after Tuesday when Hoofroyd sacked Chief Scout, Marlon saw this as more turmoil, Russo\'s, Simpson\'s bonus, etc etc, team thrown away 8 point lead, I think had we won last weekend against bottom team, and no sacking he would still be here. So £5M minus Forests sell on of £1.25M is £3.75 left over. Boothroyd will get a percentage of that fee (like Newell at Luton) of the difference between what we paid for him to what we sold him, probably 2.5%, £112K, plus Chairman and Chief exec will cream some cash, so in total another £350k off, so now down to £3.4M, minus the £2M we will have to pay for Collins (not interested in playing for Watford in the PREM let alone championship), we are left with £1.4M and another Donkey !!!!
quote
quoteAll these quotes & comments are very interesting!
Do you really want to know the truth
Graham S
Ralph, Sofa says...
10:24pm Thu 17 Jan 08
hertshorn wrote:Just cracked open a Stella and put on a Jim Carrey classic, Liar Liar!
What a day. Anyone fancy a pint?
Darren P, Ricky says...
10:28pm Thu 17 Jan 08
well. Stewart, John, Jackson, Doyley.
Goalscorers ~ NONE
Left backs ~ NONE
Midfielders ~ NONE.
What have we got then??
quote
Darren, Canada says...
10:31pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren P, Ricky says...
10:33pm Thu 17 Jan 08
The past 12 games has basically been relegation form. Any other Manager would have been sacked.
It was only the fact we had a good start to the season is where we are now in the League.
Tomorrow is another day and we must all move on!
quote
Voice of reason, Watford says...
10:34pm Thu 17 Jan 08
DAVE THESANDRIDGEPERVERT wrote:Well, don't know about you lot but on Saturday i'll be off to One shop Sandridge for some "satisfaction"
Now most of you will not go to games,come & join Colin ,me & our WOOLY PLAYMATES(very playful i promise!)on sat afternoons--satisfac
tion g`teed-you will all score! GRRRRR!
Dave....Any clues to how to break the ice with Flossie? and does your one shop double up as a Chemist?
C U Sat m8.
Darren P, Ricky says...
10:36pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Darren wrote:Perhaps he wants to make up for the period he lost when we were in the Premiership! October to May. Hope his injury holds out! Anyway probably see him one way or another.
Sorry guys, but I have just seen the Sky interview on the web with Marlon at Fulham's ground. He looks very happy, had nothing but praise for GS and AB and said it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down. From the horses mouth as it were...
I think any Watford player going to Fulham has a kiss of death on their career.
quote
luther, says...
11:05pm Thu 17 Jan 08
dave, sandridge says...
11:06pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Voice of reason wrote:I too upset to talk. That colin was right all along!
DAVE THESANDRIDGEPERVERT wrote:Well, don't know about you lot but on Saturday i'll be off to One shop Sandridge for some "satisfaction"
Now most of you will not go to games,come & join Colin ,me & our WOOLY PLAYMATES(very playful i promise!)on sat afternoons--satisfac
tion g`teed-you will all score! GRRRRR!
Dave....Any clues to how to break the ice with Flossie? and does your one shop double up as a Chemist?
C U Sat m8.
Beds Hornet, Biggleswade says...
11:35pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Essex horn, Braintree says...
11:47pm Thu 17 Jan 08
Time for change, time for action, if Aidy had nothing to do with MK leaving then no promotion, no AB, end of season walk out watch this space, Glen Roeder anyone!
Ray Lewington might as well come back he's cheap.
I really hope that this sale galvanises the players and they pull together to give Charlton a good old WFC whopping, like we used to do and NE, Pris, etc take the chance, its there time they must be prepared for it and ready to fight for it! Fight for us.
This W/E could be the begining of our promotion push or the begining of mid table mediocrity, or worse, seize the moment you Golden Boys.
I am sure there are some other players out there to sign you just got to have a good scouting system, Doooh!
Good luck lads it time to stand up and be counted.
Billie, Kings Langley says...
11:54pm Thu 17 Jan 08
They will see a derelict old stand.
More money than anyone in the history of WFC has dreamt of and we still have a derelict stand.
Never mind, to quote Aidy the Chairman deserves more than £500,000. Careful though Watford lovers...some of the comments on here are actionable...althoug
h who to sue may may be difficult...spoilt for choice.
Matford, Auckland says...
12:19am Fri 18 Jan 08
Dusty, Nottingham says...
12:40am Fri 18 Jan 08
How embarassing, i have spent the last week saying king wont leave to all these forest fans up here and then this happens. A sad day. If we lose to charlton live on sky i may have a very sore head sunday morning.
john lawson, Texas USA says...
4:19am Fri 18 Jan 08
aidy, watford says...
7:46am Fri 18 Jan 08
Lets not go pointing fingers. I share the concern with CJ motivation but is goal record in the prem is 20 goals in 40 odd matches, i think. Just has not played recently. Remember where most of this started. With Helguson being transferred on the eve of the new season (or near to). I am surprised by the timing of the move but just over a year left on his contract, £5m is a good deal. I do not see this as a good move for Marlon though
yellowbelly, antidepressants says...
7:50am Fri 18 Jan 08
Steve, hemel hempstead says...
8:00am Fri 18 Jan 08
FACT- helguson' goals saved us from relegation to Div 1
FACT-Boothroyd sold him
FACT-Parkin was Boothroyd' first choice transfer target and King was his second, hence he got lucky.
FACT- Foster, Mahon, Chambers, Carlisle,Young,King, Bouazza and Spring all played in our promotion winning side
FACT- they have all been sold on or have had issues with the club (excuse Foster from that Hoofers had no way of keeping him)
FACT-we have generated 19m in transfer dealings plus Sky money plus the parachute money and the sale of the youth player to Villa (rough guess of around 45m injected into the club)
FACT- Simpson and Hoofer give themselves a huge bonus after we are relegated from the Prem and win only 5 games!!!!!
FACT- Our squad is riddled with high earners, Stewart,Ellington,Fr
ancis,Mcanuff,Willia
mson,
FACT -Hoofers and Simpson sanctioned the following signings,Priskin,Ell
ington,Hoskins,Ashek
odi,Mcanuff,Francis,
willimson,Stewart,Po
well Poom, the list goes on.
FACT-WE have just sole King after they promised he was not going anywhere and we need him for our promotion push
FACT- we cant win and home and our tactics never change
FACT we are in the SH!*
If you can argue against that then your are blinkered
the chitster, woburn says...
8:30am Fri 18 Jan 08
Vic, says...
8:34am Fri 18 Jan 08
I saw King interviewed on Sky and he said something to the effect that as soon as he knew of Fulham's interest, he wanted to go.
However, Boothroyd said on Saturday that the player did not want to leave, one of four reasons why he would not be going.
So, either King is lying because it was only after Saturday that he decided he was interested in Fulham (which seems unlikely, why would he suddenly change his mind), or Boothroyd is lying because he knew King wanted to go but told the fans the opposite.
Earlier on, Boothroyd had said King would not be going because "I don't want him to". Therefore, has he since changed his mind and decided he does want King to go, or was that a lie and does he actually have no control over which players leave the club?
If that is the case, then you have to question Ashton's words a couple of weeks ago which said the club "had no need to sell" and "did not want to sell". Again, either they changed their minds, or made those statements knowing them to be false.
Transfers happen. We all know football, that's how it goes.
But this very high-profile and much-debated move of the club's 'star' player has brought right into focus the way the senior staff at the club operate.
For a couple of weeks their choice of statement, their use of spin, their insistence that everything has to be positive has been right in the spotlight.
We have hung on their every word.
Now it is all over and we can look back on events.
For me, it isn't about the fee or whether Collins John is a good replacement.
It is totally about what we have been told, by whom and when.
The club's senior staff are very well paid because they have to manage our expectations, provide us with an honest appraisal of club matters and to ensure everything the club does is in the best interests of Watford FC.
And on those areas, I believe the senior staff at the club have failed.
It's not the first time, but on this occasion it's on a huge piece of club business which is very emotionally charged and sits at the very heart of our bid to be successful and possibly return to the Premiership.
Perhaps now, the mismmanagement at the club that many posters on here have lamented for some time will become more apparent and obvious to others who have chosen to turn a blind eye.
It cannot be allowed to carry on.
Steve, says...
8:46am Fri 18 Jan 08
FACT- we have just signed on loan a player that publicly refused to come to us and who would prefer to rot in the reserves at Fulham
Peter Riley, Watford says...
8:51am Fri 18 Jan 08
Also, as an aside, it would appear that WFC is as dysfunctional as the average workplace!
john, greece says...
9:13am Fri 18 Jan 08
Does anyone know why?
Vic, says...
9:18am Fri 18 Jan 08
It's okay to completely mislead people if ekes an extra £500k out of a transfer deal?
Sorry - it is still unacceptable as far as I am concerned.
Raider Man, Hemel says...
9:52am Fri 18 Jan 08
WANTED TO GO AND WATFORD JUST HAD TO GET BEST DEAL THEY COULD. I HAVE IT ON VERY GOOD AUTHORITY (FROM SOMEONE ON WATFORD STAFF) THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT HIS DODGY KNEE MAY NOT LAST TOO LONG AND IT WAS BEST TO BAIL OUT NOW. GIVE THE CLUB SOME CREDIT AND WAIT FOR THEM TO SPEAK BEFORE POSTING ALL THESE CRAP COMMENTS!
Steve, says...
9:58am Fri 18 Jan 08
Get the Watford Observer and read Afflecks article, it is not about the King sale that was the tip of the iceberg
sam, Watford says...
10:02am Fri 18 Jan 08
You happy clappers can blame Marlon, Colin or whoever you like but don't justify lying please. Would GT have operated in this way?
colin, st albans says...
10:17am Fri 18 Jan 08
I'm not surprised they're taking so long to make an official announcement. It can't be easy trying to cover up the lies that have come out of vicarage road.
None of them have come out of this with any credit, their incompetence is tearing the club apart. I sense the dawn of another 'Jim Bonser' era. Remember the chants?
Big Tone, Watford says...
10:39am Fri 18 Jan 08
Vic, says...
10:40am Fri 18 Jan 08
I am well aware of what negotiating is - but thanks for reminding me.
When you negotiated that arrangement you outline, were you representing an organisation which takes money from thousands of customers each week?
And did you then announce your position to those thousands of people?
And was the matter you were negotiating one that is close to the heart of those thousands of people?
And then, when you decided to accept less than you originally quoted, did you cunningly hope that the blame would land at someone's else door (ie, King)?
Negotiating, bartering, bidding, hawking - call it what you like. We know it goes on.
But if you're going to take part in it, don't come out in advance and make such unconditional and unequivocal statements about your position.
Because, when you do and then you later U-turn, you look like a liar, a fool or a bith of both.
CheshireCheese, Cheshire! says...
10:40am Fri 18 Jan 08
Marlon's Knee, Rickmansworth says...
10:46am Fri 18 Jan 08
Bigger issue is how we re-invest the money in a replacement...Boothy has a "mixed" record in the transfer market to say the least...however, he's earnt the money to spend....would a Lewington team with Dyche and Ardley ever have got near being promoted in 2006? Short memories of whee we were heading in April 2005...
Steve, hemel hempstead says...
10:54am Fri 18 Jan 08
Another fact for you ,
Fact- your so stupid you do not know how to take Caps lock off your laptop
alan, mk says...
11:03am Fri 18 Jan 08
dave, holborn says...
11:05am Fri 18 Jan 08
alan, mk says...
11:05am Fri 18 Jan 08
Dom, London says...
11:21am Fri 18 Jan 08
Ron, Watford says...
11:22am Fri 18 Jan 08
Nick Owen, Luton says...
11:26am Fri 18 Jan 08
Marlon's Knee, Rickmansworth says...
11:39am Fri 18 Jan 08
Uorns, Bucks says...
11:48am Fri 18 Jan 08
I really believe this could have an 'Henry' effect as the team will have to blood new faces and not play everything through MK when the game isn't going well.
I really worry for the club at the moment because I believe we have the worst fans in the division (a reason for MK Leaving?!). We create a negative atmosphere, we subject the team top all sorts of abuse and we give every away team a massive lift....if things aren't going to plan that is! We have 19 games left to win promotion, getting on ppls backs will ensure another year in this division. Against Charlton I for one will clap, cheer and sing louder than before. COME ON U 'ORNS!!!! ps The Duke to score 2 i reckon!
Dom, London says...
11:55am Fri 18 Jan 08
I am not begrudging them what they earn, as I have already stated. What really makes me annoyed is the mindless drivel about setting themselves up for life, yadda yadda, when the are ALREADY.
Also, do you not think they are insured against loss of earnings relating to career threatening injury??
If you want to swallow that nonsense, it's your choice. But it is self justifying nonsense all the same.
Marlon's Knee, Rickmansworth says...
12:20pm Fri 18 Jan 08
If you were Marlon you'd be taking all you could get right now...yes, life's unfair, we're not all pro footballers! But I'm sure in his position I'd do the same...I'm sure most of the players at WFC could set themseleves up earning £5k per week for a few years if they had the nous...and I'm also sure they'd jump at £40k per week given the chance...
Why would you stay if you were Marlon? You spend most games looking up to the heavens for the ball, you can almost double your pay risk free for three years...take it and run
As for insurance, think you'll find that insuring a £6m wage packet over three years if you've already got a dodgy knee wont' come cheap...
If you asked everyone on this forum if they'd take a risk free doubling of their salary for the next three years for doing exactly the same job 20 miles down the road what would they all say?
Harry, local to watford says...
12:34pm Fri 18 Jan 08
I used to follow Man U up & down the country however One day I realised that really true football supporters of all clubs need to wake up and turn there back on the professional game by going to watch real football,football the way it should be played.
Semi-Pro football where players are still in touch with the real world.
The players don`t look to get each booked,the tackles are firm but fair and footballers give there all every game but most importantly they play because they love the game as much as those who turn up to watch them.
Fed Up, Rickmansworth says...
1:21pm Fri 18 Jan 08
I can't see the season improving with the departure of King. Get ready for a mid-table finish everyone.
JohnBoy, Watford says...
2:29pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Wake up and smell the coffee, we the supporters don't count , what counts is money and profits and dividends and bonuses. So just shut up and keep paying your season tickets. The club amd more importantly the executive are far more important than the supporters. How long will it take people to realise this sheesh.
mathew, harrow says...
3:38pm Fri 18 Jan 08
ann, Hemel Hempstead says...
5:15pm Fri 18 Jan 08
adi, Eaton bray says...
5:42pm Fri 18 Jan 08
stuart, rushden says...
6:23pm Fri 18 Jan 08
hornetchris, garston says...
7:52pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Alan Palmer, South Ruislip says...
8:03pm Fri 18 Jan 08
I'm still going to boycott tomorrow's match. I hope some of you do as well. Don't tell me this is wrong as sometimes you have to make a stand!!
EB Hornet, Eastbourne says...
12:34am Sat 19 Jan 08
Show your support. Or if you boo and protest and moan and whinge etc then don't come along to the games at the end of the season when we might gain promotion and don't show up when we are in the prem and don't run around singing Boothroyds name because you are fickle and change your minds way too quickly.
Marlon wanted out and has gone. Lets get behind our other 8 strikers and maybe with some game time and confidence they will get us the goals we need.
Paul Chadderton, Bermuda says...
5:04am Sat 19 Jan 08
Lets face it footy to a playeris all about money not loyalty - before us Marlon was in the wilderness!
Give Prisken, Ellington a real chance in the first team. bring in a winger with the money and get back to winning ways- Routledge from Tott would do nice
WFC & Proud, Watford says...
7:47am Sat 19 Jan 08
Raises an interesting question: do you want Aidy to play him or not if it does fall thru?
JohnBoy, Watford says...
8:38am Sat 19 Jan 08
LARRY BROOKS, says...
8:54am Sat 19 Jan 08
stuart, says...
10:15am Sat 19 Jan 08
Marlon King
In this section
- Scott Severin hopes Watford move can earn Scotland recall
- O'Toole has medical with Blades
- Watford midfielder latest player set for Sheffield United
- Former Tottenham Hotspur coach David Kerslake "thrilled" to take Watford role
- Smith bid accepted
- Watford striker seals Huddersfield Town switch
- Watford receive £1.8m bid for Tommy Smith
- Watford complete striker signing
- Bushey book Watford Observer Plate final berth
- Watford chairman rubbishes Reading claims
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
jonno, wendover says...
2:38pm Thu 17 Jan 08