The Second Coming Of Quique Sanchez Flores

QSF in defensive mode. Get back!

 

Just a reminder that, when Gracia took over from Silva, the remaining 8 away games of that season yielded zero goals and just one point from the 0-0 at Stoke.

 

Gino needs to rethink the clothing range in the Watford shop and base it on Sánchez Flores style. Sod the football, out with the polyester kits, Watford fans can be re-styled. Imagine fans attending matches looking like Mr Porter models, all in casual suit jackets, cashmere jumpers, roll necks and those gorgeous scarves. It could be the ‘thing’ that gets Watford fans noticed.

Style is back at Watford.

 

Well we seem to be in agreement that he might improve our defence. However I doubt the Pozzo's will have him back on the basis of "I'm going to play exactly the same style" when we're already a drift at the bottom.

Looking at the squad last time - if I remember it correctly, we didn't really have any pace, except Ibarbo who's more well known from Fifa games.

If he can sort us out defensively, and apply some kind of counter attacking football - which I think we have the players to do well (bar the defence) then this could be a good move.

 

Maybe Zola is going to team up with Flores to sort out the attacking flair. We can only hope.

 

Would have much rather seen a duo of Zola and Sannino teaming up.

 

I don't think anyone who watched our performance against West Ham was critical of the excitement levels in our style. We were at it, getting forward and creating openings.

The criticism was that we were open at the back and wasteful in front of goal. We were still far from boring.

 

A sort of 'dream team,' if you will?

I wonder that nobody has suggested a similar solution before; combining the best of two limited coaches.

Of course, the risk is that you end up with Zola's defensive capabilities and Quique's attacking prowess.

 

I was talking about QSF.

 

Has he come back to reprise the 4-6-0 we tried away at Man City?

This time with Sarr on the wing rather than Deeney.

 

I was giving an example to show that people don't immediately call the game play boring, just because you are losing. Quique's 1st half of a season was boring, but effective. The 2nd half was boring and ineffective.

You can get away with boring when you win, but when you don't, people won't suffer it long.

 

I can't wait to see where he plays Sarr! What odds he tries to convert him into a 40m right back?

 

Quique knows how to beat the big boys.

 

What I'm finding hard to get my head around, is why have Watford employed a manager who they deemed not good enough only 3 years ago?

Clearly QSF gave some damning passing shots about the Watford board too, when he left.

Watford, as Watford always seem to do, were in freefall when he left, and I wasn't too unhappy he went, as things went wrong very quickly under him.

Now there are still a lot of players, senior ones, who were at the club when Flores was here last time. Is he really going to gain the immediate respect and response from players as he did last time? Surely that air of the unknown is not relevant this time around. Deeney, Capoue, Prodl, Cathcart, Holebas & Gomes. Even Doucoure was on the books, but out on loan.

Since he left Watford I think his reputation has diminished a bit. The first time he came, he seemed like a quality appointment. He was the guy that managed Atletico, Benfica and Valencia. He had pedigree. But his spell at Espanyol was decidedly average and his spell in China at Shanghai Shenhua was quite disastrous, although I wouldn't really hold that against him necessarily.

I just am not sure why he's back at the club and I think it's telling that no length of contract has been mentioned.

Things change rapidly in football, and the Pozzo's are ruthless people. You either deliver consistently or you're out. There's no middle ground.

It did go spectacularly wrong for Gracia though, but worryingly, this seems to happen to every coach we employ, certainly since EPL promotion. Everything seems to be ticking over nicely, then without warning we have a stinker of a game, and it all unravels very quickly.

I think Gracia did a brilliant job. He steadied the ship when we were sinking after Silva, and he had a spectacular season but faded badly after the FA Cup semi final.

I think the board have to get behind what causes these dramatic collapses, as it is so unexpected and unpredictable as to when it's going to occur. We end up having to sack the incumbent coach in order to breach the slide.

I can only think QSF is here because he's out of work and needs to rebuild his reputation again, after a few hits. Maybe he has a point to prove? But I can only see it as a short term, quick fix appointment.

It all went wrong for Flores the last time around, there maybe bad blood from players who didn't get on with him before (Holebas, although I get the impression he'll be on his way soon anyway).

After singing Gracia's praises, saying he's a great coach to work with players without complaint, giving him a bumper contract in November, they end up giving him the boot the following September. We all know results are key, but the signs were worrying. We've seen it all before, many times, so it was no surprise Watford sacked Gracia.

But the timing was all a little strange, and has the whiff of panic. Waiting for the middle of an international break on a Saturday afternoon was a bit bizarre. This time Watford may not get away with their approach. Is QSF really going to be a long term appointment? Seeing as Flores seemed hurt by what happened previously, why has he come back? As I say, it all seems very strange.

Trying to end on a positive spin, Flores did remarkably well with a limited squad when he took over for our first Premier League campaign. He was the right man for the job back then. I think people did not appreciate how well he did in that first season.

Maybe lessons have been learned. Maybe Flores realised his mistakes and knows how to rectify them this time around. Maybe Gino, SD thought they had made a mistake with sacking him last time.

Clearly the bad blood between all concerned could not have run that deep as they would not be reunited. I think the fans loved him, which no doubt would have been a deciding factor in Flores' decision to return.

He's got three very tough games to start with, but what if he picked up some points from this trio? Right now it could all fall into place, but of course we all know it could just as easily all fall apart.

 

I'm quite surprised by the homoerotic nature of QSF's return. Surely a night down the Turkish Baths with Walter Mazzari after he'd consumed 100mg of Viagra, a bottle of prosecco and a gram of coke would be the more life changing experience?

 

I shook his hand outside the ground before the game at Muff.. I said “good luck”, he said “thanks”.

True story.

 

Most importantly Is he still with that absolute rocket of a Mrs he had?

 

Something to cherish until we win again.

 

Still haven’t washed that hand yet. Getting basic chores done is now quite tricky as I haven’t washed the other one since meeting Les Taylor in the 80’s

 

I feel Pozzo/Duxbury have already approached their preferred mid-to-long term choice of coach and he will be in place before next season.
I'd say he is currently contracted to a club, either actively working for them or on 'gardening leave', and is unable to be hired straight away.

What is intriguing is the lack of news regarding the contract length QSF has signed.
Could this suggest, if my guess above is correct, we could have another new coach in before the end of the season - January, say?
I'd love that to happen just to hear of various 'experts' contorting themselves into rage filled gargoyles as they spout more & more cliched rubbish when it occurs!

QSF fills the current void knowing both club & league so there's no problem having to settle in someone new.
In that regard it seems a very pragmatic appointment.

There were quotes posted on twitter earlier attributed to Deeney from when QSF left the club and it suggested the players were more than happy working with him and disappointed he was dismissed. If those quotes are true, the handful of senior players who they apply to will not only be placated by his appointment but also know how he works, which, in turn, means still less upheaval.

Why would QSF take a job for less than a season?
No coach wants to be out of work for long due to being out of sight, out of mind. So even if he's here for just a matter of months or is unable to keep WFC in the Premier League, he'll still have been on that most nauseating of fairground rides called the Manager Merry-Go-Round. Or maybe the Coaches Carousel to give it a more up to date moniker.

 

Was just going to post something similar. The timing to me suggests we have already approached somebody else. Why would we wait a week into the international break to do it? Gino doesn’t seem like the type of bloke who’d need a week to think about something like this.

I hope it’s as you say and they’re already lined up. Hopefully they didn’t approach somebody and the club or manager turned us down full stop.

 

This all passed me by yesterday . I logged on to bbc sport late last night to see Gracia replaced by QSF! I couldn’t quite get my head around it!

Firstly , despite agreeing that a change was needed I’m sad to see Javi go . He gave us some truly memorable moments and given that as a Watford supporter you don’t really expect to win much it’s those ‘moments’ that really matter . The 4-1win over Chelsea , beating spurs, getting one over on Silva and that fa cup semi final all spring to mind . We played some good football and there were some great goals. So thanks for all that Javi.

As for QSF’s appointment , well I can’t say I’m excited . As people have said though we do need someone to come in and sort out the defence . If he can do it like he did before , then we should have enough to stay up.

I am a bit concerned he may not be able to though and also his unwillingness to throw any men forward could make for a hard watch . I can’t see any more great come backs with him at the helm . Having said that let’s wit and see. If he can get us playing some kid if counter attacking football then that could be effective with the players we have . But I won’t be hugely surprised to see Hughes still operating as a wide man and Sarr still warming the bench !

 

You can forget all about Sarr or Deulofeu now.

 

Some interesting comments and your view could well be correct. I too think QSF will be a short term appointment, but just coming back to Watford in order to “sort out the mess and get us going again” seems to be selling himself short.

If he had any ambition or belief in himself I don’t think he’d put himself in that position.

This is the point. I can see how this suits Watford, but I can’t see the angle for Flores.

Unless he’s just a mercenary coming back for a large chunk of money. Neither of which I think is true.

Why did Flores decide to come back. I’ll eagerly await The Athletic interview.

 

He took a job in China, so I’m not sure he’s all that fussed about ambition etc as long as he’s getting paid.

 

Back to reclaim his ‘best premier league finish’ record from Javi.

 

Clever name but it won't be a clean break. The EU will still be there and like Switzerland we'll be in permanent negotiation with them. Switzerland has some 200 agreements with the EU.

 

Hughes could be the new (better) Jurado but he'll probably use Pereyra in that role instead.

 

The welding down the front of that trophy is abysmal.

 

Anyone else got a new buzz for the rest of the season? That first 'lolololo' is going to be magical.

 

I’m confused, do we still qualify for “new manager bounce” or not?

 

Or maybe Prodl.

 

So when you go for a waz, do you use the Les T hand or the QSF hand ?

 

Yes we do. As a result we will only lose by 1 vs arsenal and just 3 against Citeh. Result ! Back of the net !