Don't predict until you know the score

4:02pm Tuesday 15th January 2002

WITHOUT doubting the commitment of those who did not go to Italy, I think it is fair to say those who took in Watford's tour are unlikely to miss many games over the forthcoming campaign and probably haven't missed a Watford match in many moons.

Being so committed, they are unlikely to rock the boat, one supposes and indeed, after one of the most desultory practice match displays I have witnessed in a build-up to a season, some of the committed were confidently forecasting a top-six place for the Hornets.

They did have one reservation: namely that the new striker had to be someone worthwhile. With that in mind, they predicted the Hornets would finish in position varying from second to fifth.

The next group I found myself in conversation with, were slightly older. One of them I had first met back in the pre-season trip to Norway in 1982, but I had seen him around a few years before that.

"We are trying to be something we are not," he said and his mates expressed a similar feeling of apprehension.

Another, well-known fan, said: "I have never approached a season with less enthusiasm or confidence."

I think these viewpoints are understandable. It is a new club, with the same name. There have been so many changes it is not easy for those who regarded themselves as part of the family, to accept them all.

There has been such a change of identity, it is harder to identify with the club.

So, there is a natural tendency to analyse some of the peripheral changes and draw conclusions.

It was lamentable the Watford players did not come over and applaud the fans for having made the long haul to watch them in Italy. It was careless, but I am not convinced by some of the conclusions being drawn.

I am quite sure the players will be identifying with the fans before long and, if all goes well, I am sure the fans will identify with the players.

I am similarly sure Luca Vialli is not trying to snub the Watford Observer or the readers who rely upon the newspaper for the details behind the Watford news, by only giving us a few minutes in Italy.

Hopefully, things will settle down and much of the old order will return, only it will be approached from a different angle.

As for where Watford will finish, the Observer newspaper phoned me and asked for an opinion. I thought Watford might gain a play-off place, but I must admit, when I read that statement after flying back from witnessing the Sampdoria game, I did feel perhaps I had been a little too optimistic.

But then we are all like that at the moment. One really bad performance and they are never going to do nothing, not nohow.

Then comes the news of signing Marcus Gayle and the barometer looks "set fair" again.

I think it is going to take time. The cultural revolution being brought about at Vicarage Road, will take weeks to take root and germinate. That is why I think Watford will come on stronger as the season goes on, with the proviso that they do not suffer too many confidence-eroding defeats earlier on.