Dunny’s Hairdryer
IF you want an insight into the shambles that was Watford Football Club last season, seek out Dan Gosling’s thoughts on the matter.
OK, Gosling is embittered after being frozen out for large parts of the ill-fated campaign, but his frankness – in an interview with the Watford Observer – is refreshing, if completely disheartening for Hornets fans.
He talks about an influx of players under Xisco Munoz, who did not seem overly concerned about the club’s fortunes.
“They signed Tufan from a Turkish club,” says Gosling. “He wasn’t bothered and he wasn’t that fit, either.”
Munoz went the way of all Watford managers and in came Claudio Ranieri.
“That time with Ranieri was just
really unenjoyable,” recalled Gosling. “The whole thing was just miserable. They were miserable and it made it miserable. I am surprised they lasted four months, to be honest.”
And on to Roy Hodgson.
“Roy and Ray [Lewington] gave it a good go at the start, but, after a while, they seemed to give up as well,” said Gosling. “When you see that, what chance have you got?” What chance, indeed?
Gosling speaks highly of new manager Rob Edwards and, again, he would, wouldn’t he?
Gosling has got a chance to make himself a key part of the team.
But his analysis of last season might serve as a final reminder to the Watford ownership that this hire-and-fire rigmarole really is not the best way to run a football club.
Not if you want it to be a happy one, anyway.