Javi Gracia takes over a Watford squad with plenty of potential on his return to the club, writes Geoff Doyle.
Javi Gracia starts his second spell as Watford head coach away to Chris Wilder's Sheffield United on Saturday.
The pair could exchange plenty of juicy stories about their respective spells at Vicarage Road, but it is Gracia's job now to get Watford back into the top flight - where he was with them six years ago. Gracia wants even more; he says he has unfinished business.
His team back then included some wonderful talent including Gerard Deulofeu, Roberto Pererya, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Troy Deeney.
He does not have that calibre of player this time round but what he does have is plenty of potential - a group of players who could develop into top players. The question is whether Gracia can get the best out of what could be a really exciting squad forming at Vicarage Road.
Nestory Irankunda has been the player to emerge brightest of this new young crop. If Gracia can get Kwadwo Baah into the team with Irankunda, that will go down well with the fans and no doubt the board.
Watford are still waiting for Giorgi Chakvetadze to return from injury and the form of Othmane Maamma at the Under-20 World Cup with Morocco - he scored a scissor-kick goal against Brazil - has also caught the eye. Could he figure sooner than we thought under Gracia?
In his first spell, Watford played an attacking 4-3-3 formation. This will suit the Hornets' current squad profile and if it clicks in the Championship, these attacking players could blitz teams.
Watford's squad is pretty strong in most areas of the pitch and Gracia just has to glue it all together.
The players will enjoy being coached by him and already there are more smiles at the London Colney training ground.
The promotion ambitions remain in place and under Gracia, if history tells us anything, Watford stand a good chance of getting close to them.
Category: General Sports
