Watford to go on offensive
Lloris can lift us now
MAURICIO POCHETTINO joked he has to change the way he addresses Hugo Lloris now he is a World Cup winner.
Lloris returned to Tottenham on Monday, 22 days after captaining France to World Cup glory.
And Spurs manager Pochettino hopes the success of his goalkeeper – along with Golden Boot winner Harry Kane – will rub off on their club-mates.
He said: “Hugo is in a very good mood, of course – it’s impossible not to be. It’s difficult to manage him, eh? You can’t talk to him in the same way? Nah, it’s unbelievable because he’s so humble.
“We have the captain who lifted the trophy. That is a fantastic experience for him to translate to our team.
“And we have Golden Boot winner, Harry, who is so disappointed because he says, ‘I should have scored more goals’. But it’s good they feel we are all together, the same team.”
ADRIAN KAJUMBA
WATFORD BRIGHTON
JAVI GRACIA is banking on his goal-shy strikers keeping Watford safe this season.
Watford have made seven new signings this summer but none are strikers. With Richarlison joining Everton, it means the onus is on Troy Deeney, Andre Gray and Stefano Okaka.
The trio scored just 11 between them last season but Watford manager Gracia said: “We must be more effective in attack. In some of the games last season we had only one shot on target.
“But I’m sure Okaka, Andre and Troy will be successful. The players I have at this moment are the best and I have to convince them they are.”
Brighton owner Tony Bloom says his best deal has been to sign boss Chris Hughton to a three-year extension.
Bloom has brought in 10 players at a cost of more than £60million and he said: “Chris was one of the easiest deals of the summer.”