Pre-season 23/24

Hopefully there will still be plenty of movement in and out. Midfield looks painfully weak though.
Healey is a cheap gamble as is Ince. But there's so much more work needed.

 

It's 7 weeks at London Colney. I think something like that was confirmed at the recent parlaci. Reputedly Ismael's choice, rather than the fact we're flat broke.

 

we are about 7 starters light imo GK, RWB, LWB, CB, CDM , CM, ST ..... then we need at least another CM, AMC, AMR for the squad .... I see Bachman has been linked with a move away today according to Alan Nixon on Twitter .. not sure how reliable he is or the detail as I think you have to pay to see the story

 

With Healey, I have no problem with signing him if he's a punt and not someone we're expecting to be our main man. There's nothing in his career to suggest he's no more than a good lower league striker.11 Premier League games 1 goal; 10 Championship games 1 goal. When you go lower down his stats are a lot more respectable. 15 goals from 40 League One games. 14 goals from 35 League Two games. 34 goals from 64 Ligue 2 (French second division). Don't forget, he's just coming back from an ACL injury which is also bound to have a negative impact on his pace and maybe confidence. These are things that also have to be factored in.

I agree, we need to do a hell of a lot of work to get this squad in any sort of shape. Midfield is virtually non-existent as is the forward line.

 

We also need about 5 more pre-season fixtures !!

 

That's bats mad to only have ONE pre-season friendly. That's unheard of. Hopefully they do have something arranged, but is of course a big secret, as is everything concerning the inner circles of Watford. No one can find out because we are a club everyone is so desperate to copy.

 

Tbh I can't recall even seeing Healey play but as you wrote his record isn't bad. I just hope he's got some strength in his play because we lack that centrally.

 

I suspect we'll mainly use him from the bench in the latter stages of games, as VI does like to rotate his strikers. Hopefully he is able to battle hard for the final 30 minutes or so at the end of games.

 

Oh I thought he was coming in as the starting striker. I suppose we shall see.

 

Personally I think he's coming as a starter. He's at the peak age for his position and Toulouse fans were super pissed that he's leaving - despite them having a relatively comfortable return to Ligue 1 (and they even qualified for Europe this season). Bit harsh to use his record at Championship and PL against him as he didn't really get a crack (played 63 mins in the PL and 283 mins in the Championship..) and was up against Zohore for game-time who was prolific at the time. He's gone from strength to strength since then. Provided he can return to the player he was pre-injury (there were positive signs of this at the end of the season in Ligue 1 - scoring twice in just 61 mins of football) I think lots will be pleasantly surprised by the signing.

 

I think if he is a regular starter, then we'll be in trouble. Don't get me wrong, he maybe a surprise and able to be a regular scorer at a level he's never been before. However, at 28, if he was going to break through I'd have thought he'd have done so by now. The ACL is also a big concern. Players are never quite the same after such an injury.

He might be great, and I'm not suggesting he's a poor signing, but I'd be concerned if the plan is to have him as the first choice starter.

 

Really?

 

Fletch & Bayo are first choice.

 

£15 for a friendly at BWood is outrageous.

 

Ah come on, be fair. They play out of the spotlight, aren't likely to have many big draw opponents on the fixture list this season, it's a local game and whatever players they've got left after failing to get promoted deserve a run out. They probably forced Boreham Wood to jack up their prices.

 

Kayembe is back on grass. Season saved.

 

Wasn't he allegedly sold to Udinese? lol

 

correct for you.

 

Already better in the air than Davis.

 

Pre-season begins tonight. It also ends tonight. Novel approach!

 

Interesting to note the tone of Ismael deliberately playing down expectation for tonight. He must feel inside that we’re not that good, even though he’ll not openly admit it.

Boreham Wood are a strong non-league side and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they win this comfortably.

 

Lol yes for 16m supposedly.

 

Club have just posted this video. A behind the scenes look. I think Ismael and his team are quite impressive.

Exclusive Pre-Season Training Footage | “Intensity Is Above EVERYTHING!” | Inside Access - Watford FC

 

Of course it doesn't matter. Hopefully VI can suss out quickly who's up for the fight. That's not many going on last season's cowards.

 

Personally, I was never convinced by Edwards. Ismael has a real air of authority about him. I like the work Whitehead is doing too. They have a plan, whether that plan is a good one only time will tell, but players need that direction. They need that clear instruction. Now, some won't buy into it, but it seems Ismael will bin those players off. You have to work hard for the entire match to be a useful player to him. That will weed out a lot I should imagine.

The only thing now is for a collective buy in from the squad. If we get that, then at least when we lose, we'll go down fighting, rather than the usual white flag waving of the past few campaigns.

 

In fairness, we thought the exact same thing when the club posted a first behind the scenes look at Roy and Ray's 'get at em' masterclass two seasons ago. I think these things are very hard not to cut in such a way that creates the idea something good and revolutionary is happening - whether they actually are is a very different matter, indeed.

 

Really good video that.

Sierralta's general energy levels seemed to stand out in a few clips. If Ismael wants intensity then it'd seem logical for him to be a starter again - if he can stay fit and be used properly he could really make a difference for us in getting back some of the grit and determination we lacked last season.