Watford

Chris Fuller
Watford fan writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

There is nothing my beloved football club loves more than getting the band back together.

And while Watford supporters are more than used to the managerial merry-go-round, there was finally a sense of optimism with the return of our most successful manager of recent times.

For fans too young to have experienced the joys of the 1980s, Javi Gracia's first spell at Vicarage Road was as good as it gets, as the Spaniard was at the helm for one of the greatest ever Watford moments – the famous FA Cup semi-final comeback against Wolves.

An 11th-place finish in the Premier League, an FA Cup final – the less said about the result of that, the better – but an all-round positive feel at the club.

Javi Gracia. Back in the dugout. Against a side yet to win at home. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, any feelings of excitement or optimism have already been brought right back down to reality.

There was hope that a new manager would mean a new lease of life for the likes of Kwadwo Baah and the hope that we may finally unlock the raw ability we know is there.

But as soon as the line-up against Sheffield United was announced, it felt like one step forward and two steps back.

Gracia's rigid formation and his use of four central midfielders meant there was no place for the likes of Baah and Rocco Vata – to the dismay of many supporters.

To most, it feels obvious that our star quality comes from the wide areas. So to look at the players at your disposal and still land on Edo Kayembe and Moussa Sissoko felt like a missed opportunity.

But that perhaps should not come as a surprise having appointed a manager with a clear, long-standing style of play.

It is still early doors in the season, and under the new regime, but it is hard not to feel like it was an opportunity missed against a struggling Blades side.

Nothing like a new manager bounce...

Watford boss Javi Gracia endured a losing start to his second spell in charge and claimed his side lost at Sheffield United because they did not take their chances.

Gracia felt Caleb Wiley's miss just after half-time at 0-0 was the game's key moment as United took full advantage to win through Callum O'Hare's goal.

Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We knew before coming here that it would be a demanding game, a tough game because we knew our opponent would be aggressive, they would have pressure.

"In the beginning of the second half, we had a big chance to change the game if Caleb [Wiley] had scored.

"You have to take this chance. If you don't, it's normal that the team playing at home, they find some moments and they play better. They created some chances and they scored the goal.

"It was an equal game where the details made the difference. That's all."

Image source, Rex Features

Watford head coach Javi Gracia will be surrounded by familiar faces at Vicarage Road after confirming his backroom team.

Fellow Spaniards Zigor Aranalde, Juan Solla and Inigo Arteaga all worked alongside Gracia during his first spell in charge in 2018-19.

Assistant coach Aranalde was also part of Tom Cleverley's staff from February until the end of last season.

Solla and Artega will fill fitness and goalkeeping coach roles, the latter replacing Alex Brunner, who has left the club after three-and-a-half years.

Watford are still waiting for a work permit for Pablo Mandiola, who has previously worked for the academy, women's side and first-team and will be the club's video analyst.

Javi Gracia will head up with his first game in charge of Watford (well, this time around anyway) as they take a trip to basement dwellers Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Hornets had enjoyed a real uptick in results over the past three games (W2 D1) but it wasn't enough to save former boss Paulo Pezzolano from his doomed fate.

Gracia will need to make a quick start though given that his predecessor left on a high and now they face a side who have lost all but one game so far this season (W1).

• Sheffield United have won each of their last three league games against Watford, last winning four in a row in August 1994.

• Watford have lost five of their last eight away league games against Sheffield United (W1 D2), failing to score on their previous two visits.

• Sheffield United have lost eight of their first nine league games this season (W1), the first time a second tier side has done that since 1988-89 (Brighton also W1 D0 L8). The last side at this level to start a season with nine losses in their first 10 was Oldham in 1928-29.

• Watford are unbeaten in their last three league games (W2 D1), picking up more points (7) than in their previous 11 league matches (6 – W1 D3 L7).

• Watford have earned more points from losing positions than any other side in the Championship this season (8), seven of which have come in their last three games.

Image source, BBC Three Counties Radio

New Watford head coach Javi Gracia has revealed he kept a close eye on the club last season prior to being re-appointed earlier this month.

The Spaniard agreed to return to Vicarage Road, having been in charge previously in 2018-19 when they were in the Premier League, in place of sacked Paulo Pezzolano, following talks with owner Gino Pozzo.

"For me to be happy in a club, to enjoy it day by day is what I really want to do in my job. Before coming, I spoke with Gino and explained to him what I was thinking before coming and I think we found a meeting point where we can work again together and enjoy this new experience," he said.

"The owner thinks I'm the best option to come here and I always will be ready to help Watford, for sure. I had many other options to work in other countries and in my country as well.

"I watched many games of Watford last season when Tom (Cleverley) was the manager - Tom was my player (for the club) and I was supporting him. I know very well the team, the players, all the club in general."

Asked what had changed since his departure six years ago, he replied: "For me the club doesn't change too much. It is similar to when I left Watford but now it is a different competition but with the same objective, try to win the next game, try to be on top, try to be the best, that's our mentality."

Gracia's first match in charge in his second spell is away to Sheffield United - managed by ex-Watford boss Chris Wilder - on Saturday.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Javi Gracia starts his second spell as Watford head coach away to Chris Wilder's Sheffield United on Saturday.

The pair could exchange plenty of juicy stories about their respective spells at Vicarage Road, but it is Gracia's job now to get Watford back into the top flight - where he was with them six years ago. Gracia wants even more; he says he has unfinished business.

His team back then included some wonderful talent including Gerard Deulofeu, Roberto Pererya, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Troy Deeney.

He does not have that calibre of player this time round but what he does have is plenty of potential - a group of players who could develop into top players. The question is whether Gracia can get the best out of what could be a really exciting squad forming at Vicarage Road.

Nestory Irankunda has been the player to emerge brightest of this new young crop. If Gracia can get Kwadwo Baah into the team with Irankunda, that will go down well with the fans and no doubt the board.

Watford are still waiting for Giorgi Chakvetadze to return from injury and the form of Othmane Maamma at the Under-20 World Cup with Morocco - he scored a scissor-kick goal against Brazil - has also caught the eye. Could he figure sooner than we thought under Gracia?

In his first spell, Watford played an attacking 4-3-3 formation. This will suit the Hornets' current squad profile and if it clicks in the Championship, these attacking players could blitz teams.

Watford's squad is pretty strong in most areas of the pitch and Gracia just has to glue it all together.

The players will enjoy being coached by him and already there are more smiles at the London Colney training ground.

The promotion ambitions remain in place and under Gracia, if history tells us anything, Watford stand a good chance of getting close to them.

Watford assistant sporting director Valon Behrami says the decision to replace head coach Paulo Pezzolano with former boss Javi Gracia was "much needed".

The Hornets sacked Pezzolano on Wednesday, just 10 games into his tenure, despite having enjoyed a recent upturn in results in the Championship.

Watford had claimed seven points out of nine across their past three league matches to put them just three points outside of the top six in 11th place.

But despite the side beginning to find its feet, Behrami confirmed that "language was the barrier" for the Uruguayan.

"The results are a part of that, even if in the last week we saw a lot of improvement, that's not where we want to be as a position," Behrami told BBC Radio 3CR.

"We saw the ability of Javi Gracia and we thought it was the best solution for our future before it gets too late. We thought a lot about the decision but it was the right decision and the right moment to do that.

"We have still a lot of time but it's important to have such a manager who doesn't even need the time to settle in because he knows everyone at the club, he knows everything about our supporters."

The appointment marks Gracia's second spell with the club, having been sacked in 2019 after 20 months in the role.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford were building in the right direction to achieve promotion to the Premier League, according to sacked boss Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan has been replaced by the returning Javi Gracia at Vicarage Road, having taken charge of only 10 games.

In a parting message to supporters on social media, , externalPezzolano says he was confident of delivering a return to the top flight.

"After months of intense work at every level, the results showed that we were building in the right direction to reach our goal of returning to the Premier League this season, with a squad capable of achieving it," he said.

"We had full confidence in that and a firm belief that we could do it, always staying true to our principles."

The former Real Valladolid head coach goes on to thank his players and club staff for their work during his time with the Hornets.

"Last time I checked, looking at the table, they [Watford] are doing okay - where should they be?

"Make it make sense to me. Watford Football Club, what is going on there?"

It's been a week for managerial sackings, and the 72+ team have got plenty to talk about, from Matt Bloomfield's departure from Luton Town to another change on Watford's managerial wheel of misfortune.

What of Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner venturing into the away end, you ask? Well, they've got that covered too.

Listen to the latest episode of the 72+ podcast and more on BBC Sounds.

We asked for your thoughts on another change of head coach at Watford with Javi Gracia returning to Vicarage Road to replace Paulo Pezzolano after only 10 games in charge for the Uruguayan.

Thanks for getting in touch and here are some of your views:

Simon - 22 managers since the Pozzo family took over is now embarrassing. Hard to say whether Javi returning is going to be good or bad. The Pozzo family need to give him time and also need to invest more in the team and club. Personally [think] they should never have got rid of Tom Cleverley, they should have backed him.

Matthew - I watch Watford home and away and no matter who the manager is the team, in my opinion, doesn't have enough firepower to meet the board's objectives and, as they are responsible for recruiting, they only have themselves to blame.

Martin - Here we go again! It didn't work bringing Quique (Sanchez Flores) back, not sure this will either. Someone needs to be given time, bring on players from what used to be a great academy. Mid-table obscurity beckons unless we change the model, not the people.

Derek - This is yet another knee-jerk decision by the board at Watford. I cannot wait for the day that Pozzo announces he intends to sell the club. Oh, for the stability days of Elton John and Graham Taylor, when the board were 100% behind the club and saw it more than just a money-making machine.

Image source, Watford FC

Karl - I think if they were to be sacking anyone, it should be the head of recruitment. Groundhog Day.

Neil - Absolutely the right move to bin PP. Baffling selections, turgid performances and no connection with the fan base. As to whether a returning Javi is the right man to get this squad to where it should be, time will tell.

Jex - Although Pezzolano was never going to work perhaps it is the owners who should be thinking about their own futures. Ever since they took over there has never been any stability that Hornets fans can be proud of - and look at some of the managers they have got rid of. How long is Javi going to last?

David - Pezzolano had alienated the dressing room. His severe lack of English did not help. Javi Gracia is the best option currently by far. If anyone can bring the best out of the squad, he can.

Gary - It's all well and good chopping and changing, but at some point you have to back someone and give them a chance to stamp their authority on the team, even if there's an amount of short-term pain. I look at the squad and it's the best we've had in a while. We need Javi to play a consistent system and know who his best players are and how they fit.

Elliot - Great appointment. Glad to see Pezzolano gone because he didn't have a vision. Gracia is someone who is well liked by the fans and loves the club. Very happy.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford have reappointed Javi Gracia as their head coach to replace the outgoing Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan had taken seven points from his final three games in charge, leaving the Hornets in 11th place in the Championship, three points short of the play-off places.

Gracia returns to Vicarage Road after leading them to 14th and 11th place finishes in the Premier League and the 2019 FA Cup final, where they were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City.

So, Watford fans, is this the right move by your owners, or was Pezzolano just beginning to get things going?

Send us your views here and check back later to see some of the responses.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann's loan spell in Spain has been interrupted by a knee injury, which will keep him out for two to three months.

The 31-year-old joined Deportivo La Coruna in the summer on a season-long loan.

The Spanish club said he has suffered a "partial tear of the external ligament in his left knee".

A statement on the Deportivo website added: "The Austrian goalkeeper begins a period of immobilization and joint relief before moving into the recovery phase with the club's physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists.

"The estimated recovery period will not be less than 10 weeks."

Bachmann joined Watford in 2017 and has played 138 games for the club.

He sustained an ankle injury against Sheffield United in January, an injury which prompted the Hornets to sign Egil Selvik, who is now established as first-choice at Vicarage Road.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford full-back Jeremy Ngakia hopes to provide more goals and assists for the team this season after his double gave them a 2-1 win over Oxford United.

The 25-year-old headed a 45th-minute equaliser after Oxford had taken the lead and then scored direct from a corner in added time at the end of the first half.

He had only netted once in his previous 104 league appearances for the Hornets and told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was important to get the win and I'm happy to contribute with two goals.

"I was just trying to put it [the corner] in the area but I'll take that. I don't remember (doing that before).

"We said at half-time we needed to try to get more goals and created a lot of chances, we could have punished them even more, but it's good we got the win."

Watford have taken seven points from their past three games are are up to 10th place in the Championship heading into the international break.

Their next game is away to Sheffield United - managed by former Hornets boss Chris Wilder - on 18 October.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford manager Paolo Pezzolano is satisfied by his side's "growth" following their 2-1 comeback win versus Oxford United on Saturday.

Following Max Alleyne's early own goal in the first three minutes, wingback Jeremy Ngakia scored a quickfire double for the Hornets before half time to take the lead and give them their third win of the season.

"Seven points out of nine possible is great, but the most important thing is the performance and the growth of the team," said Uruguyan Pezzolano to BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I liked the team very much during the first half. We could have scored that third goal to wrap up the game a little bit, but it didn't come.

"Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance and the development of the team."

On conceding first again: "The good thing is that the team continues to show that character, continues to show that determination and attitude to turn things around to overcome difficult and negative situations."

This is just Oxford's second league trip to Watford in the past 26 years.

The Hornets took the honours last season with a Vakoun Bayo goal sealing a 1-0 victory.

• Watford have won four out of the past five home league meetings against Oxford United (L1) , conceding just two goals during this run.

• Oxford United have won just three of their previous 25 league meetings with Watford (D11 L11), their last victory however being a 1-0 win in the pair's most recent meeting in March 2025. Prior to last season's meetings, the pair last played each other in the league in March 1999.

• After losing five consecutive league home matches between December 2024 and February 2025, Watford have lost just three of their past 11 home games (W5 D3).

• Since the start of last season, only Derby and Blackburn (15 each) have lost more Championship games on a Saturday than Oxford (14), with the U's still winless on Saturdays this season (D2 L3).

• Oxford boss Gary Rowett has won each of his past three league matches against Watford, keeping a clean sheet in all three victories.

Watford defender Mattie Pollock says the squad have a lot of trust in manager Paulo Pezzolano following the 2-2 draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

New head coach Pezzolano has had a turbulent start to life in the Championship, winning two and drawing three of their opening eight games, but Pollock insists the Uruguayan has had a positive impact on the players.

"We've got a good dressing room. We've got a lot of trust for the manager. It obviously shows that the things he says at half-time is positive - it's working," Pollock told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"For myself, I think I can do a little bit more, especially in the first half, but it shows we have got a good group. We are all behind the gaffer, we're all enjoying it and we're just frustrated that we can't play as well for him in the first half as we did in the second, but I'm sure that'll turn around.

"There's a lot of games in the Championship but overall it feels good. The gaffer comes in very positive at half-time and gets us going again and I think that's showed now for a few games."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.