WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Theo Walcott of Arsenal crosses past Christian Kabasele of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on August 27, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
Watford FC avoided becoming another yo-yo club in the Premier League. Do they have enough to stay alive in year two?
Year one of the Premier League can often be very easy. Although there are certainly clubs that are relegated within one year, those that can find success are often able to build off of it and make a lengthy run in England’s top table. Last season, Watford FC (12-9-17, 45 points) fought, scratched, and clawed to finish thirteenth in the league and stay in the Premier League. Will they be able to do the same this season?
On the surface, it looks like their chances are good. Buoyed by additional revenue from the Premier League’s new television contract The Hornets spent the offseason making significant upgrades to their roster. Although the club may rue the loss of Almen Abdi, adding Isaac Success and Roberto Pereyra should give Watford at least a fighting chance to stay up and possibly dream bigger.
But questions remain as to the identity of this squad. Under the ownership Gino Pozzo Watford have adopted a model very similar to that Udinese, Pozzo’s other club. Although they have been successful in getting promoted the club has struggled to make any sort of an impact in the Premier League.
The hope is that new coach Walter Mazzarri can be the one to put everything together and to turn Watford into a consistent Premier League side. But the fear is that Mazzarri has been handed a team of mismatched parts and that he doesn’t have the experience to keep this team in the top flight.
So what are the three hopes and fears of Watford FC? Read on!
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Roberto Pereyra (R) of Watford runs with the ball watched by Mohamed Elneny during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on August 27, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Hope #1: That Roberto Pereyra can spark Watford’s attack.
Pereyra, 25, became Watford’s most expensive transfer signing in club history this offseason when he inked a deal with the side for reportedly 13 million pounds. The Argentine international played for Udinese for six seasons which may be where Watford management saw something in him.
While Pereyra showed some potential with Udinese he never really truly lived up to his potential with Juventus. In 69 appearances with Juve he would score just six goals and would fall out favor late in the 2015-2016 season. That being said, he did find some success as a winger with Juve coach Massimilliano Allegri using him more or less on counter-attacks and for crosses into the box.
With Watford Pereyra will be called upon to be the main focus on the attacking. He possesses a really good first touch that can often get opponents out of position. His finishing is also above average as evidenced by his brilliant strike against Arsenal last week.
The question is how he will work with Troy Deeney (15 goals in 2015-2016) and Odion Ighalo (15 goals) on the attack. Mazzarri may take a page out of Allegri’s book and place Pereyra out wide, giving him a chance to send in long crosses and take shots from distance. It may be the perfect spot for him to get his legs back (he played in just 16 matches for Juve last season) and get acclimated to the Premier League. No matter where he plays, he gives Mazzarri some depth up top which should help come the tough stretches in the winter.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Diego Costa of Chelsea has his shirt pulled by Sebastian Prodl of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road on August 20, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Hope #2: That they will have another standout year in defense.
The main reason why Watford were so successful was because of their stifling defensive work. The Hornets conceded just 50 goals last season, which was seventh lowest in the Premier League. Although that might still sound like quite a few goals, consider this: the club only allowed more than two goals in a match last season four times.
Considering two of those were against Arsenal, one was against West Ham United in London, and the final one was against a Norwich side at the end of the season when the Canaries were fighting relegation and Watford were getting ready to go to the beach that is not too shabby.
Although the club did make some additions on the attack that should lead to more goals, Mazzarri’s side will still heavily rely on the physical play of their defense. Sebastian Prodl, Juan Carlos Paredes, Craig Cathcart, and Allan Nyom all played prominent roles last season at imposing their will on their opponents and limiting the work of goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. In particular their work at limiting passing lanes and producing timely tackles made them a difficult side to break.
The question is now can they do this for a second season? The club lost Nyom in the offseason to West Bromwich Albion and it will be interesting to see where Younes Kaboul fits into the side. The good news is that thus far Cathcart and Max Britos have done a solid job at center-back. Kaboul has only played once this season but showed some promise against Arsenal.
Although results thus far have been less than desirable the hope is that Watford’s defense can put in another professional effort and stay in the Premier League.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes of Watford in action during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on August 27, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
Hope #3: That Heurelho Gomes’ second act can continue.
The Premier League does not have a comeback player of the year award but if it did may have gone to Heurelho Gomes last season. Gomes, 35, came back to the Premier League last season after basically not playing for four years and was arguably one of the top goalkeepers in the league His work with Watford’s defense helped keep The Hornets out of the relegation zone and at or near the top ten.
If Watford stay up at the end of the season chances are they will have Gomes to thank. Although his name is never really mentioned with the best in the world, keep in mind this is the same goalkeeper that won four consecutive Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven and helped push Tottenham to a top four finish back in 2009-2010.
What will be interesting to see is if another strong season with Watford leads not just to suitors outside of Vicarage Road but another call-up to the Brazilian national team.
Gomes will be called upon this season to make more difficult saves and to keep Watford in matches that they desperately need points out of. If he can do this he will give the second act of his career more legs.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Walter Mazzarri, Manager of Watford reacts during the Premier League match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road on August 20, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
The big fear: That Mazzarri is not the right type of coach for Watford.
Walter Mazzarri is a good coach. But is he the right type of coach for a club like Watford, a club that will at best finish in the top ten and at worst be fighting for relegation? That is the $60,000 question for The Hornets entering this season and thus far the results are not promising.
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The biggest problem with Mazzarri is that he has never really faced the specter of relegation. Although his coaching C/V features names like Sampordia, Inter Milan, and Napoli looking closer at the results there really was not that much success.
A few appearances in the Champions League, a Coppa Italia title and a second place finish with Napoli are really the only highlights for Mazzarri. The rest of his performances as manager have been fine, but not anything that really stands out.
The one exception may be his work with Reggina. Prior to their 2006-2007 campaign the club was deducted eleven points for their role in the Serie A match-fixing scandal. Despite being hit with a death sentence, Mazzarri kept Reggina in the Serie A that season by just one point. Thankfully, Watford are not in such a hole but it should give supporters some hope that Mazzarri can lead this club in their relegation fight.
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