SOCCER SPORT !

[tribe125]

That's David May at the top. Didn't play one minute.

[OTGabe]

Yes, only Chelsea players have done that, Gary...

[OTGabe]

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.

Can't disagree more. All these guys are pros and they're out on the practice fields day after day grinding it out, regardless of how much game time they get. In this era of 50-60 matches per season, you have dozens of players who play a critical role in a team's success.

[Raza]

Can't disagree more. All these guys are pros and they're out on the practice fields day after day grinding it out, regardless of how much game time they get. In this era of 50-60 matches per season, you have dozens of players who play a critical role in a team's success.

Seat fillers train too. I bet they sit hours a day in preparation. Sure, they never get called to stage, but they play a critical role in the Oscars.

Don't think they get to walk home with a statue though.

[Raza]

Man, Dempsey looks awful tonight. Very poor touch, looks almost uninterested. I think this may be his last involvement with the U.S. team. He's getting old and he recently lost the captaincy.

[shameless]

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.

blimey -half time would be great fun making anagrams out of those surnames

[shameless]

Sterling is likely to be a City player later today -so the plan is to get him on a plane out to Aussie -so you lucky Aussie scousers can boo him against Melbourne City on Saturday

[Raza]

Sterling is likely to be a City player later today -so the plan is to get him on a plane out to Aussie -so you lucky Aussie scousers can boo him against Melbourne City on Saturday

I hope they close this deal before City comes to its senses.

[Raza]

Apparently Benteke and this guy http://www.whoscored.com/Players/110297 are targets, presumably with the Sterling money. Come on, another Eastern European winger? Because Markovic worked out so well? I mean, apparently we lost Konoplyanka on the tarmac. Why not buy a player like Willian, who is proven, has a few years left, and plays offense and defense? He'll be surplus if Chelsea gets Pedro. Even the speedy when not broken Walcott would be a great pickup.

[hayday]

Seat fillers train too. I bet they sit hours a day in preparation. Sure, they never get called to stage, but they play a critical role in the Oscars.

Don't think they get to walk home with a statue though.

This is rubbish. You seem to be criticizing players just because you don't see what they contribute to the team. Not playing game in and game out doesn't mean one doesn't practice day in and day out. They are still a part of the team, even if their role isn't obvious enough for us to notice. They shouldn't brag as loudly as the regular starters, though. I'll give you that.

-hayday