Our series of 2015-16 EPL team previews continues with a look at the newly-promoted Watford FC.
Transfers
The Hornets have been busy in the transfer market, with the Pozzo family using their extensive knowledge of European football to the best effect possible. The signings of Jose Manual Jurado and Steven Verghuis for relatively small fees look to be potential coups, while Premier League experience has been added in the form of Etienne Capoue and Valon Behrami.
Allan Nyom and Matej Vydra have signed permanent deals from sister club Udinese, after Vydra sent two of the last three seasons on loan at the club.
Pozzo will stick two metaphorical fingers up at those questioning the foreign influx and continue to trade, so we expect to see at least two or three more additions to the squad before the 31st of August.
Last season
The 2014-15 campaign could not have gone much better for Watford, with automatic promotion to the Premier League achieved for the first time in the club’s history.
Despite getting through four Head Coaches and another high turnover in playing staff, they fought through the perceived chaos and achieved a top two finish with a second-half of the season dash.
The chaotic nature of the season extended itself onto the pitch, with Slavisa Jokanovic’s side winning extraordinarily, coming from 2-0 down at home to Blackpool at half-time to win 7-2, and overcoming Bolton 4-3 in a back and fourth thriller.
The only disappointment was a last minute Sheffield Wednesday equaliser on the final day, costing Watford the Championship title, but that was otherwise a small blemish on a famous season.
Manager
Watford became the first club promoted to the Premier League to change their Head Coach in the summer, but in Quique Sanchez Flores, they appear to have found a gem.
The Spaniard has the development of Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa and David de Gea to boast on his CV and, despite facing a very different challenge here, will hope to impart the same wisdom over this squad.
His change in formation and style may cause some teething problems, but his class as a coach should ease them as best as possible.
Strengths
Flores has named Rafa Benitez as a mentor and Watford fans can get used to a far more measured and pragmatic approach than was witnessed last season when goals flew in with regularity at both ends – especially away from home.
The manager would be wrong to abandon that bravado all together, however, with his forward line more than capable of bringing their goals into the Premier League.
Troy Deeney became the first Watford player to net 20 times in three consecutive seasons during that promotion campaign, while Odion Ighalo joined him in reaching the 20 mark. Matej Vydra scored 16, despite finding himself on the bench for much of the run-in.
With Almen Abdi and new man Jose Manual Jurado also more than capable of chipping in, there is plenty of firepower in the squad, and the Hornets have a chance of avoiding the problem of finding the net which many promoted sides fall foul of.
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Weaknesses
Slavisa Jokanovic’s promotion-winning side was defending better by the end of the season, but there was always a feeling that Watford were a disaster waiting to happen defensively. Fullback was the team’s Achilles’ heel, crosses from wide were the obvious way to target the heart of the Hornets’ defence, and that side of their game will need to be improved upon.
An entirely new back four has potentially been invested in – although Miguel Britos from Napoli will be unavailable for the first couple of games through suspension – but there will be intrigue surrounding two new full-backs Allan Nyom and Jose Holebas.
They will be relied upon both to defend strongly and offer width in attacking areas and Flores’ side’s success may boil down to how well the new-look back four gels as a unit.
Key Player
Deeney is the club’s talisman and will be aiming to lead the line in the same heroic vain which he managed last season. Having made history in becoming the first Hornet to score 20 goals three seasons in-a-row, the challenge will be to replicate those displays at the highest level.
He has immense self-confidence, however, and if he is at his best then his natural leadership skills are bound to pull the rest of his teammates with him.
Best XI
(4-2-3-1) Gomes; Nyom Cathcart Prodl Holebas; Capoue Behrami; Jurado Ighalo Abdi; Deeney.
Prediction
The first season up is always the hardest and Flores will take safety any way it comes as the club look to establish themselves at the highest level.
It will not be easy though, as a new look squad and manager try to gel, but there is enough class to keep the Hornets in the Premier League. Patience may be required early on, but things should work themselves out and there is certainly hope that the final day of the season may be a quieter affair than May 2015.
Predicted finish – 16th
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