The nature of youth football has changed over the years, and while Watford’s focus may have shifted at times, it feels as though the Academy is now firmly back at the forefront of the Football Club’s operations. In this special podcast we talk to the people that have worked so hard to transform the Hornets’ youth setup and learn how the Academy is not just nurturing footballing talent, but also enriching, enhancing and shaping lives for the better.

Welcome to a very special episode of From the Rookery End. Welcome inside the Watford FC Academy.

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After a 2-0 home win against them lot up the M1, Jon, Mike, Jason and Colin gathered at the Railway Arms to discuss the win, the players who stood out, Tom's choices before and during the game plus a special new FTRE podcast that is coming out this week.

COME ON YOU ORNS

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After 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough. Jon, Jordi and Adam gathered to react to the win and how the Hornets might have started to revive their season at the Riverside. With one eye on next weeks derby match against Luton, they discuss how a new foundations seems to be forming in Tom Cleverly's Watford squad with a new centre back pairing and the continued redemption of Imran Louza. Tom will have some hard decisions to make, but has Doumbia shown him enough to cause him headaches for who should be starting up front.

This if From The Rookery End - Come on You Orns.

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DCW and Mike convened the morning after Watford's 2-2 draw away at Sunderland to assess the performance and reflect on some much needed reasons to be cheerful - a very steady debut for Egil Selvik, an encouraging first start for Doumbia, a promising central defensive partnership of Pollock and Abankwah, and an absolute worldie from Imran Louza. If only we could defend set pieces...

We also hear from Adam Drury who was among the hardy souls who made the trip up to the Stadium of Light, and we look at the task that awaits us in the week ahead with difficult games against Leeds and Middlesbrough.

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Jon, Jas, Mike and Kieran gathered at the Mad Squirrel to discuss an entertaining but ultimately disappointing early kick off against Norwich. 

There is praise for Pollock and Abankwe, who looked tremendous as a CB pairing, plaudits for Imran Louza, a bleak Bayo assessment and serious questions for Gino et al.

It was a spirited second half, but is it enough? Listen, and let us know what you think. This is From the Rookery End. 

Come on you ‘Orns.

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DCW and Jas are joined by Opta's Matt Furniss for another rummage through the numbers and they attempt to work out why this Watford side are so bad in the first 15 minutes of games, what Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe are failing to do in midfield, and with less than a week to go in the January transfer window we look at whether Emmanuel Dennis part III, an out of sorts Kelechi Iheanacho or Red Star Belgrade's 29-year-old Cherif Ndiaye are the answer to our struggles in the striking department.

There's also discussion of the ongoing uncertainty around Tom Cleverley's position and a look back at the runs of form that have lead to Gino Pozzo pulling the trigger on all of his head coaches so far.

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After a tumultuous week (even by Watford standards!) Mike and Jon got their heads together to work thorough the events of the last few days in the world of Watford.

It’s a wide ranging chat about the state of the Football Club; give it a listen and let us know your thoughts.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is From the Rookery End. Come on you ‘Orns.

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After a long and late visit to Cardiff in the week, Mike and Arlo headed to Derby to see Watford win 2-0... Away

Follow Mike through out his day as he experience the little felt away win, hear the fans clear message for Gino and support of Tom Cleverley as well as much improved performance from the squad. Post Match, Mike catches up with Charlie from WD18 to talk through the match plus we hear from Olly Wicken about what makes an away game even if it doesn't include a great performance on the pitch.

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Mike, Andy and Arlo made the midweek trip across the border to South Wales and saw Watford emerge with a point after a largely miserable performance against relegation strugglers Cardiff City

With rumours gathering pace over recent days that Gino might be up to his old tricks again, is it enough to ease the pressure on Tom Cleverley for now? We tackle that thorny issue as well as hearing from a number of, frankly baffled, supporters from other Championship clubs offering their perspective from a distance

This is From The Rookery End, Tom Cleverley Ole Ole!

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We might have seen a wonder goal from Rocco Vata but having a Cup game on a Thursday night was not only weird but also unsuccessful. Mike, DCW, Jordi and Kieran headed to Craven Cottage to see the Hornets take on Premier League Fulham and discussed all that has been going on at Vicarage Road this week - Bachmann's injury and Jebbinson's exit, plus what they saw on the pitch, including a few lesser spotter faces.

The magic of the FA Cup is over for one more year, but it will be back again in 2026.

COME ON YOU ORNS

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