FIVE-POINTPLAN

START WELL, AGAIN The Hornets have come out of the blocks quickly in each of their four seasons since returning to the top flight, and it’s a good job because in each of those seasons Watford have fallen away in the second half of the campaign. Brighton, Everton, West Ham and Newcastle are the first four opponents this term, and Javi Gracia will want to post a decent tally before far tougher challenges in September.

DON’T FINISH REALLY BADLY, AGAIN One win (against Huddersfield) in the last six games saw Watford slump from a potential European place to a bottom-half finish in 11th. That’s the fourth season in a row where the side’s form has dropped off a cliff in the spring – it’s become a worrying habit.

BE MORE CLINICAL Watford missed 54 ‘big chances’ last season, and had they been a touch more ruthless could well have finished in 7th place. Troy Deeney and Andre Gray will never let you down, but they’ve failed to hit double figures in the league in each of the last two seasons, and top scorer Gerard Deulofeu has a tendency to blow hot and cold.

BOLSTER AT BOTH ENDS OF THE PITCH Watford have a midfield that can compete with anyone outside the top six, but could do with freshening up the attack and central defence. Buying West Brom centre-back Craig Dawson seems like a step in the right direction, and remember the name Joao Pedro: the latest Pozzo investment from South America will arrive at Vicarage Road in January, and is already rumoured to be the envy of Europe’s elite outfits.

BRING BACK Z-CARS In April, the Hornets ditched their famous walk-on tune in favour of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing. Now, Elton is beloved at Watford but the players failed to register a single home victory from that point onwards. Obviously it doesn’t really affect things on the pitch, but it’s been worn into the fabric of the matchday experience for Watford fans since 1964, and many of them hope the club bring it back soon.