Watford endured their lowest finish in English football since 2010 last season, finishing 15th and trailing the play-off spots by 17 points, falling well behind the promotion race.
Tom Cleverley, who stepped in as manager late in the campaign, was appointed permanently in April for his efforts. Despite this, the challenge ahead should not be underestimated as the new season approaches.
Watford has been a regular fixture at the top of the Championship over the past 15 years, including a notable six-year stint in the Premier League. Maintaining such high standards will be a significant challenge for Cleverley, particularly given that this is his first managerial role.
Tom Cleverley’s Watford record
Tom Cleverley’s tenure at Watford was limited to the final nine games of last season, where he oversaw just two wins and five draws, which failed to make a significant impact. Although the performances showed some improvement over previous periods, they still reflected a mid-table pace.
With a record of 11 points from those nine games, the projection for a full 46-match season would amount to 56 points—exactly what Watford earned last year. While nine games is a small sample size, it doesn’t offer much optimism.
Supporters might need to prepare for another challenging season, with promotion aspirations likely out of reach. The club’s transfer activity this summer suggests that finishing around 15th place could be an optimistic goal, despite the disappointment it might bring.
The expected departure of Yaser Asprilla to Rennes is a significant setback, considering his vital role last season. The young Colombian, who impressed with six goals and seven assists, will be hard to replace. Watford must address this gap before the transfer window closes.
Additionally, the sale of Ismael Koné further weakens Cleverley’s squad ahead of the new season, adding to the challenges he faces.
Watford’s underwhelming 2024 summer transfer activity
According to The Athletic, Watford will receive £25 million from the sale of Asprilla to Rennes, with an additional £15 million earned from Koné’s transfer. This £40 million windfall represents a significant sum that could be used to enhance the first-team squad.
However, the club’s summer signings have so far been somewhat underwhelming, with the return of Moussa Sissoko being the most notable addition. While new recruits like Rocco Vata, Kayky Almeida, and Mamadou Doumbia hold promise, they are all under 20 and relatively inexperienced at this level.
| Yaser Asprilla’s stats 2023/24 – per Fbref.com | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat | Per 90 | ||
| Non-penalty goals | 0.20 | ||
| Non-penalty expected goals (npxG) | 0.22 | ||
| Shots | 2.50 | ||
| Assists | 0.23 | ||
| Expected assists (xAG) | 0.19 | ||
| npxG + xAG | 0.41 | ||
| Shot-creating actions | 4.81 | ||
There are no assurances that Watford’s new signings will make an immediate impact, particularly as potential replacements for Koné and Asprilla.
To avoid slipping further down the Championship table this season, Watford must make additional transfers before the August 30th deadline.
As the opening weekend approaches, Tom Cleverley has cause for concern regarding the fitness and form of his squad. The growing negativity from pundits and supporters only exacerbates the situation.
This atmosphere of uncertainty is precisely what an inexperienced manager like Cleverley would fear. There is now a genuine risk that Watford could face an even worse finish than they did in 2010.
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