Troy Deeney, Nathaniel Chalobah, Richarlison… how Marco Silva could line-up his Watford XI
WATFORD'S owner Gino Pozzo is a man who is always looking for continued improvement.
So the 2016-17 campaign was a misfire for the Hertfordshire club who finished 17th under Walter Mazzarri.
The Hornets dispensed with the services of the dour Italian this summer and hired the in vogue Marco Silva, who failed to keep Hull City in the Premier League but impressed nevertheless.
And the arrival of the Portuguese has seen a change of tact by Watford, as the club have tended to sign from Italy since the Pozzos bought the club in 2012.
Given the family’s knowledge of Serie A it made sense.
However, this summer has seen Watford purchase players from closer to home.
Tom Cleverley, Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah have all arrived and have been joined by Spaniard Kiko Femenia.
Brazilian Richarlison is also on the verge of completing a move to Vicarage Road.
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Silva has a strong squad to choose from but how will the Hornets line-up this season?
We asked Football Whispers to answer that question...
Goalkeeper: Heurelho Gomes
THE Brazilian had unfairly been tagged as a liability during a six-year spell with Tottenham and arrived at Watford in the summer of 2014 with a point to prove.
In his first season with the club Gomes helped the Hornets clinch promotion to the Premier League and has been their first choice in both of the Golden Boys’ top flight campaigns.
Gomes, who has kept 34 clean sheets in 123 games for Watford, signed a new two-year contract with the club this summer.
But Silva is keen to bring in another goalkeeper so the Brazilian may have competition for the No1 spot.
Right-back: Daryl Janmaat
JANMAAT arrived last summer following Newcastle United’s relegation but his first campaign at Vicarage Road was largely underwhelming.
The Holland international made just 18 starts in the Premier League and was shunted between right and left wing-back as Mazzarri attempted to cover a vast number of injuries
The 28-year-old is set to be deployed in his prefered right-back role by Silva this term and, while not always the most defensively reliable, Janmaat is a threat when he gets forward.
It will be intriguing to see if Watford’s new boss can get the best out of the Dutchman
Centre-back: Sebastian Prodl
THE Austrian was one of the few players to impress on a regular basis last term, hence why he collected the club’s Player of the Year honour in May.
There’s nothing overly complicated about Prödl. He reads the game well, is rarely caught out of position and doesn’t overplay in the wrong areas.
The 30-year-old has made 58 appearances in his first two years at Vicarage Road and should be a mainstay of Silva’s back four.
Centre-back: Christian Kabasele
THE defender was part of the Belgium squad who competed at Euro 2016 and made the switch to Vicarage Road from Genk last summer.
However, his first season at Watford was disrupted by hamstring and hip injuries while Mazzarri also left him out of several match-day squads.
But Kabasele has featured in pre-season under Silva and his athleticism and pace make him the ideal candidate to play alongside Prodl.
But he will be challenged by Craig Cathcart and Miguel Britos.
Left-back: Jose Holebas
THE German-born Greece international matched a Premier League record last season as he received an impressive 15 yellow cards throughout the campaign.
But while his temperament may be in question, Holebas’ talent is not.
Ashley Cole can confirm that given he was kept out of the Roma side by the now 33-year-old.
Holebas is a fine attacking full-back, aided by the fact he used to be a striker, and a player that will be key in Silva’s 4-2-3-1 system.
Defensive midfield: Abdoulaye Doucoure
IF things had gone to plan last summer then Doucoure would’ve joined Lorient on transfer deadline day.
Instead the paperwork wasn’t completed and the midfielder remained at Vicarage Road.
He wouldn’t start a Premier League game for Watford until January 1st but once in the team Doucoure remained there.
He made a total of 24 top flight appearances and went from strength to strength as the 2016-17 campaign progressed.
He’s featured regularly in pre-season and looks set to be one of the two pivots in the Watford midfielder.
Defensive midfield: Nathaniel Chalobah
IT would’ve been easy for the England Under-21 international to remain at Chelsea as a squad player and rack up several winner’s medals over the years.
But Chalobah has moved to Watford, where he spent the 2012-13 campaign on loan, to prove himself in the Premier League.
A powerful figure yet cultured on the ball, Chalobah has all the qualities needed to thrive in the top flight.
England boss Gareth Southgate is a big fan of the versatile midfielder and, if he impresses in Hertfordshire, a call-up to the England senior squad won’t be too far away.
Ring wing: Isaac Success
THE young Nigerian has the raw attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League.
He’s quick, powerful and comfortable with the ball at his feet.
However, Success does need to improve the defensive and tactical side of his game and become more consistent.
Working with Silva should help Success... it was the Portuguese who brought the best out of Lazar Markovic at Hull last term.
If he is able to have a similar impact on the 21-year-old, Watford would possess one of the brightest young wingers in the top flight.
Attacking midfielder: Roberto Pereyra
SIGNED from Juventus last summer for £11million, big things were expected of the talented Argentine.
And Pereyra started well in a Watford shirt, scoring on his debut against Arsenal and then struck a sumptuous goal against Leicester City.
But his season was ended in December when he suffered a knee ligament injury against Manchester City.
But the midfielder returned in time for pre-season and played 45 minutes of a friendly against Aston Villa.
If Silva can get him fit and back in form, Pereyra could provide the spark Watford missed of much of last season.
Left wing: Richarlison
THE Brazilian was being courted by the likes of Chelsea and Man United earlier in the summer but has decided to switch to Vicarage Road in a deal that could be worth up to £13m.
Richarlison has impressed in his native Brazil this year, scoring seven goals and assisting a further four in just 18 games.
His signing would be a coup for Watford who will hope the youngster, who can play on either flank or as a striker, will be granted a work permit.
Striker: Troy Deeney
WATFORD'S captain, No9 and talisman may miss the start of the campaign due to injury but once fit he will be back in the side and spearheading the Hornets attack.
Deeney has reached double figures in each of his two seasons in the Premier League and his ability with the ball is vastly underrated.
He fell out with Mazzarri towards the end of last season and was left out of starting XI for five matches.
Watford lost four of those which underlines Deeney’s importance to the side.