Johnson gives kicking to ‘pink boots’ brigade
LUTHER BLISSETT reckons Nigel Pearson could remain at Watford for the long haul.
The Hornets aren’t renowned for keeping the faith with managers.
Javi Gracia was sent packing in September after a poor start to the season.
His replacement, Quique Sanchez Flores, got the chop less than three months later. Pearson’s appointment in December raised eyebrows but the British boss has steered Watford out of the relegation zone.
And club legend Blissett is now backing him to buck the trend and stay in the hotseat.
“He’s done what Watford hoped he’d do,” he said.
“He’s consolidated the team and made sure they go back to basics.
“That has really helped get the side out of what was looking like certain relegation.
“He’s given the club an opportunity but it’s down to the players to make sure the opportunity is taken.
“I want every manager who comes to Watford to be here for a while – even though we tend to get through them quickly.
“I always believe whoever is going to come in, if they do a good job they could be the long-term option.
“But we still have to wait and see. The results will dictate it.
“It’s now so important to remain in the Premier League once you’ve had that taste of it.
“It always prompts owners to make tough decisions.
“If things were slightly different – what with all the money around in the game – then maybe the owners would hang on to managers that little bit longer.
“But very few clubs facing relegation do that. It’s virtually the same across the board.
“Clubs will inevitably make changes as they look to stave off dropping out of the division.”
Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure has been linked with a move away from Vicarage Road.
The midfielder, 27, joined from Rennes in 2016 and has established himself as a key man over the last four seasons.
Blissett (below) believes the Frenchman will stay put if his former side avoid the drop.
“Clubs have certain ambitions – and so do players,” he added.
“We shouldn’t berate players when they have other opportunities.
“If Watford are still a Premier League team then the bargaining position to keep all of their players is going to be that much stronger. “There’s been a lot of talk about Doucoure leaving, but if they stay up then I think there’s every chance he will remain at Watford.”
BRISTOL CITY boss Lee Johnson insists his side can afford no more slip-ups in the race for the Championship play-offs.
The Robins threw away the lead in a
3-1 defeat at promotion rivals Blackburn eight days ago.
That loss left them outside the top six coming into the weekend – and Johnson blaming individual errors for the worst possible start to the post-lockdown run-in.
One of the biggest mistakes, says the Ashton Gate supremo, was opting for the wrong type of studs on a wet, yet hard surface at Ewood Park.
And with their Premier League ambitions on the line at home to Sheffield Wednesday today, he warned against any sloppy repeats.
Johnson said: “For someone who’s old school in terms of black leather boots, either moulds or traditional rounded studs, it was something I wanted to question.
“About 85 per cent of our players had pink on the top of their boots. I had a conversation with Nahki Wells, who slipped four times in key areas.
“There’s a seasoned professional at
30. He’s unbelievably professional and just got it wrong on the day.
“It cost momentum, whether it be a finish we should have made or five or six fouls we gave away with a slip.
“Because we play Sunday, depending on results on the Saturday, we’ll probably know more about how important our game is.”
Meanwhile, Johnson has given his backing to keeper Dan Bentley after his disappointing afternoon at Rovers.
He said: “Bents didn’t have his best game against Blackburn but do I believe in Dan Bentley? Absolutely.
“I think he’ll go on and play Premier League football and potentially even get an England call-up.”