A Watford fan swings his fist at a steward after confronting players mid-game and Chris Wilder rants on the problems at his club.
The Hornets went ahead at home to Cardiff before going on to lose 3-1, and one disgruntled fan walked onto the pitch in the second half and calmly approached goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.
Before the stewards intervened, he was seen gesticulating at Watford players, and was led off the field.
With Watford 3-1 down at home to Cardiff this evening, a disgruntled fan decided to go onto the pitch to let the players know what he thought of his teams performance…
He even took a swing at a steward 🤣😭 pic.twitter.com/vTrOQnqO2z
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 19, 2023
When the steward stopped him from stepping over the advertisement board, the fan lashed out and came very close to hitting the steward.
The fan was taken off the field, but he continued to yell at the players.
Hertfordshire Police issued a statement to confirm an arrest. The statement read: “A man, 37 years old from St Albans, was arrested and is currently in police custody in relation to the incident.”
Watford are 12th in league standings after only one win in six matches.
But they’re under dark cloud with the owners previously confiscating banners which saw fans protest over the running of the club, including one banner which read “Pozzo Out”.
Listen to this interview from Wilder below…
This is a remarkable monologue from Chris Wilder on the deep-rooted problems at Watford. It’s rare to hear a manager speak so damningly of a team he’s still in charge of. pic.twitter.com/n5vL7600xp
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) April 20, 2023
After the Championship defeat to Cardiff, Chris Wilder made his feelings known in an astonishing rant.
“How did we get to 1-0 up? We played as a team. There it is, in a nutshell. Team,” he said, as per Watford Observer.
“I want to see a team. Supporters want to see a team. Geezer sat behind me, he wants to see a team. Everybody wants to see a team.
“I’ve just been talking to Dean Whitehead, one of their coaching staff. A lad I know really well, Oxford boy. He said at 1-0 up, they’re thinking how many.
“When we went 1-0 up, you might have seen I got a message on to Hamza and said ‘nobody changes the script, just do what we’re doing, keep doing it, keep moving the ball, keep opening them up and finding the spaces’.
“It could have been a good night for us. The atmosphere before was great. I know sometimes night games you don’t get always get the attendance, but the atmosphere at the start was good and relaxed, I think people enjoyed the start we made.
“And then all of a sudden, it just went off plan.
“Wherever I’ve been, where I am, wherever I go next, I try to build a team. I’ve never stopped individuals doing creative aspects for the team at the top of the pitch.
“Our goal summed that up. Fabulous ball from Imran, great knock-down by Davis, tap in for Sarr. Great team goal.
“Then all of a sudden everybody wants to flick it and do their own thing. People are playing out of position, hitting cross-field balls, and you lose your rhythm quickly.
“Basically, you say to the opposition ‘there you go, there’s an opportunity to get back into the game’. And they took it. We gave a daft free kick away and we can’t defend set pieces.
“Where we had the game after 15 minutes was absolutely perfect and everybody in the ground saw that. And, by the way, the opposition saw it too.
“But we just went ‘bop, over to you boys, you go and score three goals’.
“It’s regardless of shape or this and that – it’s about people doing their individual jobs and doing it for the team. The team is the star. The team is what people want to come and see.
“It happened against Wigan, it happened against Huddersfield, it happened against Coventry.
“We were absolutely cruising at 2-0 at Coventry and the punters start going ‘ole ole’ and I’m thinking ‘no please, no oles, I want us to get 3-0 up’.
“I want Ryan Porteous to head one straight back, I don’t want him to head it down.
“I don’t want one of my midfield players to go and play on the right wing, I don’t want my centre forward to go and get it off the centre halves. I want us to play as a team.
“Everybody at this football club, internally in terms of the staff, but most importantly the supporters, want to see a team.
“Manchester City have great players, but they play as a team. Grealish plays wide left, Silva plays wide right, Haaland scores thousands of goals. He gets the ball on his left peg last week, chips it to the back post and Silva scores. That’s a team goal.
“We know where we wanted the game and we know where they wanted the game. They wanted a bitty game, they want to break the game up. And they had the right to break the game up because they were 3-1 up.
“They don’t want a fast-flowing game, and yet even in the second half we’ve had three or four chances.
“They have three big centre halves and three midfield players. If I got a marker pen and drew a picture of three here and three here, it’s quite easy to say where the space is. But we tried to keep going through the middle and being individuals.
“Players haven’t got the courage to dig each other out, they’ve not got the courage to say ‘get off my toes and go and play in your position’, and that’s basically because they’re individuals.
“You can’t drop points against Wigan, Huddersfield, Coventry and Cardiff, and expect to be anywhere near the play-offs.
“The best team in the division have got great individuals, they’re not stopped from doing their individual stuff, but they work as a team.
“The second-best team is one I know really well, they’ve got some great individuals. The demand of those players and of each other, and of the supporters, and of the club, is we’ve got to play as a team.
“That’s why those two will go up, and the other teams – yet again, teams – are the ones who will be playing for something come the end of the season, while the individuals are sat on the beach.
“I don’t know what they’re going to be thinking. Don’t know if they care about anything else. They’ll just jet off and that’ll be it.”
After being questioned ‘is it time for others within the club to accept that, and that it’s time to rebuild?’, he replied: “The club has been great with me. I’ll be totally honest, there’s no interference. There has been a couple of discussions in terms of certain things that they wanted to do or I wanted to do, and they’ve let me do it.
“I have no criticism of the club in terms of affecting me or telling me to do this, that or the other.
“I’ve talked openly and honestly and I will do, in summary, to the owner and the sporting director at the end of the season. They will have my view on where the club is at.
“I played as kid, I played for 15 years. I like team sports. I didn’t take a golf club or a tennis racquet. I like golf, but I wanted to play in a team.
“I played in a team right the way through until I was 32, and then I’ve coached teams until I’m 55. In those two periods I’ve also watched a lot of football.
“I watched a documentary about Aston Villa the other night, when they won the league and the European Cup under Ron Saunders. A team. That team beat another team in Liverpool, they beat another team in Forest.
“So it’s not a new thing, this being a team. Man City and Liverpool, they’re teams. We know it’s the team, not the individuals and basically where it’s all at.
“It’s for other people to make those decisions on the direction of the club. I think you’ll understand when I do speak, I’ll speak openly and honestly like I have done to the players. Like I did at QPR, like I did at Luton, and like I did when we’ve done well.
“I talk openly and honestly to the players, I’m transparent. I’m the same with the media, and I’m the same with the people who have got the power at the football club.”
Interviewer: The 10-minute spell when they scored three goals was as bad as it gets, wasn’t it?
“Well, I’m not used to it,” Wilder replied.
“You go through bad periods in your career and you get criticism, but the level of it maybe represents the feelings at the moment.
“It’s tough and it’s not nice, but you have to own it and stand out there, try to get through it.
“Second half the game was theirs. It was bitty and niggly. I’ve got no issue with that as they’ve earned the right to do it.
“Well, they’ll say they’ve earned it. For me, it was totally self-inflicted, that 10 or 15 minutes.
“Tactically, the space was out wide but we had players playing all over the place in the second half.
“Forwards playing in the pitch, full-backs playing out the pitch. I felt sorry for the full-backs because they should have been playing in the pitch and the wingers should have been playing out the pitch as apparently that’s their game, taking people on and crossing it.
“When we did cross it we can’t get across the near post. It’s just basic football. And we still created three chances.
“They’ve had five chances and scored three goals. It’s not really been a smash and grab, it’s been a gift. Look at the decisions in that period. That 10 or 15 minutes epitomised the longer standing issues. It’s a club of individuals, isn’t it?”
Interviewer: What do you see in the players when you give them your honest feedback?
Wilder: “It’s quite difficult to analyse 20-odd players. Some might just be not bothered and underneath their breath saying ‘I’m not bothered – there’s no consequence for me as a player’.
“Some might care, they might take it on board.
“Some might not even know who I am. But I know who I am. I know what principles I’ve got and I know what I’ve achieved through being a team player and a team man.
“I’ll keep being that team man. I’ll sacrifice everything to be involved in the team.”
Many people say it’s time to throw the youngsters in, but it’s not really fair to throw young players in at the moment is it?
“Ryan Andrews has done great, and it was my decision to bring some fresh legs on. He’d been feeling a little bit of a tight hamstring at half time as well.
“But yeah, it’s difficult for young players. And he’s not at fault. He’s not part of it. I just hope he’s got a pathway through and something a bit different to what he’s having to experience even in this short period.
“I might chuck all the young players in. I mean, I can’t chuck them all in but I might do some. That’s a decision for the weekend.
“Whatever team we put out, there’s going to be senior pros in there.
“Tonight, it goes 1-1 and then 2-1 down, then 3-1 – how many really believed at half-time they could get back into it?
“There’s no hiding place out there. There’s no hiding place in front of supporters who are on top of you, and giving it to you. And rightly so.
“The game was done, and it’s not surprising we’ve not won two home games back-to-back. We’ve dropped points against Wigan and Huddersfield, we were 2-0 up at Coventry and then you’ve got tonight as well.”
Interviewer: What consequences do the players need to get them playing as a team?
Wilder: “There’s too many of them in that category I think. It’s quite difficult.
“I’m here to the end of the season and it’s a little bit deeper than maybe the last three games.
“If I was here on a two-year deal I wouldn’t need much. I’ve already seen signs of the weaknesses. I know from my experience what looks good.
“I’ve always got a plan in my head but I’m here to the end of the season.”
Interviewer: Is the club unmanageable at the moment?
Wilder: “I think it’s a struggle. I think six have had a go now recently. It’s a struggle and it’s been difficult for the supporters.
“Two relegations, a mid-table finish and the Covid season, where it was good.
“Maybe that season’s been underpinned by some really strong characters that maybe wouldn’t have allowed what has been happening out on the pitch to happen. The likes of Cleverley and Gosling.
“How big a part did Troy Deeney play in all that, keeping everything together?
“I don’t think it is unmanageable, but there are certain things that really have to change, in my opinion.
“Others might have different opinions and just say go again, because we’ve had success doing it the way they’re doing it.
“But you just get the feeling that maybe the supporters want to see a team. They want to see something built that maybe lasts for a little bit longer than a year.”
Interviewer: You and the supporters seem on the same page, but not the players that have been recruited?
Wilder: “I wasn’t here in terms of recruiting so the model is the model that the club use, and have relied on. So I’m not going to get involved in all that.
“Me being on the same page as the fans? I’m just a normal guy that sees a game of football and I know what I think the supporters want to see.
“I sympathise with them at the moment because they’re seeing it in bits but not enough. We can be inconsistent in 10 minutes.
“You’re never going to achieve anything if you’ve got complete inconsistency running through your team.”
Interviewer: You’ve talked about managing down and trying to sort out the team. What’s it like trying to manage up?
Wilder: “The owner has let me get on with it and I’ve got a group of players, and I’ll be giving a summary to the owner. I’ve spoke to the sporting director already.
“I’m not the king-maker, I’m not the decision maker on the future of the football club.
“From my point of view there will be a summary that goes into the sporting director and owner. They might just chuck it in the bin, or they might look at it and go ‘Yeah, there’s a couple of things there we can look to do’.”
This club has been through lots of decent managers, is it just going to continue on a downward spiral if they continue to not listen to what a lot of experienced managers say?
“There has been the model and there has been success with it. The owners might try and recreate that.
“I personally think the supporters want something a little bit deeper than maybe what’s happened.
“But you can’t get away from years in the Premier League, an FA Cup Final, and a lot of the supporters would have enjoyed those times.
“The owner has been good with me and offered me the opportunity of trying. We’ve tried. I’ve kicked every ball, I’ve headed every ball, and I’m as disappointed as I’ve ever been in the game.
“I’m here for a short period of time, but I think you can tell from my body language out on the pitch and where I am now – I’m not used to it, I don’t like it.
“We can all take defeat, we all understand it. But it’s been a different experience for me in terms of the attitude of what they think is a good player.
“I know what I’m looking at as a player, and that’s not saying it’s 6ft 4in centre halves who just head it and boot it away.
“But good players play in a structure and play for the team. There is no I in team. The star of the show and the club is the team.”
There was plenty of reaction as a Watford fan swings at a steward after confronting players while Chris Wilder rants on problems at the club…
ON THE FAN – STEWARD INCIDENT:
@jcw_72: Hope he enjoys the life ban 👍
@DeclanWelch: Nice 3 year ban just to walk nowhere near the player shout something they probs can’t hear and get 15 people applauding ya.
@HellholeIsland: Poor fella. Finally snapped 😂 I know it’s illegal and he deserves the incoming ban, but the owners don’t speak so I’d bloody love to ask the players why they are putting in so little effort.
@AdamDriscoll92: Hope they punished him and made him stay until the end.
@santan85: Absolute clown and most likely out of his tiny little mind on drink and drugs who thinks he’s some sort of hero when he’s a fucking embarrassment 🤡
@pattfurey: Not even funny, lads a goon, send him down for 6 month. Prick
@Bennett04A: Someone had to do it 👏👏
@SH20CPFC: Most passion they’ve probably seen on that pitch in a long time. He’s probably looking forward to the ban tbh.
@MGallIBF: Had his wee moment, got the applause from the crowd for venting at the players. Fair enough. But to then swing a punch at the poor steward literally trying to do his job? Enjoy your ban ya prick 🖕🏻
@Matt_Walker96: And made sure to slow right down so he didn’t get anywhere near any of the players
@JamesWard26: What a wanker
@HornetLoyal: Fucking legend. #watfordfc
@adam_dilley4: Clubs finished
@SFC_Copey: Who does he think he is? 😂😂😂😂 mid table in the championship is literally watfords level
@abers1: Shame these cunts didn’t put up this much of a fight when they gave their club away.
ON CHRIS WILDER’S RANT:
@watfordfocus: Thanks Chris, but he’s not the one I want to hear from. I want to ask questions of these players – one by one – so they can give their legitimate reasons for their lack of effort or interest. Admin, please look in your address book on Microsoft Outlook and forward my comment.
@HornWendover: Get this guy appointed now and let him do what he needs to do – he’s got it. Well said Chris Wilder.
@AntEvans1: Should never have sacked Billic, he was bringing through some Youngsters, and apart from Andrews, they are nowhere to be seen. Tobi should be on the bench if Britt is out. Sacking Manager after Manager is not the solution, and Some players tonight already know they are sold.
@Richardsh16: Can you ask Chris for his honest opinion on stewards in stands spying on supporters and noting anyone daring to say anything against the owners- club has become a disgrace to the legacy of GT #watfordfc
@HornetHampshire: Will #pozzoout and Duxbury take on board this honest assesment and the other honest assments he’s given and realise they’ve gone full circle with Watford leaving us far worse of financially than when they bought us
@LutonTownExile: Park the W*tford stuff for a minute. This is a fascinating listen.
@JackoWFC_: He won’t stay next season but I wish he would. We were a different team for the first 15 mins tonight, best football I’ve seen us play for fucking ages. I love that he says it how it is and there was such a drastic change in play from the first 15 onwards.
@Richwfc2: Absolutely damning, the most condemnation I have ever heard my team in 40 plus years of supporting get coming from the coach, And he is 100% correct thanks Chris & fair play. All on Duxbury & Pozzo they have created this culture it’s time to step up watford fans this is our club
@Leetaylor1983lt: Michael carrick has proven with virtually the same players at his disposal that man management is key. I was a fan of the wilder appointment at boro until he started throwing his players under the bus and then I realised what a fraud he was.
@S10Blade: Wilder was the only manager, in my 55 years of supporting SUFC, that I was sorry to see get the bullet. Why? Because under his tenure, I saw us play football that I thought was impossible to deliver on a limited budget, and it was a joy to watch every week.
@HellholeIsland: Calling the clowns out again? Why bother, it doesn’t work. #PozzoOut
@FinlandHornet: Chris Wilder IN 👏
@dilemma1979: Ranieri, Hodgson, Edwards, Bilic weren’t the problem
@tbal1073: Well said Chris. The current playing staff barring a few exceptions are a disgrace to the club and it’s supporters.
@WDC1969: Same excuse churned out again. Did it at Boro. Its not his fault its the players. You know what a real manager does, he tries to work his plan but if players not able to execute it they change plan to suit. Wilder has Plan A and when that doesnt work chuck defenders forward
@CroxleyGreeen: Absolutely damning. Good on him. At least he’s got the balls to call it.
@Bladesman_Life: To be fair you’ve had plenty of managers to hat haven’t got a tune either , not saying he’s not to blame but that squad needs to take some of it too .
@DaveBayliss1: How about some “open and honest” assessment from the chairman or owner? They are killing our club and their recent treatment and attitude towards lifelong #watfordfc fans is a disgrace.
@mev202: 11 individual players who don’t care about the 1000’s who turn up game after game, spending a fortune, to watch a performance the team should be embarrassed at. Never seen anything like it. And no one knows how to finish and hit the net. It’s pitiful. There are no easy solutions.
@RichieMac69: I know a lot of sheffielders from both sides of the divide aren’t too keen on this man but I find it so refreshing to hear it said as it should be without all the smoke and mirrors
@WFCAidan: “Are we good as individuals? No. Are we good as a team? No.” Wilder knows as much as we do that the club and the squad is rotten, and I’m glad that he’s not afraid to say it. Sadly his brutal comments pretty much ensure he won’t be in charge next season. #watfordfc
@BradleyHayden11: I’ve got so much time for Chris Wilder and found myself agreeing with everything he said here. For me, if #WatfordFC want to get things right, they should send a message right now by giving him the job and letting him work with Manga to rebuild this side.
@gazbod: Wow. This is pretty inflammatory yet utterly ho eat stuff. The problem is when you constantly sack managers, the players get into a mi feet where they’ve got to impress the next guy, hence the rank individualism
@tomhutchgray: Chris has absolutely hit the nail on the head. A bunch of individuals who aren’t actually that good
@unhippyman: This is quite remarkable. I’ve never heard such an eloquent dismantling of a group of players by their manager. Honest and passionate. Everything my club needs more of. Starting from the top
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