Monthly Archives: May 2025

13th May 2025- Paulo Pezzolano is appointed Watford Head Coach.

BBC: Pezzolano appointed Watford head coach

Guardian: Watford appoint Paulo Pezzolano as 18th permanent manager since 2013

Watford Observer: Watford appoint Uruguayan Pezzolano as their new head coach

Who is Watford’s new head coach, Paulo Pezzolano?

‘It is his work on the training ground that impressed the most’

6th May 2025- Tom Cleverley is sacked as Watford Head Coach

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Tom Cleverley after the team failed to reach the Championship play-offs.

Sky: Though Cleverley’s dismissal represents Watford’s 10th sacking in the last five years, he leaves as the third-longest-serving manager since Gino Pozzo took over as owner in 2012.

Guardian: The sporting director, Gian Luca Nani, said: “We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as head coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff.

Watford Observer: Tom Cleverley sacked as Watford head coach

Blissett brands Cleverley sacking ‘a total and utter farce’

RECAP: reaction as Watford sack Tom Cleverley

Sorrow, sympathy and support – but sadly nothing Watford do shocks us anymore

‘Could this be the sacking that tips people over the edge?’

From the Rookery End: DCW was joined by Mike and Jas to discuss Gino Pozzo’s decision to sack one of the most popular Head Coaches in recent Watford history. The trio try to make sense of the decision, and in doing so question what future Watford can hope to have under the leadership of Pozzo, Duxbury and Nani.

The following day the club released a statement from Gino Pozzo

BBC: Gino Pozzo: The man behind Watford’s manager churn

Watford Observer: Pozzo: ‘We believe we made correct decision for the good of the football club’

New name comes from nowhere to be bookies’ favourite for Watford job

‘94 per cent’ of Watford fans disagree with Cleverley sacking

3rd May 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

BBC: Moussa Sissoko’s fine equaliser ended Watford’s run of four consecutive defeats as they finished their season with a draw against Sheffield Wednesday, who clung on for point to stay above their hosts.

Sky: Josh Windass gave the Owls a 29th-minute lead but Moussa Sissoko replied in first-half added time to ensure a stalemate in a game between two teams with little left to play for.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Five talking points as Watford end season with draw

Watford 1 Sheff Wed 1 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley pleased to end with positive performance if not result

‘Football is about feeling a part of something and I certainly do here’

Season summed up on final day amid extended glimpse into possible bleak future

BHappy: We bossed the second period, without creating much in the way of clear cut chances. For that, again, Wednesday get some credit… there was a degree of them losing their heads; Valéry and Otegbayo were rattled, Gassama spent most of the game sitting on the turf sulking as the action flowed indifferently around him. Nonetheless, they kept us at arm’s length… our one clear opening coming when Doumbia worked himself through only to be denied in a game of wink murder by Wednesday’s outstanding player, goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a spirited second half and the Hornets were unlucky not to come away with all three points. The draw meant that Wednesday took 12th place, and we finished in 14th. It was a bit of a disappointment that we didn’t manage a top half finish but, given that we were predicted to have a relegation struggle, it wasn’t a bad season. We finished a place and a point better than last season, mostly due to the tremendous start that we had. But it is testament to the wonderful job that Tom Cleverley did that we were never in a relegation battle.

From the Rookery End: Watford’s 2024–2025 Season Ends with a 1–1 Draw Against Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town were relegated, and we marked a major milestone with a 15th birthday party for the podcast!