Quique Flores builds his Watford side from back to front

Quique Flores builds his Watford side from back to front

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Quique Sanchez Flores has adopted what many may call a safety first approach in his first handful of Premier League games as Watford’s Head Coach.

Away showings at Everton and Manchester City saw the Hornets defend deep and in numbers for long periods. Troy Deeney offered an outlet as a counter-attacking option at Goodison Park, but nobody whatsoever played as a centre-forward at the Etihad.

With two home 0-0 draws sandwiched in-between, against West Brom and Southampton, concerns have been raised as to what Flores has to offer as an offensive coach. But there is an equally strong argument which says that the Spaniard has just been prioritising the true needs of his team.

Under the Pozzo regime over the last three years, Watford developed a reputation for themselves as an attacking side which plays at a high tempo, largely as a result of Gianfranco Zola and Slavisa Jokanovic’s approaches, rather than any intentions from the owners.

Zola saw his side comfortably top the Championship scoring charts in the 2012-13 season, with Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra both reaching the 20-goal mark, while a disappointing follow-up campaign still saw the Hornets notch the third highest number of goals in the league – despite finishing 13th. Only Champions Bournemouth scored more than Watford last season, as the Hertfordshire side were promoted to the Premier League for the third time in their history.

These numbers have thrilled Watford fans, many of whom would observe that the squad built over the last three years is the best they have ever seen at Vicarage Road, but have brought with them a certain expectation which was always going to be hard to fulfill back in the top tier.

While goals were flying in at one end from 2012-2014, the failure to achieve promotion in either season can be put down to the fact that they were being shipped at the other with alarming regularity. Concentration lapses and injury-time wobbles plagued Zola and his successor Beppe Sannino.

While Jokanovic was finally able to rely on a settled defence by the end of last season, one which conceded just four goals in the crucial final seven games, it was still accepted that reinforcements and improvements would have to be made.

Cue Flores.

Realising these issues, Gino Pozzo called on the Spaniard to become the Hornets’ fifth head coach in the last 12 months, knowing full well the necessary approach that he would take.

With the thirst for the high-tempo bravado to be carried into the Premier League on several supporter’s agendas, the club took a different stance.

Between Flores and his seniors, five defensive players were signed – Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Miguel Britos, Jose Holebas and Nathan Ake – while Valon Behrami and Etienne Capoue arrived with protection of a new look back four in mind.

While offensive players were also acquired later in the window, the early captures of defensive talent was a clear indication of where Flores felt he had to strengthen.

The implementation of a rigid 4-2-3-1 system has also irked some – playing two out-and-out strikers was fundamental to promotion – but in reality, if Watford are to build as an established Premier League club, they need to forget how they got here and think about how to stick.

Flores will not select players who do not buy into his methods – a solid back four, the midfield and defence remaining compact and players capable of handling the ball with care. The treatment of Matej Vydra and Fernando Forestieri, two talented fans favourites, is indicative of where players who do not fit this criteria stand in Flores’ thinking.

While two blanks at home to vulnerable opposition, combined with the departure of the beloved aforementioned pair, led to several ludicrously premature grumbles, the plan appears to be coming together.

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The Hornets did not concede at home in their first three games at Vicarage Road. To put that into context, only Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea side have achieved such a feat since 2010 and beyond. Such performances cannot be forgotten among the dearth of goals, it is a remarkable achievement for a side which was expected to struggle at that end of the pitch.

If defensive performances come anywhere close to repeating what has been served up over the first five games, then Watford will remain a Premier League side. Burnley did not concede many for a relegated club last season, but lost seven games just 1-0 – three or four clean sheets in those games could have kept them up.

Clearly goals are important, but with Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo upfront, they will come. There was evidence of improvements being made against Swansea on Saturday, and Flores has confirmed his intention to work on offence more now that he feels secure in his back-line. Almen Abdi, Jose Manual Jurado and Victor Ibarbo will also grow into this new look team.

Watford fans may wish that their Championship style could be translated to this top level, but the reality is that they would be back down there sooner than you can say ‘clean sheet’.

Flores is a man with a plan. Next stop – a vulnerable Newcastle United.

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