Reading the vast amount of press given over to the blatherings of various
Watford players and management a couple of things really stand out
1. Boothroyd's assertion that he knows Blackwell 'inside out'
2. Boothroyd's assertion that he 'knows which corner Bruce, our sadly
departed physio would be standing in'
3. Marlon King's suggestion that Boothroyd is a much deeper thinker than
Blackwell and much more thorough in his preparation
4. Boothroyd's unsubtle hints that Blackwell doesn't handle pressure ("I've
seen Blackwell under pressure")
I ask myself - why all this attention on our manager?
There are three possible answers - the first, long since espoused by Rich
Walker and co is that Blackwell really is a clueless berk who folds under
pressure, is unpopular with the staff and predictable in his tactics.
The second is that Boothroyd himself is a clueless berk who really believes
that working with Blackwell for a mere eight months overseeing a totally
different team gives him the inside track.
The third is that Boothroyd is trying to drive a wedge between the crowd,
the players and the manager - he wouldn't be the first opponent to work out
that our crowd can be turned against the team.
Of these three possibilities, I don't seriously think the first is a
contender - the table doesn't lie, the tactics both on and off the pitch
against Preston were spot on and notwithstanding Rich Walker's reservations
I'm reasonably happy that Blackwell has overachieved this year - luck really
does even itself out.
The second is the one I hope is true, but somehow doubt it - if Boothroyd
really is that naive then we can be assured of an easy ride today.
The third, I suspect is the most accurate - we will have more than double
their support - so the exra man principal must worry them - how to turn that
support against the team?
Maybe I'm just letting my nerves show - we'll see come 5 o'clock.
COME ON LEEDS
Chris Wright
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