The Promoted – Watford

Having cast an eye over Championship winners Bournemouth and play-off victors Nowich City, we end our analysis of the three promoted sides by turning our attentions to Watford.

The Statistics

CS = Clean sheets

The Hornets return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, finishing a single point behind Bournemouth after failing to win their final home match of the season against Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite a tumultuous start to the campaign, Watford were third in the table when Slavisa Jokanovic took charge in October. The Serbian endured a tricky start, winning just two of his first eight fixtures (including a four-match losing streak in November), but turned things around pretty quickly thanks in large part to his side’s away form. Watford averaged 2.1 goals per match on their travels under Jokanovic’s stewardship, and by the end of the season had picked up 43 of their 89 points away from home.

Jokanovic’s men were the second highest scorers in the league, scoring 91 times, and were reasonably solid at the back, keeping 15 clean sheets. They ended the season with ten wins and three draws from their final 14 matches to clinch a place in next season’s Premier League.

The Manager

Jokanovic left the club after his contract expired and Watford are now set for their fifth manager in the last 12 months, following the appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores on a two-year deal. The 50-year-old boasts a wealth of managerial experience, having taken charge of top teams in Spain, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

Flores finished his successful playing career in 1997, having amassed 15 caps for Spain and played for Valencia, Real Madrid and Zaragoza, Handed his first coaching role in 2001, he was placed in charge of Real Madrid’s youth teams. In 2004, he took his first managerial job, guiding Getafe to a 13th place finish in La Liga, which prompted Valencia to appoint him as their new manager ahead of the 2005/06 season. In his two years in charge at the Mestalla, Flores guided his side to third and fourth place finishes, but was sacked after a poor start to the 2007/08 campaign.

The Spaniard spent the 2008/09 season with Benfica, helping the Portuguese side to a League Cup triumph, although a disappointing third place finish would see his time in Portugal come to an end. Flores then spent the best part of two seasons at Atletico Madrid, winning the Europa League in 2010, before spending three years in the United Arab Emirates. He returned to Spain earlier this year, taking over at former club Getafe, although he lasted less than two months at the club, resigning for alleged personal reasons.

Flores will work alongside assistants Alberto Diaz and Antonio Carlavilla at Vicarage Road, while Dean Austin will remain in the coaching structure. The Spaniard has been compared to his compatriot Rafael Benitez, with his ability to get the maximum from the players at his disposal seen as one of his major strengths.

In terms of tactics, Flores tends to operate with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system. Throughout his career, he has favoured a pair of holding midfielders in front of the back-four and hits opponents on the counter. As the new Hornets boss explained during his time at Atletico, his approach allows his teams to be adaptable:

“..we’re going to adjust the system to the players that we have. You need energy, understanding and competitiveness in any system, and you have to go all out”.

The Promoted Squad

In addition to having four different managers by the time October arrived, there were plenty of changes to the playing squad last season. Heurelho Gomes, Juan Carlos Paredes and Craig Cathcart – all first-team regulars – among those who were brought in. Paredes was signed from Granada, one of the two other clubs (along with Udinese) also owned by the Pozzo family, who are in charge at Watford. Miguel Layun also joined from the Spanish side in the January transfer window. Forward Odion Ighalo was signed from the Italian side in October, while Ben Watson came in from Wigan in January, and was later joined by Adlene Guedioura, who arrived on loan from Crystal Palace.

Flores’ assessment will be keenly anticipated over the summer friendlies as we look for signs of the new manager’s approach. Last season, Jokanovic proved adaptable, often switching between 3-5-2 and 4-3-1-2 formations, although he also occasionally utilised 4-3-2-1 and 4-3-3 systems. With three forwards who scored over 15 league goals last season in Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra, it’s no surprise that he tried to play with two strikers for much of the campaign.

Here’s the Hornets’ main men from last season’s successful campaign.

Heurelho Gomes (44 starts) – the former Tottenham keeper joined the Hornets last summer in search of first-team football, and duly played a significant role in the club’s promotion. The 34-year-old’s experience was invaluable among a youthful squad, and the Brazilian international has recently penned a new three-year contract. It remains to be seen whether Gomes will hold onto the number one jersey, though, after Watford signed Steaua Bucharest Giedrius Arlauskis stopper over the last fortnight.

Juan Carlos Paredes (32 starts, 7 sub apps. 4 assists) – Watford’s preferred right-back/right wing-back during the campaign and has been named in Ecuador’s final 23-man squad for this summer’s Copa America. Has good pace and likes to get forward, but can struggle going the other way.

Gabriele Angella (32 starts, 3 sub apps. 2 goals, 4 assists) – the Italian was the first choice centre-back for the majority of the season, and is a threat from set pieces, having scored nine goals in his two seasons at Vicarage Road.

Craig Cathcart (28 starts, 1 sub app. 3 goals, 2 assists) – a strong centre-back who has previous Premier League experience from his time at Blackpool. The Northern Ireland international was a regular starter under Jokanovic, though the summer arrival of Sebastian Prodl from Werder Bremen places heightens the competition in the heart of defence.

Joel Ekstrand (23 starts, 1 sub app. 1 goal, 1 assist) – the centre-half was a key part of the Watford rearguard, but suffered a serious knee injury in March and is likely to be out for the rest of 2015.

Tommy Hoban (20 starts, 7 sub apps, one assist) – far from a regular starter, Hoban did fill in well when injuries took their toll. Versatile enough to cover at centre-half and left-back but is unlikely to make as many appearances next season.

Daniel Pudil (19 starts, 4 sub apps. 1 assist) – played as a left-back and wing-back, but was largely a squad player and expected to feature even less next time around.

Ikechi Anya (27 starts, 8 sub apps. 7 assists) – the Scotland international can play in a variety of roles, including as an advanced midfielder, but was predominantly used as a wing-back by Jokanovic. His ability to play both sides meant he was less prone to rotation than others, and with his pace and trickery, can create chances from either flank.

Daniel Tozser (34 starts, 11 sub apps. 5 goals, 5 assists) – all five of the Hungarian international’s goals came from free-kicks, but having been a regular starter during the first half of the season as a deep-lying playmaker, Tozser often found himself among the substitutes following the arrivals of Watson and Guedioura.

Miguel Layun (14 starts, 3 sub apps. 1 assist) – another player capable of playing in more than one position, the Mexico international featured in defence and midfield, but offered little output to gain our attentions.

Gianni Munari (21 starts, 7 sub apps. 3 goals, 4 assists) – defensive midfielder who played an important role during the first half of the season, but, like Tozser, struggled for playing time following the arrivals of Watson and Guedioura.

Ben Watson (19 starts, 1 app. 2 assists) – signed from Wigan in January and was a regular starter during the run-in. The midfielder has significant Premier League experience from his time with the Latics.

Adlene Guedioura (13 starts, 4 sub apps. 3 goals, 4 assists) – the Algerian international was one of Watford’s form players during the final few months of the season, having re-joined the club for a second loan spell during the promotion winning campaign. A strong passer and took some of the set-piece duties.

Almen Abdi (28 starts, 4 sub apps. 9 goals, 2 assists) – suffered with shoulder and foot injuries during the campaign, but provides great quality as a goalscoring playmaker. Providing he can stay fit, Abdi looks to have the quality to shine at the highest level and warrant some attention as a Fantasy asset next term.

Matej Vydra (31 starts, 11 sub apps. 16 goals, 5 assists) – failed to make an impact in the Premier League with West Brom, but the pacey forward has continued to thrive in the Championship and should do better in the top-flight this time around. Has signed a further two-year loan deal over the summer.

Odion Ighalo (22 starts, 13 sub apps. 20 goals, 3 assists) – came into the side when Vydra and Deeney were struggling for goals and duly filled the void, scoring 14 goals in ten appearances in the middle part of the season.

Troy Deeney (37 starts, 5 sub apps. 21 goals, 9 assists) – named club captain prior to the promotion-winning campaign, Deeney is the focal point for the Hornets, providing strength up front, although he also has clever movement and is a good finisher. Deeney the primary penalty taker, although Vydra and Ighalo have also taken them while he has been on the pitch. Could follow in the footsteps of Charlie Austin, Leonardo Ulloa and Danny Ings as a promoted forward offering value.

Fernando Forestieri (10 starts, 14 sub apps. 5 goals, 4 assists) – used primarily off the bench, likes to run at defenders and has an eye for goal. Seems unlikely to get much of a look in next season.

Potential Targets

As mentioned above, Watford have been quick to add to their ranks already, bringing in Arlauskis and Prodl at the back, in addition to re-acquiring Vydra up front. Certainly, we can expect another busy summer as Flores takes time to assess his new squad and there could well be further acquisitons from Udinese and Grenada by the time the transfer window closes on September 1. Indeed, Udinese left-back Ali Adnan – dubbed the Iraqi Gareth Bale – has been linked with a loan move.

Captain Troy Deeney had his say on how the club would look to approach the forthcoming transfer window:

“Speaking to the owner I feel they will be bringing in some lads with Premier League experience. It is not going to be a case like Burnley’s, where they have said ‘we are going to stick with you lot [who secured promotion]’. Sentiment won’t be held by our owner. He is very much ‘you are in the Prem now so get the job done’. I think there will probably be four or five lads coming in with Premier League experience and then there are people like myself who are absolutely buzzing to be there [for the first time].”

The playing squad will need strengthening in most areas, though it’s already clear the priority is defence. Watford have been linked with Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier following the Clarets’ relegation, although Southampton and Bournemouth are also thought to be interested in the 24-year-old.

Adrian Mariappa is another reported target. The 28-year-old Crystal Palace defender has struggled for pitch time under Alan Pardew and could welcome a return to Vicarage Road in a search for first-team football. Sassuolo wing-back Sime Vrsaljko is rumoured to be attracting interest and, having made 20 appearances for the Serie A side in 2014/15, the Croatia international could add some quality to the squad. With Ikechi Anya being strongly linked with a £4 million move to Celtic, reinforcements will certainly be needed, should he make the move to the Scottish champions.

Out-of-contract Reading midfielder Jem Karacan is another who has been mentioned as a possible target for Watford, although like with Tripper, Watford could have to battle with fellow Premier League new boys Bournemouth for his signature. Elsewhere in the centre of the park, the Hornets are reportedly interested in Tottenham’s out-of-favour midfielder, Benjamin Stambouli. Further forward, Montpellier winger Anthony Mounier is also thought to be a target.

It certainly seems as though Watford could take a slightly different approach to Bournemouth in their summer recruitment, with a willingness to search for bargains on the continent alongside the need to bring in players with Premier League experience. Flores will hope that balance will aid his side’s bid to beat the drop as the Hornets look to survive more than one season in the top-flight, something they have failed to do on the last two occasions they have gained promotion.

*Many thanks to site moderator and Watford fan Applebonkers for his input with the research of this article.