How Watford could look this season
Goalkeeper: Gomes
Heurelho Gomes played a key part in Watford’s efforts of reaching the Premier League, finishing a close second in the Championship behind eventual winners Bournemouth. His performances throughout the campaign earned the goalkeeper praise from pundits and Hornets fans alike. The triple save in Watford’s 4-3 win over Bolton in February proved to be key in Watford’s promotion charge in the second half of the season, and after signing a new contract this summer, it’s evident that new Watford manager Quique Flores wants Gomes as his first choice goalkeeper in only Watford’s third ever stint in the Premier League.
RWB: Allan Nyom
Nyom was Flores’ seventh signing this summer, after signing from Udinese – though, Nyom had spent the last six season’s on loan at Granada, playing over 200 games. Nyom is a strong defender, who is also capable of providing an injection of pace on the wings. He assisted fellow Cameroonian Joel Matip against Brazil to make the match 1-1 at the World Cup last year. It seems as though Nyom has that extra bit of quality, ahead of Ecuadorian right back Juan Carlos Parades, especially since he’s gained an abundance of experience playing for Granada in La Liga.
RCB: Gabriele Angella
Angella, like Gomes, was another pivotal player for Watford in their bid for automatic promotion last year. He arrived in the summer of 2013, and slotted in straight away against Joel Ekstrand, Belkalem and the young Tommie Hoban. Last year, he was a reliable presence in Watford’s back three for most of the campaign under Jokanovic. In just 75 games for Watford in the Championship, the centre back has netted 10 times for the Golden Boys, providing Flores with an unlikely goal presence.
CB: Sebastian Prodl
Prodl was the second signing of the summer for the Hornets, signing after Lithuanian goalkeeper Arlauskis. The Austrian international arrived at Vicarage Road on a free transfer, after his contract at Werder Bremen came to an end, which left many Werder Bremen fans disappointed with the board after letting the Austrian powerhouse go on a free transfer, owing compliment to the calibre of player the Pozzos signed in June. He should slot straight into the defence, alongside the now experienced Gabriele Angella.
LCB: Craig Cathcart
The ex-Blackpool defender has already had experience in the Premier League, and is also a home-grown talent, which is important in a squad which is mostly made up of foreign players. The former Manchester United academy player signed for Watford from Blackpool as a free agent last summer. He eventually came to an integral part of the defence, alongside Angella, and was rewarded with a four year contract as the Hornets gained promotion. His acrobatic goal against Birmingham at Vicarage Road will not be forgotten as one of his most important goals in his career as Watford beat the Blues 1-0 to take a monumental step to the Premier League.
LWB: Jose Holebas
The Greek international signed for Flores’ team in late June for a reported £1.8 million from AS Roma. The 31 year old is seen to be a fanstastic signing in the eyes of many Hornets supporters, especially in regards to the calibre of player Holebas is, and the small fee required by Roma. It is also common knowledge that Holebas kept Ashley Cole out of the Roma side for much of last season, and compared to the £8 million paid by Bournemouth for Tyrone Mings as a relatively raw talent, Watford have bought shrewdly in the form of dependable left back Holebas who will surely be a safe bet in the Premier League next season.
RCM: Almen Abdi
Always such a dependable option in the creative side of Watford’s midfield, Abdi has been at Watford since the Pozzo takeover in 2012. Known as ‘The Professor’, the Swiss international has been ever-present in the Watford central midfield. He has been recognised as Watford’s talisman since when Watford play well, he’s usually the cause of it all in the engine room. I firmly believe this is why Watford finished a disappointing thirteenth position in the Championship in the 2013/14 season, since Abdi was injured for most of the campaign. In January 2014, it was mentioned that Watford had won 52.2% of games Abdi had started in, compared with a mere 27.5% when Abdi hasn’t started. Since this information was recorded, Watford have gone on to play another season in which they have achieved automatic promotion, where Abdi was almost ever-present.
CM: Etienne Capoue
The Tottenham reject has managed to escape his torture at White Hart Lane, with a large number of Premier League clubs reportedly interested in the Frenchman’s signature. However, the project at Watford and a conversation with Flores provided Capoue with the confidence to sign for the newly promoted Hornets. A club record £5.7m was required for the defensive-minded player, however it seems as though it’s £5.7m well spent. During the club’s pre-season friendlies against Wimbledon and St. Albans, as well as the club’s pre-season tour in Germany, Capoue looks to be a quality addition to Watford’s midfield. It looks as though he will slot in to either the left, or right, of Abdi, who will sit back and provide Angella, Prodl and Cathcart with a safety net much-required in the most competitive league in world football.
LCM: Valon Behrami
The 30 year old Swiss midfielder was signed by Flores from Hamburg for around £3m, in what is seen to be an addition to provide the midfield with more Premier League experience. Behrami has previous experience with West Ham and is known for his relentless stamina and work ethic. It’s important that a player who can, in many ways, be likened to James Milner, is available for a newly promoted club in that he can do much of Watford’s dirty work alongside Capoue in The Hornets’ midfield, whilst Abdi is then more free and able to emphasise his creativity by pushing up to support Watford’s attack.
ST: Seydou Doumbia/Odion Ighalo
It is thought that Roma’s Director of Football, Walter Sabatini, is in London at this minute to discuss a potential deal for the Ivorian striker (among other business), according to Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio. The potential signing of the Ivory Coast international seems to be a process which could still drag on into the new season. However, if the Hornets do sign the 27 year old poacher, it will show the Pozzo’s and Flores’ intent to compete in the Premier League next season. Scoring 152 goals in 253 career experiences, there is no reason why Doumbia can’t reach the heights of other top strikers in the Premier League, and Watford will have a real gem if the negotiations between Sabatini and the Pozzos go well.
If Flores doesn’t end up with the talent that is Seydou Doumbia, Odion Ighalo is another African talent that can step up to the test next season. After signing for Watford on a free transfer from sister side Granada, it took the Nigerian international time to settle in the Watford setup. However, the season Ighalo has had has been, at the least, remarkable. The 26 year old managed 20 goals in 22 starts, and captured the hearts and minds of Hornet’s supporters last season. It is also important to note that Ighalo was favoured to Matej Vydra in Watford’s promotion charge after January, which will play some way into why the Nigerian forward will be favoured to the Czech starlet at the start of Watford’s Premier League season.
ST: Troy Deeney
Last, but not least, is the most important player of Watford’s squad: Captain Troy Deeney. He’s the reason why Watford found themselves in the automatic promotion places at the end of the season. It would have been very different without the presence of Deeney around the Watford dressing room throughout the uneasy period at the start of the season, which saw the departures of Beppe Sannino, Billy McKinlay and Oscar Garcia in the space of a month. However, this didn’t faze Deeney and he made the squad pull through the fluctuating managerial situation, entering the successful Jokanovic era in early October, whilst keeping the players performing to a level in which Watford remained around the playoff places.
Deeney has now managed over 20 Championship goals in the last three seasons, owing to his refreshing mentality. Moreover, continued interest for Deeney’s services in past transfer windows have not fazed the English striker from Birmingham. He’s kept his head down and has successfully repaid Watford’s faith after the club gave the influential striker a second chance following his release from prison. Deeney now leads the club into a new era, as the captain of the Hornet’s, and Flores and the Pozzos have a strong confidence that Deeney will deliver the goods in the Premier League. The potential partnership of Deeney and Doumbia, or even Doumbia and Ighalo, will strike fear into the strongest of Premier League defences, again owing to the shrewd Watford owners, the Pozzos.