Are the recent signings a sign of doom or boom for Watford’s successful youth development programme?
The Glory Hornet Boys of Watford are going through an ‘exciting’ time of transition with a brand new owner and manager in the form of the Pozzo family and Gianfranco Zola. Yesterday saw the intake of a grand total of 7 new signings into the squad and whilst people may be getting excited about such transfer deals I myself am wary.
The signings are relatively short term, 35 year old Manuel Almunia and 31 year old ‘One Size’ Fitz Hall, have signed short one year deals and the other 5 signings are relatively unknown acquisitions on loan from Italian side Udinese and Spanish side Granada; both teams owned by the Pozzo family.
Signings did have to be made, last year’s star strikers Sordell and Deeney have been sold and are serving a prison sentence respectively so up front Watford do have a weakness , but there are young players who could make the grade in the first team.
The worry for me is how this affects what has been a successful side in terms of bringing through young talent. Whether signed from other clubs or developed through the youth academy; players such as Marvin Sordell, Scott Loach, Lee Hodson and Sean Murray have made significant impacts during the last few seasons.
Last season; under the tutelage of Sean Dyche a mixture of these young stars and solid professionals helped Watford to an impressive 11th place finish so it was upsetting to see the manager turfed out by an Italian revolution at Vicarage Road.
The financial security that the takeover brings in these times is an undoubted welcome relief. A different take on the issue could be the idea that this financial stability will mean the end of the sale tactics having to be adopted previously with the likes of Sordell and Loach moving on in recent months. However with such a large influx of players in such a small space of time it could be worrying for the progression of such talented young players at a club with a rich history of youth development.
It could be interesting to see if any of the young players at Watford get the opportunity to go on loan deals to Granada or Udinese and develop their game on a continental level.
In general it is interesting times in Hertfordshire as Watford prepare themselves for an unpredictable season in the Championship.
What are your thoughts on Watford’s takeover?
image: © joncandy
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