Testing Times for Boothroyd

[Golden_Boy™]

Testing Times for Boothroyd


Following Watford's third away defeat this season, he had this to say:

"We're chugging along chasing that big jackpot again of promotion and if we can maintain our away form and improve our home form then we will be in good shape.

"I'm bringing nobody in at the moment. I'm trying for a couple but so is everyone. There will not be wholesale changes."



Today against Preston (bottom of the league), away from home, we were one nil down with with 15 minutes to go. Boothroyd made his first sub a minute after we conceded. A more tactically aware manager would have read the situation and made the changes earlier. So it took him until we conceded a goal to make a change, but when the change was made, it wasn't a striker that came on, oh no, a central midfielder for a central midfielder.

Three minutes later and another sub (still two strikers sitting on the bench), what does he do?? Swaps central defenders.

WTF is going on with him?? We paid £3.5 mill for Ellington and he is fantastic at warming the bench, he has barely had the chance to show what he's got.


Now I think it's far too early to be calling for him to be sacked (although a brief gander at the BBC 606 site & a Watford forum indicates other hornets don't think the same) - but as I've previously highlighted on this board, he lacks many attributes a great manager possesses. He has huge potential, and lacks no motivation whatsoever, but in terms of man-management, and the technical side of things, he lacks severely.

Recently the great Keith Burkinshaw left the club for family reasons, his role was assistant to Boothroyd. This role desperately needs to be filled asap. It seems the fans favourite is Sam Ellis (former Watford favourite). Someone is needed - to offer advice and experience to Boothroyd.

Most of his backroom staff have been sacked and the club are now in a crisis. This is without doubt the most testing time for him since arriving at Vicarage Road in '05.


It ain't bad to have a crisis when you are still in the top 6 though I have to admit

[ovechkin8]

Not for longthe way things are going.

He is tactically inept. The pressure was building on the back four for some twenty minutes before the goal & King was played on the wing almost.

There was no response & leaving Priskin & Ellington on the bench playing the useless Francis again is mystifying.

Signings are pitiful.The kid from River Plate Aloi ? Why ? Ainsworth left in the reserves.

We need a LW . Martin has been snapped up Johnson is unlikely if Downing moves to Tottenham.

Desperately need a left back.Stewart is absolutely useless. Still takes set pieces. I could do better. Why Jackson for Carlisle ?

It seems to me he acknowledges he screwed up with many panic signings last January no sign of Kabba Hoskins or Ashikodi & is now scared to venture in again.

I would rather see a progressive manager enter the frame ie Collins & a complete re organising of the academy from age 6 onwards with the emphasis solely on technique.

Alkmaar can do it so can we. I made the point in a letter to AB as this is the way Crimski & Manchester United are going .

I'm afraid he is a rather poor manager who had one good season & in comparison to Lewington is rather poor remembering Ray had no money at all & still picked up a gem in Demerit & Cook for instance & played some decent football.

It seems no one is willing to question AB abilities. Terrible to lose to a absolute pile of rubbish ie Preston after the QPR debacle.

[Golden_Boy™]

Hi mate.

I agree with your points about him being tactically inept & poor in the transfer market - but - surely to sack him now is just laughable??

Your point about you think he acknowledges he screwed up with many panic signings last January - isn't it a good thing that he ain't doing the same thing this time round? Shows he has learn't his lesson no?

I find it disgraceful that people want him sacked to be honest, some of the comments I have been reading are just pure bullshit.

Yes his tactics frustrate us all, and yes the majority of his transfer dealings haven't worked, but we have to remember this is his third full season as a manager.

He obviously has a lot to work on, we all know that. But we ain't no Newcastle, we are a family club, always have been.

People will do well to remember what we were like when he arrived.

The expectations now are much higher, that shows he has raised the bar.

To sack him, not even now, but this season - would be a joke. He has my unwavering support. I just think we need an experienced head in there with him, to offer words of advice just like Keith did.

Interesting to hear you sent a letter to him... did you tell him sternly to fucking play Rinaldi or face shit bombs on his doorstep??

[ovechkin8]

Hallo GB. Seeing the number of shitfights on other Watford forums it is a bit depressing.

We all need to pull together. I am very disappointed by the standard of play & the blatantyl obvious changes that need to be made.

You cant blame him in entirety as McAnuff & Henderson missed sitters.

I'd give him the end of the season & then call for a thorough review. We need to shift some of the detritus we've accumulated & get in a left back.

Iwanted Gosling (gone) Martin (gone). Other clubs can see the value of these players but we've made no move. And Mifsud a Phillips type player instead of Ellington ?

Its all easy in hindsight but I was saying this at the time & consistently complained players like Priskin & King need the ball in to feet. Young provided great delivery & Bouazza threat down the left which has not really been replaced.


Yes we are not the circus at Newcastle & we give our managers time generally speaking. However we need to consistently question everyone at the hierarchy of the club to make sure things do no go downhill.

For instance Simpson where has the money been going ? Is it all to be sunk into the ground redevelopment ? I do not like the Stalinist freak control affair at the club re the Watford Observer for instance.

Unless we pull our collective fingers out we will be nowhere. It is unfortunate but we need to be in the Premiership now to make the club secure financially & hang in there.

Funnily enough I did mention that we should play 3-5-2 at home so the useless shower Stewart did not need to be played & that in the midfield three we could play O'Toole ,Rinaldi & Bangura.

No reply as yet.

[Golden_Boy™]

Tell me about it. If you look at wfcforums.com - you'll see it going off. I'm registered on there (you may recognise my username if you take a butchers) and there was a poster who just joined - to start a 'Sack Aidy Now' thread.

Experienced Hornets have seen this before & should know it's way to early to be calling for Boothroyd to be sacked.

I think you & me are on the same wavelength mate...true fans know the score.

Maybe he hasn't replied yet as he is considering you for the assistants role??