Andrew French, Watford Observer: Cleverley making his mark on Hornets squad | OneFootball

The Watford Observer’s Andrew French believes that Tom Cleverley is making a positive impact on the Hornets squad during his first summer as head coach.

Former Manchester United midfielder Cleverley is the youngest boss in the EFL at 34 having taken charge on a permanent basis at the end of last season, and French has been impressed by his ability to improve the players at his disposal.

For those unable to attend Saturday's pre-season friendly at Vicarage Road, the club will be streaming the game exclusively on our website. Click here for more information.

What have you made of Watford’s pre-season so far?

In the first two public games against Boreham Wood and Stevenage, they used 22 different players, so it was very hard to read into personnel at that point.

What we have seen is a distinct shape. Tom Cleverley said at the end of last season he would play 3-4-2-1 and that is what he has done.

It has been interesting to see how he has used some of the players because last season, for instance, Tom Ince was barely involved – and yet he has played in the no.10 role and looks a different player.

We knew Watford had some good players, but what Cleverley has seemingly done over the summer is bring to the fore the players who we thought might not have a future at the club or a role to play.

There is also Kwadwo Baah who they signed from Rochdale three summers ago, but has never played a minute of first-team football; he played as a no.9 in both of those games and looked excellent.

Cleverley wants a mobile no.9, who can hold the ball up, but also spin and run in behind and Baah is a muscular winger, who had never played there before – and yet, in those two games, he looked totally at home.

What has come out of pre-season so far is that Cleverley can improve players you thought were at their peak or had nothing more to offer, which they have had to do because they have been short of players.

There were two players at Euro 2024, one at the Copa America and they did not sign anyone until 1 July, so he has been working with the same squad. When they play Brentford, all of those players will be back, plus some new additions.

Tom Cleverley – the youngest manager in the EFL at 34 - has taken charge on a permanent basis following a spell as interim head coach at the end of last season. How much are Watford fans looking forward to what he can deliver this term?

Like with any Watford manager, it comes with a health warning! They have had a lot of managers and the turnover is high, but the difference with Cleverley is that he is the first permanent internal appointment the Pozzos have made since they bought the club 12 years ago.

He is also someone Watford fans know very well; he made more appearances for Watford than any of his other clubs and says he has more attachment to Watford than any of his other clubs. Fans like him, too, and he is a popular figure.

In the nine games he took charge of last season, he was in a position where he just had to get points to make sure they were not sucked into a relegation battle. They also needed to win a home game because they had not done that in the four months before he took over.

They stayed up quite comfortably in the end; they certainly underachieved, but did not get sucked into a relegation battle and did win a home game on the penultimate weekend.

Now he is able to move on from those short-term goals with the cushion of a permanent contract and impose himself on the team, which is what we have seen.

I think fans are very much behind him, but there is always that nagging doubt about how much the owner is behind any managerial appointment and that is why fans are slightly sceptical because they have seen it before where a manager is told he is going to get support and then gets the rug ripped from underneath him – Rob Edwards being the prime example.

The signs are good, and he is backing up what he says on the pitch so, for now, everything is positive.

What have you made of their business this summer and where should they be looking to improve?

They have signed Jonathan Bond as a back-up goalkeeper, who played for Watford from 2010 to 2015 and, most recently, was playing in America for LA Galaxy.

Then there is a young prospect called Rocco Vata from Celtic, who cost £230,000 and that was only a compensation payment as he is under 21. He is an Irish U21 international and has looked very exciting, though raw; Cleverley says he needs some time, but he sees him as a first-team player.

They have also brought back Moussa Sissoko, who has been with Nantes for the last two years, but played for Watford last time they were in the Premier League. To my mind, he got a bit of a raw deal from the fans because everything about Watford that season was pitifully bad and he was tarred with the same brush, even though he was one of the better performers that season. Cleverley sees him as a real flag bearer.

To be honest, the key thing he is going to need is a no.9. They have two no.9s, neither of which suit the way Cleverley wants to play, which is why Baah has been given time there.

He will need a no.9 and he has made no secret of that, but the problem is that they have not got the budget, so it is going to be either a loan or a free transfer. Cleverley knew that when he took the job and he is working within those parameters, but that signing will probably make or break a lot of what he wants to do.

Outside of that, he has said he wants to use the loan market as he is well-connected in the Premier League and he says there are two or three players from top-10 Premier League clubs he is hoping to bring in.

When they come is open to debate; it could well be the end of August when they complete their squad. He has been canny in the market so far, without doing anything majorly exciting.

Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye on?

If Baah plays, he is certainly worth a look. I would also hope that, by the time of this game, Yaser Asprilla will be back in the fold after Colombia got to the final of the Copa America as he is their big hope for the season.

Asprilla is a tremendously gifted player and follows in a line of players Watford have done well to unearth from South America, including Richarlison and João Pedro.

If Asprilla fulfils the potential he has shown, he will be every bit as good as those two – and possibly even better. He has got a bit of everything: he is fast, skilful, strong, intelligent and confident confident. He is definitely the one to look out for – but not sign!

How is Cleverley likely to set up his team?

I would say it will almost definitely be a 3-4-2-1. The only variation is when, on occasion, they go 3-4-1-2 to be a bit more attacking.

Cleverley had the chance to look at the squad in those nine games last season and, before that, had been working as U18s coach, so he had that inside knowledge.

He also only retired the season before, so he knows a hell of a lot of the players at Watford on a personal level. He has said that, with the personnel and knowing the players as he does, 3-4-2-1 is the way to go.

The wing-backs have a lot of ground to cover as they are quite narrow, so they have got the whole pitch in front of them to go and attack.

The two no.10s tend to stay close to the no.9, operate in pockets and often go beyond, then the no.9 is really there as the fulcrum for the attack.

What’s your score prediction?

I am glad it’s a pre-season game because then I do not feel too bad!

With the way Watford play, they are looking to be more attacking than they have been, but that comes with some risk at the back.

Bearing in mind Brentford have got some good attacking players, 2-2 would not surprise me.