Magpies ARE a bigger club than Watford

A LITTLE while back I unleashed a Hornets nest down south when I labelled Watford among top-flight football’s pygmy clubs.

Oh, I know. I know. As Arsene Wenger once said, everyone thinks they have the most beautiful wife at home.

Those who faithfully support Watford will point out as Newcastle prepare to play them today the home club has remained in the Premier League during the last two years while Newcastle have been relegated and had to bounce back.

Sure, true enough - but that only underlines the fact United have been badly run while Watford have not.

It does not change the stature of either club. United have 50,000 followers and Watford have not.

United have history having won the top-flight championship four times, the FA Cup six times and the European Fairs Cup once.

Watford on the other hand are one of the oldest clubs to never have won a major trophy, although they have gained many commendable promotions.

Of course, the Watford gap currently is three points. That is how many more United have than them despite a season of relentless fight to avoid relegation. Three points and three places.

In my Friday column I labelled the match at Vicarage Road as “huge” to United and it is but only because they must not end the season with a whimper and a string of no-win games - and this encounter offers them the best opportunity to gain a victory with Spurs and Chelsea to come.

I actually admire Watford because they punch above their weight and do it splendidly. I love the fact their supporters back them because they were born to do it, not wishing to become part of the prawn sandwich brigade who jump on a successful bandwagon at the likes of Man U.

However, we all have to know our place. Watford are who they are while United are not Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich – or Manchester City!

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