The Hornets survive another season in the top-flight thanks to their early frenzy and will look to build on what was successful as the hunt for another new manager begins.
Watford were promoted from the Championship last season and were the favourite of many to head straight back down. After going through a slew of managers, the Pozzo family of owners finally settled on Quique Sanchez Flores to lead the club in their first attempt to stay in the Premier League. Flores was not going to have an easy job though and with 16 signings made over the summer, his task was to make sure the team clicked and to keep them away from relegation.
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The story
Premier League survival was the number one priority for manager Quique Flores. The Hornets started the season off fairly well with striker Odion Ighalo in top form, who would be on 13 goals come the end of December. These goalscoring antics would have Watford in seventh at the end of the year, and amazingly just one point off a top four spot.
The second-half of the season, however, saw them slump. Ighalo would score just four more goals throughout the entire league campaign. Progress to the FA Cup semi-finals was an added bonus, where they lost out to Crystal Palace, but their focus on cup games hindered their performances in the premier league. Watford would finish the season in 13th spot on the ladder with 12 wins, nine draws and 17 losses and safe from relegation, the fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Key Player – Troy Deeney
Captain Troy Deeney was the rock of the Hornets’ campaign. With 15 goals and seven assists, the Englishman was the second highest goalscorer for the team throughout the season, yet he set up many for Ighalo, who topped the stats. Even though his forward partner scored more goals, Deeney’s workrate and attitude on-field made him the standout player throughout the season.
Manager
Quique Sanchez Flores came to Vicarage Road with a huge job on his hands – first and foremost being survival in the Premier League. With 16 signings over the offseason, he had the tricky task of getting the team to blend together. Flores succeeded during the first-half of the season, but things began to go awry after December with several tactical decisions leaving fans confused, and too much of a reliance on Ighalo. Resting some players for the FA Cup semi-finals backfired, and the slide continued towards the end of the season.
Off-season recruitment
Nathan Ake is likely heading back to Chelsea now that his loan has finished, and Joel Ekstrand is out of contract. Key areas the Hornets need to be investing in are forwards, creative midfielders and a goalkeeper. Deeney and Ighalo need another striker to battle for a spot with, and to keep them hungry to perform well. Depth in midfield is lacking, and whoever is the new manager should focus on bringing in a chance generating playmaker. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had a fantastic season, but at 35 it is not known how much longer he can keep it up. A backup or replacement gloveman is definitely needed.
Grade C-
The club played fantastic football in the first-half of the season, but the wheels came off in the latter stages and they relied too much on Ighalo to keep his form up. Watford’s run through the FA Cup to the semi-finals was also a highlight and with the fact that Flores came in and had to deal with so many new recruits, means it was a fairly successful season.
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