Let's celebrate ex-Hornets flying high in top flight

While there have been plenty of positives since Javi Gracia's return, Watford's 2-1 away loss to Birmingham City felt somewhat deflating.

Three wins, three draws and three defeats is form that most Hornets fans will accept since his homecoming, but our position in a compact league table has slumped in recent weeks.

So, I am going to ignore all that and take a trip down memory lane.

Joao Pedro, Richarlison and Danny Welbeck. What do these players have in common?

They are all at the upper end of the Premier League top-scorers list so far this season – the top 10 to be exact.

And if you extend it slightly further, then you can add Ismaila Sarr to the conversation.

And what else do they have in common? They have all played for Watford.

While it would be disingenuous to suggest that Watford made them what they are today – all four having played for multiple clubs since leaving the Hornets – but for the likes of Pedro and Richarlison, I think most supporters would like to think their time at Vicarage Road played a part in their career to date.

Despite having only scored three goals for Watford, Welbeck sits third in the top flight's top-scorer list this season – and may even have an outside chance of an England call-up for the World Cup, according to some.

Meanwhile, Pedro and Richarlison, who netted a combined 29 times for the Hornets, will both fancy their chances of featuring for Brazil at the competition next summer.

Just to add to the mix, even fellow former Watford striker Keinan Davis is joining in on the goalscoring fun for our old friends Udinese, with only six players having scored more than him in Serie A this season.

For a club like Watford, selling players at the right time and for the right fee – or simply parting ways – is essential.

So, while we would love to say, 'oh what could have been', let's take it as an opportunity to celebrate what our former players have become.