Watford have been getting great results but why?

I hate to say it but Watford have made a better start to Premier League life than the Cherries. Nine points from seven games is much better than many pundits would have predicted pre-season for the Hornets and their new manager is already getting high praise not only from the supporters but far further afield. Indeed, Quique Flores is hard not to like. You can see that football runs deep in his blood and that he loves the game. But he also has a calmness about him and has dealt with the press extremely well which takes a lot of the pressure off of his players.

AFCB got the better of the Hornets last time at Dean Court.

Watford’s results are proof that they are a better side than they were in the Championship. To go away and win at Newcastle and to get a draw at Goodison is down to the attacking style of play they deliver with Odion Ighalo finding the net on a regular basis. While Troy Deeney is yet to open his account, the Watford favourite and captain is no less a great finisher and AFCB fans may look in envy at the Watford strike force this weekend.

What nobody talks about though is Watford’s defence. The team has only conceded six goals from their seven games with only Man City and Everton having scored against them twice in a game. They have tightened up considerably at the back and to let in fewer than a goal a game demonstrates that they are becoming harder to breakdown. Cathcart, Prodl, Nyom and Anya have played in all their Premier League games so far from what I can see and it has clearly given them a solid base with Gomes in goal as well. Clean sheets have come at home to WBA, Southampton and Swansea which has to be seen as impressive.

So when Eddie Howe looks at Watford it won’t just be about their attack that he sees quality. The Hornets may not have been over flowing with goals but they are stopping sides from beating them more often than not, and the Cherries will need to play at a higher level than we have seen in recent weeks to get something from this game in my opinion.

I’d like to see the Cherries try and control the game in midfield and play as much as they can in the Watford half. Yet Watford are likely to want to spring attacks on the break with Anya and Abdi looking to exploit gaps. 

My prediction for AFCB's XI
Boruc (GK), Francis (RD), Cook (CD), Distin (CD), Daniels (LD), Ritchie (RM), Gosling (CM), Surman (CM), Pugh (LM), King (FW), Murray (FW)

Watford Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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