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[b]Boothroyd: Marlon Would Be Goal King[b]
Manager Adrian Boothroyd believes Watford would not be staring relegation in the face if key striker Marlon King had been available all season.
Watford head into Saturday's Barclays Premiership clash at Middlesbrough bottom of the table, 11 points from safety with just seven games remaining.
King scored twice in eight appearances before suffering a knee injury last October and Boothroyd expects the Jamaican international would have reached double figures for the campaign.
That could have been the difference between relegation and survival for a side who have drawn seven of their home games this season - more than any other Premiership team.
"Our season would have been much different if Marlon had been available," said Boothroyd.
"We haven't had a player who can score goals for us and with a goalscorer you can play very poorly and win. We have played very poorly and not won.
"When you don't score goals, as a game goes on or as a season goes on, there is always an inevitability that someone will score at your end because of the quality we face every week.
"But if you do score a few goals early you can get some momentum going. Nobody has turned us over massively so I do think it could have been a lot different.
"I would say it is not fair to put it all on Marlon's shoulders, nor is it fair to say the other players haven't applied themselves.
"They have done and are doing as much as they can."
King returned to light training this week and there is a chance he may play again this season, though a place in the squad for next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United appears unlikely.
Boothroyd believes the impact King's injury had on Watford's season is indicative of how far the club still need to travel if they are to establish themselves permanently in the top flight.
The Hornets were unable to find a suitable replacement for King - little wonder given the club currently employ no overseas staff to scout for potential talent on the Continent.
It is in the area of recruitment that Boothroyd knows he must improve Watford's standing and he looks to Bolton's Sam Allardyce for inspiration.
"Fifty percent of teams that come up go straight back down," said Boothroyd.
"The teams that have stayed up have had a backer. The only ones that haven't were probably Charlton and Bolton and that was a while ago.
"Sam thought about where his club was and he went and found an untapped market.
"He found out about Spain and got players like Ivan Campo. He got his free transfers like Jussi Jaaskelainen and improved his recruitment.
"That is where I am at now. The one percent that will make the difference is recruitment. We have got to improve it.
"In budget terms we are bottom of the Premiership and probably halfway up the Championship. That is where we are at."
Whatever happens at the end of the season, Boothroyd is convinced Watford will be stronger for the experience.
And he is determined to learn the lessons from a campaign he describes as a "crash course" in how to be a Premiership club.
Boothroyd said: "The lessons are harsh but they are there for you if you want them. We have learned so much this season.
"I look at other teams and ask what have they got that we haven't?
"We have had a lot of plusses from this season but we weren't prepared when we came up.
"In Bolton's case they found
Manager Adrian Boothroyd believes Watford would not be staring relegation in the face if key striker Marlon King had been available all season.
Watford head into Saturday's Barclays Premiership clash at Middlesbrough bottom of the table, 11 points from safety with just seven games remaining.
King scored twice in eight appearances before suffering a knee injury last October and Boothroyd expects the Jamaican international would have reached double figures for the campaign.
That could have been the difference between relegation and survival for a side who have drawn seven of their home games this season - more than any other Premiership team.
"Our season would have been much different if Marlon had been available," said Boothroyd.
"We haven't had a player who can score goals for us and with a goalscorer you can play very poorly and win. We have played very poorly and not won.
"When you don't score goals, as a game goes on or as a season goes on, there is always an inevitability that someone will score at your end because of the quality we face every week.
"But if you do score a few goals early you can get some momentum going. Nobody has turned us over massively so I do think it could have been a lot different.
"I would say it is not fair to put it all on Marlon's shoulders, nor is it fair to say the other players haven't applied themselves.
"They have done and are doing as much as they can."
King returned to light training this week and there is a chance he may play again this season, though a place in the squad for next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United appears unlikely.
Boothroyd believes the impact King's injury had on Watford's season is indicative of how far the club still need to travel if they are to establish themselves permanently in the top flight.
The Hornets were unable to find a suitable replacement for King - little wonder given the club currently employ no overseas staff to scout for potential talent on the Continent.
It is in the area of recruitment that Boothroyd knows he must improve Watford's standing and he looks to Bolton's Sam Allardyce for inspiration.
"Fifty percent of teams that come up go straight back down," said Boothroyd.
"The teams that have stayed up have had a backer. The only ones that haven't were probably Charlton and Bolton and that was a while ago.
"Sam thought about where his club was and he went and found an untapped market.
"He found out about Spain and got players like Ivan Campo. He got his free transfers like Jussi Jaaskelainen and improved his recruitment.
"That is where I am at now. The one percent that will make the difference is recruitment. We have got to improve it.
"In budget terms we are bottom of the Premiership and probably halfway up the Championship. That is where we are at."
Whatever happens at the end of the season, Boothroyd is convinced Watford will be stronger for the experience.
And he is determined to learn the lessons from a campaign he describes as a "crash course" in how to be a Premiership club.
Boothroyd said: "The lessons are harsh but they are there for you if you want them. We have learned so much this season.
"I look at other teams and ask what have they got that we haven't?
"We have had a lot of plusses from this season but we weren't prepared when we came up.
"In Bolton's case they found
- T.K.
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