Watford Season Preview - Strong start needed to avoid relegation scrap


It’s been a relatively low key summer as far as signings are concerned at Vicarage Road, as Javi Gracia prepares to embark on his first full season as Watford boss. The Spaniard struggled to make his mark on the side after replacing Marco Silva in January but will hope that a full pre-season will enable him to get his ideas across to a mismatched squad. The loss of Richarlison was a blow, albeit for a huge fee, but that money is yet to be reinvested.

One to Watch - Nathaniel Chalobah

While the renewal of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s contract has been the real positive of the summer window thus far, the return to fitness of Chalobah to partner the Malian is a significant boost. The youngster was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad this time last year but saw his season cut short in September and will be keen to make up for lost time. If the 23-year-old can made a strong start to the campaign an international call could be back on the cards.

Best Signing - Ken Sema

While Watford fans know what to expect from Gerard Deulofeu, who has made his move to the club permanent following a loan spell, Sema is a lesser known entity. The 24-year-old was a key player under Graham Potter at Ostersunds and the winger could prove a bargain. He missed out on the Sweden squad for the World Cup but was key to the Allsvenskan side reaching the latter stages of the Europa League, earning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.46 from eight appearances, completing 2 dribbles per game.

 

 

Area of Weakness

While Watford’s squad is sizeable to say the least, it’s littered with players that haven’t really featured for the club for years and injuries left the Hornets severely depleted at the back last season. Christian Kabasele was the only player to start more than 20 league games in that position and a new partner for the Belgian should be a priority.

Prediction / Best Bet

Among the favourites for the drop following the promotion of some ambitious sides in the form of Wolves and Fulham, Watford’s lack of high profile additions could cost them. Gracia will need to get the best out of a modest squad as things stand, but he didn’t inspire any great bounce upon his appointment, picking up 15 points from his 14 games in charge and if the Hornets can’t exploit a decent set of fixtures to start the season the manager will be among those in the running to leave his post first, currently priced at 8.00 with multiple bookmakers to do so.

 

Watford Season Preview - Strong start needed to avoid relegation scrap

 

Watford Season Preview - Strong start needed to avoid relegation scrap