Watford’s Woes

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

It’s tough trying to sign new players when you appear to be on a one-way street to relegation, but Watford are having problems persuading their best player to go.

The Hornets are 10 points adrift of safety, with just 12 from 21 games this season, and while Aidy Boothroyd’s side has shown plenty of spirit and endeavour, there has been none of the quality needed to survive in the Premiership.

That, you would think, would give star striker Ashley Young every excuse he needed to leave Vicarage Road.
Yet the 21-year-old has rejected the chance to even talk to West Ham after Watford accepted a £9.65 million offer for the youth international on Monday.

The fact that West Ham are themselves embroiled in a relegation battle perhaps made Young’s decision a little easier, but the Hammers’ resources mean they have every chance of pulling clear. Watford do not.

It may be that Young is waiting for the likes of Tottenham or Aston Villa to make good on their reported interest, but as welcome as it might appear at first, his decision to snub West Ham does Watford no favours.

Boothroyd has repeatedly said he would not sell Young until the player told him he wanted to go.

Only last week he said: “There are players out there who have gone for £8m-plus who do not have what he has.
shley is the trump card in the Premiership. There are not many players outside the top four clubs who are better than him.”

Yet the young manager would gladly have swapped Young for a fat cheque from Upton Park.

Young has scored only four goals in 23 appearances this season. For a club which has lost Marlon King to a season-ending injury, that is not enough.

Young’s value is all in his potential, and that is a luxury a club like Watford cannot afford to invest in right now.

The nearly £10 million West Ham were offering would be of far more use spent on three or four players who could strengthen their squad and help them build, if not for a survival battle, then for another promotion campaign next season.

Whether Watford get another offer to match West Ham’s is in doubt.

Tottenham are believed to have made an approach, but offered only a fraction of the sum West Ham were ready to spend, instead including defender Calum Davenport and winger Wayne Routledge – who is on loan at Fulham – as part-exchange.

But that deal was a non-starter as neither Davenport nor Routledge were willing to climb aboard Watford’s sinking ship.

Aston Villa has Randy Lerner’s millions to spend, but Manager Martin O’Neill has insisted he will not be duped into paying over the odds just because selling clubs know of the financial backing he has.

O’Neill can get another look at Young on Saturday when Watford visit Villa Park. Young will no doubt be in the starting 11, but he will struggle to make much impact with quality support, and that is why WagerWeb.com has Watford as +450 outsiders to grab all three points.

The odds on Watford having added any of that much-needed quality by Saturday also lengthened on Monday when it was confirmed that Fulham striker Collins John has joined the list of players to reject a move to the Hertfordshire club.

The Cottagers accepted a £3.25 million bid for the striker, but the Dutchman promptly rejected the move even though he has been told he has no future at Craven Cottage.

Boothroyd said: “I’ve spoken to his representatives, and he said at this point in time it’s a no.

“I think there is still some hope but I’m looking at other options.”

Life isn’t easy at the wrong end of the table.