With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at newly-promoted Watford.
Instability tends to be regarded as a bad thing. Yet Watford won promotion under their fourth manager of last season, Slavisa Jokanovic, and he promptly left.
His replacement, Quique Sanchez Flores, arrives with the pedigree of a Europa League and Copa del Rey winner.
The former Al Ahli and Al Ain coach is part of a unique project. Watford are owned by the Pozzo family, who also control Udinese and Granada and contain plenty of their former players but, for once, they have cast their net wider.
Etienne Capoue has arrived from Tottenham Hotspur to offer a solid base in midfield. the former Hamburg man Valon Behrami should offer more adventure. Allan Nyom and Jose Holebas are the probable wing-backs.
Centre-backs Craig Cathcart and Gabriele Angella have signed new deals, suggesting continuity at the back. It bodes well that forwards Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra scored 57 league goals between them last season; less so that Watford, who will now face rather better opposition, only managed mixed results against the Championship’s top eight.
The only guarantee is that, if results are not forthcoming, Flores is unlikely to stay for long. But, man for man, Watford may have the most quality of the three newcomers to the top flight.
Key man: Troy Deeney — The captain made Watford history by scoring 20 league goals in three successive seasons. Burnley wanted him last summer. Had they been able to afford him, perhaps they would have stayed up.
Pivotal signing: Etienne Capoue — A bit-part player at Tottenham, but the forceful Frenchman was genuinely impressive for Toulouse. If he can replicate that form, Watford's record signing will prove to be money well-spent.
Crucial factor: Christmas. Between December 19 and January 2, Watford face Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City in the space of four games. Lesser sides in the Premier League can often go on extended losing runs; Watford have to ensure they do not go into freefall then.
Prediction: 16th
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