Aidy: Size not important

Watford supremo Aidy Boothroyd believes that having a small squad is advantageous because it keeps his troops hungry and happy.

Speaking to the club’s official website Boothroyd argued, “I prefer to keep a nice hungry camp that is committed to the cause. “People like Clarke Carlisle and James Chambers, who are out of the team right now, are as motivated and as up for it as they were when they were in the team, looking to push the lads who are playing at the moment.”

Some of Watford’s Championship rivals, notably Reading Sheffield United, Leeds United and Crystal Palace, have greater resources – both financially and in terms of playing staff- but straight-talking Boothroyd believes that having a big squad is not always an advantage. “If you’ve got a big squad you’ve got a lot of players to keep happy. “I think that there are some clubs up there with us in the table who need to buses to go to away games to make enough room for all their players!”

Aidy also emphasised that each and every player plays a key role at the Hertfordshire-based club. “Everybody plays a part because at some stage everybody needs to be brought off or even not starting a game. “The people on the bench will get their opportunity. “It might be that we get an injury for the last game of the season – perhaps the play off final – and the replacement has got to feel that he’s part of it and I think that we’ve done that here.”

Hornets’ fans would undoubtedly settle for a play off final something that was inconceivable only twelve months ago under the negative Lewington regime.