Watford - Expected Line-Up 13 August 2016

[FootballWriter2]

Report below written 2 August. Further updates to come in the run-up to Watford's opening match on 13 August away to Southampton at 3pm.

Last Season Stats

After gaining promotion to the premier league in the 2014/2015 season many would have forgiven Watford for having a hard time in the Premier league in the 2015/2016 season. But like all of the promoted teams they exceeded expectations and at the end of the season can be a little disappointed to have only finished in 13th position. They also reached the semifinal of the FA cup narrowly losing to Crystal Palace. However, the one sour note on an otherwise very positive first season in the premier league was the manager Quique Sanchez Flores having to leave due to contractual issues.

Manager

Walter Mazzarri the former Inter Milan, Sampdoria and Napoli coach has taken charge of the team since Quique Sanchez Flores left by mutual consent. Coming from Italy with a reputation as a hard task master whose teams aren’t particularly pretty on the eye. It will be interesting to see how the new manager adapts to the Premier League. A staunch believer in the traditional Italian 3-5-2 system we can expect this at Watford as well. Preseason so far confirms that they will be utilising Walter Mazzarri’s favourite 3-5-2 system.

Defence

Firstly, the goal keepers.

Heurelho Gomes – Last season’s number one and pivotal in goal helping Watford to 15 clean sheets last season. The Ex Spurs player seems to have come to terms with playing in the Premier League.

Costel Pantilimon – The big Romanian was back up for Heurelho Gomes for most of last season. But he did clock up 18 appearances.

The Defenders include.

Allan Nyom – The Cameroonian international full back was a regular fixture in the Watford back four last season but in the change of system he might struggle to get into the side this season.

Miguel Britos – The experienced Uruguayan central defender will look to be an integral part of the new look Watford defence, His experience playing in Italy for Napoli will surely help him adapt to the new system quickly. Played in 27 games for Watford last season.

Sebastien Prodl – The Austrian international central defender might be playing back up to his fellow defenders this season. Last season contributed in 22 games.

Juan Carlos Paredes – The Ecuadorian international fullback will be looking to get more game time under his belt but again but might find the change in tactics this season leaving him in the cold.

Craig Cathcart – The journey man centre back had a very successful season last time out and looks set be a regular part of the new look Watford defence. Played in 39 games last season.

Essaid Belkalem – After joining from Granada the Algerian defender has found opportunities hard to come by due to injury and form. Will be looking to try and break into the first team this season.

Tommie Hoban – The young Irish defender will face plenty of competition this season and his main aim will be to get some games under his belt.

Christian Kabasele – The Belgian under 21 international joined from Genk in August. He will find plenty of competition for places within the Watford defensive ranks.

Juan Zuniga – The experienced international fullback has come from Napoli on a season long loan deal where he worked with Walter Mazzarri before.

Brice Dja Djedje – The Ivorian wingback joined Watford in July from Marseille where he played a total of 63 games over three seasons. Has a slight knock but should be ok for the start of the season

Jose Holebas – The experienced Greek international defender looking to increase his rise in the team after making 13 appearances last season.

Midfielders

Mata Mario Suarez – The Spanish midfielder looks set for a battle for his place this season. Last season he made 17 appearances.

Adlene Guedioura – The 30-year-old ex-Crystal Palace midfielder may find his playing time even further limited this year due to increased competition in the Watford midfield.

Ikechi Anya – The little Scotland International is a very flexible player and can play anywhere across the midfield or forward positions. Last season he was mainly used as a substitute but this season could see him back in the fold in the starting eleven. Made 18 appearances last season.

Ben Watson – The midfielder will be looking to cement his place in the team this year but again may have a battle on as competition in the Watford midfield heats up. Last season he made 37 appearances scoring 2 goals.

Etienne Capoue – The French International Midfielder will be looking to continue as a mainstay of the Watford midfield. Last season made 36 appearances.

Dennon Lewis – The young academy graduate will be looking to gain experience whilst with the first team this year.

Nordin Amrabat – The versatile midfielder come forward. The Moroccan international will be looking for more game time this year after making 6 appearances last season.

Isaac Success – The midfielder come forward signed for Watford in July. Another player to come from Granada where he scored 6 goals in 30 games last season.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – The former Rennes player scored 12 goals and made 13 assists last season in 75 appearances.

Valon Behrami – The versatile Swiss midfielder will be looking to add to his 15 games from last season. Has a slight knock but should be ok for the start of the season.

Forwards

Troy Deeney – The club captain will be looking to add to his impressive haul of last season 17 goals in 41 games.

Matej Vydra – The popular Czech striker looks to be back now after a stint at Udinese. But he may find it hard to break into the team with Troy Deeney and Odion Jude Ighalo ahead of him in the pecking order.

Steven Berghuis – Going on loan to Feyenoord for the season.

Odion Jude Ighalo – Nigerian international and the clubs last season’s top scorer in the premier league will be looking to carry on where he left off. Last season he scored 17 times whilst making 42 appearances.

Alex Jakubiak – The young striker will be looking to gain as much first team experience as possible this season.

Jerome Sinclair – The ex-Liverpool player was snapped up by Watford as he was out of contract. He will be looking to gain 1st team experience but might struggle for game time this season. Has a slight knock but should be ok for the start of the season

Expected Line-ups

With their preseason games completed the formation is set in stone but we still aren’t too sure where all the players will fit in yet. I would expect a team similar to the below to start the season (Possible alternative player marked in brackets):

3-5-2 formation:

Goal Keeper: Heurelho Gomes

Defence: Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele (Allan Nyom, Juan Zuniga)

Midfield: Ikechi Anya, Jose Holebas, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ben Watson (Mata Mario Suarez)

Forward: Troy Deeney, Odion Jude Ighalo

With the tactical reshuffle under the new management regime, it’s highly likely that the midfield could include a defender in it such as Jose Holebas to add a little bite. But they could also quite easily go down a more attacking route playing both Ben Watson and Mata Mario Suarez. The front two pick themselves as long as they are fit.

Summary

If they can recapture the form of last season, then you will be again looking for Troy Deeney and Odion Jude Ighalo to provide the goals and be the star picks for fantasy managers. However also watch out for the young Abdoulaye Doucoure. In the new 3-5-2 system it may allow him the freedom to get close to the front two. On the flipside though the second season is always the toughest for the promoted teams that have stayed up and the 3-5-2 system doesn’t always work out too well in the Premier League.

[FootballWriter2]

Pre-season games:

10 July: Woking 1-1 Watford. Goal: Berghuis

14 July: Stevenage 0-2 Watford. Goals: Capoue, Sinclair

19 July: Union Berlin 1-3 Watford (Austria). Goals: Capoue, Deeney, Berghuis

23 July: Watford 0-0 Anzhi Makhachkala (Austria)

30 July: QPR 2-0 Watford (Loftus Road)

6 August: Lorient (Vicarage Road)

[admin]

Watford's 1st 10 EPL fixtures:

Southampton V Watford
Sat 13 Aug 15:00
Watford V Chelsea
Sat 20 Aug 15:00
Watford V Arsenal
Sat 27 Aug 15:00
West Ham V Watford
Sat 10 Sep 15:00
Watford V Man Utd
Sun 18 Sep 12:00
Burnley V Watford
Mon 26 Sep 20:00
Watford V Bournemouth
Sat 1 Oct 15:00
Middlesbrough V Watford
Sat 15 Oct 15:00
Swansea V Watford
Sat 22 Oct 15:00
Watford V Hull
Sat 29 Oct 15:00

[FootballWriter2]

Cathcart came off as a precaution after an injury to his back in Watfords last friendly vs Lorient. Should still be available to start the season though.

[FootballWriter2]

Injury updates: Behrami and Guédioura seem t be struggling with match fitness and might not make the first game vs Southampton. Success has picked up a leg injury and doesn't look like he'll be available either. Dja Djedje knock seems to be more than that and seems will definitely miss the season opener.

[admin]

Most reports are that the defence will consist of Gomes, Britos, Prodl & Cathcart. Wing-backs and Midfield is harder to predict but up front should be Troy Deeney and Ighalo.

[admin]

Line-ups were:

H Gomes yellow card, C Cathcart, S Prodl, M Britos, J Holebas, V Behrami (B Watson red card (s/o 90), 64), N Amrabat, E Capoue, A Guedioura yellow card (J Zuniga, 73), O Ighalo (I Anya, 81), T Deeney

Subs not used: A Nyom, C Pantilimon, J Sinclair, M Vydra

Ben Watson has a 1 match ban. Likely to be unchanged in their 352 formation. Kaboul probably on his way from Sunderland to strengthen their CBs partic as they play with 3 of them and 2 wing-backs.