MAZZARRI: SECRET OF MY SUCCESS
WATFORD manager Walter Mazzarri has described how he has instilled a new professionalism into his record signing Isaac Success.
The 20-year-old Nigerian (right) has proved to be a classy buy since his £12.5million arrival from Spanish club Granada.
He made a stunning impact when coming on as substitute in Watford’s last match before the international break with a superb header against Bournemouth in a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road. But Mazzarri made it clear that Success still has a lot to learn and AITOR KARANKA is demanding a reaction from Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez to their Middlesbrough demotion. Boro boss Karanka dropped the duo for the 1-1 draw at West Ham two weeks ago in favour of Jordan Rhodes and Viktor Fischer. TREATMENT ROOM Middlesbrough: James Husband (dislocated shoulder), Grant Leadbitter (hernia). Watford: Daryl Janmaat (shoulder injury), Stefano Okaka Chuka (thigh injury), Brice Dja Djedje (ankle injury). SUSPENDED: None MATCH ODDS Middlesbrough: Draw: Watford: has worked with him in training on the defensive side of his game.
His time-keeping is also something he needs to work on.
“He has never done anything seriously wrong,” said Mazzarri, who will decide this morning whether Success will play at Middlesbrough ahead of Odion Ighalo.
“But I have spoken with him many times and he understands that he has to be professional and arrive on time. He has improved massively on But Spain striker Negredo and Uruguay playmaker Ramirez are in contention to return for today’s game against Watford as Boro seek their first home win this season.
On the first day of the campaign, Ramirez (below) was rampant when he hit the woodwork twice and set up the opening goal for Negredo, as Boro were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke at The Riverside.
That is Negredo’s only goal in seven appearances since his summer loan move from Valencia.
But Karanka rates Negredo as highly as Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.
And Karanka believes Ramirez can still be the man to bring the best out of the former Manchester City hitman, who he wants to see come out fighting.
Karanka (right) said: “At the start of the season, Alvaro and Gaston wanted to show how good they are, because both of them are really good players.
“With their quality, they were doing a really good job for the team. But with games, both of them lost that.
“Knowing they are really good players, the main thing for me is to try to put in the players who are working for their team-mates.
“Of course, Gaston at his best can bring the best out of Alvaro. It’s my job to take from the players their best and for that reason, I have to make selections. Against West Ham, I decided to put these particular things and I am very happy with him. He is proving to be a professional player. “He is doing what I tell him to do, especially defensively. He is improving a lot there.” Mazzarri – who arrived at Watford in the summer to take over from Quique Flores – is now in his 16th year as a manager. And he believes the job is getting harder than ever. Such is them both on the bench – so let’s see their reaction now.’’
Karanka stressed: “The position Ramirez plays is really important. But this season we have players, like Fischer, who can play in that position, Stewart Downing, who can play in that position and Adam Forshaw, who can sometimes play there.
“We have a lot of alternatives, but it’s true that Gaston is an important player for us when he’s at his best.’’
Karanka recognises that Negredo, 31, is under scrutiny.
He added: “I am here to try to take that pressure because I knew it was going to be difficult for him. “He started really well, but sometimes when you start really well – and you feel really confident – you start to get a bit more relaxed and you lose your position.
“For that reason, he has to fight – he’s fighting a lot on the training ground because he found, against West Ham, that nobody is above the team.
“He’s learning. Of course, I want him to find that edge again because, playing at his best, I can compare him with Benteke or Lukaku, or the better strikers in the league.’’
Ramirez’s compa t r i o t Cristhian Stuani is outgunning Negredo – his opener against West Ham was his third goal this season.
Stuani has largely been used in a wide-right role, but Karanka said: “Stuani is an option through the middle – I used him there against Tottenham and, for sure, I will use him there again.’’ the cut-throat nature of the profession that a respectable 13th-place finish in the Premier League and an FA Cup semi-final appearance were not enough to keep Flores in work at Watford.
Mazzarri – who managed both Napoli and Inter Milan in his homeland – said: “It has changed a lot, especially with the internet and social media. There is much more attention on small things.
“There is also more investment and football has grown, so that means there is much more pressure. And you feel it.”