Latest news with #Hornets'
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Tom Cleverley was never going to survive Watford sack after deluded decision
Tom Cleverley's craven sacking by Watford leaves English football's most fickle club searching for their 11th head coach since 2020. And after the third-longest reign under Gino Pozzo's ownership was sawn off at 14 months, social media comedians have fresh material to feed their laughing-stock gags. Hornets boss Cleverley walked the plank after his end-of-season appraisal concluded, ludicrously, that failure to reach the play-offs with a squad among the bookies' pre-season favourites for relegation was somehow a sackable offence. To finish 14th with 57 points - one place higher and with one more point than last season - was not the true measure of Cleverley's rule. He was the first coach since Javi Gracia, who led Watford to the FA Cup final six years ago, to reconnect the fanbase with their team. But as another decent man is tossed overboard, Cleverley joins the Hornets' favourite son Luther Blissett - whose appointment as club ambassador was quietly discontinued, without explanation, earlier this season - as surplus to requirements. Pozzo was plotting to sack Cleverley in late January, lining up former Villarreal coach Juan Martin Rojo (also known as Pacheta), only for a tsunami of fan protests and the Spaniard running into work permit complications allegedly preventing the coup. In a hasty U-turn, Pozzo issued a statement on the morning of Watford's 2-1 defeat at Coventry claiming the Hornets hierarchy were 'committed to support him and look forward to the challenges ahead together.' Wayne Rooney names two ex-teammates he was surprised to see become managers Premier League promise over FA Cup final broken due to Man Utd and Tottenham That pledge can now be filed in the same folder as the reneged promise to back Rob Edwards 'come hell or high water' - before Edwards was binned after just 10 games in 2022. When Cleverley presided over a textbook home win in February against doomed arch-rivals Luton Town, who were relegated on the last day of term, he looked safe for at least the remaining 12 games. But as Watford's hopes of a top-six finish faded, the twitchiest trigger finger in English football was reaching for the holster again. At face value, Watford's results since Christmas - 20 points from the last 24 games and just nine points from the last available 36 - left Cleverley vulnerable. But if the Hornets power-brokers genuinely believed he could reach the play-offs with only two fit strikers - 19-year-old greenhorn Mamadou Doumbia and the perpetually infuriating Vakoun Bayo - they were not just deluded. They were living in cloud cuckoo land or One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest territory. Bayo finished the season as top scorer with 10 goals, but five of them came in a single week, with four in the same game at Sheffield Wednesday six months ago, a freak show which has long been dismissed by despairing fans as a mirage in the desert. Notably, neither Pozzo nor executive chairman Scott Duxbury put their names to the statement announcing Cleverley's departure, leaving sporting director Gian Luca Nani as mouthpiece for yet another dollop of corporate hogwash from Vicarage Road. 'We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as Head Coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff,' said Nani, trotting out the party line. 'But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefitted from the experience of the Championship this season. 'It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom; to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this and I'm sure he will have a bright future in the game. Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years.' The former England midfielder, who won 13 caps for the Three Lions and represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, issued a dignified statement after the axe fell. He said: 'After nine-and-a-half years of my life - as a loanee, player, captain, academy coach and head coach - my time at the club has come to an end. "After the sadness wears off, I will forever have a feeling of gratitude and happiness towards the club and the place and people of Watford. To have built a connection with the players and supporters over the last 14 months has been special and the achievement I'm most proud about. "To see the development of our key players, young players and academy players has been an incredibly rewarding part of my job and their progress in the game will always be something I look out for. To the club I'm grateful for the opportunity, the players for their efforts, and the supporters myself and my family will forever appreciate the love and support you have given me on this journey. "I repeat I will be sad that it's over, but full of happiness that it ever happened. And I hope it's not the final time our paths cross. You 'Orns." With 35-year-old Cleverley's departure, it leaves Portsmouth's John Mousinho as the season's sole survivor among head coaches and managers in the lower half of the Championship. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. 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USA Today
19-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hornets' Charles Lee on why he made ex-Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker assistant coach
Hornets' Charles Lee on why he made ex-Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker assistant coach Fans of the Boston Celtics who do not follow other NBA teams very closely might be surprised to learn that the Charlotte Hornets have some pretty deep ties to the Celtics organization. Former Boston big man Grant Williams, of course, cut his teeth playing with Boston, the team that drafted him out of the University of Tennessee. But the ties go deeper, with current Hornets head coach Charles Lee a former Celtics assistant coach, and Boston point guard alum Kemba Walker now serving as an assistant coach for Lee. On the day of the Celtics last game of the NBA's 2024-25 regular season, local media caught up with Lee at TG Garden as Charlotte came to town to play the Celtics, and Lee explained why he elected to make Walker an assistant coach. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say about making coach Cardiac Kemba a thing. If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," "Celtics Lab," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network. Listen to the "Celtics Lab" podcast on: Apple Podcasts: Spotify:
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 10 most regretful fantasy basketball picks (by round) from the 2024-25 NBA season
Drafting in fantasy basketball is as much art as science. Sometimes, what seems like a sure thing turns into a mistake. Here's a quick rundown of the most disappointing picks from each round based on Yahoo's preseason data. Joel Embiid was trending toward a bust after sporting a gigantic knee brace at the Paris Olympics and then announcing at Sixers' media day that he would not only receive periodic maintenance days but would also not play back-to-backs for the rest of his career. Embiid's body failed him yet again, and fantasy managers got 19 games out of the former MVP. Embiid's numbers were ok when he played — 23/8/5, but he lacked the stocks and efficiency that fantasy hoopers hoped for. Even if you got him for a discount later in the preseason, it wasn't worth the draft price. The Hornets' unfortunate injury luck likely caused the franchise to pack it in earlier than expected. Still, Ball did not live up to his ADP, currently ranking 55th in 9-cat leagues. His inefficiency and turnover rate continue to impact his fantasy stock. I'm not off him yet because he can be a great fantasy asset with the right team build that centers around his strengths in points, assists, 3s and steals. 2024-2025 wasn't the year, though. Paul George was a high-key candidate here, but I'm crowning Markannen as the third-round miss. As of Tuesday, he's played 47 of 72 games this year, so in addition to not being available, his scoring and rebounding numbers have plummeted compared to his last two seasons. Part of the blame should go to the Jazz being an unserious team, but Markkanen didn't anchor anyone's fantasy team as an eighth-round value this year. I tried to focus more on underwhelming production than injuries, but IQ's inability to stay on the floor as a fourth-rounder was a crucial blow to the guard depth of many fantasy units. It makes you wonder how he'll be next year, knowing that Brandon Ingram (more on him below), a capable playmaker, will soak up some assist and scoring usage. I certainly wouldn't touch Quickley at this cost next season. Fantasy managers couldn't have anticipated Ingram having the worst sprained ankle in NBA history. He hasn't played in a game since December 17, and getting traded from one bottom-tier team (Pelicans) to another one (Raptors) mid-season didn't add any motivation for him to return. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] Holiday is better in real life than fantasy these days. His numbers are down in points, rebounds, assists and FG percentage, making him a 10th-round value in 9-cat leagues this season. I believed in a Nurk resurgence under Mike Budenholzer. However, it was a disaster. He was unplayable and lost his starting spot, only to be shipped to Charlotte during the season. He's 237th in 9-cat leagues and hasn't been worth rostering for most of the season. The off-court drama may have spilled over to the court because he was objectively terrible. He put up his worst numbers in nine seasons and, like many, I sent him to the waiver pool within a month of the campaign. It was easily one of my worst picks this year, as he ranks outside the top 250. The fantasy community overvalued Caruso's defensive contributions because he should not have been a ninth-round pick in fantasy. While still a steals merchant, he couldn't replicate his success as a sixth-man type on both ends. Caruso's scoring and efficiency dipped and he was primarily a streaming option for most of the season despite being drafted in 100% of leagues. He hasn't been awful but performed two rounds lower than his ADP. Smart was drafted in 95% of leagues, so don't be too hard on yourself for falling into the trap. Now that he's in Washington, the injury risk and a bench role don't lend much opportunity for success in fantasy.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draymond receives flagrant 1, tech after striking Hornets' Salaun
Draymond receives flagrant 1, tech after striking Hornets' Salaun originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Warriors star Draymond Green was penalized for being too physical and animated during Monday night's 119-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Green was issued a flagrant 1 foul and technical foul after physically boxing out and striking Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun during the third quarter following a missed three-point shot from Charlotte star LaMelo Ball. Green obviously wasn't happy with the officiating crew afterward. A 13-year Golden State veteran, Green has committed his very fair share of blatant, overzealous infractions. This one, though, wasn't too bad. But you can be the judge. Nevertheless, the play resulted in Green's 17th career flagrant foul and – get this – 162nd technical. That's a lot of overzealousness. Green now unfavorably has reached two flagrant fouls in three consecutive campaigns. Green's technical, too, was his 12th of the 2024-25 NBA season and spoiled what was his lowest total since he collected 11 during the 2014-15 season. Green was 25 then and is 35 now. While he might have gray hairs these days, Green remains the same, fierce competitor he was a decade ago. Outside of Green's wacky foul, the veteran forward had a more-than-productive game. He finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds (four offensive), seven assists, two steals and as a game-high plus-20 over 28 minutes. Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Win over Luton 'massive'
Watford defender James Abankwah hailed their three points against Luton at Vicarage Road as "massive" following five successive home defeats. The 21-year-old kept his place alongside Kevin Keben at the heart of the Hornets' defence, although both had to go off in the second half, as they kept their eighth clean sheet of the season. "It was important for the team and the fans to get this win. Once we got the first goal it settled us down and we then pushed on to get the second goal and after that everyone was a bit more relaxed and calm," the Dubliner told BBC Three Counties Radio. "I thought me and Kevin did quite well in the last game and but Mattie (Pollock) is also a very good player as well and today when he was called upon (as a substitute), he was brilliant. "We've got plenty of cover and it's good to have that competitiveness around that centre-back position and we just push each other each day in training to get the best out of each other." Watford are ninth in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City, but Abankwah added: "We're not thinking too far ahead - just take it game by game and keep doing our best."
