Midfield Vital in Watford's Quest to Consolidate Top-Flight Spot
There always is, and forever will be, a risk that comes with teams appointing inexperienced Premier League managers and demanding they make a positive immediate impact on a club’s fortunes, then there are those who buck the trend. Quique Sanchez Flores impressed in the first half of the season on the back of his Watford appointment last summer. Indeed, at the halfway point of the campaign, his Hornets side had taken a commendable 29 points from 19 games.
Yet, as is well documented, Watford nose-dived spectacularly at the turn of the year. Of the 17 teams to have plied their trade last season and this in the Premier League, only Crystal Palace (12) have won fewer points than Watford (17). Sanchez Flores was relieved of his duties as manager following his solitary season in charge of Watford, with Walter Mazzarri the man tasked with lifting the gloom around Vicarage Road, but one point from the opening three games suggests the former Napoli and Inter boss could struggle initially to portray his views across to the squad.
He was unfortunate in that a 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea came about as a result of a Diego Coste winner, a fixture the Spain international should have either missed through suspension or been sent off prior to the Blues’ comeback, but a 3-1 home loss at the hands of Arsenal prior to the international break is cause for concern. Mazzarri needs to swiftly translate his ideas onto the pitch, though the two-week hiatus of club football would have meant added time on the training ground for the Italian and the players that did not jet off to their repsective national teams.
A devoted advocate of the three-man defensive system, the Italian must have noted the mediocre success the approach had in the Premier League when Louis van Gaal took over the reins over Manchester United in 2014. Compatriot Antonio Conte, who was widely tipped to implement a three-man defence upon his Chelsea appointment, has instead opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation in his opening three league games in charge.
Of course, Mazzarri has at his disposal the personnel capable of moving away from a three-man defence, but having utilised the system more often than not during his four years with Napoli and 18 months at the Inter helm, the Italian’s loyalty to the approach means he is unlikely to change his ways anytime soon. With that in mind, the midfield has a huge part to play in ensuring the Italian’s plans come to fruition.
He is helped in that he can call on a familiar face in the middle of the park in Valon Behrami. The Switzerland international was a Mazzarri signing in the summer ahead of his final campaign at the Stadio San Paolo helm and started 32 of 38 league games as Napoli accrued their most points in Mazzarri-headed campaign (78) to finish second behind Juventus. That season was Behrami’s best rated (7.23) in his last eight league campaigns, with the midfielder quickly buying into Mazzarri’s philosophy. Indeed, it’s no coincidence that the 31-year-old has started all three of Watford’s top-flight games this campaign.
His tenacity in the middle of the park is a huge boost to Watford and Mazzarri, with Behrami making more tackles (11) than any teammate in the Premier League this season, while he ranks second to Etienne Capoue (10) for interceptions (6). The Frenchman, meanwhile, appears a player re-born under Mazzarri. After a bright start to life at Watford, Capoue began to fade as the club’s form dipped, but he is far and away the Hornets’ highest rated player (7.87) in England’s top tier this term.
With Behrami shielding the backline, Capoue is able to push forward and help bridge the gap between defence and attack. Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero (both 3) have scored more goals than Capoue (2) in the Premier League this season, both of which have been netted from open play, further signifying the threat 28-year-old carries when he breaks forward. Given the number of interceptions made, it allows Capoue to instigate counter attacks from midfield, which is crucial when taking into consideration Watford are averaging the fourth least possession (41.8%) in the Premier League this season.
While that may be down to Watford playing Chelsea and Arsenal already this season - the duo ranked second (58.9%) and fifth (54.8%), respectively, for possession this term and favour a possession-based game - the duo of Behrami and Capoue are crucial in the middle of the park. With the defence afforded sufficient protection, Roberto Pereyra’s offensive influence is then essential. The Argentine needs regular game time to thrust his way back into the forefront of Edgardo Bauza’s thoughts and having signed from Juventus for a reported £11m, he’s expected to be a first team regular under Mazzarri.
Watford fans were given a glimpse into the 25-year-old’s ability as he was introduced as a half time substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, netting with his first Premier League shot. It’s his creative exploits, though, that will be crucial, particularly for starting strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. Indeed, he played a key pass more often (1 every 31.9 minutes) than any other Juventus player in Serie A last season, while his energy and power in the midfield will only aid Watford in their bid to consolidate a Premier League place.
With Jose Holebas and Daryl Janmaat freely marauding up the flanks, cover at the back is essential so Watford aren’t caught short. Behrami and Capoue offer defensive resilience, while Pereyra brings that touch of class in the middle of the park. The latter’s 90.5% pass success rate for Juventus last term means Watford’s possession return should also increase in time, with he also able to freely express himself in the final third, safe in the knowledge that Behrami and Capoue are providing the defensive foundation.
One point from the opening three games of the season was hardly the ideal start to life for Mazzarri, but the international break allowed for him and the club to take stock of his opening weeks to life in England. The extra time with his players benefits the squad as a whole, but he needs his midfield triumvirate to gel quickly for them to snap out of their poor 2016 form and increase the Hornets’ chances of survival.
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