The new "Premier" league season will start on August 13th, which means there are only 12 days left until the start of the English championship. As the championship approaches inexorably, Eurofootball.com will provide you with a review of all twenty "Premier" league teams.
This time, we will review the team "Watford", which finished in thirteenth position in the "Premier" league last season, and includes Lithuanian Giedrius Arlauskis.
"Watford"
History:
The team was founded in 1881 and will be playing its fourth season in the "Premier" league. Their best finish in this league was 13th place.
They will be playing in the "Premier" league for the second consecutive season.
Last year's season:
In the 2015-2016 "Premier" league season, "Watford" held seventh place after Christmas, but they could not maintain this pace - ultimately the team finished in thirteenth place. It was the best performance of the club in the "Premier" league.
Changes after the last season:
One of the most important changes after the season occurred in the coaching staff - Quique Flores, who had only been at the club for a year, was replaced by Walter Mazzarri.
This summer, the team said goodbye to several players who failed to become leaders of the team. Jose Manuel Jurado, who did not meet expectations, was sold to "Espanyol" for 1.2 million euros, Adlene Guedioura moved to "Sheffield Wednesday" for 3.6 million euros, and Miguel Layun, who was loaned to "Porto" club last season, became a full-fledged player of this club for 6 million euros.
They also acquired three important newcomers over the summer - right-back Brice Dja Djedje from "Marseille" for 3.6 million euros, center-back Christian Kabasele from "Gent" for almost 7 million euros, and the most expensive purchase in the club's history, 20-year-old Nigerian winger Isaac Success. "Granada" club received 15 million euros for Isaac Success.
Among the players returning to the team after the loan period is Lithuanian Giedrius Arlauskis, whose future in this team is still uncertain.
Players to watch:
Abdoulaye Doucoure. The defensive midfielder, acquired for 10.6 million euros in February, did not debut for "Watford" and immediately went on loan to "Granada" for half a season. Now the 23-year-old midfielder is preparing for the season in England and aims to become one of the main safeties of this team. He has already proven in his career at "Rennes" that he can be productive and create opportunities for his teammates, and now he will need to demonstrate this in the "Premier" league.
Isaac Success. As the most expensive purchase in the club's history, Success moves to "Watford" because of his potential. Not yet having made his debut for his country's national team, the winger showed last season that he can both score and create goals, directly contributing to 11 goals in "La Liga" matches. Last season, Success most often defeated opponents one-on-one in his club, while opponents most often fouled him, so "Watford" hopes that his individual skill will be visible in the "Premier" league.
Odion Ighalo. Having scored 20 times two years ago in the "Championship" division, Ighalo did not falter in the higher level, scoring 15 goals and being the team's top scorer. He scored all his goals while in the opponent's penalty area, so when he receives the ball near the opponent's goal, he is always dangerous. Forming a great attacking duo with Troy Deeney, Ighalo will try to be the leader of the team's attacks next season.
Strong points of the team:
Ball possession. Last year, "Watford" was among the top five teams in the league in terms of both recovering balls and intercepted passes. The defense worked with all team players, and each player on the field contributed to improving these statistics. It is unlikely that the new team coach will break down a well-working tactic, so one of their advantages this season should be frequent ball possession from opponents.
Long forward passes. During the 2015-2016 season, no team could match "Watford" in terms of long pass numbers. Executing up to 80 long passes during matches, they hoped that Troy Deeney would receive the ball and, together with Ighalo, create a threat to the opponent's goal in the attack. Last season, Deeney contributed significantly to the success of this tactic, winning many aerial duels and thus protecting the ball for his team. If "Watford" does not change its tactic, Deeney will continue to be the dominating player in aerial duels.
A great attacking duo. Deeney and Ighalo scored 28 of the team's 40 goals and provided 12 assists together last season. Without them, there was no player in the team who had scored more than two goals or provided more than two assists. If Success fails to make his mark next season and contribute to the team's attack, Deeney and Ighalo will once again be the players who not only create opportunities but also finish them.
Interesting facts about "Watford":
Throughout the history of the club, "Watford" has never won either the highest or second most prestigious title in the English league. They celebrated victory only in the third highest division;
Recently, "Watford" changes its coaches very often. In the last 8 years, they have had thirteen strategists, and the last one to serve for more than two seasons is Aidy Boothroyd, who did so between 2005 and 2008;
Last season, "Watford" tried their luck in the "Premier" league for the third time. In the previous two attempts, they finished in the last position both times;
In the spring of 1997, playing in the third division and finishing only 13th at the end of the season, two years later, "Watford" was already preparing for the "Premier" league. For two consecutive seasons, they managed to get into a higher league and thus quickly advance to the highest division;
The "Watford" team also includes Lithuanian Giedrius Arlauskis, who was on loan to the "Espanyol" club from January until this year. This summer, the goalkeeper returned to the English club and is preparing for the season with this team;
Luther Blissett is the club's record holder for both goals scored - 185, and matches played - 503.
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
