Watford legend Graham Taylor's plea to fans
8:46pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in
Watford legend Graham Taylor has called on the Vicarage Road crowd to get behind their side as they attempt to climb away from the relegation zone.
The Hornets are 19th in the Championship with 13 games to go, although they do have at least one game in hand on most the teams around them.
Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat to Swansea City ended with sections of the Vicarage Road crowd booing the players off the pitch but Taylor has pleaded with the fans to “remember we are all in it together.”
Taylor said: “On the pitch, results haven’t been as we’d like away from home and of course the last two home results against good teams wasn’t what we needed, but we all must stick together. It is easier to support a winning team, but in times of adversity it’s a question of sticking together.
“Footballers are part of the human race and respond the same as we all do to criticism and encouragement. In life people usually react to encouragement better than criticism and footballers are no different.
“During the games the crowd can feed off the team and vice-versa, I believe that’s the case at Watford, we’re all in this together, whether that be good or bad. We all have to stick together – we have some good young players, some of whom are on loan, but when that team is put together you have a group who desperately want to win.
“I have been in football all of my life and I know that when things go wrong you have to react positively. It is so important that players feel appreciated and valued.
“People who can let the players know their feelings are of course the supporters. At Watford I do think the crowd can motivate the team, especially when they see a moment of magic or sheer hard work on the pitch. Our team needs our support for all 90 minutes at the moment so I would ask those groups in The Rookery Stand to be vocal from the off and get the rest of the ground going.
“We are doing everything we can to support the team. The off-the-pitch problems have to be addressed and we are doing that and I’m playing my part as Chairman of the Football Club, but the importance right now is out there on the park.
“Please give the team everything you’ve got. Remember we are all in it together.”
Comments(23)
Hornofplenty
says...
9:17pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
9:24pm Thu 11 Mar 10
cliff46
says...
9:27pm Thu 11 Mar 10
I am confident we will stay up although Peterbro will be a difficult game as they will inevitably pack midfield and our pitch will make things hard for us.
No doubt daft Rick will be on here shortly with his usual brand of destructive nonesense.
Prof Plum
says...
9:38pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
9:50pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Prof Plum wrote:Why not go one step further and call him a turnip?
Altogether now: "Lord Ashcroft of Belize's Mackay-made army" ... or maybe not. Stick to your day job (with the BBC, Channel Five etc), Graham.
Prof Plum
says...
10:04pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:Such statements will be seen as grossly patronising by all but the most dim-witted supporters, given that the chairman rarely attends matches. Sadly the huge well of good will towards Taylor will run dry quite quickly if he continues to allow his reputation to be used as a clumsy WFC plc marketing tool.
Prof Plum wrote:Why not go one step further and call him a turnip?
Altogether now: "Lord Ashcroft of Belize's Mackay-made army" ... or maybe not. Stick to your day job (with the BBC, Channel Five etc), Graham.
KylieMinogue
says...
10:05pm Thu 11 Mar 10
I expect you to run and run and run and run for 90 minutes, chase every ball and get in to every tackle! - lets stop wrapping these poor overpaid dears in cotton wool!
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
10:09pm Thu 11 Mar 10
KylieMinogue wrote:So, you are just going to ignore the wisdom of a former England manager then?
I'd like to think professional football players and their huge wages would think twice before letting their personal feelings affect their performances. I expect you to run and run and run and run for 90 minutes, chase every ball and get in to every tackle! - lets stop wrapping these poor overpaid dears in cotton wool!
mmmm, interesting.
Surrey Hornet
says...
10:45pm Thu 11 Mar 10
KylieMinogue
says...
10:55pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:He's aired his opinion, I'm airing mine.
KylieMinogue wrote:So, you are just going to ignore the wisdom of a former England manager then?
I'd like to think professional football players and their huge wages would think twice before letting their personal feelings affect their performances. I expect you to run and run and run and run for 90 minutes, chase every ball and get in to every tackle! - lets stop wrapping these poor overpaid dears in cotton wool!
mmmm, interesting.
QUINNPT
says...
10:55pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Also GT has always stated he would not be at every game due to his other commitments...Why should he?
Do all of us attend every single game....No so get real!!!
haversham hornet
says...
11:24pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Only 2 Ross Jenkins
says...
11:26pm Thu 11 Mar 10
KylieMinogue wrote:Graham Taylor, ex England football manager.
Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:He's aired his opinion, I'm airing mine.KylieMinogue wrote: I'd like to think professional football players and their huge wages would think twice before letting their personal feelings affect their performances. I expect you to run and run and run and run for 90 minutes, chase every ball and get in to every tackle! - lets stop wrapping these poor overpaid dears in cotton wool!So, you are just going to ignore the wisdom of a former England manager then? mmmm, interesting.
Kylie Minogue, 5ft diva
JIP10
says...
8:17am Fri 12 Mar 10
haversham hornet wrote:Well said!! Some fans might as well stay at home and cheer on the team, i'm a die hard fan like Haversham hornet but i will never boo my team know matter how bad they play. they need lifting and we are the fans to provide that positive cheering for them. YELLOW ARMY, YELLOW ARMY
I was there in the Rookery on Tuesday together with a small band of young and more muture fans.. and we made some noise, what astounds me is how people pay for tickets, turn up, and only show any excitement if we score or the ref gives a crap decission... Come on everyone its about time we really acted as the 12th man and pulled together.. "I'm Watfield til i die"
imuz
says...
9:00am Fri 12 Mar 10
worthing_hornet
says...
10:35am Fri 12 Mar 10
On the Ball
says...
12:49pm Fri 12 Mar 10
On the Ball
says...
12:55pm Fri 12 Mar 10
On the Ball wrote:sorry harley switching to left back
Whilst i agree with GT the reason the crowd was not getting behind the team on tuesday was due to the poor decisions of MM and his lack of imagination and knowhow. Come saturday i'm sure the crowd will get behind the team but MM must change a few things to show to the players that their current form is not acceptable and showing them they have to fight for their places in the team rather than just go through the motions as they know they won't get subbed until 10 minutes to go no matter how they are performing. Hoskins in for Graham , Cleverley in for Doyley with harley switching to right back and hodson in for Marriapa. Buckley on the bench
Chris the Vic
says...
1:05pm Fri 12 Mar 10
When Darius played for us he gave 110% however unsuccessful he was in the premier.
I look at the present team and think our two loanees give everything, coupled regretably with the odd rash tackle. However there are players out there who dont get stuck in and I admit to finding it difficult to support them when they hide.
Whilst taylor is a rare attender, he told us he would be, but maybe he and Malky need to address certain overpaid players over their lack of determination before telling us to be more vocal.
However I will be extra noisy on Saturday and even more supportive.
Richard - Come On You Golden Boys!
says...
2:10pm Fri 12 Mar 10
foreverorns
says...
5:34pm Fri 12 Mar 10
rousman 2
says...
8:54pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Richard - Come On You Golden Boys! wrote:well said mate some of our so called supporters only seem happy when things are not going so well.
I simply cannot understand why any true Watford supporter would respond negatively to this report from a man who cares very deeplyu about the club. Different opinions we may have, but come 3.00 pm we must all get behind the team and the manager. This should not be an item for discussion, it is what supporters are supposed to do. (Support!)
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Watford legend Graham Taylor's plea to fans. Picture: Action Images
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WFC4ever says...
9:04pm Thu 11 Mar 10
What we do want to see is some effort and the players looking like they are caring and fighting to stay up.
For example performances as per 2nd half v Swansea won't help the fans become supportive but I am sure if the team does perform there will be a better atmosphere.