SA

Despite rumours to the contrary, my chest infection has not ended my existence - it is prety much all better now except for a slight cough. However, the reason I haven't blogged much recently is that I'm currently in South Africa with Michelle, visiting my parents and their new life here in East London. The week that we've been out here has been pretty mindblowing and very busy but we haven't had much internet access! Lots of stories to tell and there will probably be even more by the time I get back in a week's time, so watch this space...

Pasted...

It had to happen one day... Beaten 4-0, humbled and dumped at the base of the Premiership. I guess if it had to happen, who better than Champions Chelsea?

It was the same score as the last time WFC played the Blues (in an FA Cup replay I paid £40 to see) and it was the same score as when they stuffed Villa in the Carling Cup on Wednesday. I had hoped that they would be jaded from that result but clearly it was us that were struggling without our best forward and after the extra time / penalties of Tuesday night against Newcastle. I guess if (and I definitely am) I'm looking for the elusive silver lining, we should be honoured that they played very much a full strength team. No, it isn't much consolation...!

My only concern is that it was about this time in the 99/00 season that we started getting hammered by 4 and 5 and we never really recovered. We MUST show our mettle against Pompey next time out...

Being Richard Lee

It must be hard being Watford's reserve keeper, Richard Lee.

I'll explain and maybe you'll agree. He's second choice to the Golden Boy - Ben Foster. Many people are tipping him to be the new England keeper some time soon. He's an excellent player and is believed to be one of the players Boothroyd builds his team around. Not much chance for Lee to get a look in.

However, Foster is inelligible to play against his proper club, Man United. Lee came in against them in August, played briliantly and almost helped beat the Red Devils. Lee also came in when Foster was briefly injured recently kept one clean sheet (as part of WFC's only Premiership win) and then produced a string of good saves to keep Watford in the cup tie against Newcastle. The Carling Cup tie eventually went to penalties and Lee made a further good save in the unsuccessful shoot-out. And yet,he still seems to get little or no recognition

I it could have been even worse. Twelve months ago, Ben Foster arrived from Old Trafford and Lee was on his way to Blackburn on a season's loan, hoping to earn himself a full Premiership contract. While Foster was helping Watford to a Championship play-off win, Lee was playing in the reserves and warming the Rovers bench. Then at the end of the season, Blackburn left Lee high and dry dispatching him back to Watford and instead signing Jason Brown from Gillingham. Lee was left wondering if he would ever get to play in the Premiership as Aidy wasn't sure whether they should keep him or get rid of him. Fortunately, the excellent Richard Lee only had to wait until Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 26th August and the visit of Manchester United.

Much as I'm sure that Ben Foster will be England's No 1, I don't know that he'll do it as a Watford player but when Foster has gone on to bigger and better things, Richard Lee should take over from him. Hope it is a good season for you, Richard - all you can do is play well when you get your chance and hope for the best...

Top...if only just!

Despite my lowest total thus far, including a John Terry sending off, I crept into first place in the Fantasy League. Top scorer Ashley Young - 10 points all by himself - had a blinder and helped 'King Aidy's Warriors' to the top of the pile with a modest 39 points...

Being sick sucks

Have had a 'barking' cough since Thursday and after a couple of false starts, I got registered with the local docs and got an appointment. They told me I've got a chest infection and now I've got antibiotics and an inhaler too...

I hate being ill - cos it is so boring. Can't even bring myself to blog properly. Will catch you up with everything soon...if I can be bothered!

They think it's all over...

...well it is for Marlon King

So a 2-0 win. We've finally won a game. We won. Like by more than a goal's difference too. Another goal for Ashley Young (a very prudent Fantasy League signing) and another clean sheet - the fourth this Premiership season and the third consecutive. This without two of our key players - King and Foster. It's good to see that Watford are adapting to the top flight but it seems that Premiership realities are kicking in. Our wafer-thin squad is splintering...

Today's long awaited and even longer deserved victory even included an incident of due good fortune. However, the celebrations were tempered by news that Marlon King's minor knee injury will keep him out of the rest of the season. Dumb luck. While far from a one-man-team, this injury could be a genuine turning point in our season and could be the difference between survival and relegation. Even if we could afford to draft in a replacement, we can't until January...

Almost the identical thing happened seven years ago during our only previous Premiership excursion. During the run in to the play-offs, one goalscorer was on fire - hitting goals for fun left, right and centre. Tommy Mooney (currently leading the line for Wycombe) was never the most gifted forward but he gave everything and more and always seemed to be in the right place to score. However, he was the great hope that Watford fans had for Premiership survival. He even scored one historic (if scrappy) goal, to grab our only away win at Anfield. Around this time that year a dirty scything challenge by Chelsea's Marcel Desailly ended his season...

It's hard to say whether, had Mooney remained fit, we would have scored enough goals to survive that year. Michel Ngonge, Allan Smart, Tommy Smith (plus Jaunary record signing Heidar Helguson) did their best but it seems that Watford's problems were more at the back by that time. This year, King's absence is a real body-blow but the whole side is showing more character so there is hope...

Plus, we did win...!

Chelsea: Rough class

I don't know whether the game was overly ugly or bad-tempered but it was certainly was cracking entertainment... and that Lampard lob... awesome! When Drogba scored that late equaliser, even I as a neutral, I punched the air and leapt from the sofa. Chelsea are a class act - efficient and deadly - but, yes, they are pretty rough round the edges too. But is that wrong? It seems to work for them...

Fantastic result too for my unofficial 'second' team - Liverpool. Great European side... so horribly inconsistent in the Premiership

Disgruntled of Markyate

I have broken an adult threshold... No, not getting engaged... No, I contacted a radio phone-in to express my opinion.

I was listening to the excellent 5Live debating a report that the UK has the worst teenagers in Europe. It pushed all my "I'm trying to make a difference for young people" buttons and I had to comment. Not that I was gutsy enough to ring in - just tapped away on my email...

However, what the report and the subsequent debate shows is that Crusaders / Urban Saints are on to something. What is required is time with adults, not just hanging out together i.e. relational youthwork, structured activities and mentoring. Problem is that volunteers prepared to defy the demonisation of 'yoof' are like gold dust - the media constantly portrays young people as yobs and lay-abouts and it puts a greater distance between adults and young people.

We are all responsible - every adult - parents, teachers, youth leaders, politicians, church leaders, journalists, everyone - for guiding and encouraging development in young people. It is simple - stop blaming everyone else and start taking responsibility for our rising generation

But it is not all bad - despite the fact that we are the worst in Europe, the stats show that good and decent young people are still (just about) in the majority. We know that there are young people out there that want to change their worlds and make a difference. They are of good character and take responsibility for their actions. And this is what Urban Saints is all about. The heart of it is developing a generation of kids and young people that want to agents of change, making a God-honouring difference in the world they live in... Lord, bring it on...