Richard Lee's BLog

Inactive In Austria

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We’re back in the UK after what was, for most, a gruelling week in Austria.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the case for me. Within a couple of days of training over there I woke up to feel that my knee was stiff and quite swollen. It’s a problem I’ve been dealing with for some months now; it meant that I trained very little towards the end of last season and it was just a case of doing enough to get by without aggravating it.

Being at the start of the season I don’t want to go down that road again as it can be tough to hit top form when doing minimal training and the physios have advised against that anyway.
This, though, means that I’m likely to be a couple more weeks out with this while the swelling goes down and I strengthen the knee, therefore there’s a good chance I’ll miss the start of the season. Not ideal at all but thankfully the boss has been understanding and it’s been made clear to me that I’ve got to get my knee right before resuming training.

It makes sense because, as much as I hate sitting on the physios bed, I do realise that I could have 10 more years ahead of me, so if it means taking a few weeks to rehabilitate my knee then I’ve got to do it. I’ve been told I am in danger of having an arthritic knee and, to be honest, I don’t really fancy walking with a limp in a few years time!

The trip itself though was very good; the hotel was excellent, great food and plenty to do. The trip was also good for Jon Harley to integrate himself into the squad and he seems to have settled in very quickly.

The weather was very similar to England out there, to be honest, nice one day then raining for two days! I managed to watch a few films on the rainy days, including Transformers and Lord of War - for anyone who hasn’t seen these I’d definitely recommend both!

The lads did take part in some water rafting on Wednesday, again unfortunately my swollen knee meant a day in the hotel for myself but by all accounts everyone had a good day. There was also a friendly arranged against a local team out there on the final night. We came out 1-0 victors, it was quite a comfortable game though, in truth, and many positive signs for what is ahead regarding the style of football we will be playing.

On that note we did have several meetings regarding our style of play and all the lads are in agreement that this could be a very exciting season if we can perform it well and it's something I’m sure the fans will take to warmly. For a goalkeeper it means more variation in terms of distribution, something I am excited about.

We arrived back at Heathrow mid-Saturday afternoon and have been given the Sunday off. I’ve also been given Monday off and told to rest. I will be coming to the game on Tuesday night but only as a spectator. Hopefully the swelling in my knee will subside and I’ll be well on my way to recovery by the time I write next week. Fingers crossed.

(Be sure to check the photos as I’ll be adding a few from Austria in the near future)

Postcard From Austria

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

First week of pre-season under our belts, four more weeks until our first game away at Palace.

It's been a tough week as expected; those who are familiar with the bleep test will understand that's a tough start to any week. There were also many other speed and endurance drills to check the level that we are all at and to make sure we haven't let ourselves go over the summer break.

Everyone has come back in decent shape and the results were, on the whole, very good which as anyone will tell you makes pre-season a lot more bearable.

We've also had a few small-sided games as well as various possession games which means plenty of running but also a lot of touches with a ball, a great way to get fitness back both technically and physically.

The keepers generally don't join in with the possession drills and we'll go off with Alec to perform some handling and agility drills in order to gain the type of fitness needed to be a goalkeeper. Again, they are very understanding at Watford in the belief that different positions require different drills and by goalkeepers doing long runs it doesn't really help our game, whereas short sharp powerful drills can be just as hard and a lot more beneficial.

Unfortunately I've been feeling some pain in my knee the past day or two which is a problem I've had from the end of last season. All being well, a few days rest and I'll be back training at full capacity.

I'm currently writing this from Austria; we're staying at a lovely hotel up in the mountains and training on a pitch only a few minutes away by coach. Once training is finished we then head to the stream which we use as an ice bath to cool the muscles down. With the weather being very hot, for the first couple of days this is actually quite a nice way to finish training.

We've also just been informed that Steve Kabba has joined Blackpool on a six-month loan. Although things haven't been plain sailing since his move to Watford he is a popular figure in the dressing-room so I'm sure we all wish him well. Little else regarding transfers but once again it's still early days.

I guess that wraps things up for this week. I've been doing little more than eating, training and sleeping - although I have managed to watch a couple of good films already, for those who haven't seen 'Transformers' I highly recommend it!

At times the trip may not the most entertaining, it is a great way to get back into shape and ready for what lies ahead. Bye for now.

The Week Before We Return

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With pre-season round the corner it meant a tough week's training in an attempt to prepare myself for the five or six weeks ahead. I reported to the training ground along with a few other lads to do some work in the gym and to do some light goalkeeping work.

I'm also in the process of moving at the moment so spent most of Monday and Friday packing up my house preparation - not the most enthralling of tasks!

Once more, very little to report on the football front, barely any rumours to get excited about either...I'm sure that'll change very soon as pre-season gets underway.

I also had a couple of player appearances this week, the second of which was to be in goal for a penalty shootout in order to hopefully help raise a bit of money for the school. It was at Downley Primary school, near High Wycombe and, in fairness, although most of the boys and girls were young the standard of penalties was very impressive and gave me quite a workout!

I probably wasn't best prepared facing the penalties in flip-flops but I managed to save a few. It of course goes without saying that a few of the parents had a go and smashed some balls in my direction. I guess the temptation of getting to take a few penaties is too hard to resist whatever age you are!

I'm just as bad; I remember on a holiday to Malia a couple of years back there was a penalty shootout stall and I became slightly addicted. Two euros for three shots, score three and you win a bottle of champagne. Well I say champagne but I use the name loosley as it was quite possibly the worst thing I've ever tasted in my life!
Fortunately my friend Daren, who came with me, enjoyed it so I won him a couple of bottles (his penalties left a lot to be desired so was unlikely to win it himself!)

So, in short, although not the most pleasant of ordeals having balls smashed at you from five yards when you are wearing nothing more than a T-shirt, cargo shorts and flip-flops, I could fully understand the attraction!

As I said at the start, this was the final week before pre-season so will be back next Sunday in Austria with the squad to give you the details on how the first week has fared and hopefully more to tell you on the football front! until then...

Pre Pre-Season

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The last diary entry I wrote after Spain made the semi-finals and today I write this after they clinched the cup.

I think, like most, I felt they were very much worthy winners, not only on the night but in the competition as a whole. I mentioned Iker Casillas last week but once again, although he didn’t have much in terms of outstanding saves, his game was impeccable and it was great to see a keeper that isn’t necessarily your stereotypical keeper in terms of size etc.show that he’s arguably the best in the world right now.

Yet another quiet week on the football front, although I think that will change in the coming weeks as the transfer window reopens and players return to training.\Although we haven’t officially returned to training yet and don’t actually do so until July 7th, I’ve been at the training ground for most of the week to hopefully get a bit of a head start. I’ve been working very hard on the bike in an attempt to gain fitness but to also improve my thigh strength which in turn should help ease the pain that I’ve been feeling in my knee of late.

Earlier in the week I had Clarke Carlisle down to visit for a couple of days with his wife Gemma and his little boy Marley. We had a great couple of days which included a couple of rounds of golf and a barbecue that Lloyd Doyley and his girlfriend came to. It was also a chance for Clarke and Gemma to catch up with a few people they haven’t seen for a while after Clarke's move to Burnley last season.

I finished the week going to a concert at Brixton Academy to watch John Mayer perform, courtesy of one of the coaches at Watford - Greg De Carnys - which was very nice of him. Greg lived with me for the last couple of months of the season when he had nowhere to stay so treated me to the night and it was a very enjoyable evening.

So yet another week of the break over and only one more week to go before we return in pursuit of the Premiership. I seem to be the same every year in that I love my break and look forward to it most years but once I get to this point I’m ready to return and quite excited about doing so.

Although during pre-season you seem to be aching all over for a lot of it, it is a time of the season when you become incredibly fit and usually injury-free after having the break. Plus with the weather being nice I find it strangely enjoyable, It’s always been my favourite time of the season.

In The Swing

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Again little to report on the football front this week, although I'm writing this just after seeing Spain defeat Italy and I was especially pleased to see my personal idol Iker Cassillas coming out the hero after making two penalty saves to ensure a semi-final place.

It's very odd watching games in this tournament without England’s participation. I gotta be honest in that I’ve only watched a few games in their entirety which is very unlike me.

This week was quite an eventful one on a personal note. It began with a three-day trip to Spain with Ben and Alec; we played a couple of rounds of golf and spent the rest of the time by the pool.

Ben’s golf swing - as you could imagine - is much like his kicking. I’ve never seen anyone hit the ball quite so far, the only problem being is that it isn’t quite as accurate as his kicking. In fact he has to start the ball 100 yards to the left to ensure that it’ll slice back onto the fairway and then he has the audacity to complain when he fires it straight into the tree that he was aiming at!

Being my partner, this meant a few arguments along the way - made worse by the fact we were sharing a buggy. There was very little encouragement from our team!

Alec, on the other hand, was nice and steady, very much like his kicking! There was also plenty of banter; mainly on the normal subjects: Alec being old, Ben having a big head and I get away scot free.... okay maybe not, but I’m not about to provide any ammunition here.

I returned Wednesday and haven’t done much in the past few days except training on my own. It's getting closer to pre-season and I had a few problems with my knee before we finished so I want to ensure that I come back fully fit so I'm putting in the extra hours now. I've been doing a lot of work on the bike and I’m feeling the benefits already.

I’ve got Clarke Carlisle coming down for the next few days so I’m looking forward to that and, like a lot of people, will be keeping an eye on the tennis. Bye for now.

That was Florida...now for Foster!

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve written this week’s diary as of the 14th June as tomorrow I will be jetting off to Spain with Ben Foster and Alec Chamberlain for a few days' golf before returning and getting back into full swing (mind the pun) with next season.

I decided to cram all of my holiday time into three weeks this year - it’s usually the case as once the season begins you know it’ll be 11 months before you’ll be able to do it again.

Not much to report on the football front from WFC this week and imagine it may be quiet for a couple of weeks yet until the flurry of transfer activity gathers pace with all teams.

I had a nice week on a personal note, having been in Orlando all week and having the pleasure of swimming with Dolphins at the beginning of the week. I’ve never done that before and, for anyone who’s done it, they’ll know it’s an amazing experience.

I also visited Sea World on our tour of the theme parks and saw Shamu, the biggest dolphin of all (I only learnt that Killer Whales are dolphins while I was there so thought I’d impress you with my knowledge!).

I watched quite a bit of Tv over there and was strange to see David Beckham doing quite a few interviews on various shows over there - he really is a big hit. One quote in a magazine mentioned him as 'LA Galaxy star and all-round awesome guy'!

Also, quite randomly, I bumped into ex-WFC players Dominic Blizzard and Ryan Gilligan on separate occasions in the States, lads that I still keep in touch with and it's pleasing to see they’ve both gone off and had success elsewhere.

So as I write this I’m just about to jump in the car and head up north to Ben’s to enjoy the sights of Leamington this evening. My only worry is whether I’ll be having to make new friends with Ben fighting off admirers from his home town! I’m sure it’ll be fun...

Hello from Florida

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT

I've bought some credit for the internet in the hotel that I'm staying in so the length of this piece could have a lot to do with the speed of my typing!

Firstly, I've been keeping up to date with developments back home and I want to wish good luck to both Nathan and Jordan. At Watford we're quite a close bunch so it's always a bit sad when someone leaves. I'd like to send them my best wishes and I'm sure they'll both do well at Derby.

I've been here a week now, a week that's included a trip to Busch gardens, Disney, plenty of shopping, lots of mini-golf and a trip to a water park. The weather's been very hot, hitting 100 degrees at times, which did play some role in the decision to shave my head...although now my head is burnt!

Although I'm on holiday I have been using the time to get into the gym every morning (before my girlfriend wakes up!) and do some form of light exercise. It's great to rest the body but there's a fine line between resting or becoming lazy and unfit!

The one problem I've found over here is to try and maintain a healthy diet, the food is great and the portions are massive and generally covered in cheese! It hasn't been easy and if I can come home having only put on a few pounds I'll be happy!

I'm here for another week then I'm home for a day then off to spain with Ben Foster and Alec Chamberlain for a bit of golf to conclude my trips abroad for the summer.

Time to hit the gym....

The dust settles

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sat, 24 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT

A week and a half since my last entry and it's been a funny 10 days.

It literally took me five days to get up to anything productive once the season finished. I really felt drained - all of a sudden my body wasn’t needed to perform and I certainly felt the effects of that.

We were required to report to the training ground last Friday to have a meeting with Aidy and collect our individual schedule for the summer break. As you could imagine the mood around the place was still very low and I’m unsure as to how much it’ll have picked up since.

As I said, on a personal note I spent the first few days lazing around but have spent the last four days in a very productive way.

I attended a seminar called 'Wealth Mastery'. As the name suggests, this seminar is designed to help you organise your finances but, just as much as that, it’s also designed with the thought of making you realise that wealth doesn’t necessarily mean having lots of money. Some of the information I took in has really opened my mind to things that beforehand I had no idea about.

The seminar was designed by a man called Anthony Robbins; some of you may be familiar with his work. He calls himself a ‘life coach’ and, in a nutshell, provides information that, if used correctly, can help improve your life. I began reading his stuff a couple of years ago and I believe a large part of my improvement is due to his work.

To try and describe the seminar wouldn’t do it justice, it is such a bizarre experience but one that I believe many people would benefit from. I went on one of his seminars last year also and I recommend people to check him and some of his courses out. The seminar itself went from 8am to 9pm, so ever so slightly longer hours than that of a footballer!

So I’m sat here writing this after having barely slept for four days...but feeling inspired. So much of the course I could relate to football and where I want to go with my career. So, with my goals firmly in place, I’ll leave you for another week.

Lowest point to date

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Over the years I’ve had my arm split in two, my cheekbone depressed and a few other nasty injuries but none of them compare to the pain of last night.

I’m sure soon I’ll look back and be proud of my achievements this season, for on the whole it has been a great season personally. Last night was my 41st game, and the most I have played in one season to date, yet the season has finished on a low.

I’m the first to hold my hands up if I’ve made a mistake and I shoulder responsibility for Hull’s first goal. When the ball looped in the air my first thought was that I could get to the ball. I soon realised I wouldn’t make it which left me in ‘no man’s land’ and unfortunately the looping header got the better of me. There have been many defining moments that have shaped our season, many ifs and buts and last night was no different.

Even for someone as positive as me it can be hard to pick out the positives right now but I will try.

The first and major one being how we played over the two legs; we passed the ball around and created many chances. We will bounce back next season and will be much the wiser for our experiences of this term. The football we have played against Hull over the two legs is a sign of what’s to come in my eyes.

Another positive was the support we received up there; such a long way to travel yet our end was full as it normally is and our fans out-sang the Hull fans for the majority of the game. It was a real shame that we couldn’t show our appreciation at the end because the support was commented on by all of the lads.

On a personal note, I’ll bounce back from this I have no doubt. Last night for me signified the life of a goalkeeper: the highs and lows, one misjudgement and it can end in a goal.

I’ll find the positives from the situation and use them to improve myself. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and it’s because of that I’ll find the reason in this.

Of course I wish things would have turned out differently last night but I know I gave my best last night and this season - because of that I have no regrets.

Down, but not out

info@impaktmedia.co.uk — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We got the performance we demanded of ourselves but not the result.

We changed our formation and caused Hull many problems but unfortunately it was a case of missed chances and some great goalkeeping that means we’ll be going into the second leg two goals down. The feeling we all have is that if today is anything to go by, then we are far from dead and buried - if we can get the first goal that their place then this tie is still very much alive.

The week itself had been very good. We reported for training on the Tuesday after the end-of-season awards night. As a team, we had our own vote for Players Player of the Season and that award went to big Dan Shittu. He was obviously very touched to receive the award; he’s played a pivotal role in our season so far, also played his role in the African Cup of Nations and not to mention being voted in the Championship team of the season. A season he won’t forget I’m sure.

We trained at the training ground Tuesday and Wednesday, we were given Thursday off and then reported to Vicarage Road to train on Friday and Saturday. We trained at noon each day with the thought of getting us ready for the noon kick-off at the weekend. Training was of a very high standard; we tested the new 4-3-3 formation and worked on the new set-pieces.

On a personal note it was once again a very quiet week for me, with the end of the season close I feel it’s a case of keeping my head down and giving everything for the remainder, and whatever the outcome of this season I refuse to finish it having any regrets...going out for dinner on a couple of occasions with my girlfriend being the extent of my activities.

As it has been a week leading up to the play-offs I did find that I was asked to do a lot more media work than usual, including a couple of radio interviews and some stuff for a couple of newspapers.

So I guess the message this week is to keep believing, take heart like we players have from our performance. We’ll be going up to Hull with the dream of Wembley still very much in the forefront of our minds.

Until next week...