Vicarage Road without any money
Financial problems (also known as Championship syndrome) hit Watford hard this year. After last year play-off failure, Watford saw from the first line what it looks like in the second Championship year after relegation. They have been close to make a comeback to Premier league, had excellent results, leading the race for almost the whole season, but at the end with terrible run in the finish and one of the longest run without a win, they ended in play-off without too many chances against high-flying Hull City. Of course, Hull blow them away with 2:0 and 4:1 and ruined all the hopes they had.
Consolidation
Bank debts made all the damage during the summer and Hornets had to sell their key players to repay the debts. The best players from last campaign left the club like Darius Henderson (Sheffield United) and Nathan Ellingthon (Derby County), defender Dan Shittu (Bolton) and Stewart (Derby). Also, Kabba has been loaned to Blackpool. On the other hand, only quality arrival is Rasiak who came on loan from The Saints (played for Bolton last year). Cutting the expenses meant that club administration had to be smaller also.
In
Gregorz Rasiak (Southampton)
Out
Darius Henderson (Sheffield United), Nathan Ellington (Derby County), Jordan Stewart (Derby County), Steve Kabba (Blackpool, pozajmica), Toumani Diagouraga (Hereford United, free)
Midtable is the maximum
Considering everything that happened, Watford fans won’t have too many reasons for happiness this year. Team is much weaker then last year and play-off is definitely out of question for them. With debts above the head, club administration will try to survive this year with what they have. Even after selling the best ones, Watford still have some quality in the squad (McAnuff, Smith, Priskin, Francis, Poom) and excellent manager in Aidv Boothroyd who has Premier league experience. All of them could earn top table place, but below play-off zone.
Our tip: Midtable position
Odds 4.50
Bookmaker: Bet365
PROM
PL-OFF
RELEG