Category Archives: Aidy Boothroyd

1st November 2008- Championship, Watford 3 Blackpool 4

Aidy Boothroyd’s final programme notes

Blackpool equalised three times before Alan Gow’s last-gasp winner.

Will Hoskins, Grzegorz Rasiak and Tommy Smith from the penalty spot all put Watford in front at various stages of a thrilling game.

Of all the decent players that have left the club over the past few years, the one you’d have back quickest – with the possible exception of Ben Foster – and with a few fewer miles on the clock, would be Malky Mackay.  Which begs the question… how can a defence that is being “coached” by Mackay look as utterly, comprehensively, incapable of doing the job?

Watford have appointed reserve-team coach Malky Mackay as caretaker manager following the departure of Adrian Boothroyd last night. Mackay will be assisted by first-team coach Martin Hunter while the club search for a suitable replacement for Boothroyd.

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=35051&id=4831

25th October 2008- Championship, Watford 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

Michael Gray’s winner settled an enthralling clash at Watford and maintained Wolves’ promotion push.

Not for the first time since August, it’s tempting to look at the stark contrasts between this season and last. Expectations dramatically lower, certainly. Sixth from bottom after this game, as opposed to sixth from top in May. By and large, playing our better stuff – and certainly picking up more points – at home; our away record was a proud thing last season, but merely loitered in the back of the mind of those who didn’t get to many away games.

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=33699&id=4829

21st October 2008- Championship, Watford 2 Cardiff City 2

Jay Bothroyd tripled his goal tally for the season to rescue a point for Cardiff away to 10-man Watford.

The Hornets stormed into a two goal lead thanks to efforts from John-Joe O’Toole and Will Hoskins, before Tamas Priskin was sent off for violent conduct.

Let’s get it out of the way, then: Tamas, you’re a blithering idiot. Just at the point where you’d started to think that, with Will Hoskins guiding the midfield into the opposition’s vulnerable areas quite brilliantly, we could really do some damage on the break as Cardiff pressed forward. Just at the point where you’ve scored a couple of goals and given your Watford career some desperately-needed momentum. Just at the point where your rival is returning from injury. You have blancmange for brains, sir.

http://watford.fcdb.info?s=32572&id=4828

4th October 2008- Championship, Watford 2 Preston North End 1

Watford came back from a goal down to earn a win over Preston thanks to Tommy Smith’s 50th goal for the club.

A quite ridiculously open game of football that looked like delivering many more goals at each end. Due in no small part to our formation – going 4-4-2 without John Eustace in midfield was always going to be a high risk strategy. We had enough to make it pay off; all six of our “attacking” players had good afternoons.