The Plan
"The plan works only if we trust each other completely."
From what I know, Watford have reached out to an agency firm regarding head coaches and have even scheduled an interview with one candidate this week. Whether that would be sorted this season or for next remains to be seen, but word-for-word the message I received today was “Yeah, Ed is certainly going.”
Moving forward, we need a long-term plan. We seriously cannot be changing willy nilly based on sweet FA and vibes. So, looking at the squad we have, looking at the numbers game and which players suit a style and work around that. We don’t have the money to completely change everything and bring in 10+ quality players to get it working. But with the knowledge the wage bill and spend will be towards mid-table and perhaps lower.
The squad.
Chakvetadze, Irankunda, Petris, Semedo and Keben could be on the move here too, which would put senior outfield players to 10. But I’m pretty confident at this moment in time, Irankunda and Giorgi stay put, and the club are confident of signing Alleyne and Mfuni back on loan. I don’t actually think the squad needs that much work. I would add a number 9 who can work with the wide players we’ve got. Vata, Irankunda are as I’ve said before, shot monsters, so you want someone who can be a bounce pass/link player. Chakvetadze loves driving inside and playing slip-through balls, so you want someone who can do that side of the game too. You’ve then got Baah and Bola, who are by-line cutback crossers, so someone adept at those near-post runs or hanging back — Tolaj at Plymouth ticks all those boxes. With the budget we have, we have to be smart. If an academy player with promise is physically ready, use them rather than wasting money. Give Nabizada and Greaves chances in the team to come in and perhaps start games if they show it. The best football teams win more games in their league because of synergy from head coach to squad composition. Do you work well with the man next to you and ahead of you, if it’s one way there’s a clear weakness there. Regardless of the wing pairing, players like Irankunda, Baah, Chakvetadze, Nabizada all need someone behind them that first and foremost can lock down a flank to some degree. Bola’s backup can of course offer something different but needs to be defensively sound and be able to overlap. Ngakia’s comp needs to be someone again, who can offer something different but can handle the player ahead of him not being as hard working going the other way, which is fine, because most attackers aren’t as intense defensively. In the centre of defence, Watford do need better aerial defenders. Pollock is the only one who can consistently win and defend the box well. Mfuni and Alleyne coming back after playing men’s football should improve in that area too. Lloyd Jones from Charlton would be a smart addition to the makeup of the current squad. Doesn’t have to be him, but someone that adds leadership characteristics but will also kick and head everything if it came his way. With what’s ahead of them, Kyprianou, Bove are the only two officially contracted players at this time. Fairly similar in terms of fitness being A1 and can run all day. Bove much quicker passer but not expansive, but when he’s properly up to speed, someone you want as a complimentary midfielder next to a passer. Physicality is not just strength, physicality is how quickly you can use your body to your advantage in any situation and do it well. Luka Modric is extremely physical for example. Harrison Reed from Fulham was close to joining previously, him + Ekwah returning on another loan again would fit the dynamic of the current team. You want runners and quick intense players out of possession to make up for the wide players not doing that as much — which is why I’d have Vata as the number 10 because he will give you non stop running all day. Bring in a Georgian winger too for the vibes. Giorgi Abuashvilli or Georgiy Tsaitashvili who are both at Metz and will be getting relegated would be great pickups — they both give you the same dynamic as Vata in the sense will run run run.
The next head coach.
So what style does this squad suit? To me it’s one that has space to run into for most of the game. They don’t want settled possession, they want to run at their player, they want to take shots in open field, they want to play fast. What does this squad need? Someone that has worked with younger players, developed them in a transitional style of play; and also has a form of history of overachieving because wage bill and spend, Watford will be middle of the pack, and you’ll want someone to build over three years for incremental improvement each season. You don’t want someone coming in blind and learning too much on the job. I don’t believe in managerial win percentage, because the context behind that is always layered, but if you have a history of winning with less and certain player skillsets, that’s also attractive to a squad like Watford. But who’s actually out there who ticks all these boxes and requirements? We know Watford won’t pay for anyone so it’ll be free agent coaches or someone who’s in a job that doesn’t require money to buyout. JDT and Robert Klaus are two that have most of these traits, not all, but there will be a compromise somewhere. I’ll go further in depth when the season has ended but these are jottings down off the cuff.
Great article…looking forward to seeing what the summer brings. If we could only find the right coach and give them time to build….🤞
Kjerrumgard. Arguably one of the most frustrating no 9s we have had in a very long time.
Agree with all the above, would emhasise the need for more Championship smarts. It's a boring cliché now but a Ben Watson type.