Do Not Scratch Your Eyes

It's the Norwich City preview, and Peter welcomes back our good friend Adam from The Pink ’Un to find out why things haven't quite gone according to plan at Carrow Road. Philippe Clement restored optimism last season, but a difficult start has brought familiar questions about recruitment, ownership and the relationship between club and supporters. All sounds rather familiar, doesn't it?

We look at Norwich's summer business, including Andre Brooks and Sam Field, and examine their attacking options ahead of Saturday's encounter. There's an injury problem up front, some encouraging signs elsewhere and a welcome return in midfield that Peter would frankly rather hadn't happened. We also pay tribute to the recently retired Teemu Pukki, a Norwich legend whose achievements provide a rather pointed contrast with another former Canary striker.

Back in the DNSYE studio, Peter, Justin and Carl attempt to make sense of Watford's performance at Wolves, the continuing uncertainty surrounding Andrea Dionisi and whether changing the manager would actually change very much at all. We discuss the balance of the squad, the apparent absence of player development and the increasingly worrying fixtures ahead. There are also some observations about Danish football, bouncy castles and the aerodynamic shortcomings of certain Watford players.

Finally, the Completely Rubbish Prediction League returns, featuring a remarkably convincing Daniel Farke impression from Brett, a Halloween-themed visit to the the Dice Dons and the usual collection of predictions that suggest nobody is particularly confident about Saturday. We finish with a discussion about the future of Watford's manager, the difference between a damp squib and a damp squid, and the growing suspicion that we really should have stopped recording several minutes earlier.

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!!

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Another away day, another defeat and another 1,700 Watford supporters wondering quite why they bothered making the journey. Wolves took the points with a 1-0 victory, but it was the manner of Watford's performance that had callers reaching for some particularly colourful descriptions. We discuss the tactics, the midfield that appeared to have gone missing and whether Dionisi has any answers left. At least the goalkeeper gave us something positive to talk about!

Uncle Ron, Rich, Greg and Colin, Kaiden, Mike Duffy and Peter Fincham join us for a phone-in that moves well beyond the ninety minutes. From Gino Pozzo's recent interview and the growing frustration amongst supporters to questions about recruitment, leadership and what has happened to the club's traditional relationship with its fans, there's plenty to get our teeth into. We also hear about plans for a supporters' protest, revisit some memories of Watford's past and discover that Kaiden has developed a particularly strong opinion about one member of the midfield.

We also take a moment to send our heartfelt condolences to Ben and his family following the loss of his mum. Our thoughts are with Ben, Katie, Isla and everyone close to them. Football matters enormously to us, but sometimes life provides a reminder of what really matters. We finish with a look at the wonderful work of Watford's Community Sports and Education Trust, a reminder that whatever happens on the pitch or in the boardroom, the community at the heart of this football club remains something worth celebrating.

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!!

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Well, it had been a quiet week at Watford Football Club. Apart from two spectacular collapses, an intervention from Sir Elton John, an increasingly heated debate amongst supporters and Gino Pozzo deciding to have a chat with Roy Moore. Justin, Carl and Peter finally get together to make sense of it all, which may be asking rather a lot of three people who occasionally struggle to agree on what day it is. Still, with so much happening off the pitch, there's certainly no shortage of things to discuss oh ....and we beat Charlton.

We examine the extraordinary sequence of events leading up to the Pozzo interview, what was said, what wasn't said and whether the whole exercise has brought supporters any closer to understanding where the club is heading. There's plenty to consider about finances, communication, the Supporters' Board and the increasingly fractious relationship between fans themselves. We also revisit some revealing comments from familiar Watford voices and ask whether social media is really representative of what supporters are thinking inside Vicarage Road.

And somewhere amongst all this, there's actually a football team to discuss! Has the victory over Charlton offered genuine encouragement, or merely provided a temporary distraction from rather more uncomfortable questions? We consider Dionisi's tactical changes, the familiar uncertainty surrounding the manager's future and the curious business of protesting against a football club while simultaneously wanting it to win. There are a few laughs, some strong opinions and probably more questions than answers. Business as usual, then.

Recorded 19th October

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!!

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It's Wolves away, and we're joined by Connor of the Molineux View, who appears to have commandeered Molineux itself, switched on the floodlights and settled in for a chat. We revisit that extraordinary FA Cup semi-final, compare the rather familiar frustrations of two clubs whose owners seem particularly fond of selling their best players, and discover how Wolves are finding life back in the Championship. Misery, it seems, enjoys company.

We discuss the Portuguese influence at Wolves, the return of Raúl Jiménez, the managerial merry-go-round and why Fer López might be the player Watford should be particularly worried about. There's also some advice about avoiding Belgian football agents, a discussion about the merits of playing attractive football and the increasingly worrying discovery that Wolves and Watford might have rather more in common than either set of supporters would like.

Meanwhile, the Completely Rubbish Prediction League descends into its usual magnificently pointless chaos. Brett takes us on a spiritual journey involving his grandfather and a washing machine, John struggles with the geography of the Black Country, and one of our Patrons makes a prediction before discovering who Watford are actually playing. Justin attempts to avoid responsibility, Carl invents some vocabulary and Peter discovers that producing this nonsense is considerably harder than it looks.

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!!

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Well, that wasn't quite what we were expecting! After two thoroughly miserable defeats, Watford somehow rediscovered the concept of playing football and dispatched Nathan Jones's Charlton Athletic 2-0. The threatened protests failed to materialise, but the players certainly turned up, with a change of formation, some previously much-maligned performers earning deserved praise and the rather unfamiliar experience of enjoying a Saturday afternoon at Vicarage Road.

Rich, Greg, Neal, Paul, John and Matt join us across two parts to discuss whether Dionisi has finally discovered that round pegs work rather better in round holes. But football is only half the story. Following an extraordinary week featuring interventions from Elton John, Troy Deeney,Paul Robinson and Tom Ince, plus Gino Pozzo's lengthy interview with Roy Moore, there's plenty to unpack about ownership, communication, finances and the increasingly complicated relationship between the club and its supporters.

We hear sharply contrasting views on the Pozzo interview, question some of the explanations offered and revisit the looming Spanish tax trial. There's also an unexpected appearance from Kaiden's dad, a confession involving West Ham and ham sandwiches, and a reminder that football's greatest strength is the people who share it. A welcome victory, plenty of disagreement and a little perspective after a difficult week. The problems haven't disappeared, but for one afternoon at least, Watford gave us something to smile about.

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!!

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Well, that wasn't quite what we were expecting! After two thoroughly miserable defeats, Watford somehow rediscovered the concept of playing football and dispatched Nathan Jones's Charlton Athletic 2-0. The threatened protests failed to materialise, but the players certainly turned up, with a change of formation, some previously much-maligned performers earning deserved praise and the rather unfamiliar experience of enjoying a Saturday afternoon at Vicarage Road.

Rich, Greg, Neal, Paul, John and Matt join us across two parts to discuss whether Dionisi has finally discovered that round pegs work rather better in round holes. But football is only half the story. Following an extraordinary week featuring interventions from Elton John, Troy Deeney,Paul Robinson and Tom Ince, plus Gino Pozzo's lengthy interview with Roy Moore, there's plenty to unpack about ownership, communication, finances and the increasingly complicated relationship between the club and its supporters.

We hear sharply contrasting views on the Pozzo interview, question some of the explanations offered and revisit the looming Spanish tax trial. There's also an unexpected appearance from Kaiden's dad, a confession involving West Ham and ham sandwiches, and a reminder that football's greatest strength is the people who share it. A welcome victory, plenty of disagreement and a little perspective after a difficult week. The problems haven't disappeared, but for one afternoon at least, Watford gave us something to smile about.

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!!

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Hear Carlos do a passable impression of Justin by thoroughly depressing friend of the podcast and all round good egg, Andy Collins about ongoing events!!!

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!!

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With Watford still picking up the pieces from two fairly spectacular collapses, Charlton Athletic arrive at Vicarage Road on Saturday for a game that may well be overshadowed by events off the pitch. We catch up with Louis from Charlton Live to discover how the Addicks are enjoying Championship life this season, why three opening victories have been followed by a rather frustrating winless run, and whether Tyreece Campbell is finally delivering on his considerable promise.

Naturally, there's the small matter of Nathan Jones, whose Luton connections guarantee a warm Watford welcome, even if his touchline celebrations increasingly resemble a man attempting to escape from a climbing frame. We discuss Charlton's changing tactics, familiar footballing surnames, the value of actual Championship experience and why Louis rates one of Watford's recent tormentors rather more highly than the league table might suggest. Meanwhile, the Completely Rubbish Prediction League returns, with John attempting to extract a football score from a cappuccino and some dice, while the rest of the competitors demonstrate varying degrees of optimism, pessimism and what may now qualify as clinical despair.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!!

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A 5-1 defeat at Cardiff, a performance that barely warrants

Callers from the away end, across the country and around the

Peter joins later as the discussion turns towards the club's identity, its academy, the supporters who continue to travel extraordinary distances and what being a community club actually means. There are moments of

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!!

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Watford head to Cardiff on Tuesday night for the third instalment of our Welsh trilogy, and we catch up with old friend Ben from View from the Ninian to find out how life is treating the Bluebirds. After a brief excursion into League One, Cardiff are back in the Championship with a manager in Brian Barry-Murphy who appears to have performed something approaching a footballing personality transplant. Gone is the traditional approach of launching the ball forward and seeing who survives; in its place is a young, ambitious side playing football that Ben can barely believe he's watching.

We discuss Cardiff's return, the growing influence of their academy players, and why results haven't necessarily reflected performances. There's also a look at a Championship where almost everybody appears capable of finishing either sixth or sixteenth, and the rather unusual spectacle of three Welsh clubs sharing the division. Ben explains why Wrexham are regarded as an irritating younger brother while Swansea remain an entirely different proposition, which inevitably leads Peter to recall Watford's own adventures in compulsory coach travel to Luton — including the occasion when the club apparently decided that the ideal transport into enemy territory was a bus from the Harry Potter studio tour.

And then the Completely Rubbish Prediction League returns, with its two most artistically ambitious contributors taking the competition to previously unexplored depths. Brett conducts a forensic examination of his Airbnb, apparently convinced that TripAdvisor ratings and Wi-Fi passwords contain the secrets of Championship football. Meanwhile, John visits the Guinness factory in Dublin and produces something resembling an Ingmar Bergman film, if Bergman had developed a considerable enthusiasm for stout and rather less enthusiasm for color cinematography. It's Scandinavian existential cinema meets Irish drinking culture, with football predictions somehow emerging from both. The rest of the league attempts to compete using the increasingly outdated method of actually thinking about football.

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!!

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