Watford need promotion this year.

[Watford1982]

I still consider Luton to be as big a club as us - their misfortune notwithstanding. But would you class Forest as a bigger club than you because of their double European cup success? Personally, I wouldn't - we're all similar clubs, it's just they had brilliant couple of seasons in amongst all the mundane crap that teams like us suffer

[Guest Bilo]

I still consider Luton to be as big a club as us - their misfortune notwithstanding. But would you class Forest as a bigger club than you because of their double European cup success? Personally, I wouldn't - we're all similar clubs, it's just they had brilliant couple of seasons in amongst all the mundane crap that teams like us suffer

 

 

That's an interesting debate that one, been done to death on here mind.

 

Personally, no. 

 

I base club size on where they've consistently played for most of their existence and on fanbase.

 

Wigan's eight years in the Premiership and recent FA Cup win don't make them a big club because they've spent the vast majority of their existence in the lower reaches of the Football League in front of meagre crowds. The same is true of Nottingham Forest's success under Clough. They'd achieved precious little before and have achieved precious little since. Their crowds and aspirations are pretty much identical to ours and have been for most of their history; ergo, they're no bigger or smaller than us. 

[Watford1982]

Their crowds and aspirations are pretty much identical to ours

Your crowds are a few thousand more than ours, but surely our aspirations over the last 30 years have been identical?

[Super_horns]

According to your fans it won't be a problem if the FA close the loan loophole as you'll simply sign them on free transfers.

The ones we want - that is the Pozzo plan.

 

I presume then we wouldn't need to have such a high number of loan players anyway?

 

As for what is a big club and what isn't - well ofcourse you are bigger than ours but a lot of teams in the top 2 divisions (and some outside it) are...

[Guest Bilo]

Your crowds are a few thousand more than ours, but surely our aspirations over the last 30 years have been identical?

 

 

Not really.

 

We've had only one season outside the top two tiers and have won two League Cups in that time with four successive top ten Premier League finishes. 

 

Admittedly in the 1980s we were a bit of a yo-yo side while you had a bit of a spell there, but since then you've had two Premier League seasons which both ended in relegation. 

 

It's also worth remembering that this current spell is the leanest in our history with ten years outside of the top tier for the first time since WWI and our only ever spell outside the top two tiers, yet it is still roughly equivalent to one of your club's most consistent decades.

[marko]

Your crowds are a few thousand more than ours, but surely our aspirations over the last 30 years have been identical?

Come on, a few thousand more?! Our crowds are not far off double yours. 

[Bert]

Your crowds are a few thousand more than ours, but surely our aspirations over the last 30 years have been identical?

They're not.

We have more ST holders than your average attendance.

[Guy1960]

He does raise a good point though.

 

Leicester City have enjoyed a more impressive history than Watford for the same reason Liverpool have enjoyed a more successful history than Leicester City.

 

We're a bigger club than Watford and Liverpool are a bigger club than us.

 

It's the natural level of our respective clubs. If we tried to compete with Liverpool, we'd be massively over-reaching ourselves and would eventually fall down. For every Wigan Athletic, there's a Portsmouth, a Bradford and a Plymouth.

 

What happens if UEFA decide to go the way of the FA and ban multi-club ownership? 

 

Isn't that's what you did under Sven?  and why would Fifa ban multi ownership?  Udinese have owned Granada for some time

[Watford1982]

Despite the difference in fan base, essentially the clubs are the same, in that we're both also-rans, and always will be. If it gives you pleasure to think you're more of an also-ran than us, then good luck to you, I won't lose much sleep over it.

[Watford1982]

Udinese have owned Granada for some time

They haven't owned Granada. They are independent clubs, working in cooperation.

[The God Emperor]

there isnt anything particularly wrong with what watford are doing, but that said I wouldnt want Leicester to do something like this. I rather we brought through our own home grown players that will grow to love the club rather than bringing in serie A mercenaries.

[Super_horns]

Trobule is how many youngsters do these days - their agents soon have them looking elsewhere if they are good enough.

 

Fans were worried the loan players wouldn't really care and starting moaning but TBF its been the opposite (probably aided by Zola telling them what english football is about and what fans expect)

 

Its probably why our fans are very excited about the future IF it all works out well.

 

We still want to have our own coming through like Bond,Hoban,Connor Smith (both injured) and Murray (if he decides to stop going into nightclubs and smoking..)

 

There are a few decent prospects in the youth team who have got out on loan or younger players not quite in the 1st team squad such as Thompson/Hodson.

[Guy1960]

there isnt anything particularly wrong with what watford are doing, but that said I wouldnt want Leicester to do something like this. I rather we brought through our own home grown players that will grow to love the club rather than bringing in serie A mercenaries.

 

So how many home grown players have Leicester had in your first team this season?  Watford have used 8, the 2nd highest in the championship after Middlesborough.

[Watford1982]

I rather we brought through our own home grown players that will grow to love the club.

We're still doing this - only conveniently it hasn't been reported on in the press. We have some very exciting prospects that have been loaned to lower league clubs, whereas before they'd have been chucked in our first team at a level that was too high for them, simply out of necessity. That can't be good for their development?

[The God Emperor]

So how many home grown players have Leicester had in your first team this season?  Watford have used 8, the 2nd highest in the championship after Middlesborough.

I'm not saying Leicester do this, its just what I'd wish they did. at the minute watford are using a few and from I've heard they have a very good academy, but it will be interesting to see if it stays that way with the influx of loanees

[Watford1982]

So how many home grown players have Leicester had in your first team this season?  Watford have used 8, the 2nd highest in the championship after Middlesborough.

To be fair, a lot of those were used early on in the season, whilst the current team was being assembled - the squad that was used on Sunday has been fairly settled now for a while, and includes few if any youth players. Although there have been some unfortunate injuries to home-grown talent that has kept them out of the side.

[Danizen]

Still here?

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of your ownership model, how small your club is, how good your football is, you must be one boring, boring c*nt.

[Vardinhio]

So you are saying they are a shared pool of players and yet you then say all clubs have different owners? Can you not see the lines here are blurred?

 

Are you suggesting that you will effectively just get free transfers from Udinese and vice versa? It just stinks to me and I'm sure the FA will recognise the dangers and controversy of such a model, it could be the death of British football.

[Finnegan]

Oh good God, the bigger club rubbish again? Ugh.

Who gives a ****?

We've more history and fans than Wigan, Fulham and Swansea. They're still playing top flight football, attracting better players and so might Watford be next year.

That's all that matters.

[KFS]

Hope it's the last we hear of you on the 27th. Either because you're off for your one season wonder or you're extremely embarrassed and heart broken after you've lost.

[Watford1982]

So you are saying they are a shared pool of players and yet you then say all clubs have different owners? Can you not see the lines here are blurred?

 

Are you suggesting that you will effectively just get free transfers from Udinese and vice versa? It just stinks to me and I'm sure the FA will recognise the dangers and controversy of such a model, it could be the death of British football.

Cooperation makes all three teams stronger, for now. How this pans out if we ever have to play each other, I'm really not sure, but realistically that's some way off yet.

[Vardinhio]

Cooperation makes all three teams stronger, for now. How this pans out if we ever have to play each other, I'm really not sure, but realistically that's some way off yet.

 

I disagree completely, it makes the weaker team stronger and that is all. Anyway the way Watford are running there club wont continue, the FA wont allow joint ownership of players.

[Captain...]

Apart from the fact that it is clearly against the spirit of the game, which has been dead a long time, and whilst you can argue that Watford haven't done anything wrong this season, they could have 'loaned' in some of Udinese's first team for the run in. They didn't, but they could and that is why the rules need to be changed and any interests between clubs declared and transfers checked.

I think what sticks in the craw is that Watford haven't done anything to deserve it, the Pozzo family have built this scouting network and developed these players and bought them through Udinese and Watford are the Johnny come lately that are getting all the benefit without having any risk or any of the outlay.

Do Udinese have to conform to ffp? If not but Watford do then Udinese can bank roll Watford by buying players and 'loaning' then to Watford to get around ffp.

[ealingfox]

Despite the difference in fan base, essentially the clubs are the same, in that we're both also-rans, and always will be. If it gives you pleasure to think you're more of an also-ran than us, then good luck to you, I won't lose much sleep over it.

 

Bet you'd love to finally win a trophy though wouldn't ya? 

[Super_horns]

Apart from the fact that it is clearly against the spirit of the game, which has been dead a long time, and whilst you can argue that Watford haven't done anything wrong this season, they could have 'loaned' in some of Udinese's first team for the run in. They didn't, but they could and that is why the rules need to be changed and any interests between clubs declared and transfers checked.

I think what sticks in the craw is that Watford haven't done anything to deserve it, the Pozzo family have built this scouting network and developed these players and bought them through Udinese and Watford are the Johnny come lately that are getting all the benefit without having any risk or any of the outlay.

Do Udinese have to conform to ffp? If not but Watford do then Udinese can bank roll Watford by buying players and 'loaning' then to Watford to get around ffp.

Who would though?

 

They could've picked anyone TBF...I think the fact we needed a new owner and were near London helped our case.

 

Anyone could be loaned a first teamer in this country from another club here...as unlikely as it would be!

 

I wouldn't expect a first choice player from Udinese (or Granada) to come either - they have their own battles to deal with.

 

I presume all transfers are checked and approved by the FA if they are doing their job....