From The Rookery End - A show about Watford FC

As Watford prepare themselves for a visit from Leeds United,and the FTRE gang are here for another deep diving midweek From The Rookery End. Firstly,some background on the all-action Hassane Kamara, what the clubs latest accounts mean, and there's a look at the news that the Hornets find themselves surprisingly high up in the fees paid to agents table. Plus The Athletic's Leeds United corresponden...

Premier League football is back, Watford are back and From the Rookery End is back!  Jas, Mike and Jon gathered after defeat at Anfield to talk about what was a decent showing from the Hornets, asking whether this respectable performance provides promise for the coming weeks. In addition to the game review, the boys also talk about the recently released accounts, and what the figures might mean fo...

With no Watford fixture this weekend, The Athletic’s Watford correspondent Adam Leventhal took the opportunity to hang out with an old friend… In this podcast you will hear from former Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd as he talks to Adam about what life has been like post Watford, post England U21 and what the immediate future holds. It’s a fascinating listen and a nintriguing insight into the life of...

Whilst Watford took an FA Cup enforced weekend off, Jon, Mike and Jason gathered to discuss fans' views on an array of topics. After asking fans to Twitter, "We’ve asked this question before, but it seems like a good time to raise it again. You’re at a Fan’s Forum with Scott/Gino. You have the mic. What question are you asking? The caveat is that you have to be genuinely willing to ask it in a fac...

They've been very rare this season so a 2-1 win away at Southampton made for an extremely happy day - but it wasn't just because of the match. Jon and Mike went down to St Marys on the Junior Hornets bus with the legend, and still a force of nature well into her 80's, Ann Swanson.  After the midweek loss away at Wolves, the podcast starts with some reflections, but also some external reflections f...

It was a more enjoyable afternoon at Vicarage Road, with a superb Cucho Hernandez finish the undeniable highlight, but it wasn’t enough to avoid an eighth straight home defeat for Watford. Jon, Jas and Mike gathered outside a cold Vicarage Road to discuss a game that may well have provided entertainment to any neutrals, but delivered another example of how costly mistakes can be for long suffering...

It’s been a chastening experience following Watford so far this season, so in the latest From the Rookery End. It’s a reflective FTRE gang who discuss the Hornet’s home form Achilles heel and what it might take to turn it round, look ahead to the clash with Arsenal and have a wider chat about what it now takes to be competitive in the Premier League. This your midweek dose of Watford based goodnes...

Jon, Jason and Mike are back with the latest From the Rookery End podcast, discussing an unexpected but most welcome away point (and clean sheet) at Manchester United. The boys discuss the ending of a run of 10 straight defeats at Old Trafford, and while not exactly doing cartwheels, it’s fair to say they are happier than a few days earlier… There is praise for a spirited defensive performance and...

It isn't over yet but Watford's season seems well and truly over after a 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Wednesday. But we don't discuss the game until part 2.  The FTRE gang kick off the podcast with a sense of optimism pre-match and Adam plays us his interview with former Hornet Adrian Mariappa, who is now playing his football in Australia for Macarthur FC, just outside. In t...

A Roy Hodgson masterclass saw the Hornets record their first win since November, so it’s an understandably happy Jon, Mike and Jas that gathered to discuss events at Villa Park. The boys discuss the game and the individuals that contributed to what was a great team performance. They also talk about what it takes for fans to feel connected to a certain player or team. It’s been a while coming so si...

Are you ready for another midweek FTRE? The FTRE gang are back to discuss the reaction he got from Roy Hodgson after his first home match, and defeat. They discuss if Roy set Watford up the right way and if he was right to be critical of his strikers. And as an extra special treat, you will hear from William Troost-Ekong, who Adam spoke to exclusively this week, about his work outside of football,...

It was against the backdrop of an unwanted new record that Jon, Jas, Mike and Colin gathered to record this, the new edition of From the Rookery End. In losing 0-2 at home to Brighton, this Watford side became the first to lose six home games in a row in the top flight in Hornets history, and while the result may not have been too much of a surprise, the boys were shocked by the performance. There...

The boys discuss the away day experience at West Ham, the Hornets’ performance and have a crack at predicting the results for the rest of the season. There’s also a chat about how fans' frustrations manifest themselves, including how Adam deals with interactions with passionate Watford fans online. It’s a tough time, and it’s looking like a big task to rescue the season, but it’s not over yet. Thi...

At the third time of asking, Watford got to play Burnley at Turf Moor, this season. It was wet, windy but Jon, Mike and Jason gathered at Mike's warm house for an evening where Watford achieved a 0-0 draw, yes a clean sheet, and a performance that didn't blow our minds but showed some signs of improvement. No one is getting carried away, well apart from about retro and classic football shirts, but...

All Watford fans want is a game of football to see what Roy Hodgson has in store for us as fans and for the squad of players he has at his disposal. Jon, Mike and Colin gathered on Saturday to discuss their new found impressions of Roy Hodgson after his interview on the club's website. If Roy is to play his iconic 4-4-2 then who will line up? Jason share his thoughts on team selection. Plus DCW re...

After the misery of the Friday night defeat against Norwich, Adam, DCW and Mike are back with a positive midweek podcast discussing the appointment of Roy Hodson as Watford Manager. They discuss their reaction to his first training session, well the clips we saw on social media, how he is likely to settle in with the players and his ethos which, hopefully, will get Watford on course for...

Watford endured a night to forget in their home fixture with Norwich, capitulating completely to gift the hosts a 0-3 win.  The morning after the night before, Mike, Jason and Jon gathered to discuss the game, but perhaps more importantly, the multiple factors that are combining to deliver such a disappointing situation. Is it the players? The owners? The Head Coach? The boys run the rule over all...

Welcome to the midweek FTRE, Adam, DCW and Mike discuss and hear all about the benefits of missing the Burnley game and reflect on the performances a few days after the Newcastle draw. Of course, with it still being the month of January, on the agenda is the latest goings on in Watford's recruitment, with Adam updating on the next signing likely to come through the doors very s...

Watford earnt a second draw of the season against Newcastle, this time it was up at their place and Watford had some new friends to help them snatch a draw. Jon, Jason and Colin gathered to talk through the dull first half, disappointment at conceding but the reaction and fight that saw Joao Pedro leap to score the equaliser. Of course they look at the performances of the three new debutants but a...

Watford suffered their 7th defeat in a row and conceded 4 at the King Power for the second time this season, as they lost in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Jon, Mike, Jason and Colin convened at the final whistle to discuss the latest defeat, which featured a much changed side with familiar fragilities. There is praise for James Morris, but there was precious little else for the team to enthuse about, with...

As a new year dawns, an old friend returns - it’s the January transfer window! The Athletic’s Watford correspondent Adam Leventhal is joined by Mike and DCW to discuss the potential comings (and maybe goings) at Vicarage Road, and their potential impact on the squad. The chaps look ahead to Leicester as they try to work out the best course of action a week out from a massive game at Newcastle, whi...

A New Year is upon us and Ranieri and his players seem to have made a resolution - to focus on defence. After soaking up a lot of attack for 90 minutes a late goal meant Spurs stole the points but Jon, DCW and Jason stood outside discussing the frustrating loss and considering what was within our grasp. Of course they discuss the crucial incidents in the match alongside the recent Emmanuel Dennis...

There was to be no late Christmas present for Watford fans, as the Hornets were thrashed at home by West Ham United, so it was a somewhat subdued trio of Jason, Mike and Jon that gathered to survey the wreckage of another dispiriting defeat. The team talk through the game, before looking ahead to what might happen in January, with insight on that front provided by The Athletic’s Watford correspond...

Join Mike, Jon and Jas for a pre-Christmas chinwag, as they identify 21 notable moments from Watford FC’s 2021. You can also hear Colin’s audio diary from his trip to Turf Moor, while we also drop by Hornets HQ to hear what Christmas Day for the Watford squad might sound like. No football? No problem! This is From the Rookery End. Merry Christmas and Come on you ‘Orns! Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

Mike, Adam and DCW in the midst of a challenging week following the late postponement of the Burnley game and Saturday's fixture v Palace surrounded by uncertainty. Adam has details on how the situation unfolded behind-the-scenes on Wednesday and we try to focus on the bigger picture as football, and football supporters, face a variety of concerns with the backdrop of the rapidly changing COVID si...