So what do we think? Tenth, maybe? Top eight, perhaps?? A chance of the top six??? Could they even win the Arsene Wenger trophy for fourth place???? As the domestic season pauses for the most unwanted of all international breaks, these are the kinds of forecasts we might once have been making about Watford. Of course, now we are living in the AL world (After Leicester, if you will) and in these brave new times literally anything is possible. Fans of Watford, having seen their team string together four wins on the spin, are entitled to dream the dream; after all what is football without unrealistic expectation and almost certainly dashed hope?
<grammarly-btn>At every step during Leicester's incredible season we all said they would never keep it up, we were all wrong. Then when the title was won we all said it would never happen again, surely the big boys wouldn't let it... but is it possible that we might all be wrong again?
So here is my advice for Watford (I know that Javi Gracia is a regular reader of the column) as they pursue a first league title.
STAY HEALTHY
No, this doesn't mean eat your five-a-day... When Leicester won the league one of the most notable factors was just how few injuries they suffered. Claudio Ranieri, suppressing his natural urge to tinker was able to pick his team from a small and trusted group. Nine of the squad started thirty or more games including the entire back four, the goalkeeper and three of the midfielders. That continuity meant the group really trusted their teammates, in football familiarity breeds success, not contempt.
BREAK IT DOWN BABY
The season is already 10.5263157894737% over and Watford are only being kept off top spot thanks to two measly Liverpool goals (and they were scored against West Ham so shouldn't really count anyway). This is definitely the way to think. Every game takes you 2.6315789473684% nearer to the ULTIMATE GOAL, I would be telling my players this daily and pasting up these numbers on the cafeteria wall. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and each game is a self-contained event. Any Premier League team can beat any other on their day... The Hornets just need to have plenty of days.
THROW THE CUPS
No, this is not advice for Javi to start chucking mugs around the dressing room in a Ferguson style hissy fit, but make no mistake, Watford have a much better chance of succeeding in the League if they keep the number of games played to an absolute minimum. In 2015/16 Leicester were careful to get knocked out the League Cup before Halloween and exited the FA Cup at the first possible opportunity (well after a replay, at least). In the past I have decried Southampton managers for not taking the cups seriously but we were never in a position to challenge for one of the top spots in the table. This could be your only chance Watford... choose your battles and prioritise!
CROSS EVERYTHING
With no European fixtures, Watford have a huge advantage over their title rivals. City's owners are desperate for European success. Liverpool want the League more than any other trophy, but if they get to the latter stages just can't help themselves, they do love a European Cup at Anfield. Chelsea and Arsenal both have the gruelling drudgery of the Europa League to contend with. Jose has already admitted that second place is a 'great achievement' and Spurs, well, Spurs are just Spurs, aren't they lads? Yes, last year City got 100 points but their margin of victory was the exception rather than the norm. In the last ten years the average points to win the league has been 86.8 and in on two occasions, 82 would have got the job done. Watford must hope that the big boys take their eyes off the prize, it happened in 2016 and just maybe it can happen again here?
KEEP BELIEVING
Crucial to any team trying to win the title is belief. But hey, if Leicester can do it then why not Watford, they are similar size clubs with similar budgets. I mean if the homemade music video below can get more then 6.5m views then none of us should stop believing. The impossible can be achieved... Go Hornets.
Disclaimer. They'll finish 11th.
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