Taking everything in to consideration this season, Watford surpassed my expectations and eventually finished comfortably in mid table and not that far off the play off places in terms of points. Perhaps Sean Dyche is the man to take you forward after all. Well done Watford - a job well done under difficult circumstances How do you guys assess the season you have had?
Thanks Thai - I would think that most of us would say SD and Watford have far exceeded our expectations. With the management team and key players leaving the club in the summer we were once again the obvious favourites for relegation. But after a shaky start Sean stabilised the team and with some good loan signings we really did improve - with the bonus of bringing on some of our own young players. Selling Sordell has not hurt us and the money is very much needed to keep us afloat. So a very positive season that has seen up finishing in the highest position we have for a few years and a manager growing with each game - we just need to keep our feet on the ground and look to improve next season. Good to see you have done well in the Prem this season and hope you can keep the wolves away from your manager...
Appreciate that TC. In a nutshell, Dyche has shown both that he recognised each and every weakness of Malky's, and that he was able to do something about it. Next season it's about consolidating on that: keeping Sean Murray's progression going, keeping Troy Deeney scoring, keep monitoring the goalkeeping situation carefully and ensure that none of the defenders or defensive midfielders start playing as though they feel they are undroppable. Even if Mariappa goes, a back four of Doyley, Taylor, Nosworthy and Dickinson with Lee Hodson chomping at the bit should be able to do the job, and with Jonathan Hogg and John Eustace to choose from in front of them they'll be well covered. But while statistically the last third of our season was playoff form, and even though Sean Murray is more than just "a gem" (an unpolished crown jewel more like), I still think we need one more attacking spark before we can start looking seriously at the top six. It's possible that we could sign someone who makes the difference. But equally, the extra piece of the jigsaw might come from Stevie McGinn, a fantastic season-long loan, two shorter loans that span most of the season, or it could even come from Chris Iwelumo, Gavin Massey or Britt Assombalonga stepping up. But one of those things needs to happen in my opinion.
Thanks, We have done Brilliantly with Dyche as our Manager, Hope key players stay and good ones come in so we can mount a promotion push next season.
I always knew that we could do as well as we have done. Last season when you consider some of the players we had...mid table wasn't that great. But this year we did do well. I think in 11th we beat a couple of teams with bigger budgets and high expectations. I think if we played anywhere like how was predicted..we would have underachieved. What ignorant pundits say does not define our team....we were better than relegation and deserved our place.
thanks muchly TC...we all know we got off to a tricky start, and SD's position was fragile, but when he turned it around, he did a fantastic job, with all that he had available. So proud of the team, and everyone behind them...and for the fans, who managed to eat that humble pie and get behind the Manager A good season, with hopes for an even better one next season!
it will be a tall order, but yes, i think we can do it! If we hadn't had such a bad start this season, we'd have been up there...
You are spot on with that comment. I think I was still convinced WFC would be fighting to avoid the drop in late October but the turn around has been excellent. If you can hang on to the key players then I think you do have a decent chance of a top 6 place next season, although I agree it might be a big ask. However, with a little lady luck you just never know
The funny thing is, i dont think there are too many KEY players this time. I think we can afford to loose Marriappa as we have Bennett chomping at the bit as well as Taylor and Nos established. If Deeney left i would hope that Iwelumo could take up the line and either Garner or Forsyth could step in (preferably Craig). The biggest loss would be Sean Murray imo, if we lost him we would loose our set-pieces, our attacking ability and it would set us back to the early days of the season i think.
I cant see him leaving either. He has a wise head on his shoulders and knows the chances of getting as much first team football elsewhere is slim. He has seen Marv leave and wont want to flop like that.
Yes well done Watford, thought you would really struggle this year, so to finish 11th is very good. Maybe you can push on next year.
Thanks for the comments non Watford fans. If you could possibly talk to the media and pundits so that they realise we are looking good and still work in progress under a relatively inexperienced manager I'd be grateful. They write us off EVERY season and we still manage to turn it around. Viva Watford.
The sad fact is that Watford are a small, family orientated, not especially well supported club with no 'big name' players or even a well know manager. Malky was unknown before he managed you, as was SD (No disrespect meant in any of that). As you are, or should be aware, the UK media only want to write about the 'big names' and 'big teams'. It is not just you guys in the Championship either, the same rules apply to Norwich City in the PL. I am pretty sure we will once again be tipped to be in or very near the bottom 3 next season despite what has been achieved this season. In fairness, they might be right and Norwich may struggle to push on but I agree that to make such foregone conclusions is pretty stupid but it is how they fill up the inches of their vile tabloid rags Rant over I hope WFC can progress again next season, will be interesting to see how SD fares in the transfer market over the summer (his first proper transfer window, the January window is a joke) and see who he can keep at the club.
Thanks for the positive comments. I don't think it will be a case of who he can keep, but more who he wants to keep. Like most of us, I suspect AM will be moving on to bigger, but not necessarily better , things and he will be missed. As for the rest, there are at least three who I expect to be transfer-listed as they are simply not performing. Who he manages to bring in will be of more interest. I hope your mob do well next season - Norwich was always near the top of my list of favourite away trips. Nice beer, nice food, nice part of the world and nice people - couldn't ask for more than that.
