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JAVI GRACIA started the season as favourite to be the first Premier League manager to get the sack.
Four wins into the campaign and Watford have defied the odds as they find themselves third – behind Liverpool and Chelsea only on goal difference – after making a perfect start to the new term.
While it may be a bit too early to start dreaming of Gracia’s men enjoying a Leicester City-style fairy tale, Vicarage Road has rarely been louder as Watford upset Tottenham to evoke memories of 1983 when they finished second under Graham Taylor.
Luther Blissett wrote himself into Hornets folklore that year, when they were runners-up to mighty Liverpool and, 35 years later, they have another striker who has established himself as a club legend.
Troy Deeney scored against Spurs to become only the fourth Watford player to reach 100 goals after Blissett, Tommy Barnett and Ross
Javi Gracia is the first Watford head coach to finish one season and start the next since they were promoted in 2015 – and it shows. The Spaniard arrived to a bedlam of indifference in January, but everyone knows and respects him now. Jenkins. Deeney (celebrating with Craig Cathcart against Spurs, right) embodies the club’s defiant spirit.
While no one expects them to last the pace in the title race, there is often one surprise team in the season.
Last year Burnley finished seventh and got into Europe, and now Gracia seems to have pulled everyone together in the club’s fourth season in the Premier League.
They were tipped for the drop after selling Richarlison to Everton for £40million and going through managers as soon as they lost a couple of games.
Gracia (above) only managed four wins after taking over from Marco Silva in January, they finished 14th and it looked as if they could be in for another struggle this season.
“They had me down as the first sacking among the 20 Premier
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It is no coincidence that Watford have won every Premier League game where talisman Troy Deeney and record signing Andre Gray have started as a double act up front – whereas both struggled as lone striker last season. League managers,” said Gracia. “But we’ve already managed to turn that prediction on its head a little. When we arrived in England in January, I had 13 injuries, which was crazy. The time that we’ve been together, plus pre-season, has helped us get to know each other and prepare.”
Now they are enjoying the ride with largely the same set of players. Keeper Ben Foster was a big addition, but former Villarreal and Real Sociedad boss Gracia has bought into the team spirit which the Foxes relied on so heavily.
After going through Silva, Quique Sanchez Flores and the disaster of Walter Mazzarri, Watford were crying out for some stability and have found it.
Watford defender Jose Holebas, the club’s dead-ball specialist, says the mood is “totally different” under 48-year-old Gracia, who has got the
Argentine playmaker Roberto Pereyra (right), hampered by injuries and violent tackles last season, has decorated the Hornets’ flying start to the campaign with three superb goals and his ‘Baby Shark’ celebration. players fitter and introduced demanding high-pressing style.
Holebas said: “When I see the boys on the pitch and in training now, it’s totally different.
“I think some of them understand now what it’s about to be in the Premier League. Obviously, the first year was difficult as a promoted team, second year again.
“It’s a time now when we create a team and I think that’s what the club is doing here – trying to create a team – and step by step it’s coming.
“He (Gracia) is a quiet guy. He is really motivated. We all like him and he is doing his job quite well. He explains a lot what we have to do, so I can be only positive on him.”
Next up it is Manchester United as Watford aim to extend their record-breaking start to the season. The Hornets had never won their first three, let alone four games in the Premier League before.
“It’s good – four in a row. I don’t know if it ever happened here,” added Holebas. “For me, I’m happy for the boys, for the team, for the whole club that we won again, although the clean sheet was not in the pocket.” a
Manchester City were in transition, and falling off the pace under Manuel Pellegrini, when Leicester won the title in 2016. The Blue Moon has been rising since Pep Guardiola succeeded him and there is certainly little sign of it waning.