Jonathan Hogg is the second Hornet to face the Vital Interview
Jonathan Hogg played for a number of managers at Aston Villa, including the likes of Martin O’Neill, Kevin McDonald, Gerard Houllier and Alex McLeish. However, it was the Frenchman who made the biggest impact on the Hornet’s enforcer.
Houllier handed Hogg his league debut for the Villans, a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United – a game Hogg will never forget:
“It was unbelievable, it was the day before I got told [I`d be starting]. He [Gerard Houllier] didn`t want to tell me but he just said look, “I`ll put you in the picture now.
“To be put up for your debut at home against Man United, it`s a dream come true, it`s wicked.’
A whole-hearted and extremely committed player, described by former boss Sean Dyche as having a ‘bucket load of hearts’, Hogg immediately made an excellent impression at Vicarage Road:
“Playing against Blues it was probably a derby for me. It was a good game and we got a draw out of it so it wasn`t a bad debut.”
Having played under a plethora of managers with Villa, Hogg is well-placed to comment on new boss Gianfranco Zola, someone who has struck a chord with the young midfielder:
“He [Zola] likes to keep the ball and attack as soon as you win the ball back or turn the ball over. The formation looks really good and the more we play that formation the better we`ll get.’
REMEMBER. This is an extract from the Official Watford F.C matchday programme for tomorrow’s match with Birmingham City. Make sure you pick up a programme to read the entire in-depth interview with Jonathan.
In my books Watford finest player….. Does things that slip under the radar…… Does the nasty horrid things well….. For all the new blood coming in we already had our best player here all along….