Many shrugged off Watford’s chances of promotion this season with many tipping them for relegation, yet they find themselves in the play-offs amongst the pack putting pressure on the top two. So why have Watford been so successful this season?
After losing the likes of Danny Graham, Don Cowie and Will Buckley Watford did extremely well to finish 11th in the Championship last season. It was an inconsistent campaign with players going in and out of the club and Laurence Bassini purchasing Watford in March much to the dismay of the supporters. His unpopular stint in control of the club didn’t last long however as the Pozzo family bought the Hornets in June.
The Italian family also own Udinese in Serie A and Granada in Spain and used these links well to help the Hertfordshire side out in terms of playing staff. The Pozzo’s didn’t wait around to stamp their authority on the club and just a month after taking over installed Italy and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola as manager.
The fans were unsure of the appointment as Zola’s name itself could attract some decent players to the club but his previous job at West Ham wasn’t entirely successful. However Zola has proved any of his doubters wrong with some fine performances.
Watford have one the biggest first team squads in the country. 12 players were signed on loan from Udinese and Granada which begged the question; how can you put so many new players together in the same team and expect success? Well the answer is to that is good coaching, discipline and keeping the experienced players around the young arrivals.
John Eustace, Lloyd Doyley, Manuel Almunia and Nyron Nosworthy amongst others are experienced professionals who were there to help the new players settle in and adapt to English football. Yes some have flourished more than others but it is a step forward for a club who traditionally has little or no transfer budget to work with.
The best of these loanees without doubt has been Matej Vydra. The 20 year-old from the Czech Republic has been a revelation at Vicarage Road with 14 goals in just 21 games and personally I believe that he will go on to become a much better player. His electric pace and composure in front of goal has been a constant weapon for the Hornets all season.
Another new player to stand out is Nathaniel Chalobah on loan from Chelsea. At just 18 years-old Chalobah has already proven why he is so highly rated at Chelsea with dominant performances in the middle of the park. Solid defensively with an eye for a pass Chalobah has been a major part of the club’s rise up the table. Of course these are not the only new players to make their mark. Daniel Pudil, Almen Abdi and Marco Cassetti have been in the first team picture on a regular basis.
Troy Deeney’s return to the team has also given the club a lift and he has contributed with vital goals and forming a lethal partnership up front with Vydra. As a former defender myself I cannot ignore the defensive player’s contribution. Fitz Hall, Nosworthy and Doyley have all shown their experience and given confidence to the team with professional performances at the back.
The Pozzo family are continuing to work hard and are trying to make some of the loanee players permanent members of the Watford squad this January and have already confirmed one as Fernando Forestieri has signed a five-and-a-half year deal.
The thing that has pleased Watford fans the most this season has been the style of football on show at Vicarage Road. In the past the club have had a reputation of not playing the most attractive football but now under Zola there has been some brilliant displays. Some of the play this season has been remarkable and even against Premier League champions Manchester City Watford refused to get intimidated and continued to play their passing and moving style of play.
Watford have undoubtedly taken a step forward under the Pozzo reign. They sit nicely in sixth place with a game in hand and if they win it they will go five points clear of seventh placed Millwall. I do believe that automatic promotion is an unrealistic target but with recent performances I see no reason why the Yellow Army can’t maintain their form and grab a play-off place come May.
Lee Rowley
Twitter: @leerowley10
This photo was taken by Jon Candy
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