Watford

Italian midfielder Edoardo Bove is set to make his first appearance in the Watford matchday squad since joining the Championship club last month.

The 23-year-old has not played any first-team football since suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Fiorentina against Inter Milan in Serie A in December 2024.

But new Watford boss Ed Still has confirmed Bove will be on the bench for his first game in charge at Preston on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"He's a top player, he's shown that in Italy. He's been out for a very long time but he's chomping at the bit to get going again," Still told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I'm really happy we can have him on the bench. His game time is going to be limited this week and probably in the next couple of weeks, as we need to get him up to speed."

Bove moved to England because he could not play in his homeland after having a cardiac defibrillator fitted and Still says it will take time for him to feel comfortable on the pitch again.

"He has been out for a very long time - we need to channel his energy so he is good for the team and not just focused on himself. We need to get him up to speed in competitive games," he added.

Watford are also monitoring the fitness of defender Mattie Pollock, who has returned to full training after missing the past four games with a hamstring injury.

Image source, Opta

Preston will seek a return to the Championship play-off places when wobbling Watford head to Deepdale on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

North End lie seventh, outside the top-six on goal difference alone, but ended a four-match winless streak, from which they earned just a point, with a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth last weekend.

Watford, now under new head coach Ed Still, are five places below, but only three points back, despite a run of six games without a win, which earned them three points and saw them score only twice.

• Preston have won two of their past three league games against Watford (D1), as many as they had in their previous 13. They won this exact fixture 3-0 last season.

• Having won just one of their first 17 away league games against Preston (D6 L10), Watford have now won on two of their past four visits to Deepdale (D1 L1).

• Preston have won just two of their past eight home league games (D3 L3), though they did beat Portsmouth 1-0 last time out.

• Watford are winless in their past six league games (D3 L3), failing to score in the last three. They last went four without a goal in February 2022 in the Premier League, while they last did so in the second tier in December 1992.

• Though he's registered a goal or assist in only one of his past 14 league appearances, Imran Louza leads all Watford players for goal involvements (12 – 6 goals, 6 assists), chances created (55) and total shots (59) in the Championship this season.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

So another new head coach is in at Vicarage Road. Can Ed Still find the winning formula and get Watford back on track in their play-off pursuit?

Despite no win in five Championship matches, the Hornets are still only three points from sixth place which is why the appointment of the relatively inexperienced Still came somewhat as a surprise.

The Hornets will know him from his spell at Charleroi where he worked under Mehdi Bayat the brother of Mogi Bayat, a football agent who works frequently with Watford.

So what does Still need to do at Watford to get this potentially talented young group to start picking up results again?

It feels like he needs to start on the training ground. Interim head coach Charlie Daniels hinted some players needed to be better prepared if they wanted more game time.

Before him, Javi Gracia did not start certain players and did not select others in his squad indicating that there was a reason for that. Chris Wilder previously spoke of the need for a cultural reset.

So Still needs to get his players on board early, install some discipline and try and get all of their attitudes right to create a culture of a tight, hard-working squad. How easy that will be is another matter.

A big deal has been made of the fact that he speaks fluent French with Watford having a number of French-speaking players in their group, including captain Imran Louza.

If there is a French-English situation then he needs to address that and make sure the group is in harmony. And of course he needs results. He needs wins and he needs to get a weary fanbase back on side.

The anti-Pozzo song was heard for the first time this season in the 1-0 defeat at Southampton.

The owner could do with his new head coach getting off to a quick start to stop the dissatisfaction becoming more widespread.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you for your thoughts on Watford appointing Ed Still as their new head coach and there are more than a few concerned fans in the replies.

Here is what you had to say about the Hornets' new boss:

Lee: Hardly any point in appointing yet another coach this season. We're not in danger of promotion or relegation and it would have been a chance for [Charlie] Daniels to try to mould the young squad.

The appointment of Ed Still seems a hasty decision. Yet again another punt in the dark with a coach with no Championship experience (indeed no English coaching experience). Good luck to him and hope he's still here at the start of next season.

Ian: We had a new, young head coach last year and the club's owners decided that Tom Cleverley no longer fitted the bill. I don't think they really have a clue!

Rob: The squad is young and full of promise. If a young and enthusiastic manager can get them playing to their strengths then we can still have a decent end to the season I reckon.

Richard: A two-and-a-half-year contract for an unknown family member of a failed Championship manager? We all know he won't be there by the end of the season.

Despite being a season ticket holder for almost 40 years, and I know they've already had my money, I'll be voting with my feet and staying away from Vicarage Road, and I won't renew my ST until the clowns in charge have gone.

Paul: Until 12 hours ago I didn't even know Will Still had a brother. Looking at his previous record in management, which is very limited - his win ratio is awful.

Nothing about this appointment can inspire the fans let alone the players. Not his fault, but our club takes one step forward, two steps back constantly.

Stew: A low cost appointment - easy and cheaper to fire come April. Unspectacular track record. An underwhelming appointment.

Ian: Absolutely absurd appointment! We shouldn't be in this position in the first place, because if the board would have backed Javi Gracia with the recruitment he wanted in the window just gone then he would still be in charge.

I do fear for our season now if I am honest. No disrespect to Ed Still but he has absolutely NO experience in English football never mind the Championship. I give us six weeks before we are looking for manager number four of the season.

Robbie: I can only imagine this will go badly.

It doesn't matter who is in charge until we resolve a fundamental conflict, where the club exclusively invest in young players for resale value, while also demanding the incumbent manager challenges for promotion.

Maybe they'll hang on to this one for a bit longer because a young, inexperienced unknown will be easier for them to bully into putting said young players in the shop window.

Christian Fuller
Watford fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Most Watford supporters were open to the idea of a young, less experienced manager if it meant we would see a progressive, modern style of football implemented at Vicarage Road.

And many had come to terms with the fact the calibre of manager we would see take the reins after Javi Gracia's departure would be the level of former Southampton manager Will Still, who was the bookies' favourite to take over.

But in a bizarre turn of events, we have ended up with his brother, Ed Still.

The thought of Will Still as manager was somewhat underwhelming in itself, but putting the club's play-off hopes in the hands of a 35-year-old manager with less than five years' first-team managerial experience is a risk.

With experience almost exclusively in the Belgian Pro League, as well as a stint as his brother's assistant at French club Lens, it is unclear what qualifies Ed Still to guide us to the Premier League.

But as with the many, many new arrivals in the dugout at Watford, we will always back the new man in charge. And will be more than happy to be proved wrong.

But it's not all negatives.

Is the appointment a risk? Yes. Has the season begun to fizzle out, with seemingly less and less chance of a play-off spot anyway? Also, yes.

In Still's arrival interview with the club, he told fans to expect his team to be aggressive, to be compact defensively and most importantly, to attack with pace.

So, if that means we will see the likes of Kwadwo Baah and Nestory Irankunda finally unlock their clear potential, then I am all for it.

And there will be many supporters who are happy to see interim boss Charlie Daniels deservedly get a spot in Still's coaching set-up.

Chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury said the appointment gives the club a real chance to challenge for the play-offs this season.

But unfortunately for Duxbury, we have heard that about the last dozen or so managers who have come and inevitably gone.

Watford have announced Ed Still, brother of former Southampton boss Will, as the man they believe can guide them into the play-offs.

The appointment marks the first managerial role in England for the 35-year-old and he will have quite the job on his hands to overturn the Hornets poor run of form into a promotion push.

What are your thoughts on Still's appointment, Watford fans?

Are you excited by the prospect of your new, young head coach? Or were you hoping to see someone with more experience behind the wheel to steady the ship?

Let us know your thoughts and check back tomorrow to see a handful of your responses.

Watford interim boss Charlie Daniels said that his side "dropped off" in the second half of their defeat to Southampton.

The Hornets conceded in the second period from a corner and have now failed to score in their last three matches.

"I'm disappointed with the result, the performance was good in the first half but levels did drop off towards the end of the second," Daniels told BBC 3CR.

"I thought we created a good number of chances but didn't work the goalkeeper as much as we would have liked.

"We were forced to make a change before the goal as Stephen [Mfuni] was injured so rather than being a man down, we made the change.

"This is how the Championship is - little moments make a big difference and if we want to be in contention for the play-offs, we have to take our moments.

"At the minute it is not happening but that starts on the training pitch."

Interim Watford head coach Charlie Daniels says no decision has been made over how long he will remain in charge of the first team.

The 39-year-old said after his first game following Javi Gracia's departure - a goalless draw at Hull on Tuesday night - that he would stay in the role until the end of the season if offered the opportunity.

When asked on Friday whether there was an update on the situation, Daniels told BBC Three Counties Radio: "No, not so much in terms of developments. I've talked to every single member on the board.

"We've had good chats before the game versus Hull, after the game versus Hull, going into the Southampton game.

"So we're in constant dialogue and it's been good. Unless I'm told otherwise, I'll just keep prepping for the next game."

Daniels said it had been a "whirlwind" five days since Gracia resigned but was pleased with a "really good performance" in which the Hornets were largely the better side at the MKM Stadium.

"It's just a start, it's one game, we're not getting too ahead of ourselves with anything," he said.

"It's a positive performance, obviously not the result that we were looking for.

"Moving forward and going into tomorrow, we need the same energy, need the same enthusiasm, we need the same quality against a strong Southampton side."

New signings Pierre Ekwah and Edoardo Bove will not make the trip to St Mary's on Saturday [12:31 GMT], while Saba Goglichidze has an outside chance of making the squad.

"Pierre and Bove won't be available for this weekend - they're close," Daniels said.

"Bove has been training, has been really good, really excited to see him when he gets on the pitch.

"Pierre hasn't played for a while, so we need to get him up to speed before he can get involved.

"Then Saba [Goglichidze] has trained a few days. We'll see if he's involved or not."

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Shutterstock

Javi Gracia walking away from Watford means the Hornets squad has just got bigger. Not only with the late January signings but also with the players the Spaniard didn't pick in both his team and his squad.

Gracia will have his reasons for not wanting to pick them - contributions in games, training ground performances and attitude will, no doubt, have been a big part of that.

But for the likes of Formose Mendy, Jeremy Petris and Pierre Dwomoh - who couldn't get near the squad - and Nestory Irankunda, Kwadwoo Baah and Papy Mendy - who were unlikely to start - all of them now have a chance under Charlie Daniels and his fellow coaches Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa.

And we saw that in their first match in charge on Tuesday when Mendy started and others out in the cold were on the bench.

Watford were the better team against third-placed Hull and what was also impressive was the manner of the performance in the 0-0 draw at the MGM Stadium.

Perhaps, with a point to prove, the players played with a calm sense of freedom, a contrast to Gracia's last match in charge where they were chaotic and eventually lost control.

Gracia felt let down by the club. He wanted experienced players in to complement the youngsters but he didn't get that and grew increasingly irritated. He then also had to deal with those disillusioned players he didn't trust. It had been boiling for a while.

Watford's best bit of business in January could be the loan signing of Pierre Ekwah who ironically arrived just after Gracia left. The midfielder did well at Sunderland and fits the profile of midfielder that Gracia was after.

Centre-back Saba Goglichidze was another late addition on loan from Udinese.

The most interesting one looks to be the Manchester City 17-year-old Stephen Mfuni, who had a cracking debut at Hull. The other new recruit Edoardo Bove is still a few weeks away from being involved following his cardiac arrest just over a year ago.

On paper this is a decent Championship squad post transfer window. Some experience in attack and defence would have helped.

But whether Watford can push towards the play-offs and promotion contention could depend, as ever, on the attitude shown by this group when the going gets tough.

Image source, Opta

Southampton will aim to continue their push for the play-offs when they welcome managerless Watford to St Mary's on Saturday (12:31 GMT).

Saints impressed in a 2-0 win at Stoke last Saturday to make it seven points from three games, the first of which was a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United in their most recent home game.

They sit 14th, seven points adrift of the play-off places with 16 games remaining, and four behind Watford, who lie eighth, despite being winless in six games in all competitions.

Javi Gracia left Vicarage Road in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Swansea but the Hornets earned a creditable goalless draw at Hull City on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run on the road to five matches.

• Southampton have lost just one of their past 10 league games against Watford (W4 D5), going down 2-1 at home in March 2022.

• Watford have lost two of their past three away league games against Southampton (W1), as many as they had in their previous eight visits to St Mary's (W4 D2).

• Southampton have lost just one of their eight home league games under Tonda Eckert (W5 D2), going down 2-1 against Hull City last month.

• Watford are winless in their past five league games (D3 L2), scoring just two goals in that run. They had won their previous four in the Championship.

• Southampton have scored 43 goals from an xG of 52 in the Championship this season, with only Blackburn (27 goals, 37.5 xG) underperforming their expected goals more than the Saints (-9).

There's more to Javi Gracia's departure from Watford than meets the eye, says EFL pundit and former Hornets winger Jobi McAnuff.

The Spaniard left the club after just three months at the helm in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Swansea, despite the Hornets lying four points outside the Championship play-offs with a game in hand, at the time.

In the latest edition of the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast McAnuff suggested more might come out regarding the breakdown between Gracia and the club's board, and thought the coach's wish to strengthen in the transfer window might have come in opposition to the club's current operating model of seeking to cash-in on players they have developed.

McAnuff said: "I really feel for Watford supporters, here we go again... it's riduclous the amount of turnover. What's slightly different on this occasion is it's clearly been instigated by him, in terms of saying what he wanted the club weren't willing to deliver. Have the goalposts moved from when he first went in?

"It looked as though this could be the season for Watford to finally get themselves back in among the play-offs. I think as a manager he's probably earned his right to say 'back me, give me one or two players that can come in and compete at this level to keep things going.'

"Look at where they were at the turn of the year, four wins on the bounce, looking like they were going to go (on), it looks as if from that point the wheels have fallen off.

"I think there's a lot to this we haven't seen."

McAnuff said bringing Gracia back six years after an impressive first spell at Vicarage Road had been "a smart appointment" but added: "We don't know what he's been told when he's come in.

"We know their trading model now is develop players, bring them in from abroad, sell them on for a profit. Playing devil's advocate (the board's) argument might be, the job was what it was, it hasn't changed in three months.

"Given they have this model, whether there's a bit of friction there because he's saying 'these aren't the guys who are going to get us in the play-offs,' then the hierarchy saying 'they need to play anyway,' that's the difficult thing.

"Everyone says the owner is ambitious, this would be the season to back him, is this the chance - the season we can make the play-offs, given how open it is.

"I feel like there's definitely more to it than meets the eye."

Watford's interim head coach Charlie Daniels says he would stay in the role until the end of the season if he were offered it.

Daniels led the coaching team after the resignation of Javi Gracia on Monday, and the Hornets were the better side in a goalless draw against in-form Hull.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I think any manager [would take this role]. The players are very, very good for this level.

"I've really enjoyed [being in charge of the team]. This is what I want to do and where I feel my career is going.

"It's really good for me to get this opportunity and I'm very grateful. I'm going to enjoy every moment of it."

On the draw with Hull, Daniels added: "I'm really pleased with the performance, and with the players. We had a short period of time with them, and for them to put on that performance is really pleasing.

"They're good players, and if they play within a structure, and as well as we know they can do, and give them freedom to play, they can do what they're good at.

"The only thing missing was the goal - that's what we've said in the changing room."

Image source, Getty Images

Adrian Mariappa will be part of the interim coaching team overseeing Watford's game at Hull City on Tuesday evening - despite playing for another club.

The 39-year-old played 340 games in two spells for Watford during his career, and is now an academy coach, but still turns out for St Albans City in the Isthmian League Premier Division, making seven appearances this season.

"After the news of Javi Gracia's departure at Watford FC, Adrian Mariappa, alongside Charlie Daniels and Dan Gosling, will be taking charge of Watford FC in their game against Hull City," St Albans posted on X.

"We wish him the best of luck, and look forward to welcoming him back."

Under-21 coach Daniels says he is "honoured" to have been asked to take charge of Watford, who are in the process of finding Gracia's successor.

He told the club website: "It's great I have Mapps and Dan with me. They know the club inside out. They are both passionate about this club and hungry for the opportunity."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you what you thought about Javi Gracia's departure from Watford and, well, you don't seem all the surprised by the announcement.

Here is what you had to say:

Graham: Another day, another coach/manager. Even being a supporter has become embarrassing, demoralising and depressing.

Can a hopeless situation possibly be described by the owner as a working or sustainable 'model'?

Ian: A man of integrity, who could see the bigger picture and was foresighted enough to beat the club at its' own game.

Rob: We all knew that you never get the backing you are promised as Watford boss - Javi has confirmed that in his post-match against Swansea!

Clearly some personal reasons (homesick), but he's also left due to breakdown of relationship with upstairs. He's not falling for that again.

As for who takes it on, whoever wants it really. I think it's now 'English household name' in the merry-go-round.

That being said, would love for Valon Behrami to give it a go, at least until the end of the season.

Paul: I'm really disappointed, but not surprised. The Watford head coach merry-go-round keeps spinning; albeit this time Javi jumped rather than being pushed. It doesn't make being a Watford fan any easier. But what can you do when it's part of your DNA?

Joel: I genuinely believe the departure of Javi Gracia is one of the biggest insults this ownership has delivered to the legacy of Graham Taylor at Watford FC.

Here you had a manager who was adored by the fans, playing some of the best football we've seen in years, delivering results, stability, and identity — and instead of backing him, the club left him short. No proper investment. No real squad depth. No support when it mattered.

You can't ask a surgeon to perform lifesaving surgery with a child's plastic doctor's kit — and that's exactly what Gracia was being asked to do with the tools he was given.

The pattern is the real problem. Managers aren't backed, the squad is left imbalanced, and when things inevitably go wrong, the blame lands on the coach. It's short-term thinking, constant instability, and zero long-term football vision.

And at some point, that circus approach catches up with you. Players don't want to join unstable clubs. Good managers don't stay. Standards slip. That's how relegations happen — not just because of results, but because the foundations are rotten.

What makes it sting most is that it didn't have to be this way.

Kieran: Well... that certainly caught us by surprise while having our Sunday roast!

While recent results have been disappointing, I think the fans were more than behind Javi. It seems that there has been a disagreement behind the scenes with the owners, without Javi I'm struggling to see how we can challenge for the top six.

Absolutely gutted.

Stephen: It really doesn't matter who is the next head coach. Pozzo will instruct them how to play, won't back them with players who can have an immediate effect on the team, and then sack them because they haven't got us into the play-offs.

Rinse and repeat.