Watford squad shaping up nicelypublished at 17:24 15 July
17:24 15 July
Geoff Doyle BBC 3CR sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
This time last year, pessimism surrounded Watford.
Yaser Asprilla and Ismail Kone had been sold for over £20m to balance the books and Hornets fans weren't ecstatic about the incomings.
The 2023-24 season had ended poorly with the club finishing 15th and expectations were low. Relegation fears were in the air among fans and pundits alike.
Twelve months on and there's a different feeling around Vicarage Road. The Hornets did better than expected under Tom Cleverley, who nevertheless paid the price for a poor second half of last season.
As it stands the two stars of the team have remained - Giorgi Chakvetadze and Kwadwo Baah - as well as some of the other solid performers from last season.
This summer, the signings have been more impressive and others are on their way. Whisper it very quietly, but the Watford squad is shaping up rather quite nicely.
The striker situation will be key this season.
Watford have tried Mileta Raovic, Daniel Jebbison and Vakoun Bayo in the past 12 months and all have fallen short in terms of their technical ability. Indeed the best of the lot has been the raw teenager Mamadou Doumbia, who could develop into a fine number nine with age, experience and good coaching.
Watford can't rely on him just yet which is why Vivaldo Semedo has been brought in and another is on his way too.
If the Hornets can get the right striker, he is sure to do well, feeding off the supplies of Chakvetadze, Baah, Rocco Vata and some of the other young wingers brought in/about to join.
Owner Gino Pozzo did say they were going to give it a go this season and so far he's been true to his word.
After a few years of low expectation, there's a bit of a buzz around Watford again and a sense that the team might just do well.
The prospects for a promotion challenge look far healthier now than they have done for a while.
Key Hornets duo near returnspublished at 13:34 15 July
13:34 15 July
Image source, Rex Features
Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano hopes Kwadwo Baah and Giorgi Chakvetadze are nearing a return to action after injury.
Baah, 22, came off with a hamstring injury against Preston in January and after missing 10 matches, played a total of just 46 minutes across two games before suffering a recurrence of the injury after starting brightly at Bristol City in April and sat out the final six matches of the campaign.
He has been given a bespoke fitness programme this summer, joining the main group and doing extra individual sessions and is in line to feature in the pre-season friendly at Leyton Orient on 26 July.
Georgian midfielder Chakvetadze, 25, also limped off in the game at Ashton Gate with a foot injury, having played 39 of Watford's first 40 Championship matches.
A club statement, external said he was 'making daily progress' and could feature in the friendly at Brisbane Road or the final warm-up match at home to Deportivo La Coruna four days later.
"Both players have been working on their recovery for some time," said Pezzolano.
"Baah will be able to return to full training with the squad this week, and Chakvetadze is another asset to the club. We look forward to him being fully recovered before he can return to action."
Gossip: Hornets could land Danish strikerpublished at 12:25 14 July
12:25 14 July
Watford are expected to take Denmark Under-21 international striker Luca Kjerrumgaard on loan once the 22-year-old has completed a move from Odense BK to the Hornets' sister club Udinese. (Sky Sports, external)
Gossip: Watford to double their money on Rajovicpublished at 10:55 10 July
10:55 10 July
Watford striker Mileta Rajovic, 25, looks set to depart the club for Polish side Legia Warsaw, with the Hornets set to make a healthy profit on the Dane. (Watford Observer), external
Norwich eye late move for Watford target Diallopublished at 18:11 8 July
18:11 8 July
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Pape Diallo had looked to be heading to Watford but Norwich remain interested
Norwich could hijack Watford's move for Metz attacker Pape Diallo.
The 21-year-old Senegal international has been on the verge of a move to Watford but the Canaries are one of a number of clubs considering an 11th-hour offer.
Diallo scored seven goals for Metz in Ligue 2 last season and regularly plays on the left a role where Norwich will need a replacement for Porto-bound Borja Sainz.
He moved to France from Senegalese club Generation Foot in 2023 and has scored 12 goals in 63 games in all competitions for the Maroons.
Diallo helped Metz finish third last season as they were promoted to Ligue 1, beating Reims in the play-offs.
How Watford might look under Paulo Pezzolanopublished at 14:24 7 July
14:24 7 July
Geoff Doyle BBC 3CR sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Camilo Speranza worked with new head coach Paolo Pezzolano at Real Valladolid
I was at the Watford training ground last week and was fortunate to get some time with one of the coaching staff, Camilo Speranza.
Head coach Paulo Pezzolano is still learning English so to get a flavour of what Hornets fans can expect from him this season I spoke to Speranza about philosophy, tactics, shape and structure.
Speranza worked with Pezzolano at his previous club Real Valladolid in Spain and is now one of the key analysis coaches at Watford.
Before Valladolid, Speranza was at Barcelona. He knows his stuff.
I admit to being a coaching/tactics geek so was absolutely fascinated by this insight.
He spoke of wanting to dominate the ball, play aggressively, at speed, but keeping things simple.
Pezzolano favours a 4-3-3 system but Speranza says that can change game to game and in-game.
He spoke about breaking the enigma code - unlocking the tactical gameplan of the opposition. Most Championship teams play a high press and then fall into a low double block.
Watford will try to counter that and work out a way to find space for their three attackers. That might be playing out from the back or playing longer. There is no set way. Finding space in this area then being dynamic. Quick pace, aggressive, vertical.
He also spoke about improving individual players technically. Finessing minute details. Body shape, receiving in possession, weight of pass - things that you would expect Championship professionals to know but which can still be refined.
Despite having a whole pre-season, there is never enough time - it is still difficult to get all their coaching points across. Training is about making shape, combination play and moves understandable so the players know why they are doing things. On the training ground the mantra is play simple, don't complicate.
Pezzolano is big on culture and mindset. He will work closely with the academy and knows it isn't just about the starting 11 or the squad of 20.
As always it comes down to winning football matches, and Watford head coaches know that better than most.
Behrami returns to Hornets in assistant rolepublished at 16:06 2 July
16:06 2 July
Image source, Getty Images
Former Watford midfielder Valon Behrami has returned to the club as assistant to sporting director Gian Luca Nani.
The 40-year-old made 48 Premier League appearances for the Hornets in his two-year stay between July 2015 and August 2017.
"When I was a Watford player, it was the first time I felt part of a family and I've missed this," Behrami told the club's website., external
"I want to help build the connection between the technical staff and the club, the players and the club and, most importantly, with the fans as this is the only way we will achieve our goal."
The former Switzerland international, capped 83 times by his country, retired from professional football in 2022.
Gossip: One in, one out for Hornetspublished at 10:12 27 June
10:12 27 June
Watford are close to completing the signing of 20-year-old Portuguese striker Vivaldo Semedo from Udinese. (Watford Observer, external)
The Hornets are however braced for the departure of Morocco midfielder Imran Louza, 26, who has reportedly requested a transfer. (Watford Observer, external)
Image source, Rex Features
