Watford are another team under new management this season with Malcky Mackay taking over from Brendan Rodgers who has gone to Reading.

Last Season: 13th in Championship Watford began the season under the guidance of Aidy Boothroyd once again but he had the look of a manager out of ideas and time in this part of the world. Having allowed a tremendous start to 2007/08 to tale off into a meek surrender in the play offs against Hull Boothroyd was then forced to cut costs and sell a lot of his better players and Watford struggled badly initially. Boothroyd’s Watford were famed for their aggressive, direct approach to the game but with the likes of Tommy Smith to the fore he did actually try and switch to a more attractive style of play initially, sadly for him the switch came at a time when they no longer had players of sufficient ability to pull it off. Former favourite Malky Mackay enjoyed a good spell as caretaker that included a win at Swansea and a 3-0 rout of QPR at Vicarage Road and was perhaps unfortunate not to get the job full time. In the end Watford went down the road they did when initially appointing Boothroyd – taking good advice and a risk in appointing a previously unheard of young coach with a super reputation around the reserve teams and academies of the Premiership. Brendan Rodgers arrived with a great record in the ranks at Reading and Chelsea and oversaw a transformation in the second half of the season that saw Watford climb comfortably away from danger with one of the Championship’s top marksmen tamas Priskin to the fore.

Head to Head: With Paulo Sousa observing from the main stand and Gareth Ainsworth in charge for the final game of his first spell as caretaker QPR capitulated to a 3-0 defeat at Watford in December. The Hornets were themselves under caretaker charge at the time, Malky Mackay was in charge that day, but they ripped into a dire QPR side and won easily, albeit with a very questionable penalty decision in their favour for the first, with goals from Smith, Ward and Williamson. At Loftus Road the pair fought out a thoroughly dull goalless draw – number four in a series of 11 for QPR last season.
Watford 3 QPR 0
QPR 0 Watford 0

Odds: According to the bookies six teams are more likely to be relegated than them and for me that is generous. Their longest title odds are 66/1 with Bet365 and Paddy Power, their shortest are 33/1 with Sky Bet and Stan James and frankly I’m willing to offer you a better price than that myself.

Manager: Malky Mackay An uncompromising centre half best known for his 200+ game spell in this country with Norwich City after a playing a bit part role at Celtic during the 1990s, Mackay was brought in to replace Brandan Rodgers this summer when he defected to Reading. Towards the tale end of his career Mackey found a niche for himself in captaining sides to promotion to the Premiership and then immediately moving on – doing so with Norwich, Watford and West Ham. He sensibly recognised, or perhaps had it recognised for him, that he was never going to be quick enough to play the likes of Thierry Henry but for experience and leadership in the Championship he was ideal. He looks set to be succeeded in this role by Wayne Brown who was promoted with Hull City 12 months ago, hardly played in the Premiership and is now at Leicester.

Mackay was unfortunate not to be appointed as Watford manager in December when they went for Rodgers instead. He won two and drew two of five matches in charge and seemed to galvanise the Watford side. It was no real surprise, despite his lack of experience, when they turned to him this summer and he now has a chance to show what he can do on a permanent basis. Watford have had the look of a club in decline, and struggling for money, for some time so this will be a tough baptism for him. With relegation to League One surely signalling big problems with the banks for the Hornets Mackay will be lucky to survive a bad start if he makes one, but he is made a tough stuff and is the best appointment they could have made I think.
Survival Chances: 5/10

Players: Watford have thus far held onto their three star attractions from last season despite heavy interest from elsewhere. John O’Toole and Tommy Smith were both given permission to speak to Sheff Utd but could not agree terms, Smith seems to be angling after a move to Reading with Brandan Rodgers and Tamas Priskin is now the top summer target for Roy Keane at Ipswich Town. Those three could well be the difference between success and failure for Mackay who must be desperate to keep them. After a slow start in English football Priskin found his feet last season, particularly once Rodgers had taken over, with 14 goals overall and 12 from December onwards. Tommy Smith is one of those players who always has a touch of class about him in this league while struggling to make an impression whenever he gets a chance in the top flight. He has been consistently excellent for Watford since moving from Derby and scored 17 goals last season from a deep lying attacking role – he will undoubtedly be the star again if they can keep hold of him. O’Toole is a wild haired, all action midfield player who looked to be forming an excellent partnership with Lee Williamson before finances dictated his loan to Preston last season and sale to Sheff Utd this summer. Take those three out and Watford’s squad looks very skinny on numbers and quality. Nathan Ellington is back from an unsuccessful spell with derby last season but in truth has been in poor touch for the best part of three years now and will be sapping the wage budget. Jobi McAnuff always seems to play well against QPR, and defender Adrian Marriappa also played well against us twice last season first at full back and then centre half. Danny Graham may well be a shrewd capture from Carlisle, I have been impressed with him whenever I have seen him in League One.
Likely Star Player – Tommy Smith, if they can keep him.

Transfers
In:
Danny Graham from Carlisle United – Tribunal
Jure Travner from NK Celje – Undisclosed
Scott Severin from Aberdeen – Free
Out:
Lee Williamson to Sheffield United – Undisclosed
Theo Robinson to Huddersfield Town – £250k
Steve Kabba – Released
Stuart Searle – Released

Prediction: Mackay has big shoes to fill as Rodgers is clearly a very talented manager with a big future. Watford lost just four of their final 18 league matches last year to climb into mid-table and if they can keep hold of O’Toole, Priskin and most importantly Smith there is no reason to believe that Mackay cannot maintain that judging by his spell as caretaker last season. Further departures though and it will be a real tough struggle for them.
Verdict: In and around 15th or 16th pending further departures.

Photo: Action Images

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