"Frankly ridiculous" - Watford urged to make Daniel Bachmann decision | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Daniel Bachmann is one of Watford’s current longest-serving players.

The Austrian goalkeeper has been with the Hornets since joining from Stoke City in the summer of 2017 on a free transfer, after he was released by the Potters.

Since then, after failing to make a first team appearance for the club in his first three seasons, he cemented himself as Watford’s no.1 goalkeeper last season, playing in all but one Championship game. He kept 16 clean sheets.

In total, he has gone on to make over 100 appearances for Watford across all competitions.

After signing a new five-year-deal in the summer, along with being made the new club captain, the 29-year-old started this season as he finished te last one, being a regular in the Watford net.

However, he has now failed to make a league appearances for the Hornets since the end of November, with Ben Hamer being preferred by manager Valerien Ismael.

Bachmann has since been limited to just three FA Cup appearances since his omission from the starting lineup in the league, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those cup games as they were knocked out by Southampton in a fourth-round replay.

Watford should look to move Bachmann on

Football League World’s Watford Fan Pundit Justin Beattie believes Bachmann should be sold in the summer transfer window, and says the decision to give him a five-year-deal and make him captain was a bad one.

Speaking to FLW, he said: “Daniel Bachmann should never have been given a five year contract in the summer, and he should never have been made club captain.

“The contract he is on is frankly ridiculous, he is not getting into the team, it does not look like he is going to get in the team anytime soon.

“I think it is time he was moved on, let’s see what happens in the summer transfer window.”

Bachmann out of favour under Ismael

As aforementioned, Bachmann has gone from being Watford’s undoubted no.1 to barely getting a look in.

The decision from Ismael to start playing Ben Hamer instead of Bachmann came after Bachmann’s sending off in a 2-0 defeat against Leicester City, with Ismael saying following the game that he may have to rethink his decision to make Bachmann captain.

Since then he has barely featured, which just about sums up Ismael’s decision on Bachmann.

What also does not help is the fact that Hamer has conceded eight more goals and kept three less clean sheets than Bachmann despite having played three more league games. Despite statistically being the worse keeper, Ismael continues to persist with Hamer.

But this presents Watford with a major goalkeeping problem in the summer, particularly if Ismael stays, with rumours circulating of late over his potential sacking.

Watford’s only two senior options are Bachmann and Hamer. The first being a player on a big contract who is a benchwarmer, whilst the other is a 36-year-old who is past his best years, and whose contract is set to expire in the summer.

If Ismael stays, Bachmann has to go. With Hamer’s likely departure, the Hornets will be looking for a new no.1, and probably a younger one at that. Bachmann will also be on too high of a wage to be sat on the bench.

If Ismael leaves, then it could be different. A new man in charge gives Bachmann another opportunity to impress, and he could reinstate himself as the no.1 once again.

Ultimately though, the decision to hand Bachmann a five-year-deal, and make him captain, have been poor ones. They are decisions that the club should look at as an example of what not to do in the future.