Our watfordfc reporter androofrench has a clear January transfer window message for owner Gino Pozzo: just sign what Slaven Bilic tells you he needs
In the list of Watford signings under the ownership of Gino Pozzo , it’s unlikely that the names Matt Connolly and Marco Motta would be among the first many Watford fans would remember.
What they needed was a couple of midfielders, and help to shore up a defence that had only kept two clean sheets in the final dozen games of 2014. Motta first appeared in the 1-0 home win over Fulham on March 3 and Watford lost just once in his nine outings.It wasn’t until April 3 that Connolly made his debut: he was sent on as a substitute with 12 minutes to go at Derby, shortly after 10-man Watford had drawn level at 2-2, and the on-loan defender helped secure a vital point.
After all, in 2015, Watford used the January transfer window to do what most other right-minded clubs would do: sign what they needed. Let me be clear: I am far from against signing young, precocious talents. In fact, the Pozzo network has done an amazing job in unearthing some wonderful players. In other words, more experienced, worldly-wise players who have been around the block a few times – and essentially can slot into the areas of the pitch where the Hornets are lacking.
Bilic has made it clear that he feels Watford need midfielders and wide players, though he did add in a striker given he has now lost both Joao Pedro and Keinan Davis, scorers of 12 of the Hornets’ 31 league goals this season. But the need right now is acute. It’s not the time to be signing players that may be international stars in five years, or who could double in value given time and patience.
Player values are affected by the division you are in. The chance to sign the best young talent diminishes the longer you aren’t playing top-flight football. The likelihood of your best players staying drops with every game they have to play outside the Premier League. There have been some pretty woeful performances in that time, but on each occasion he has galvanised his squad and they have bounced back.
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