Members

The Numbers Game – Watford

Our series of summer members’ articles continues this afternoon as we assess what’s on offer at the managerial merry-go-round that is Watford.

To begin with, we analyse the Hornets’ performances on a team level, checking out last season’s data in order to spot trends and areas of improvement. Following that, we take a look at the players to pinpoint their key individuals.

For this article, we also focus on new manager Marco Silva’s impact on his former club Hull City after an impressive stint at the KCOM Stadidum during the second half of 2016/17.

Watford parted company with Quique Sanchez Flores at the end of 2015/16, scoring 40 times on their way to finishing in thirteenth spot on 45 points.

Yet the now-departed Walter Mazzarri failed to improve upon those performances in his only season at the helm. The Vicarage Road outfit scored the same number of goals but picked up just 40 points, ending the campaign in seventeenth position.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

5,762 Comments Post a Comment
  1. chaboi1998
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Danilo or kompany

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Kompany if you can afford it

    2. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Kompany if you have the extra 0.5 , Danilo might only get two GW's so could do well but you will prob want to use the transfer for someone else in GW 3.

    3. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      City have some potential for concession of goals first few games... isn't Man U, Southampton, Arsenal more appealing fixture wise?

    4. SilkySkills
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      If City play wingbacks then Danilo might be replaced by Sane

  2. leocarter27
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Pick one?

    A) Firmino and 5.5
    B) Chicharito and Willian

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      A with Fraser or JWP

  3. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Ok, so what have I missed today?
    Courtois off penalty duties I hear.

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Kolasinac went from a sell to a buy within 82 mins

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers Prof.

  4. Winks Club
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    best 4.0 def?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      None likely to play so one with low ownership so you don't lose value

      1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        So not Rangel

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      None

    3. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Mariappa

    4. DK5
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Mariappa or Long. Though none of them are starters. I'd go Long as he'll step in if there is an injury in central defence.

  5. Professor Abel X
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    DDG
    Cedric Danilo Kolasinac
    Salah Cesc JWP KDB
    Lukaku Kane JRod

    Who to downgrade by 0.5 to upgrade a 4m defender

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      DDG

      1. Farke in hell
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        I look at tthe initial fixtures and am more encouraged to keep DDG.

    2. DK5
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Danilo as he might be short term. Or JRod to Abraham if you feel confident he'll start.

  6. Veggente85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    First RMT...

    Foster/Elliott

    Bellerin/Stones/Bertrand/Yoshida(Dunk)

    De Bruyne / Eriksen / Zaha (Carroll Loftus-Cheek)

    Lukaku / Jesus / Gabbiadini

    0.5 ITB, suggestions for improvement?

    (I'm deciding a lot on the basis of fixtures)

    1. Farke in hell
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Mourinho emphasizes on defense and considering Man U fixtures you might want to involve either DDG or any other defender. Other than that I would be wary of having 3 Saints in my team because of uncertainty over their returns early in the season.

      1. Veggente85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Basically this is a call for Bailly at the place of Bertrand with my 0.5. I like Mutd defense, but I have hard time finding someone totally convincing. Valencia is very expensive and last year he didn't delivered as expected, Bailly has close to no offensive value and, finally, Lindelof doesn't seem (atm) completely nailed...

  7. Albert_Luque
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Hiya, I've been tweaking for a while now so thought I'd ask for thoughts on my team:

    Foster-Elliot
    Trippier-Cedric-Ake-Lejeune-Hunemeier
    KDB-Salah-Zaha-Ritchie-Carroll
    Kane-Lukaku-Gabby

    Feel like its quite a balanced team that minimises initial risk. Main areas of weakness I feel are around the uncertainty of the Southampton guys but unsure of who to replace them with that would be better. Also waiting on the Trippier scan news.

    Any comments welcome, thanks in advance!!

  8. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Scouting for a 6m midfielder, not Ritchie (got Atsu).

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      JWP + .5m

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Still nailed with Lemina joining the fray?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Who knows? I just think this will be his breakthrough year

      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        That would be a triple up, Bertie, Gabbi and JWP.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Seen worse idea's

    2. hogree
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Knockaert

  9. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Good article. Little mention of formation though. I'm under the impression Watford will play 352 with wing backs under Silva. Can any fans/pre-season watchers confirm this?

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Think they have played 4 at the back

  10. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Kola out?

    1. Who Am I?
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Kola In!

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Kola shake it all about

  11. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    im on a live draft now BUT its not really working, tried to pick the same player 5 times & nowts happening... anyone else had issues?

  12. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Has 3 at the back ruined Fantasy Football?

    1. Albert_Luque
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      How would it have ruined it? Surely it just makes people adapt their teams amid a context of changing tactics? Competition remains the same.

      1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        I am not saying it has, I am just curious. It's certainly increased defender (for wing back) prices, which has therefore meant you can't get a decent attack/midfield.

        1. Albert_Luque
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          I think there's always been an element of high priced defenders (Baines and Vidic for example always used to be 7m). I think the growth in popularity of the 3-5-2 in football means that there are more expensive attacking full backs, but in terms of an impact of FPL, it just means there's another potentially fruitful strategic choice to be made (high value defence v reduction in mid/forwards)

          I'm doubtful it'll make much impact this season and that Mids and Forwards will dominate the scoring, and am starting with a balanced 3-4-3. Not hard to adapt to though if I'm wrong, few transfers/hits and it'd be sorted.

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Made it much better imo. More options

  13. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Why are people in here still interested in Willian after todays showing? I think Pedro has more appeal imho

    1. OShaughnessy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Because, placing too much on any one performance in the preseason, anyway it goes, is pretty short sighted.

  14. bojack
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Carrying on from the '90s discussion, how would these options have been priced at their peak:

    Peter Schmeichel
    Rob Lee
    Robbie Fowler

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      5.5
      8
      11.5

      1. bojack
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Seems fair.

        Imagine having Schmeichel, Giggs android Cantona when they went on that run or 1-0s and the Frenchman scored every one.

        1. bojack
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          And.

          Android Cantona sounds amazing though.

  15. marquinhos
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Ake or Francis?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I've just done Ake to Francis to get .5m in the bank, if I don't use it I will change back

    2. Albert_Luque
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Ake for me

      1. marquinhos
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        cheers

  16. Robbie Slater
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    RMT please!

    DDG Elliot
    Cedric Holding Dawson Daniels Suttner
    KdB Willian Zaha Phillips JWP
    Lukaku Jesus Firmino

    Cheers in advance!

    1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Can't you just pick your own team without asking for help?
      If you followed others changes then it wouldn't actually be your team really.

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Don't be so rude.

      2. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        FYI, he asked for people to rate his team. No mention of advice on changes, genius.

      3. Robbie Slater
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Your first sentence...why are you even on this site then, moron. Essentially is a site full of different people's opinions about FF, which you evidently hate. Loser

        1. Robbie Slater
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Clearly meant for the muppet above!

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Good team. Not keen on KDB, would rather have Mané, All or Eriksen. Coutinho if still here.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Also, Holding is a no-no.

        1. Robbie Slater
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks for the input! Really want Mane, settled with Firmino for now but that may change. Also, regarding Holding, hoping he'll play the first games while Koscielny is banned, then will probably look to change. Do you reckon he's a risk for those matches? Per getting injury today but will probably be fit I guess

    3. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good.
      Find a way of getting Alli/Eriksen at the expense of Willian would be my change - maybe at expense of KDB.
      Ifyou've got .5m after at I'd have a look at upgrading Holding imo.
      But sound team.

      1. Robbie Slater
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers for the feedback mate. Currently spursless as I'm wary of them playing at Wembley and they always start slow. May keep Willian with such a nice first match, but Chelsea did not impress today! Holding looking like a possible weak link

  17. Uncle Grumpy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Used "set my team" table and found Matic on his old team, not ManU, wondering if that influences his rating. Need cheap guys on good team since all chips are on KDB-Eriksen-Mane-Kane. The table told me 337.3 pos for first 6 weeks, is that good?

    1. OShaughnessy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      This is just one tool in our PFL tool box.
      We need to factor it into our decisions but, we can't place too much weight on the point total it spits out.

  18. D0GS B0110XS FC
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    please rate my team
    foster
    Kolasinac, daniels, yoshida,
    richie, salah, zaha, kdb, willian
    kane, lukaku
    subs - elliot, quaner, hunemeier

    1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Can't you just pick your own team without asking for help?
      If you followed others changes then it wouldn't actually be your team really.

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Are you for real?

  19. Troopon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Kolasinac, Walker or Bailley?

    All good options but can only afford one. ( have Daniels and Stephens as my other 2 and Foster in goal). Bailley the best fixtures but least attacking threat.

  20. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Just seen the highlights; hahahha, how the hell is that a RED?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Debatable, but certainly reckless. Could easily have caused lasting damage

  21. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Which would you pick to start?

    A) Salah + Alonso
    B) Mane + Walker/Valencia

    1. Ode
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. Boywiththesoupdragontattoo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      B. Mostly due to better fixtures for Man U and Man C. Also, Salah looks great but is still unproven in prem (pretty confident he'll be great though).

      Whether you go Walker or Valencia depends on the rest of your team really.

  22. Trilogist
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else read Watford - the numbers game and just skip right through the article?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Yep

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      wait till the Stoke one comes out 😉

      1. Trilogist
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Watford are stir far less In the belly than Stoke.

  23. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Thanks Paul, great article. Watford were atrocious last season, but Silva could well be the man to turn things around...

    Tempted to start with Gomes, who was the top-scoring keeper in FPL 15/16. Terrific shot-stopper and penalty-saving specialist.

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Oooo now there's a potential punt

  24. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Best two 5.5 mids who rotate?

    1. Lovren an elevator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Groß and Mooy rotate home and away

    2. OShaughnessy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Don't rotate low lvl attacking mids.

      Hard enough to predict when heavy hitters score let alone players of this ilk. (Source - See Bookies Anytime Goals Odds)

      Also, very hard to replace them as typically anyone worth buying costs more & in turn, we'll need 2x FT's to replace them.

      1x a downgrade to fee up funds
      1x to find their replacement

      1. Ruth_NZ
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        This.

        I have never seen anyone make rotating attackers work for any length of time. Rotating defenders is another story entirely.

  25. Lovren an elevator
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Tough one....
    5 most nailed premium wing-backs/full backs ?

    1. RichieW
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Valencia
      Walker
      Alonso
      Kolasinac
      Alderweireld

  26. hjalmarekdal
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    13,5 left for one forward & one midfielder. Got Gayle & Willian at the moment, can I do something else good with that money instead? Since Gayle may be injured...

    1. Boywiththesoupdragontattoo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Left field choice would be Abraham and Pogba...

      Austin and Zaha/Ramsay maybe? If Arnautovic didn't have a bad opening fixture he'd be my pick.

  27. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Who has gone without Kane?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      No one yet. It's all about whether you have the bottle to keep him out of your team past 18:45 next Friday.

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      o/

    3. Ode
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Me, but i'm a little worried tbh

    4. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I downgraded to Jesus...but will jump back 🙂

    5. Boywiththesoupdragontattoo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Only the people who have gone with Sanchez...

  28. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Best two 7 m or below midfield options ?

    Willian and Ritchie for me at present

    1. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      Zaha & either Willian/Redmond

    2. Boywiththesoupdragontattoo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I'd agree at the moment... once Hazard comes back and others recover from injury it will be Arnautovic and Stanislas imo.

      1. tokara
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        when hazard comes back, he be in Spanish League

  29. hogree
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Just got Mounie in as third striker. Worth the gamble?

    1. Lovren an elevator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I'm probably going to do the same. Looks potentially too good for Huddersfield

      1. hogree
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Have you seen him play? Got much potential in the PL?

        1. 32chickens
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Saw him play a friendly
          Knows where the goal.is
          Do you trust hudds to feed him
          I 'm on Tammy at 3rd

        2. Lovren an elevator
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          I think so. Tall and good in the air, scored plenty of headers last season. Huddersfield have seemed to set up to throw crosses in to him as much as possible, they clearky see his headers as their best chance to get goals. They carrying on playing likr that, he should do fine

  30. OShaughnessy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    *Depending on the injury news*

    Thinking it's not a terrible idea to start w/ Trippier regardless.

    If we WC early then no real harm done.
    If we don't WC & he's back by GW3 we save a FT on a defender.

    Obv, need to ensure that our 4th & 5th Defenders rotate well here.

    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      I am considering that too, dependant on the injury update. Sadly, none of the 4.5s seem to have a decent game in GW1/2