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John will 'thrive' at the Vic

3:29pm Monday 21st January 2008

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AIDY BOOTHROYD insists Collins John's decision to turn Watford down last year made him even more determined to land the Dutch striker.

Watford had a £3.25m for the forward accepted by Fulham this time last year but John turned down a move to the then Premiership club.

Now in the Championship, Watford have managed to lure the 22-year-old to Vicarage Road on an initial loan deal with the move to be made permanent in the summer for a pre-agreed fee, although the move is yet to be tied up.

"I tried to get him a year ago and he turned me down," said Boothroyd. "When somebody does that it makes you want to get him even more. Despite what happens (with Marlon) it's been agreed he's coming here.

"He has got a great physique, he's exceptionally quick and explosive and he's got a great goalscoring record. He just needs a run in the team."

"He'll come here, we will give him a few cuddles a kick up the backside when he needs it and will thrive in the environment we have got here."

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Your Say YourWatford Observer

Salty, says...
3:34pm Mon 21 Jan 08

ol' Aidy is a loving kinda fella isn't he? He sweats all over poor Calum and now he can't wait to cuddle dear Collins!

Come to Watford - we're having a love in!!

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yellowskiddy, yellowskiddy says...
3:47pm Mon 21 Jan 08

I take it that collins will play and adiy said in the video on the watford site that NE will get a run in the team so does that mean the end of hendo?

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larrytheloafer'orn, Fulmer says...
3:48pm Mon 21 Jan 08

I guess that must make him desperate to see the MK/ Fulham deal fall through and MK come back to WFC as he has rejected us time and time again!

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The Pessimist, Rickmansworth says...
4:13pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Some comments from a Leicester fans website about Collins John – before news of our interest in signing him went out. The spelling errors are the Foxes fans' own work.

“Have seen him play a lot and i dont rate him at all, he just doesnt make any effort, he is just taking the money I think.”

“He's not any improvment on what we've got so won't be a loss when he goes back to Fulham.”

“He’s here for a month but I Hope he terminates his contract sooner.”

“He has absolutely no commitment whatsoever - Id rather see Ashley Chambers on the pitch than John.”


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Will, Bushey says...
4:19pm Mon 21 Jan 08

I've never really seen much of CJ so can't comment on whether he's any good or not but, with regards to his stint at Leicester, they've not been a stable club since Mandoric (the chairman) went there. Managers have come and gone and so have players so I'm hoping against hope he simply didn't settle in the very short time he was there. With 'Cuddles' Boothroyd here to make him feel welcome maybe he'll prove the doubters wrong?

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David Bell, London says...
5:24pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Aidy, this is not like chasing a girl. When a football player turns you down, you tell them to get lost! The opinion from of CJ from most quarters is that he does have talent but lacks application - another Tamas Priskin maybe? We need grafters and fighters at this stage of the season, not expensive misfits.

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chris, the vic says...
5:51pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Maybe he will galvanise the strike force like Duke did when he signed..nothing like competition.

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Uorns, Bucks says...
6:45pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Interesting comments posted by The Pessimist. I wonder what Notts Forest fans posted on their message boards when Marlon signed for us.....they weren't sorry to see him leave. Give the lad a chance eh?!

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colin, says...
6:59pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Oh dear, the manager continues his inexplicable love affair with Collins John whilst repudiating the positions that really do need strenghtening ie. left back, centre back and midfield.

This guy is a parasite and a misfit and I for one will boo him mercilessley...he doesn't want to be here and will only disrupt an already restless dressing room.

Boofers, your priority must be a left back, a centre back and a creative midfielder...in any case do you really think this guy will "thrive" under your bassett inspired style of play?

I urge everyone to make this palyers life hell...you all turned on Marlon qucik enough didnt you?

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ha ha ha, Watford says...
7:08pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Good plan Colon...let's boo him. Because then when Aidy tries to sign all these players you want, they are bound to want to come to Watford. Why not, you'llget booed from day one!! And the players we have are bound to want to stay, with "support" like yours.

You talk about Marlon....Forest, Leeds...was he not becoming a misfit?

Yes I agree we do need to strengthen in alot of areas. Do you really think Aidy is doing nothing? Or perhaps he's struggling to attract players.....perhaps they check out local rags's websites to see whether Watford is the club for them.

Given how anti-Watford you are, why do you bother coming. Surely our games clash with those at your beloved Luton?

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paul, hemel says...
7:24pm Mon 21 Jan 08

the concern I have is that the dutch way is flowing footie across and up the pitch. will this be another gifted player who has to suffer poor service, balls above chest height, and being "told" when to run, when to pass etc, etc. we'll see.......

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Memory Pill, Watford says...
8:25pm Mon 21 Jan 08

colin wrote:
Oh dear, the manager continues his inexplicable love affair with Collins John whilst repudiating the positions that really do need strenghtening ie. left back, centre back and midfield. This guy is a parasite and a misfit and I for one will boo him mercilessley...he doesn't want to be here and will only disrupt an already restless dressing room. Boofers, your priority must be a left back, a centre back and a creative midfielder...in any case do you really think this guy will "thrive" under your bassett inspired style of play? I urge everyone to make this palyers life hell...you all turned on Marlon qucik enough didnt you?
Didn't take you long to forget Calum Davenport - centre back wasn't he - one of the positions you are all fired up about? You couldn't blame AB for his injury, and a replacement is doubtless being considered right now.

Oh - and if the rumours on the Sporting Life website are to be believed, a left back from Birmingham is being lined up.

The CD move was kept under wraps - who's to say there aren't negotiations for a midfielder also happening.

If all three come to fruition, will you be retracting your nonsense, or will you claim that your witterings forced AB into action (even though he has already stated a while ago that he is looking at exactly those positions)?

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neil, says...
9:27pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Is it just me, or does anyone else find they start reading Colin's posts, then just lose interest after about 2 lines? He is without doubt one of the most boring individuals i have ever come across. He also has never responded to any of my points where i have corrected him, possibly as he is intellectually incapable of doing so

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dave, sandridge says...
10:43pm Mon 21 Jan 08

anyone but colin wrote:
no neil he is a schizo knob
Ironic, seeing as you are posting as someone else!

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Erik, Lincoln says...
10:51pm Mon 21 Jan 08

Re: Colin's request to make a players life hell. In any other profession if someone seriously suggested making somebody's life hell the Police would take an interest. You really think we should make someones life a torment just for doing their job. You really are a sad, twisted and nasty individual.

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perry digweed, cell block oxhey says...
11:35pm Mon 21 Jan 08

I agree that collins john doesn't want to play for us he didn't last season and if he was any good why would Woy Hodgeson want to sell or swap him for a bloke with a gammy knee!

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67 horn, surrey says...
11:42pm Mon 21 Jan 08

15k a week increase would turn anyone's head as well you know. If MK came back I'd be well pleased because he's one of the few quality players we've had for years. Remember what he did for WFC and be grateful for that - I just wonder if he would have gone to a team like Fulham if he was absolutely convinced we'd go up. On past 4 seasons we need 13 wins from 18 for an automatic slot - on current form and with sheff utd, charlton, wba, ipswich, bristol c and plymouth away still to come, that should be of greater concern - not time spent contradicting yourselves over one of the few players who has entertained us and more than repaid his debt to this club. Just wish there was some evidence of getting some decent players in this month.

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Chris, the vic says...
7:53am Tue 22 Jan 08

Tend to agree with the positives that we should get behind the team whenever they take to the pitch..but then I have always said that.

With regard to marlon, he has been great for this club and with him the premier experience may have been different and Ashley might not have gone in the January. If MK does not go I hope he continues to get goals for WFC and is treated well by the crowd as should be the case with cj.

The management are different and should be judged on what they do and Aidy's treatment of Darius and Gavin leaves me doubting his man management, but he seems to care about Dav. Maybe he is a total user but loyal he isnt. Now what were Aidy's defence team saying about Marlon's lack of loyalty.

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Steve, WINDSOR says...
8:22am Tue 22 Jan 08

Aidy says "when a player wants to leave theres not much you can do and you have to let them go" yet when Collins John says he isn't interested in Watford he chases him for a year !

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colin, st albans says...
8:31am Tue 22 Jan 08

MANAGER wrote:
it`s clear that serial knockers such as colin,C the v-dave the perv,etc have no mngmnt careers as continually complaining or \"fixing the blame\" is noti as productive as positive support to \"fix the problem\" the only ex of such serial nagging on every topic i can recall is my ex-wife
well manager i'm sure your wife nags you because you can't keep her happy.

big mouth, small ****

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tring hornet, tring says...
9:23am Tue 22 Jan 08

I think some people are really missing the point here. I know Colin will disagree but this is potentially a great bit of business!!!

Here me out, we get a player that AB rates on loan for a few months. If he does not perform we send him back, if he shows the true quality that AB believes he has then great we buy him.

It is not often that you can get the chance to try something to see how they work out, if they don't you send it back with no additional cost.

This is far better than buying him outright last year, instead of having a player that is in the club for 3 years doing nothing we can choose whether to keep him.

He also has to prove himself here or he could be finished in the English game and the high wages. Clubs talk a lot - Fulham don't rate him, he was poor at Leicester, he makes it here or he heads off.

I for one will support him as long as he tries!

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WatfordKev, Watford says...
9:32am Tue 22 Jan 08

Although I don't see the wisdom of the John move, I will rely on the superior knowledge of the pros, and I will be really positive about him.

I've never booed a WFC player, and I hope I never will. In fact if I started doing that I'd worry about myself and find something else to do with my ST money and my Saturday afternoons.

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Andy, Oxhey says...
11:58am Tue 22 Jan 08

Look, I have my doubts on some of the managers decisions, but he has good form. remember we signed Marlon King on loan with an agreement to buy (at a previously agreed price) if he proved his orth. The rest is history. At the time of his signing the Notts Forest fans in my office (we have 3!) all universally said how lazy and useless King was. Lets see shall we on CJ. We all going on if we get goals from a combination of Henderson; Ellington and CJ, maybe with Marlon King as a substitute to bring renewed vigour down the wing when Smith or McAnuff run out of steam, we could be made for the long slog to Easter and beyond. If Ellington and CJ click, perhaps Henderson could act as a temporary centre half - he certainly knows how to hold his ground and head a ball.

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andy, st.albans says...
12:41pm Tue 22 Jan 08

Andy wrote:
Look, I have my doubts on some of the managers decisions, but he has good form. remember we signed Marlon King on loan with an agreement to buy (at a previously agreed price) if he proved his orth. The rest is history. At the time of his signing the Notts Forest fans in my office (we have 3!) all universally said how lazy and useless King was. Lets see shall we on CJ. We all going on if we get goals from a combination of Henderson; Ellington and CJ, maybe with Marlon King as a substitute to bring renewed vigour down the wing when Smith or McAnuff run out of steam, we could be made for the long slog to Easter and beyond. If Ellington and CJ click, perhaps Henderson could act as a temporary centre half - he certainly knows how to hold his ground and head a ball.
This may not be a bad idea.... as long as we keep him away from our other centre backs!

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Erik, Lincoln says...
12:47pm Tue 22 Jan 08

Nice to see I've wound Colin up so much he can no longer even string a sentence together. What on earth does "or is should that just read ****?" actually mean? Never mind, Colin. If you can't win and argument resort to swearing and abuse. Oh, you already have.
I can't see why you are so angry. You said our form would turn bad and it has, you said we would sell MK in the transfer window and that nearly happened. You also said the Board would try to pocket the money from selling King, but luckily they can't. You should be happy, but I get the feeling from your posts that is not an emotion you are familiar with.

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cynic, Middlesex says...
2:42pm Tue 22 Jan 08

WatfordKev.
Nothing ever changes ref idiots booing their own players.
I started watching Watford in 1946-47 season and recall my Dad being livid at people booing Len Dunderdale (our centre forward).He was obviously past it as like all the other men of his age had lost 6 years of his career.
Like your sentiments though,makes a change.

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Colin Inconsistency Watcher, Nr St Albans says...
6:25pm Tue 22 Jan 08

colin wrote:
Oh dear, the manager continues his inexplicable love affair with Collins John whilst repudiating the positions that really do need strenghtening ie. left back, centre back and midfield. This guy is a parasite and a misfit and I for one will boo him mercilessley...he doesn't want to be here and will only disrupt an already restless dressing room. Boofers, your priority must be a left back, a centre back and a creative midfielder...in any case do you really think this guy will "thrive" under your bassett inspired style of play? I urge everyone to make this palyers life hell...you all turned on Marlon qucik enough didnt you?
Problem is nobody will here you from the Kennel Col (no longer Steve I see).....

Colin - Luton Sc***** troll - 100% guaranteed!

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dorsethorn, dorset says...
7:46pm Tue 22 Jan 08

WE GOT MARLON KING
WE GOT MARLON KING
WE GOT , WE GOT , WE GOT, WE GOT -MARLON KING.
OH - and CJ. and Hendo and Duke .
Lets face it how the F*ck can we now fail .

P.S. Colin , I still want your babies.

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hk, says...
11:08pm Tue 22 Jan 08

saddo spotter wrote:
Colin is vile & pointlessly negative all the time--wot a turd!
so what does that make Colin Inconsistency Watcher?

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colin, st albans says...
8:06am Wed 23 Jan 08

a stalker?

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