SOCCER SPORT !

[shameless]

apparently we are paying Sterling £200,000 a week

[meijlinder]

apparently we are paying Sterling £200,000 a week

what!

[Steppy]

apparently we are paying Sterling £200,000 a week

[tribe125]

I'm interested in Watford's preparations for the Premiership. I've been a United supporter since the early 1960s, but then lived most of my adult life (35 years) within walking distance of Watford's ground. Naturally, I went along. Watford were in the (old) 2nd Division. The first game I went to was the second leg of a League Cup match against 1st Division (now the Premiership) Southampton. Watford were trailing 4-0 from the first leg and won 7-1. The next week we were all given celebration biros with the score as we entered the ground. Two rounds later in the League Cup, they beat Nottingham Forest, the current European Champions, 4-1.

It was an absolute hoot watching Watford in those days. Elton John was the Chairman, Graham Taylor the Manager, and the team formation was 4-2-4. The full-backs were encouraged to overlap. One centre-half later recalled finding himself going down the right wing, crossing the ball, and seeing the other centre-half heading it in. They went from 4th Division to 1st Division in five seasons, and finished their inaugural 1st Division season as runners-up to Liverpool.

Things have long been different at Watford, but now they're different in a whole new way. Watford are owned by the Pozzo family, who also own Udinese (Serie A) and Granada (La Liga). In each case, the Pozzos have taken a small, unfashionable club and elevated them to that country's premier division. The Pozzos are said to have the best scouting network in the world and have specialised in overlooked players at low prices. Players move between the three clubs, either on loan or are transferred at nominal cost. Occasionally, a 'discovery' will be sold for big money (such as Alexis Sanchez). All three clubs make money, or at worst, break-even. The clubs aren't intended to be 'selling clubs', but clubs that improve their standing incrementally. Amongst players, the Pozzos have gained a reputation for being interested in their welfare and long-term interests.

It's a fascinating project and it seems to be working.

Anyway, that's just background...

So far this summer Watford have bought:

Sebastian Prödl
Central defender signed from Werder Bremen. 28 years old. 49 caps for Austria. No fee.

Giedrius Arlauskis
Goalkeeper signed from Steaua Bucharest. 27 years old. 20 caps for Lithuania. Signed as back-up keeper to Heurelho Gomes. No fee.

Matej Vydra
Striker signed from Udinese, previously on loan to Watford. 23 years old. 15 caps for Czech Republic. Undisclosed ‘internal Pozzo’ fee.

José Holebas
Full-back from Roma. Kept Ashley Cole out of Roma side last year. 31 years old. 27 caps for Greece. £1.8m fee.

Etienne Capoue
Midfielder from Spurs. 26 years old. 7 caps for France. £6.3m fee.

Valon Behrami
Midfielder from Hamburg. 30 years old. 59 caps for Switzerland. £3m fee.

Benjamin Stambouli
Midfielder from Spurs. 24 years old. 3 caps for France U21. £4m fee (being finalised).


There are said to be two or three more to come. The intention is clearly to acquire sufficient experience to survive the first season. Despite their successes in Italy and Spain, the Pozzos haven't experienced the wealth of the Premiership and that raises the stakes considerably.

Naturally, the bookmakers have Watford as favourites for relegation. It's going to be interesting. Wish I still had my season ticket, even if I do now live two hours away.

[Raza]

[Raza]

Begovic to Chelsea is official. Off to go play domestic cups, it seems. Talk about a lateral move (at best) for a very good keeper.

[OTGabe]

Begovic to Chelsea is official. Off to go play domestic cups, it seems. Talk about a lateral move (at best) for a very good keeper.

Start a lot and win no trophies, or start occasionally with a legitimate chance to win all of them.

[Raza]

Start a lot and win no trophies, or start occasionally with a legitimate chance to win all of them.

Winning a trophy on a team you barely play for is basically a participant badge. You're being paid to be essentially one of those seat fillers at the Oscars. It means nothing.

[GaryF]

Sterling is going to need to hit the ground running. He showed this season how his form drops alarmingly with the crowd on his back and he's going to have a lot of expectation to live up to with that price tag. He's already being booed on England duty and getting the "Greedy" chants from both sides' fans.
Plus, Pellegrini isn't exactly on ground solid enough to stick with him if he doesn't tear it up from the off.

An interesting slant on the whole saga is that Sterling allegedly has a substantial stake in Aidy Ward's new business. So, whatever Ward gets from this, Raheem gets a portion, which is nice for him but it all looks a little unsavoury given that Sterling is so young and so clearly gambling his future on something which seems primarily to benefit his agent.
I don't doubt that he has the talent to go on and play for any club he wants but the big spenders like City can be a bit of a graveyard for young, emerging talent.

[GaryF]

Winning a trophy on a team you barely play for is basically a participant badge. You're being paid to be essentially one of those seat fillers at the Oscars. It means nothing.

It all counts as long as you put your kit on for the presentation (right, Gabe?).