Premier League team guide: Watford in the spotlight

Watford's Championship stay was so brief Hornets fans are chalking it up as a nightmare that never happened.

Back in the Premier League less than 12 months after they exited, Xisco Munoz's side now have to play catch-up to ensure they avoid a repeat of their 2019-20 relegation.

Their swift top-flight return means a fire sale was not necessary and much about the club remains the same as a year ago — not least the Hertfordshire outfit's love of chopping and changing managers. 

Last season

Promoted automatically behind Norwich, Watford ultimately made light work of the Championship.

But it took two head coaches to escape the clutches of England's notoriously tricky second tier.

Vladimir Ivic did not make it to Christmas after falling out with captain Troy Deeney and failing to thrill fans with his safety-first approach.

Replacement Xisco looked like faring little better and came under severe pressure at the start of February, only to turn the ship around with a change of system as the Hornets marched to promotion.

New faces

It has been a busy summer at Vicarage Road.

Forwards Emmanuel Dennis and Josh King will put much-needed pressure on Deeney and Andre Gray, while Ashley Fletcher is a good alternative due to his homegrown status.

Former Nantes midfielder Imran Louza could be the ready-made replacement for Will Hughes if the midfielder departs.

Ex-England international Danny Rose, signed on a free transfer after leaving Tottenham, will provide experienced cover for Adam Masina at left-back.

And Stoke outcast Peter Etebo has also joined on loan for the season with a view to a permanent move, following temporary spells at Getafe and Galatasaray in the last two campaigns.

The line-up

4-3-3: Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Etebo, Louza, Cleverley; Sarr, Pedro, Dennis.

Quite who will line up for Watford against Aston Villa on matchday one is anyone's guess.

With a plethora of new arrivals and very few departures, the club's hierarchy will be focused on trimming the fat before August 31.

What we do know is Austria No1 Daniel Bachmann has succeeded experienced goalkeeper Ben Foster, while Kiko Femenia, William Troost-Ekong and Francisco Sierralta account for three-quarters of the back four.

In midfield, new-boy Louza will take over from contract rebel Hughes but do not be surprised to see further additions in that department.

Up top, Deeney is now plan B, handing over the baton to the more mobile trio of Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Dennis.

Colombian forward Cucho Hernandez, who has spent the last four seasons on loan in Spain, is finally back and part of the first-team squad to provide another wide or central striking option.

Star man: Ismaila Sarr

Manchester United and Liverpool were among Sarr's suitors last summer but Watford held firm in their valuation.

The club's £40million record signing was not for sale unless there was a hefty profit to be had on that outlay.

Sarr, 23, duly justified the Hornets' stance with 13 goals and four assists to finish the season as the team's top scorer.

Frighteningly pacy, brilliant in one-on-one situations and a goal threat to boot, the former Rennes star is destined for bigger things. Indeed, Liverpool have been linked again this summer.

But it will be on Watford's terms if he does depart.

Up-and-comer: Joao Pedro

If relegation was good for one thing, it gave the previously untried Pedro an unapologetic welcome to life in English football.

The Brazilian teenager was highly rated when he arrived in January 2020 but was held back by previous coach Nigel Pearson as he acclimatised.

Watford reportedly beat off competition from Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester United — among others — to sign Pedro as a 17-year-old.

He scored his first goal for the club to defeat rivals Luton and did not look back, hitting nine for the campaign.

The boss: Xisco Munoz

Former Valencia winger Xisco replaced Ivic prior to Christmas last year and got off to the perfect start, beating table-topping Norwich on Boxing Day.

But things quickly unravelled for the likeable Spaniard before he astutely switched from his preferred 4-4-2 system to a 4-3-3. 

Xisco, 40, had only managed 11 top-flight matches with Georgian outfit Dinamo Tbilisi prior to being plucked from obscurity by Watford's owners.

In fact, so inexperienced is the former LaLiga and UEFA Cup winner, he does not yet have the UEFA Pro License required to coach in the Premier League.

A popular coach who favours attacking football with an emphasis on wide players, Xisco will hope to outlast some of his 12 permanent predecessors since the Pozzo family took control at Watford in 2012.

All information correct as of 1pm, August 6, 2021