blockhseagull
Well-known member
The slide at Watford occurred late last season - they lost 6 of their last 9 - beating only Fulham and Huddersfield and drawing with Southampton - they got thumped at home by West Ham in their last game. Now they may have been distracted by the FA cup (a little like Brighton) - but their hammering in the final was an embarrassment.
They spent practically nothing in the off-season and unloaded a pile of players - something like 30 between loans, releases and a small number of transfers - spent little last season either (and about 30 were loaned or released then as well) - and sold their best player to Everton. In fact you have to go back to 2016 before they spent any kind of money - and even then it was less than £50million. The strategy of the owners seems to be to bring a slew of kids - send them out on loan - hope a few hit - sell them on for big money and pocket the profit. It looks like the club is a vehicle for this - rather than the main focus of their ownership. There have been a lot of transfers and loans between the different clubs they (have) own/ed - with questionable fees.
The squad has got old and tired and Deeney is now 31/32 and not the player he once was.
If Hughton became manager he could well keep them up - but without a massive infusion of new blood and a lot of money being spent (£150+million) they would be relegation candidates next season as well. Anyone who takes the job will have a big, big task on their hands.
I’d argue £30m on one player is quite a reasonable amount to spend myself.