YOU could stick to the same old script really, 'Watford must pick up three-points to have any hopes of making the play-offs.'

Unfortunately, the players ballsed-up any chances of getting back in with the big boys a long time ago and Saturday's match with Crewe, frankly, does little for me.

At least the Hornets showed a little bit of flair and determination against Norwich and have more than enough to see off Crewe. But wait I hear you cry, 'what about Dean Ashton and Rob Hulse? young talents....electric pace....targeted by the Premiership....Crewe conveyor belt... Dario Gradi' and on, and on, and on.

This sort of thing doesn't inspire people. You go down to Crewe on a Saturday and ask the fans if they're happy producing the young talent and scrapping around the lower echelons of the division, and that's it, ever. Don't get me wrong, I think Crewe have done fantastically well to hang around and for a small club, and more than punch their weight.

The same applies to Watford. Were we not linked with the likes of Di Canio and Wise at the start of the season and we've just brought in some geezer called Mahon. It's like arriving at an awards ceremony in a limousine but leaving empty-handed in a battered old Robin Reliant.

We've got quality youngsters, Tommy Smith, Lee Cook and Anthony McNamee who I think is going to be a huge star. However, Watford are a big club and the fans shouldn't be happy with scraping promotion only to drop straight back into the Nationwide. Fair play to Luca, at least the club's trying to progress and after bigger things.

Three-nil Watford, time for the Hornets to show they belong to the men, not the boys.

March 1, 2002 12:30