RAFA TELLS TOON ARMY: BE NICE
(quoting Mirror Offers) JAVI GRACIA has swerved superstar fan Sir Elton John’s advice that Watford should sign goalkeeper Tom Heaton – because Ben Foster’s form warrants an England recall.
Hornets executive chairman Scott Duxbury revealed Sir Elton sent him a text message after last month’s 4-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
It read: “Tom Heaton. I’d still buy him. Foster’s not consistent. Love, Elton.”
Duxbury declined the Rocket Man’s playful counsel, and now head coach Gracia – who admits he has several Elton songs on his playlist, among them Bennie And The Jets – has spoken up for Foster.
Heaton’s performances for Burnley have won him three England caps, but Foster has been a big hit with fans on his second coming at Vicarage Road.
And after his keeper’s second consecutive clean sheet in the 3-0 win against Huddersfield last weekend, Gracia spoke up for Foster, who made the last of his eight England appearances at the World Cup in 2014.
Gracia said: “Ben has played at a high level for us, the same as other players in different areas on the pitch.
Goalkeeping is a specialist position and we What do we have? Eleven players on the pitch and a squad on the bench.
“You have to support your family. This is our family.
“We have to support everyone, from the first are lucky to have some terrific keepers at the club – not only Ben but Heurelho Gomes and Pontus Dahlberg as well.
“At the moment Ben is playing at the top of his game. Everyone can see that he kept us in the game against Huddersfield early in the match and then gave us the basis to protect our lead after we scored two goals.
“I’m not just pleased with how he is playing – I’m very happy because he has a very good attitude, helping all the players with his happiness around the place. He sets an example. I don’t know what Sir Elton minute to the last. After, you can say, ‘I don’t agree, I’m not happy with that’.
“We are talking about the captain of the team, someone who cares.
“We cannot change our support for this player