Do Not Scratch Your Eyes

Watford go into the international break after a 1–0 defeat at Bristol City and another evening that exposed just how stretched the squad has become. Players are filling unfamiliar positions, others are still searching for fitness, and callers largely sympathise with Alessio Dionisi as he tries to assemble a functioning side from increasingly limited options. There were glimpses from Amin Nabizada and confident ball handling from Federico Ravaglia, but precious little attacking threat. Much of the discussion inevitably turns to the size and shape of the squad and whether three weeks without a game can really solve problems that run deeper than the injury list. Even if players return, callers question whether the squad has enough depth for the Championship schedule ahead. Amid the frustration comes the very sad news of the death of former Watford goalkeeper Kevin Miller at just 57 — remembered not only as an outstanding goalkeeper and twice Player of the Season, but by those who knew and met him as a genuinely lovely man. And perhaps that puts a miserable Friday night into some perspective. We finish by looking towards the Taylor Trek and the work of the Watford Community Sports & Education Trust — from mental-health programmes to supporting people living with dementia. Results, owners and players come and go, but the community Graham Taylor and Elton John helped build remains. On a night when there wasn’t much joy in the football, it was a timely reminder of the parts of Watford Football Club that really matter. COYH!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watford head to Bristol City after a Stoke performance where the hospitality was excellent, the company delightful and unfortunately somebody eventually produced a football. We revisit Amin Nabizada’s latest ridiculous finish, a midfield currently available in travel size only, and the continuing debate over what constitutes criticism, analysis or simply shouting at a screen while repeatedly asking why nobody has tracked the runner. Then old friend Dave interrupts his Ibiza holiday — without either clarinet or trumpet, mercifully denying the Balearics an international incident — to explain a rather more optimistic Bristol City. There’s Michael Skubala, increased investment, 11 new signings, a three-year project and actual squad depth. Essentially, Dave describes several concepts Watford supporters may wish to Google before listening. Finally, the Completely Rubbish Prediction League reaches territory even we hadn’t anticipated. Religion becomes involved. Then breasts. Dice Dons seek divine assistance, the Gods of Backgammon abandon conventional statistical modelling altogether, ChatGPT is forced to investigate human nipple-to-breast ratios, and listeners are invited to rescue the entire enterprise by writing to DNSYE Towers, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD0 DEAR. Football predictions may also occur. COYH!! This Podcast has been created and uploaded by Do Not Scratch Your Eyes. Huge thanks to all our Patreons: Chris Giannone, RichWFC2, Steve Holliman, Paul Fiander Turner, Sean Gourley, Lee Anselmo, John Parslow, Mark von Herkomer, Neil Silverstein, Steve Brown, Dave Lavender, Kasey Brown, Nipper Harrison, Boyd Mayover, Colin Payne, Paul Riley, Gary Wood, Karl Campion, Kevin Cremen, The Big Le – Bofski, Greg Theaker, Malcolm Williams, Peter Ryan, John Thekanady - Ambassador of Dubai!! Jack Foster, Jason Rose, Michael Abrahams, Ian Bacon, Ken Green, Nick Nieuwland, Colin Smith Ant!!!!! Westlie Wheeler, Stephen Atkinson, John Myers, Ryan D! Dave Mullins, James McNamara, Jim Cuthbert, Peter Birch, John Myers, Richard Pyne, Vydra Deeney!!! &PDF!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watford lose 2–1 at home to Stoke in a game where the scoreline does the performance considerably more favours than Watford managed to do themselves. We discuss being comprehensively outplayed in midfield, a side already looking worryingly leggy, players being asked to play through problems, and a substitutes’ bench featuring two goalkeepers, two right-backs and precious little ability to change what was happening in front of us. Stoke, meanwhile, rather inconveniently demonstrated what midfield depth, movement and Championship know-how actually look like. There is, however, one glorious little shard of sunshine poking through an otherwise fairly industrial-sized cloud: Amin Nabizada. The academy youngster comes off the bench and belts in a fabulous consolation goal — his third of the season — providing approximately 97% of the afternoon’s available joy. We ask whether he should now be starting, where the other youngsters have disappeared to, and whether Alessio Dionisi can reasonably be expected to keep squeezing performances from a squad currently held together with cotton wool and crossed fingers. Callers range from despondent to extremely despondent as attention inevitably turns towards the ownership, recruitment and the increasingly mythical prospect of everyone becoming fit after the international break. There’s praise for Dionisi, admiration for Stoke, some free-agent shopping, an unexpectedly detailed discussion about the relative size of Watford players’ heads, and the discovery that losing 2–1 can apparently constitute a flattering scoreline. Other than that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the play? COYH!! This Podcast has been created and uploaded by Do Not Scratch Your Eyes. Huge thanks to all our Patreons: Chris Giannone, RichWFC2, Steve Holliman, Paul Fiander Turner, Sean Gourley, Lee Anselmo, John Parslow, Mark von Herkomer, Neil Silverstein, Steve Brown, Dave Lavender, Kasey Brown, Nipper Harrison, Boyd Mayover, Colin Payne, Paul Riley, Gary Wood, Karl Campion, Kevin Cremen, The Big Le – Bofski, Greg Theaker, Malcolm Williams, Peter Ryan, John Thekanady - Ambassador of Dubai!! Jack Foster, Jason Rose, Michael Abrahams, Ian Bacon, Ken Green, Nick Nieuwland, Colin Smith Ant!!!!! Westlie Wheeler, Stephen Atkinson, John Myers, Ryan D! Dave Mullins, James McNamara, Jim Cuthbert, Peter Birch, John Myers, Richard Pyne, Vydra Deeney!!! &PDF!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watford somehow turn a first half described variously as “dog shit”, “abject” and “turgid” into a 2–1 win over Preston. We discuss a victory apparently retrieved from several feet inside the jaws of defeat, an enormous intervention from Federico Ravaglia and whether Alessio Dionisi’s greatest achievement was changing the game — or simply surviving the opening 45 minutes without setting fire to his tactics board. Then the cavalry arrive. Mamadou Doumbia finally gets his reward, Mavadidi and Maammaa add some much-needed attacking intent, and Iker Bravo produces the sort of performance that causes perfectly rational football supporters to become extremely irrational indeed - bordering on weepy. We ask whether we spend too much time worrying about the starting XI rather than the finishing XI, while continuing the slightly inconvenient debate about squad depth, injuries and having two goalkeepers on an eight-man bench. Finally, callers make their way home through an increasingly detailed tour of Britain’s motorway networkv& Football Manager produces Watford’s first major trophy before inevitably sacking the bloke who won it. Three points, a manager prepared to roll the dice and, for once, Watford beating the team everyone expected them to help back into form. What is this, some kind of sorcery? COYH!! This Podcast has been created and uploaded by Do Not Scratch Your Eyes. Huge thanks to all our Patreons: Chris Giannone, RichWFC2, Steve Holliman, Paul Fiander Turner, Sean Gourley, Lee Anselmo, John Parslow, Mark von Herkomer, Neil Silverstein, Steve Brown, Dave Lavender, Kasey Brown, Nipper Harrison, Boyd Mayover, Colin Payne, Paul Riley, Gary Wood, Karl Campion, Kevin Cremen, The Big Le – Bofski, Greg Theaker, Malcolm Williams, Peter Ryan, John Thekanady - Ambassador of Dubai!! Jack Foster, Jason Rose, Michael Abrahams, Ian Bacon, Ken Green, Nick Nieuwland, Colin Smith Ant!!!!! Westlie Wheeler, Stephen Atkinson, John Myers, Ryan D! Dave Mullins, James McNamara, Jim Cuthbert, Peter Birch, John Myers, Richard Pyne, Vydra Deeney!!! &PDF!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watford welcome Stoke with the season already threatening to turn from a run into a trend and a trend into a crisis — which at Watford traditionally takes about half an hour. We look back at the late-window recruitment, an injury list doing its best impression of a subscription service, and a manager apparently squeezing rather more from the squad than the squad-building process deserves.Then it’s over to old friend Tunnie from Every Step Along The Way, with Stoke having started badly before discovering the novel concept of winning football matches. We discuss their midfield overhaul, George Hurst, Ethan Galbraith, the wonderfully named Luca Bombino, Nathan Jones being Nathan Jones, and an away kit inspired by the Spitfire which may either celebrate local heritage or simply render half the Stoke team invisible.Finally, the Completely Rubbish Prediction League descends into open civil war. Dice Dons have emerged as the Phoenix club, the Gods of Backgammon are furious, dice are suddenly being eschewed in favour of gardening gloves, mushrooms and agricultural equipment, and accusations begin flying before anybody has actually achieved anything. AFC Wimbledon versus MK Dons had nothing on this! COYH!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices