Spurs a hard test for Watford
Watford are unbeaten after three matches but their clash with Spurs on Sunday is set to reveal whether they are another Leicester City in the making.
It is no surprise that at the time of writing there are three teams with a 100 percent record after the first three rounds of the new Premier League season, but what few soccer punters would have foreseen is that Watford would find themselves among them. They, along with Liverpool and Chelsea, sit top of the log table going into the next set of fixtures at the weekend.
Champions Manchester City lurk ominously just two points behind them along with Bournemouth, another who not many would have bet too much cash on to be in such a lofty position.
Admittedly it is still early in the season and forecasting on the back of results in the opening weeks of the campaign is a ridiculous notion.
Few will disagree with the assertion that, come the end of May when the campaign is done and dusted, there will be the usual suspects at the top - Pep Guardiola’s City, Jose Mourinho’s United; Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs from London and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
But what of Watford - is this a Leicester City in the making?
Sunday’s home match against Tottenham will provide a good benchmark and likely answer many questions.
Manager Javi Gracia fits the profile of other Latin coaches who have forged a reputation in England - Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, Marco Silva now at Everton, Nuno Espirito at Wolves and, of course, Guardiola, Mourinho and Rafa Benitez.
Garcia had no high-profile arrival in the English game, but steadily built his side and could cause several upsets yet throughout the season.
Burnley host Manchester United on Sunday in another game that TAB soccer customers might take a punt on the home team to win.
On Saturday, though, Soccer 6, 10 and 13 players will likely follow the formbook with Manchester City at home to Newcastle and Chelsea hosting Bournemouth in what look like banker home wins.
In the Championship, Leeds United’s rousing start under new manager Marcelo Bielsa comes under severe examination from Middlesbrough on Friday.