Watford entered the transfer window with very specific requirements to their squad and their Italian boss, Walter Mazzarri, looks to have hit the right notes. The Hornets were surprise top-half dwellers for the most part of the first-half of the season before the slump brought them down. And with few points separating the sides, their primary aim will be to end the season in the top 10.
TRANSFERS
INS
- Tom Cleverley from Everton on loan
- Mauro Zarate from ACF Fiorentina for £2.4m
- M’Baye Niang from AC Milan on loan
OUTS
- Adalberto Penaranda to Malaga on loan
- Juan Carlos Paredes to Olympiakos on loan
- Jerome Sinclair to Birmingham on loan
- Odion Ighalo to Changchun Yatai £20m
- Adlène Guedioura to Middlesbrough for £4m
- Michael Folivi to Coventry on loan
Source: Sky Sports
The early buy of Tom Cleverley from Everton was obviously a planned move as his immediate effect in their gameplay hinted Mazzarri’s long-term interest in the player. The former Manchester United midfielder has already registered 2 assists in 3 appearances for Watford and also played an important role in Watford’s shocking win away at Emirates against Arsenal.
Playing in a more advanced role under Mazzarri, Cleverley is a changed player now and the manager has done a fine job in getting the best out of him so far. Given the plethora of options Ronald Koeman has in his midfield, we expect him to be a permanent Watford player next season.
The buy of M’Baye Niang was unplanned and by his early flashes against Arsenal, he too looks like a decent signing. His physique and pace on the ball looked difficult for Gabriel to handle down the right flank and Mazzarri surely can’t wait to see his influence in such big games. He too, like Cleverley, saw his chances almost drying up at his mother club and was largely an unproven prospect.
Zarate is yet to be involved in any league match this season but the forward has enough experience of English football owing to earlier stints at Birmingham City, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers. It was his buy that encouraged Mazzarri to dispose of star striker Odion Ighalo to Chinese club Changchun Yatai for a good £20m.
T4O Verdict: 7.5
Mazzarri used his reputation in Italy well enough to get a couple of decent players and although the sale of a seasoned midfielder like Guedioura could come back to bite him, the team is doing well currently and are expected to finish in the top half by the end of the season.
