Seemingly forever, the claim has been mounted by people of my generation that times have changed and not always for the better. I remember when Graham Taylor was asked what changes could be made for the benefit of the game and he replied quickly: “Shoot all the agents.”

He not only thought they complicated standard transfer arrangements but, as they more often than not took more than 10 per cent for their contributions, he pointed out it was money going out of the game.

I remember one Saturday after the match, Graham invited me in to his inner sanctum to meet his latest signing, Frenchman Alexandre Bonnot. Alex was a lovely individual, forever polite, courteous and willing to co-operate.

“And this is the agent who brought him to me,” said Graham with a smile, for he knew I had always got on well with former Hornet Billy Jennings who, it transpired, was Alex’s agent.

“I don’t mind paying a finder’s fee to Billy because I would not have found Alex on my own. What I object to is when you watch a player, the agent contacts you and sets up the deal, and then asks you for a finder’s fee, when you already know of the player’s existence. That is ridiculous,” said Graham.

Another member of the old school, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he became extremely frustrated dealing with the agent of the then, promising young academy product Paul Pogba. The player left United, urged by his agent Mino Raiola, who Ferguson made clear he did not like at all.

An irony then when we discovered Manchester United were paying £89million for a player they had on their books and the agent was reportedly receiving anything between £20m and £40m as his cut of the transfer fee: definitely a case of money going out of the game.

It is said that FIFA are seeking ways to curb this unhealthy trend but I for one won’t hold my breath.

This piggy-back culture is to be seen at every turn. Go Compare and the like. On some, we are told repeatedly on television, you can receive a cuddly toy, cheap cinema tickets etc. Who is paying for these adverts and discounts? Joe Public who uses the services.

For instance, such organisations obtain a cheaper quote from insurance companies because they bring them customers in bulk, add on their own cut and then charge accordingly the person looking for insurance.

We are in the midst of this and compensation culture and adverts show us caring lawyers, concerned you are not receiving proper restitution. They are so empathetic, they will work on your behalf - for a healthy price. It has to be a healthy cut of the final compensation bill because, not least, they have all these adverts to pay for.

Another trend, this as a result of the internet, is the proliferation of fake news. Anyone can set up a website and peddle half-truths or recycled claims.

It is said that Pogba’s agent has stated that if Jose Mourinho wants to talk to the player, he has to do it through Raiola. This may well be fake news because I cannot see any club standing for that interference from an outsider, let alone an agent getting so far above his station.

Since then reportedly Raiola has insisted that he intends to “get Paul out of Manchester United”. He offered the player to Manchester City last season; Barcelona during the summer and is talking to Juventus about the possibility of a January move. Pogba, in the meantime, has made the odd remark suggesting he may move, because he doesn’t get on with Mourinho etc.

With his obsession with his hair, image etc, perhaps he is too distracted. Of course they can make as much noise as they like in an effort to weary United’s resolve but a player can only move clubs if the appropriate fee is paid. Allegedly Pogba, for some reason beyond my comprehension, is worth in excess of £100m.

Personally, I regard him as Paul Ponderous, a player too often caught out by the pace of the game. Apparently he played brilliantly for France, which escaped my vision, which may have been handicapped by my position in a Spanish bar as I watched the tournament. He played well on occasions but I did not think his performances rated rave reviews. Then again, seemingly I am off the pace.

Messes Gary Neville, Alan Shearer and Gareth Southgate thought Raheem Sterling had a great World Cup. I thought he was a disappointment: unable to bring club form to the international table. Yes he scored some 26 goals last season but has not scored for England for three years. Statistics such as that, used to count for something.

It is expected that Watford fans will be able to see Pogba in action this weekend although not even the United faithful know which Pogba will turn up for the match, because his inconsistency is as notable as his tendency towards the ponderous. Having said that, he will probably have a barn-stormer.

Watford fans are understandably delighted with the club’s four-game, 100 per cent start to the season but some are in danger of getting carried away.

“I will give you two words to sum up Watford this season: Leicester City,” said one fan on a phone-in, implying the Hornets could ape the Foxes and win the title. Another opined: “Who can touch us?”

Observing from a distance, Watford have a lot going for them but hard work and application has been the bedrock of their promising start. Anything less than that and the Hornets may find quite a few can touch them. Yes, I know Watford in 1982 took the top flight by storm with hard work, application and a well-drilled approach. But they also had two England internationals and one B International comprising their forward line. They also had two other regular internationals in defence and midfield.

But for all that, if Taylor’s squad had eased its foot off the pedal of industry and application, they would have finished far lower than second.