Can Watford survive in the Premiership?

Answer 1

It will be hard, but we might just do it. Everyone can point to Wigan and Fulham staying up, but they had money to spend. Better 'role models' would be Portsmouth, Bradford, Ipswich, Leicester and Derby (circa 1997), West Brom, Charlton etc.

Dilligence is a great quality, but we also need some Premiership class. Good signings will be crucial. We will need a stronger squad when the midwinter comes around, and injuries and suspensions might be mounting up. Experience will also be crucial. We have some great young players at the moment, but we need the odd 30-something pro (maybe obtained on a free transfer) to assist Malky MacKay and be a leader and figurehead on the pitch.

One thing in our favour is that we have pace in our team. That helped Wigan immensely last season. If they were in a tight spot, they could knock the ball to Roberts or Chimbonda etc and they could get the ball away from their goal very quickly, often sticking it in the back of their opponent's goal in the process. Watford were doing that all last season, unleashing rapid counter attacks. It might just help us this time round.

We also have an excellent manager. An innovator with a got bit of tactical nous (look at our play-off victories as proof) whom the players obviously want to play for. His managerial abilities will be very important. He got the players believing in themselves last season, now he needs to get them believing that they can survive in the Premiership and become a fixture there.

We don't want to fall into the 'we-have-done-well-to-get-here' mentality. If we hark back to what we have already achieved, and lose focus of what we can still do, then we will have problems. We need to think about the present and future, and achieving AB's 'five year plan.'

I think a reasonably good start will help. Paradoxically, a winning start may count against us. We may subconsciously think that Premiership football is easy, and then relax. In a way this happened the last time we were in the Premiership. Our first four games yielded wins over Liverpool and Bradford, but then we suffered a bad run in the autumn of five straight defeats. A start which has the odd win here, the odd draw there, and maybe an early kick up the backside (home to Man Utd perhaps?) could stand us in good stead for the rest of the season. Get us used to what Premiership football is REALLY like then we can adjust and gain momentum later on in the season.

In a nutshell then, yes Watford can survive. It will be hard work, but some quality signings, and self-belief that we are staying up, might just see us have a pretty steady consolidation.

Then we can push on in the following season.

Answer 2

Unfortunately I feel not.

I personally think Boothroyd has done an excellent job but determination is not enough to survive in the Premiership. Watford need to invest substantially in some top class players to survive which they can't really do as if it doesn't pay off then the club could be in financial ruin if they get relegated.

Its all a vicious circle which all newly promoted clubs face and without the financial security that wigan, Portsmouth, fulham etc have then they probably will go bust if they get relegated, having invested the money needed.

Answer 3

No probably not - but it is great fun for the fans, enjoy it while it lasts.

Also very good for the club, they will have increased revenues that the premiership brings, + the players will gain great experience, I predict Watford will go down next year - but be straight back up the year after, this time with a realistic chance of surviving.

Answer 4

People thought that Wigan wouldn't be able to survive, but they did. Personally, I think Watford is the weakest of the 3 newly promoted teams, so they will have a hard time staying up next year. If you're putting money on it, bet that Watford is back in the Championship next year.

Answer 5

You just never no mate. When you look at the promoted clubs, Sheff Utd, Reading and Watford, you would have to say that Watford probaly have the weakest of the 3 squads, but i am a big admirer of your manager Adrain Bothroyd, he took over when you were fighting relegation, no one even gave you a chance of getting promted, so you never no.

Just enjoy and come what May!

Answer 6

Of course, If aidy says watford will survive in the premiership then i believe it. Noone believed they would be where they are now, although boothroyd said all along his target was Automatatic promotion, play offs minimum.

Answer 7

You never know, plus in my opinion you've got one of the top 5 best managers in England at the mo... If not the best and it's the manager who shapes a team, gets the team morale high and does the best with what he's got. But it's more than likely it'll be 14-17 then any higher position this season and that's a lack of funds more than anything.

Answer 8

usually the teams promoted from The Championship will be the favourites for the relegation & Watford is no exception!!

Answer 9

2 points please - the same total as Watford at the end of the season

There was once a match between Watford and Watford Reserves - they BOTH lost!!!

Answer 10

anything is possible people point at wigan as a blueprint for promoted teams but they have money.the one thing that can help watford is the manager he is tremendous .