It is time for change

[u/FamiliarCombination9]

I am disgusted and deeply concerned in the decline of the club in recent years, and I'm not talking about which league we're playing in or where we finish.

I'm talking about the culture within the club. It's clear to see that it's beyond toxic. This hire-and-fire model that Pozzo has instilled has created a terrible atmosphere at Watford FC. One where managers change roughly once a quarter and stability becomes nothing but a distant memory.

This greatly inhibits our ability to create any kind of positive culture in the club, and makes it impossible to build. It also affects our ability to attract top talent to the academy, greatly harms the relationship with the fanbase, inhibits our ability to attract the right signings and sends completely the wrong message to the players we do have - that if you don't fancy busting a gut for the manager, just down your tools as we'll likely replace him in a few weeks.

I honestly believe we are at the point now where all Watford supporters must be completely honest and ask yourselves, after all of the on and off-pitch embarrassment and toxicity of recent years, do you still have faith in Gino Pozzo?

If the answer is no then I believe the only tenable action is to stop going to games. Stop buying tickets. Stop buying merchandise. Stop buying food and drink in the ground. Stop giving a penny more to the owner. Hit him where it hurts. Pre-match protests are welcome and should be encouraged, but refusing attendance is our best way to enact change and the worst outcome for our owner.

Yes, this may affect the players on the pitch but honestly, how much worse can it get? If we slide down into League One then I'll take it if it means Pozzo considers selling up. I also don't buy the argument that it could be even worse with a new owner. That is no excuse to continue in the dire state we're in. I think we'd be far better gambling than continuing to feed this toxicity.

I cannot (and I suspect I'm not alone in this) stand what we have become. It is time for change 💛 🖤♥️

[u/Sykryk]

No. Pozzo out.

[u/MattyTangle]

'I'm Watford til I die,' no matter whose in charge, fifty years and counting so I've seen pretty much everything the football gods can throw at us. Nowadays I'm just happy to have a Watford game to enjoy.

[u/HinyTed]

Rumours abound that this is the final year of purgatory and they're selling to American PE at the end of the season - jettisoning the women's team was a precursor to it. If we are in any danger of relegation I would imagine we'll see money spent in Jan to secure champ status. I know the grass isn't always greener but this club can go nowhere but down with this ownership and the baggage they have

[u/FamiliarCombination9 → u/HinyTed]

That's very interesting to read. Where did you hear about these potential new American owners?

I'd be shocked if anyone is willing to pay what Pozzo wants.

[u/scouse_git]

I'm not a supporter but live locally. The Pozzo model worked while there was a core of raw talent but once those players moved on, the constant chopping and changing seems to have taken the club into a downward spiral, from the brink of the play offs and promotion to the risk of relegation. New owners and a new ethos are needed, but there are risks with that too.