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Watford Ruing Dawson Decision

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 09/03/2021 - 09:05


Championship top three team, Watford, are mounting a serious challenge for automatic promotion straight back to the Barclays Premier League, and to that purpose they will utilise the services of Domingos Quina and Jeremy Ngakia, both youth players 'filched' by the Hornets from West Ham United.

Ngakia and Quina have a combined value of £4.5 Million according to Transfer market, and are undoubtedly good signings for the Hertfordshire club, however the various Watford managers, and let's face it they have had a few, desire to freshen up their respective squads meant that there was no need for an 'old cart horse' like Craig 'Les' Dawson.

'Les' arrived at Watford from West Brom on the 1st of July 2019 for a fee of £5.4 Million, signing a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 June 2020, An overhead kick against Leicester City. Dawson made 29 appearances for Watford in the 2019–20 season as they were relegated to the Championship. At the start of the 2020–21 season, and with the appointment of new manager, Vladimir Ivić, his selection for the team became less likely following the signings of Francisco Sierralta and William Troost-Ekong.

Surplus to requirements at Vicarage Road, Dawson was surprisingly signed on loan by David Moyes as an 'alternative' to the outrageously over priced James Tarkowski from Burnley, it is fair to say that 'Les's' arrival was greeted with a chorus of disapproval, after all he had earned the nick name of 'the relegator' due to the fact that first the Baggies, and then the Hornets were both relegated 'on his watch'.

The terms of the loan deal gave Hammers the option to make the deal permanent after a certain amount of games, and at the BARGAIN price of £2.5 Million! The powers that be at Watford must be kicking themselves for their decision, how much is 'Les' worth now?

It should be remembered that Dawson averaged a goal every eight games throughout his senior career, he has continued in a rich vein of form by scoring FOUR goals already while playing for the Irons, the 6'2" defender is part of 'the Moyes assault team' when it comes to set pieces, his contribution has helped West Ham become the most feared opponents from set plays for the opposition in the entire Barclays Premier League!

David Moyes had this to say regarding making 'Les's" move permanent. "I think there's a good chance but we're not quite there yet," he said. "There is a clause there [by which we can purchase him] after a certain amount of games and we're getting very close to that number. His performances, his attitude and determination are certainly worthy of that anyway. We brought him in and it took him until the Southampton game before he got starts but that was because oif the form of Fabian Balbuena and Angelo Ogbonna. He's come in and he's added goals to us as well. His experience has been really important and he's playing really well this season at the moment."

Dawson is no spring chicken at 30 years old, but he has at least a couple of good years in him, and at the fee he is available for, his acquisition is a 'no brainer'. It might sound a bit 'yeah man', but there is a certain amount of Karma involved here, Watford nick a couple of Hammers potential starlets, and the Irons got an old warrior hell bent on showing how 'an old dog' can learn new tricks. - Ed

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So unlike westham to actually sign a player who was written off to be a massive success

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38 users have voted.

Craig Dawson has been man of the match in virtually every game he has played. What a bargain and what a great signing by Moysie. We have a positive goal difference of +11 for the first time in years.

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39 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

Completely forgot about those two muppets... Do they even get in the team and train with Carlos Kickabout Sanchez singing Any Ol Iron? ;o)

Be great if they take Anderson at some point!

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38 users have voted.

Now theres a story of a young player who could have had a good career at westham,but had his head turned by an agent to end up at the mighty watford!!

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45 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

Agree 65... What a daft move that was, those agents have just one thing in mind... £!

Typical also of his generation, zero loyalty ... He's no Mark Noble!

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45 users have voted.

Lost all creditability with the comment " and to that purpose they will utilise the services of Domingos Quina ". About as much chance of them utilising Craig Dawson since Quina is also on a seasons loan, playing in La Liga in Spain.

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43 users have voted.
nevillenixon's picture

Think you missed the point, Watford were happy to grab both players, the fact that quina has gone out on loan was not missed, it just didn't seem relevant, and if you REALLY want to check your details, you will find that Quina has an 'instant' recall clause in his loan deal with Granada, a club that has ties with the Pozzo family who own Watford and Udinese. The Pozzo family owned Granada for several years before selling the club in 2016 to chinese investors.

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48 users have voted.

30 for a defender is not old. Anyone remember Arsenals back four averaging well over 30 some of them nearer 35 under George Graham (you have to be at least 50 by the way ). Graig Dawson is having an amazing season because Moyes wants him in scoring positions on set plays as well as defending. Its working and what we are seeing is a player basically reborn again instead of thinking about retirement.

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37 users have voted.

A D Bonds

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