Watford endured a disappointing return to the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign. The Hornets cycled through three managers in their underwhelming term, including Rob Edwards would guide Luton Town to the top flight in the playoffs much to the chagrin of their rivals. Chris Wilder oversaw the climax of the term that petered out to an 11th-place finish and six points off the pace of the playoffs.
New Era?
The club have reacted to their disappointment by appointing Valerien Ismael as their new manager, who excelled at Barnsley steering the Tykes to a top-six finish before being harshly sacked by West Brom with the club placed in the playoffs a year later before a dramatic fall under Steve Bruce. There have been changes too regarding sponsorship, using locally-based company MrQ as the shirt sponsor on a long-term deal.
Not only does it give the Hornets one of the best sponsorship deals in the EFL, but also a connection back to its community that has been lacking in recent seasons. Watford will require all the support they can get to compete with a competitive Championship that features a number of talented sides, notably Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United, recently relegated from the top flight.
“The mindset is changing, the way to play is changing.” 🎙️
Our exclusive catch-up with Valérien Ismaël. ⤵️
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 4, 2023
Ismael’s teams have punched above their weight in the past, but it is important that he is given time to spread his influence on the side. The Hornets need to learn the lessons of last season, whereas Edwards was sacked just two months into the campaign and was soon snapped by Luton. The Hatters found their form over the rest of the season and were rightfully the third-best team in the division, earning their place in the Premier League through the playoffs.
Patience
Ismael can achieve the same results with Watford, displaying a clinical edge at both ends of the pitch. Barnsley reeled off a seven-match winning run under Ismael that propelled them out of the bottom half of the table into the playoffs. Although the campaign ultimately ended in disappointment, it was clear that Ismael was responsible for their success, as the Tykes were relegated in the following season after their manager was plucked by West Brom.
Valerien Ismael has been sacked as West Brom head coach. pic.twitter.com/JEZIbg8cbQ
— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) February 2, 2022
He brought the same dogged style to the Baggies to put them in position for a playoff run, but their patience ran thin after a slight decline in form. Again, Ismael was on the right side of history as the Baggies plummeted under Bruce before he was sacked the following season, while the club failed to reach the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Watford’s moves in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign have been to experience over-exuberance in the final third. The departure of Joao Pedro will make life tougher for the Hornets to dominate their opponents in the final third. But, if the club are truly committed to a new era, then there will undoubtedly be growing pains. The key is for them to stick with Ismael and his resilient style that may not win awards for eye-pleasing aesthetics but could be just the remedy that the Hornets need to break out of the second tier and back into the top flight.
