From The Rookery End - A show about Watford FC

In the latest Thursday From The Rookery End, with Adam Leventhal, leading Jon and Mike, they discuss the state of players returning from international duty - after Coup d'etat and possible FIFA sanctions. Plus they look ahead at three vital Premier League games for Watford, against Wolves, Norwich and Newcastle. How important is this run and what do the Hornets need to achieve? Tim Spiers, the Ath...

As the ticking countdown clock is silenced and the transfer window is closed (or shut down for Microsoft users), Adam, Jon and DCW gather to review the ins and outs at Watford. Of course, they discuss Troy Deeney’s departure to Birmingham as well as the impact of the final few players leaving on deadline day. Plus the team looks ahead at how the squad has shaped up and what we can expect in the co...

After a respectable 1-0 lose away at Tottenham Hotspur, Jon, Mike and Jason talk through a far more postive performance than 7 days ago in Brighton. With changes across the team the boys reflect on the strengths and weaknesses but find themselves in a better place than last weekend. Jon also talk to the newly appointed General Manger of Watford Women, Amber Wildgust, about start of the new season...

As Watford defeat Crystal Palace in the League Cup, Jon, Mike and DCW look at the player who impressed and who might be staking a claim for a starting spot in the Premier League. They also discuss the importance and the attitude towards cup competitions as well as talk with The Athletics Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare about how Tottenham have been performing and what the Hornets could do t...

Away days are back! Join Mike and Jon as they take From the Rookery End on the road and down to the South coast, as Watford took on Brighton. An optimistic pre-game drive soon turned into a post match post mortem, with Mike and Jon joined by Jacob Culshaw as they dissected a disjointed Watford display.  While the result was a disappointment, the thrill of following the Hornets on the road was unde...

Five days is a long time in the world of Watford FC and since Saturday's magnificent victory we've seen fresh rumours of transfer sharks circling Ismaila Sarr, we've had an injury scare with our Slovakian enforcer Juraj Kucka and it seems that we're about to welcome another new midfielder to the club in the shape of Turkish international Ozan Tufan. The Athletic's Adam Leventhal is here, alongside...

First impressions last and what an impression the debutants for Watford made against Aston Villa. Jason, Mike and Jon are back for a 12th season of podcasting about Watford and they gathered on Sunday to discuss the incredible win, the stand out goals and how a bunch of Watford fans beliefs can change in a matter of.... minutes. Jon also talks to Dave Nash, one of the artists who worked on the new...

With the season curtain raiser getting ever closer, Adam Leventhal is joined by Mike and Jon to run through how the Hornets squad is shaping up, ahead of the first game with Aston Villa. The boys discuss the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the midfield duo of Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah, ponder possible exits for others and wonder if there might be late additions to the squad; especially af...

The 2021/22 season is now mere days away, and, against the backdrop of uncertain conditions, it’s been hard for many to get a feel for how well Watford are placed going into the new campaign. Well, that’s where we come in! Jon and Mike are joined by Kelly Somers, fresh from her summer with Gareth Southgate and the England team, and together they try to work out what the season has in store. You ca...

Pre-season isn't just for the players. As fans, we too have to prepare ourselves for the discussions in the pub. To help your preparations, it's back - A From The Rookery End Best XI Draft. Jason, Jordi, DCW and Colin compete to choose the Best XI they can, from the squads that played in Watford's first seasons in the Premier League - 1999-2000, 2006-2007 and 2015-2016. This will work like a draft...

Preseason continues for Watford with a home game against West Brom. Jon and Adam were in attendance and talked about the highlights, we promise just the highlights as aren't going to pick apart a preseason game. They take a deeper look into the Trailist and the U23s, who got some game time on the prectine pitch at Vicarage Road, as well as getting the opinions and the story behind the new Watford...

The Euros are done and the minds of Watford fans are firmly focussed and hopeful of the clubs return to the Premier League. Jon, Mike and Adam Leventhal, the Athletics Watford FC correspondent, gather to discuss how the squad is shaping up for the coming season, have we strengthened in the right places and what pieces still need moving into place, before the season and before the transfer window c...

This has been a season like no other, but what was it actually like for those charged with delivering success during an unprecedented period in history? This is your chance to find out... Mike and Jon were joined by Watford Chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury to talk about a tumultuous few seasons for the Hornets, with a full and frank discussion about what went wrong, what lessons have been learned an...

Watford signed off the 2020/21 campaign with another clean sheet and another home win, beating Play-Off bound Swansea 2-0. Mike, Jas and Jon breakdown the final game in this Championship season, and we’re also joined by Adam Leventhal, who talks us through three fascinating Watford pieces that are currently available on The Athletic. As it’s the season finale, the boys also run through their top t...

Watford’s first trip to the new Brentford Community Stadium may have ended in defeat, but there’s still plenty to enjoy in this, the latest From the Rookery End podcast. Adam Leventhal joined us minutes after the final whistle to talk us through his thoughts on Brentford’s new home and how a Watford side missing a few notable names fared a week after promotion. Mike, Jason, Jon and Colin also run...

With two games still to go in the Championship season, Watford have the relative luxury of getting a head start on their plans for life in the Premier League. In this, the latest From the Rookery End podcast, Adam Leventhal guides Mike and Jon through what some of those plans may look like. Where do the Hornets need to strengthen? What will the market be like? How will Xisco fare in the top flight...

Watford banished the memories of a disappointing derby day in the best way possible with a perfect performance at promoted Norwich. It was therefore an understandably upbeat trio of Jason, Mike and Jon that gathered at the final whistle to discuss a dream showing at Carrow Road. The boys keep a lid on their emotions long enough to talk through the game, which was seen through in expert fashion wit...

It was a derby day to forget at Kenilworth Road as Watford slumped to a lacklustre defeat against their local rivals. Results elsewhere meant the damage was limited in terms of the promotion race, but it was an understandably downbeat trio of Mike, Jason and Jon that gathered to discuss what went wrong. Adam also calls in from the ground, providing some detail on what the experience was like in th...

He is one of the most popular signings of the Pozzo era, a free kick master who could pick a pass, all with an unmistakable glint in his eye. He is of course Almen Abdi, and in this bonus episode of From the Rookery End, you can hear from the man himself. The Athletic’s Watford correspondent Adam Leventhal spoke to the influential midfielder and this is your chance to hear some of that chat. Jon,...

Watford got back to winning ways with a hard earned victory against Reading, so it was an increasingly confident quartet of Mike, Colin, Jason and Jon that gathered after the game to discuss the archetypal game of two halves. As well as discussing the Friday fun at the Vic, the boys look forward to the eagerly anticipated trip up the M1, while there are also chats with Geoff Wicken, one of the co-...

With the busy Easter period in the books, Jon, Colin and Mike got together to discuss two games in four days; performances that extended the Hornets’ unbeaten run and maintained a healthy gap between them and the chasing pack.   The boys discuss the Wednesday win and the point at Middlesbrough, while also sharing their views on the news that Watford continue to look at a potential new home. There’...

After (trying, and largely failing!) to give themselves a break from thinking about the Hornets, Jon, Jas, Mike and Colin are back to talk Watford ahead of what promises to be an entertaining, exciting and nerve shredding run in. Your hosts look at the final eight games from a number of angles including a comparison with the successful 2014/15 campaign, the impact of the international break, they...

It was a thoroughly professional performance that saw Watford head into the International break with a ninth win in ten games; their fifth in a row. It was therefore little surprise that it was an upbeat Mike, Jason and Jon that gathered to talk about the Hornets comprehensive win over Birmingham City. In what was a pretty efficient team performance there was specific praise for the majestic Franc...

Xisco’s Hornets’ made it 8 wins in 9 with a thumping away win against Rotherham, so it was triumphant trio of Jon, Mike and Adam that gathered at the final whistle to talk through the devastating display. Phillip Zinckernagel’s impressive form was one of many positives from a professional and ruthless display, with Watford finishing the evening in second place in the table. You can also hear audio...

It’s been a long time coming, but after five years without scoring from a free kick, a late set piece in Cardiff sent Watford back into the automatic promotion places. It was therefore a very excitable Jon, Mike, Jason and Colin that gathered to talk about the Hornet’s latest win. There is praise for Chalobah, Sarr, Kiko and others, but this was a genuine team effort, so kick back, relax and enjoy...