Sport
Andre Gray could prove one of the best signings of the season
Since gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2015, and even in the years running up to it, Watford have not been the most popular club in England. It has nothing to do with discipline, nor playing in a particularly ‘ugly’ style; but because their owners, the Pozzo family of Italy, have never given the Hornets much continuity.
Longevity, or as it is more often called, stability, is very important in English football. Some claim it is the key to success, and that is perhaps why Watford have not been lauded in the way clubs with a much clearer identity, like Swansea City, Bournemouth and Southampton, have over recent times, The Pozzos, who also own Udinese in their homeland and recently sold Spanish side Granada, bought the club in 2012. Since then, they have changed manager no fewer than nine times. Slavisa Jokanovic, who oversaw their rise to the top tier, departed immediately after; his two immediate successors, Quique Sanches Flores and Walter Mazzarri, lasted only a year each.
The turnover of players from abroad, particularly in the last couple of years has added to the notion Watford do not plan for the future. That perception may begin to change soon, though, as Marco Silva settles in at Vicarage Road. Many expected him to struggle to get through to a squad notorious for being tough to manage, but with his impressive work ethic and tactical nous, and four particularly noteworthy signings, he is making an impact perhaps even greater than he did at Hull City.
Will Hughes joined from Derby County, Nathaniel Chalobah returned years after a loan spell on a permanent deal from Chelsea and Richarlison, a Brazilian under-20 international playmaker, signed from Fluminense. The most expensive and, probably, safest deal of the summer was Andre Gray, who arrived from Burnley for a club-record £18.5million; the 26-year-old is a goalscorer and there aren’t many better ways to describe him. His big break came in 2014, moving to Brentford from Luton Town; 18 goals in 47 games there meant all signs led to Turf Moor, where he netted a further 32 in 73 games, including 9 in the Premier League last term.
By joining Watford for such a hefty fee, Gray contributed to the inflation that made this transfer window the craziest of all time. Eyebrows have been raised, and they stayed like that until he opened his goal scoring account on Saturday in a 2-1 win at Swansea, which got both his and his team’s season back on track. Even without scoring, he had impressed in his general play, linking up well with Richarlison and Chalobah and helping Watford into the Champions League places before Manchester City hit them for six in their first defeat of the season last week.
But goals are all that really matter for strikers, and Gray is no different. He and Silva will hope the floodgates open from this point onwards, and he will prove to be the answer to so many of Watford’s rivals’ problems. Proven Premier League goalscorers have always been viewed as gold dust, often sold and bought at a premium price. Their rarity is increasing these days, meaning their price is likely to follow; in perspective, Watford have got good deal for Gray, who would have improved so many different teams in a similar position this summer.
While Sean Dyche continues to do a good job at Burnley, Gray was viewed as pivotal to the Clarets’ survival last season. Selling him could have been a disaster, as it is former Leeds United striker Chris Wood appears to have picked up the baton at Turf Moor. Gray was linked with Everton as an initially underwhelming replacement for Manchester United-bound striker Romelu Lukaku; Toffees fans may have seen him as sub-par, but after seeing their forgotten man Oumar Niasse save them from the jaws of defeat with a brace against Bournemouth on Saturday, there is little doubt he’d significantly improve their attack.
Southampton remain shot shy, too, despite having the initially impressive Manolo Gabbiadini and Charlie Austin to call upon. Mauricio Pellegrino is a rather pragmatic coach, and Gray’s pace would be much more effective for his style than poacher Gabbiadini and physical presence Austin. Newcastle, another party interested in Gray, are beginning to feel the heat after failing to spend big on their newly promoted squad.
In fact, there is a case to say Gray would improve every Premier League side below the top six, with not much to choose from between most of them. There are others like him; Javier Hernandez will eventually get to grips with life at West Ham, Saido Berahino is yet to make an impact at Stoke and Jermain Defoe is never too far away from a goal for Bournemouth, but Gray is on the road to proving a great piece of business for Watford this season.
Many people expected Watford’s lack of previous continuity would see them struggle this season. But Marco Silva has put long-term plans in place, and in Andre Gray, they could have a striker who is the envy of all their direct rivals.
