Championship Profile: Watford

Last updated : 03 August 2011 By Jim Bonner

Vital Statistics

Founded: 1881

Chairman: Graham Taylor

Last Season: Championship - 14th

Nicknames: The Hornets, The Horns, The Golden Boys

Rivals: Luton Town

Major Honours

None

Scheduled Matches

Watford vs Portsmouth: Saturday, November 19th (3pm)

Portsmouth vs Watford: Monday, January 2nd (3pm)

Transfers In

Craig Forsyth (Dundee - Undisclosed)

David Mirfin (Scunthorpe - Free)

Mark Yeates (Sheffield United - Undisclosed)

Prince Buaben (Dundee United - Free)

Chris Iwelumo (Burnley - Undisclosed)

Carl Dickinson (Stoke - Undisclosed)

Transfers Out

Liam Henderson (York - Free)

Will Hoskins (Brighton - £1 million)

Danny Graham (Swansea - £3.5 million)

Nathan Ellington (Ipswich - Free)

Mat Sadler (Walsall - Free)

Rob Kiernan (Released)

Don Cowie (Cardiff - Free)

Tom Aldred (Inverness - Loan)

Probable Starting XI

GK: Scott LOACH

RB: Lloyd DOYLEY

CB: Martin TAYLOR

CB: Adrian MARIAPPA

LB: Carl DICKINSON

RM: Mark YEATES

CM: John EUSTACE

CM: Prince BUABEN

LM: Craig FORSYTH

CF: Marvin SORDELL

CF: Chris IWELUMO

The Manager: Sean Dyche

Dyche is a newcomer to football management with the Watford role being his first job as boss of the first team, having been promoted from the Hornets' assistant manager position when Malky Mackay left for Cardiff.

Sean spent most of his playing career at Chesterfield but did play for Watford between 2002-2005. Being an unknown character with no management experience, the Hornets are expected to struggle this season, especially after losing top scorer Graham.

The Fans

Watford supporters seem like a nice enough bunch, although I haven't really encountered any of them as I haven't been to Vicarage Road yet.

Of course, Watford's most famous fan is Sir Elton John but Geri Halliwell and Brian "it's a puppet!" Conley are also supporters of the Hornets.

Watford fan Mark Ferguson on the upcoming season:

We've signed a few players but having some very key attacking players so goals will be hard to come by I suspect.

Our defence was poor last season, leaking a few goals and a bit worried you guys seem to hardly rate our new left back at all!

Being realistic we can probably only hope for mid-table at best unless our new manager can get some more quality in.

The Ground: Vicarage Road (Capacity: 17,500)

Vicarage Road is one of the few grounds in the Championship I am yet to go to. Full overview and photos to come in November.