Gerard Deulofeu is now Watford’s player after a short loan spell
Photo: Premier League
Hornets hope that Catalan injection can increase buzz
by Steve Clare
Last season:
League 14th
FA Cup Fourth round (knocked out by Southampton)
EFL Cup Second round (knocked out by Bristol City)
14th place was a superb effort by the Hertfordshire side last season, especially given they changed managers on January 21 when Marco Silva was sacked due to Everton’s bungled approach. While his seven losses in nine games had not plunged the Hornets into relegation trouble yet, the writing was on the wall and the Portuguese was felt insufficiently focused on the job.
The surprisingly unemployed Spaniard Javi Gracia took over and it proved to be an inspired choice, despite his first game being that FA Cup elimination by Southampton. Thereafter, he won three league games out of the next five and the good ship Elton was stable again. Although the club never climbed higher than ninth, the gap over the drop zone had widened sufficiently.
After beating West Brom on March 3, Watford worryingly only won one more league game. Although, to be fair, that nine game closing stretch included visits to Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
That’s where Gracia picks the baton up again. His first three games will give an indication of whether Watford will be above the fray at the bottom. They play Brighton, Burnley and Crystal Palace as their first three games.
At £11.5 million from Barcelona, the Catalan Gerard Deulofeu is by far their most exciting signing. His loan spell at the end of last season included a goal in that memorable 4-1 hammering of Chelsea. Now he is their player on a permanent basis. Another Catalan, Marc Navarro, has also arrived, this time from Español. He is a right back that can play as a centre half if need be. Ken Sema has arrived from Swedish miracle club Ostersunds. He didn’t make the final Sweden squad for the World Cup so should be rested and ready to go.
Richarlison has gone but Watford more than trebled their money on that signing and must be absolutely delighted at their business savvy. Even though he was the only player in the Hornets’ squad to play every game of the league season. That money will be very handy come January if the side needs bolstering.
Marco Navarro’s arrival from Espanol may prove a great piece of business
Photo: Premier League
They have retained most of the mainstays from last season, defenders José Holebas and Christian Kabasele, Abdoulaye Doucouré in midfield and talisman forward Troy Deeney. Relieved as they may have been to keep Deeney, the deadline day arrival of Guinea-Bissau born Portuguese Under-20 international Domingos Quina looks like a good investment for the future. Time will tell if Watford see something in him that West Ham didn’t.
Vice-captain Heurelho Gomes will face a new challenge for his starting slot in goal following the departure of Orestis Karnezis to Napoli after signing him from the books of Udinese. Ben Foster has arrived from relegated West Brom.
Some of this business looks surprisingly good for Watford and much depends on how quickly they adapt to life after Richarlison. Perhaps even more depends on whether the Catalan Injection can inspire them to feats of creativity onto which Troy Deeney can latch.
If not, there is some good money in the bank for Gracia to fix things in January before it’s too late.
Prediction: 14th
Players In:
MID Domingos Quina (West Ham Undisclosed)
MID Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona £11,500,000)
DEF Marc Navarro (Espanyol Undisclosed))
DEF Ben Wilmot (Stevenage Undisclosed)
DEF Adam Masina (Bologna Undisclosed)
GK Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion Undisclosed)
MID Ken Sema (Ostersunds £1,800,000)
MID Domingos Quina (West Ham United Undisclosed)
Players Out:
GK Nathan Gartside (Unattached)
FWD Dennon Lewis (Falkirk, Free)
DEF Brandon Mason (Coventry City, Free)
DEF Louis Rogers (Unattached)
DEF Charlie Rowan (Unattached)
FWD Max Ryan (Unattached)
DEF David Sesay (Crawley Town, Free)
DEF Connor Stevens (Unattached)
MID Carl Stewart (Unattached)
GK Costel Pantilimon (Nottingham Forest Undisclosed)
FWD Mauro Zarate (Boca Juniors Undisclosed)
FWD Nordin Amrabat (Al-Nassr £4,000,000)
MID Richarlison (Everton £40,000,000)
MID Harvey Bradbury (Oxford United Free transfer)
