Watford present a big challenge for the spluttering Canaries
Yesterday at 02:02 AM
In terms of looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, the most apt commentary would come from the sage wisdom of Forrest Gump. Norwich City are currently like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
And that's fine. We're a work in progress; you don't expect a smooth upward trend in such a situation. The Swansea game will undoubtedly be one of several potential false starts on our journey to becoming a genuinely good Championship side.
However, Watford are a bit easier to predict, particularly as they haven't changed formation all season from a 3-4-2-1. Tom Cleverly has started well and built upon a mediocre end to last season with a record of three wins, one draw and one defeat from their opening five games.
In goal, Daniel Bachmann is the established starter ahead of Jonathan Bond who has had a couple of Carabao Cup starts.
At the back, Watford have rotated four players amongst their three central defensive slots thus far, although they have now also brought in former West Ham, Juventus and Italy giant, Angelo Ogbonna as a free agent.
Chilean international Francisco Sierralta has been an ever-present. Other options would be Scottish international Ryan Porteous, former Grimsby man Mattie Pollock, who has been a favourite of Cleverley, or defensive left full-back James Morris, a product of the Southampton academy.
At right wing-back, speedy Hornets academy graduate Ryan Andrews has started every game, with Udinese loanee Festy Abosele his backup. On the left side, Algerian-international summer signing Yasser Larouci currently has the shirt, and would be expected to start ahead of the more attacking Ken Sema or the experienced Jeremy Ngakia, who have both started there on occasions.
The centre of midfield has been very consistent in terms of selection with veteran class act and silky mover Moussa Sissoko partnering the strong-running Tom Dele-Bashiru in every league game thus far. Moroccan defensive-midfielder Imran Louza has seen starts in the cups and is the most likely other option.
Consistency of selection once again underpins the attacking midfield, with Euro's hero, Georgian Giorgi Chekvetadze pulling the creative strings, while Congolese international Edo Kayembe provides energy, endeavour and directness. Tom Ince would be the most likely option if they needed to change things.
Up front, speedy Vakoun Bayo currently has the shirt. While he technically signed for Udinese in August he has been loaned back to Watford for the rest of the season in that weird "parent club" set-up that Watford have via shared ownership that always feels a little unhealthy.
Other options would be young Irishman Rocco Vata, or Bournemouth loanee Daniel Jebbison.
Sitting in fifth after their impressive start, Watford will present a big challenge for the spluttering Canaries.
While Josh Sargent has spent all of 2024 dragging this side to Carrow Road victories with his lethal finishing, we can surely only keep going that well so often, particularly as we aren't creating loads of chances. Watford are defensively organised and I can see this being a tight game of few opportunities.
