I want to start this piece by saying that this season from a personal point of view was my most disappointing of my career up to date and I will go on to explain why as I give my run down but for that reason I feel more focused than I ever have done and know I’ll look back on it as being a pivotal part of my future.
The season didn’t start well, a pre existing knee injury flared up on a pre season tour to Austria and meant I would sit out the majority of pre season. Although I finished the previous season as the outright number one this counted for little on my return to fitness as Mart Poom and Scott Loach had both performed well in pre season meaning I would have to wait for my chance. The season started ok although we found ourselves in the bottom half of the table early on.
My chance would come in unusual circumstances, after gaining fitness I thought I would have to go on loan to get some games but injuries to both Mart and Scott in successive weeks meant I would be thrown in at the deep end away to Sheffield United at 0-1 down. We ended up losing the game 1-2 but it was great to get back between the sticks. We then lost to Burnley a few days later before getting our season back on track with a win over Preston.
The following week or so would prove to be the highlight of my season, firstly away to Southampton, I produced 2 penalty stops and other saves during the game as we ended up winning out 3-0 winners. My finest game of the season would come the following Tuesday at home to Cardiff, although we could only manage a 2-2 draw we had found ourselves down to 10 men early on and I was called into action several times including another penalty save and I felt on top of my game, I would end up taking the man of the match Champagne home with me, unfortunately this form wouldn’t last.
Football can be a cruel game and an unexplainable game at times. In the following few games I found myself at fault for several goals, I could sit here and throw excuses out but that’s not my style. The feeling around the place wasn’t healthy at this time but I am quite honest when it comes to taking responsibility where I could’ve performed better but for me this run was completely out of the blue. I have always prided myself on being reliable and haven’t made all that many mistakes over the years but this run tested me.
It was during this time that Aidy Boothroyd departed as manager, although it came as a shock to most I think it wasn’t quite so much of a shock within the club. Things weren’t going as planned and there appeared to be trouble behind the scenes so although we were sad to hear the news we weren’t entirely surprised. Malky Mackay would take charge until an appointment was made and what a good job he’d do too.
I would come through my rough patch to play two very good games away at Swansea in the cup and we progressed 1-0 and away to Barnsley despite defeat, but this wouldn’t be enough to keep my place. Malky pulled me aside to tell me that Scott, now fit, would step in. Although disappointed at the time it’s a decision that I can now look back on and appreciate and take many positives from but more about that later.
Malky would only have a few games in charge but racked up a couple of wins and some good displays and he’d remain as an integral part of the new regime which was headed by Brendan Rogers.
Brendan made an immediate impression, his ideas regarding how football should be played were warmly approved of, although there were those who doubted whether implementing these ideas when lingering at the foot of the championship table was the right time to do this but we needn’t have worries.
It was a slow start although wins against Norwich and Coventry eased the pressure at the bottom slightly. We would however lose heavily at home to Bristol and away at Reading and found ourselves having a mere 30 points after 30 games. We knew we were still some distance from the magical 50 point marker that would usually guarantee safety, but it was at this time that we would go on a run that would eventually steer well clear of the drop and in fact finish in 13th spot, our highest league position since the start of the season. That run would include big wins away at Charlton with Gragorz Rasiak scoring the goal of the season to level things up then Tamas claiming the third in a 3-2 win. We also had our performance of the season at home to a free flowing Swansea side running out comprehensive 2-0 winners. The game that secured our safety was a thrilling comeback at the Ricoh area, we found ourselves 0-2 down to Coventry with 30 mins remaining on the clock, we would score 3 late goals and secure our stay in the Championship for another season. And to top off the season and enter the next season in fashion we demolished Derby 3-1.
At the start of the season I think most would’ve been slightly underwhelmed at the prospect at finishing 13th but considering the twists and turns we endured throughout the season I think we can be very proud as to how Watford certainly finished the season. Something else that became apparent was the improvement in atmosphere towards the end of the season, I could feel the connection once again with the fans, I could sense they appreciated what we were trying to do, it didn’t always come off but we were no longer playing percentage football, we were playing a brand that was fun to watch and we scored some fantastic goals because of it.
My thought are that football is more about winning and losing, there’s a fine line between being a pretty team without substance and a pretty team with substance. Take Man United for example or Barcelona, they play the game how I believe it should be played, the ball rarely goes above head height, certainly in Barcelona’s case but when it does it’s with precision and 9 times out of 10 will find the intended player. Both teams play attractive football but with a purpose, both have athletic, talented players who they use to carve open oppositions defences with awesome precision, rarely do they play percentage football and I’m happy to say I think these teams are gradually dying out and the more entertaining teams are coming though.
In saying that I do believe the Championship requires a certain mix, it’s a tough division with a lot of evenly matched teams, which is one reason it is so entertaining. As for us next season it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that we could be promoted or relegated. Thankfully the way the season finished I’m sure we’ll be more in danger of promotion than the other but with this division it can be hard to tell.
So back to myself, I said at the start this was my most disappointing and I want to explain why. I feel that until now every season has had a story and a progression of sorts, for instance when I was 18 I didn’t play a game but I signed my first pro contract. The following season I made the bench for the first time followed by the 02/03 season when I would be on the bench for every game except for the 4 games I played, keeping 3 clean sheet and winning 3 of them.
03/04 was a wipe out due to my broken arm but I came back to play the majority of 04/05. 05/06 was spent at Blackburn then I’d make 14 appearances in 06/07 in our premiership season before securing my number one spot once more in 07/08. So I started this season as a 26 year old keeper with the best part of 100 games behind me and many different experiences, from injuries to working with Brad Friedel, having played several games in the premiership and playing an FA cup semi final. So my hope was to be sat here right now speaking of another game laden season in the Championship but for one reason or another that hasn’t been the case. One bit of good news was being able to secure another years contract which will mean I’ll have a chance to put things right next season and that for me is what I intend to do.
For those who know me, they’ll know I am a very positive person and I honestly believe that everything that happens to us happens for a reason and within what happens there are lessons presented to us, so it is up to me to learn those lessons and progress through them and continue to improve.
So although at the time I was disappointed that Malky pulled me out of the team I now look back on it as a blessing, it sounds odd to regard being dropped in such a way but it allowed me the chance to step back and look at my game and use the time to sharpen my game and my focus. When things aren’t going well in football it sometimes takes a step back before you can progress again and I feel I’ve now taken that step back and am ready to progress.
I am now 100% injury free, I am more passionate about football than ever before and I fully expect next season to be one with many more stories to tell.
I am convinced the best is yet to come.
2010/2011 SEASON
2010/11 season will certainly go down as my most turbulent season but ultimately the best to date.
Deciding that I needed a new challenge to help reignite my career I decided to leave Watford after giving 17 years service. A tough decision to make but one that I knew was necessary in order to help resurrect a career that had began so promisingly but by my own admission had faded over the past couple of seasons due to excessive time on the subs bench.
Things didn't exactly get off to the best start at Brentford, 2 poor pre season games meant I would start the season on the bench despite the promise of regular football. I would however get opportunities in the cup, this would be where I would inevitably make a name for myself, first up Hull City in the Carling cup, Hull recently relegated from the Premier league brought a full strength team and despite going a goal down early on we would fight back to win the game 2-1. Another cup victory over Stevenage in the JPT would soon follow and perhaps the highlight of my personal career to date would be next on the agenda defeating Everton on penalties in order to make the fourth round of the Carling cup. After a poor start I had found my feet and although I'd have to wait a while longer to make my league debut it would eventually come again Bournemouth and from there I wouldn't look back.
Preceding that game we would face Birmingham, our prize for defeating Everton and would concede a last minute goal to force penalties and get edged out on penalties unfortunately. Our league form was inconsistent. A poor start to the campaign meant we were playing catch up early on, however at one point we were within a sniff of the play offs only to lose several games in a row to once again staring relegation in the face, a bad run that would ultimately cost Andy Scott his post as Brentford FC's manager.
During this time we did however progress in the JPT, beating Leyton Orient, Swindon and Charlton all on penalties which in turn heightened my penalty saving reputation. Exeter stood in our way of the promise of a Wembley final. We drew the first leg at home 1-1 so would go into the away leg as slight underdogs, Andy Scott would lose his job during the time between these two matches took place.
Nicky Forster would take charge and our fortunes would have a significant upturn. We duly dispatched Exeter meaning a Wembley date was set although we still had the small matter of maintaining our League one status which was still precarious. Big wins over Plymouth, Bristol Rovers, Tranmere, Charlton and Leyton orient would mean that we were comfortably safe prior to our big date. Unfortunately the last of those wins against Leyton Orient would come at a significant price to myself. A dislocated shoulder would mean I would miss out, I tried in vain to recover but sometimes you cant fight nature. I would sit out the rest of the season and despite a brief flirtation with the play offs we would finish mid table.
Despite being considered by many as a mediocre season it would go down on a personal level as my best to date, games against Everton, Southampton, Birmingham, Charlton and Exeter will live long in the memory and to top the season off I was awarded with 5 player of the season awards. It was a tough decision to leave Watford but I'm delighted that I made the correct decision to join Brentford where I truly feel at home.