Don't agree with SAM'S assessment "SAM estimates a loss of less than one league point if they were to be without Ighalo for the rest of the season." My guestimate , his absence could cost us 6-9 points in the over remaining 19 games . please log in to view this image
With the form of Deeney and Ighalo they were never really going to get a look in but I thought might be useful in reserve but clearly not.
please log in to view this image TRANSFERS / WATFORD FC / NEWS Victor Ibarbo on his way out but lifeline for Jose Holebas DEC 31, 2015BY KEVIN AFFLECK0 Watford will look to cut short Victor Ibarbo’s loan deal after Quique Sanchez Flores today confirmed the Colombian winger is not part of his plans. The head coach also offered Jose Holebas a lifeline by revealing the Greece international has drastically improved his attitude and application in training. Ibarbo has not been in a matchday squad since the 3-2 win over Aston Villa at the end of November and has not played a first-team game since the 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal. Sanchez Flores remains unconvinced how Ibarbo can play with the discipline and workrate, particularly defensively, he requires of all his players. The head coach sat and watched the Colombian in action for the U21s against Colchester at the training ground but so unconvinced was he that he went in before half time having seen enough. “We [at the club] need to talk about this case but, at the moment, this player is not in the plans,” said Sanchez Flores. “We are always thinking the best for Ibarbo. He has qualities and possibilities but we think Ibarbo is not ready to play with Watford. This is my decision. We try to find the best option for Ibarbo because we want the player to be happy.” please log in to view this image Photo by Paul Dawson The deal, sealed with a seven-figure loan fee, to bring Ibarbo to Vicarage Road was very last minute and was a result of them missing on on signing primary wing targets Diego Perotti and Joquain. The move, we were told at the time, was so last minute that they did not have time to discuss with Cagliari the option to buy the player. That, on reflection, appears just as well. Holebas, meanwhile, looked certain to be moved on January. He fell out of favour after the defeat at the Etihad stadium and the word, from several sources at the training ground, is that he had hardly endeared himself to his teammates or the backroom staff with his aloofness. He has, on at least one occasion, complained about the quality of the hotels Watford have stayed in. However, he was brought in from the wilderness against Chelsea for the ineligible Nathan Ake and showed what a top performer he is against the champions. Holebas can consider himself somewhat unfortunate to lose his place against Tottenham Hotspur but the 31-year-old is almost certain to play the next three games following Ake’s suspension. please log in to view this image Picture by Charlie Doris “Holebas played well against Chelsea,” said the head coach. “It was difficult match for Holebas. He tried and I did not see a difference between Holebas and the other players. Holebas is, in the last two months, at the point I want. The only problem is that in this position Ake is playing an amazing performance. In the last two months I have the player [in Holebas] I want. It’s very good news for us.” Whether Holebas is content to play second fiddle to Ake remains to be seen. please log in to view this image Picture by Paul Dawson Alessandro Diamanti is in the same boat. Sanchez Flores has had no such issues with his attitude: he is one of the most popular members of the squad and excels in training, particularly in the small-sided games. Yet he is not in the same mould as Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo and is not suited to the system Watford play. He may look to move to Italy to resurrect his chance of making Italy’s Euro 2016 squad. “He’s a very clever player,” said Sanchez Flores. “But he is completely different to the strikers we are managing. Only when we played against Everton did we play with one just behind the striker, in Jurado. The rest of the matches we always play with two strikers. It’s very difficult to play in their position. Only one player has played in this position and that’s Jurado. I was talking with Diamanti. He is training well, he is ready but at this moment he is not coming in the team.” please log in to view this image Picture by Ryan Morgan Diamanti is one of Valon Behrami’s best friends in football. There have been reports circulating about Behrami returning to play in Italy, perhaps with Udinese. That would appear hugely unlikely as he’s a valued member of the squad and, along with Etienne Capoue, Behrami sets the standard in training. “We are supporting Behrami for a long time, since the red card against Swansea,” Sanchez Flores said. “He has problems with injuries. We put Behrami on bench with problems sometimes. He is still not exactly 100 per cent. He’s fighting a lot to recuperate his best. He has little problems and the medical staff are fighting a lot to recuperate this player. The play of this player is very important. I don’t have any doubts about Behrami.” please log in to view this image Picture by Paul Dawson What if a player, with Euro 2016 on the horizon, has doubts about his involvement for the rest of the season? “I can’t guarantee [a space in the] first XI to any player,” said Sanchez Flores. “Players must train every single week and what is important is that they go to the pitch with the idea to help the team.”
This is probably a made up rumour but Real Madrid are looking at Quique as a possible head coach. http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/01/watfo...a-surprise-real-madrid-target-report-5595179/
Sadly , that's football ..bigger clubs can take the prized assets of smaller clubs . Thankfully , with premiership mega bucks our beloved club currently has , means we can offer excellent wages and rob out other "lesser" clubs . Let's hope Flores is content at Watford and stays for another season or two at least . Although if Watford's relative success continues , I would be surprised if he and Ighalo were still at the club this time next year .
NO they can sod off , I think we need to send the guys from Italy to put something in there beds . This is the one thing that could hurt us . I want QF to lead us into Europe in the next year or 2 .We would let him go and be manager of his country ,But not a small backwoods club from Madrid
Winter rumour gathering pace... please log in to view this image WD Sport 5 hrs · Alessandro Diamanti poised to return to Serie A TIM after he is left out of Watford FC squad for Premier League game with Manchester City FC
Sam Allardyce to leave football management to become the face of new BBQ franchise "Porkys".... Allardyce to be featured in ad campaign with head in trough of dollars and loads a shyte emanating from his gob.....
Deeney to Arsenal say the Star...(only read it online via a link!) Think the Gooners would set their bar a bit higher if they even want to by a striker..
Watford are hoping to complete a deal for Spanish international and Fiorentina midfielder Mario Suarez, the Watford Observer understands.
In summary: Stayers: Almen Abdi, Ikechi Anya, Giedrius Arlauskis, Valon Behrami, Steven Berghuis, Miguel Britos, Etienne Capoue, Craig Cathcart, Troy Deeney, Heurelho Gomes, Adlene Guedioura, Odion Ighalo, Jose Manuel Jurado, Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Ben Watson (16) Goers (if takers are found): Essaid Belkalem, Jose Holebas, Lloyd Dyer. Off the list through injury: Rene Gilmartin Their agents will be on standby: Alessandro Diamanti, Victor Ibarbo, Connor Smith, Juan Carlos Paredes Player to be added: Joel Ekstrand Potential spots available: 7 (four home-grown and three foreign) NB: Obbi Oulare, Tommie Hoban and Nathan Ake are under the age of 21 and therefore do not take up a place in the roster. Not sure how many playes QSF has used this season, but can´t be too many, so I guess there might be some changes with the players not used so far! I thought above was a good summary!
Atletico Madrid have rejected Watford's bid for highly-rated midfielder Thomas. According to Marca, the Vicarage Road side offered around £7m for the 22-year-old but the Spanish side swiftly turned it down. Ghana-born Thomas, full name Thomas Teye Partey, has come through the ranks at Atleti but has made just five La Liga appearances so far this season. Manager Diego Simeone, however, has high hopes for the midfielder and is no mood to sell him having only recently started including him in his first-team plans. Thomas is happy to stay at the club and is under contract until 2020 but that may not stop Watford from going back with an even higher offer as they bid to maintain their impressive start to the season with New Year reinforcements. Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores, a former Atletico manager, knows all about Thomas' promise and reckons he would be the perfect fit for his side, who are currently ninth in the Premier League, 12 points clear of relegation, after 20 games.
Galatasaray are set to hold talks with Watford FC’s out of favour striker Víctor Ibarbo. The Turkish sports paper AMK state that the Lion’s General Secretary Fatih İşbecer will meet with the Colombia international this week. AMK go onto state that if Ibarbo responds positively, İşbecer will fly to Cagliari who are the 25-year-old’s current employers. Ibarbo is currently on a season long loan at Watford FC from Cagliari. Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores recently stated that Ibarbo is not in his first team plans at Watford and can leave in January.
