Defence the new priority for Watford as Pozzo faces up to his mistakes | Simon Burnton

27 July 2020 07:18
Club will not rush to appoint manager and will avoid expensive forward gambles but talented young players offer hope As the season progressed and their team failed to drag themselves clear of the relegation battle Watford were forced to draw up detailed contingency plans in case the worst was to happen, but until Sunday they continued to believe they would find a way out of danger. Those who had assembled the squad were convinced of the quality of its leading lights – players such as Ismaïla Sarr, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Gerard Deulofeu, Troy Deeney and Étienne Capoue – and whatever the mounting evidence presented by the league table they found it inconceivable they would fail.On Monday they gathered at the training ground at London Colney, separated by a hedge from the Arsenal team whose victory over them, and the defeat to Aston Villa, during the final week had sealed their fate, and confronted the fact that the worst-case scenario was indeed the one they had to deal with. Related: Premier League 2019-20 review: matches of the season Related: Cardiff v Fulham: Championship play-off semi-final, first leg – live! Continue readingreadfullarticle

Source: TheGuardian