Watford looking for yet another boss

Watford boss Walter Mazzarri will leave the club after less than 11 months in charge

This summer it will be a case of another search for a new boss for Watford.

On Wednesday it was announced that Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri will leave his post after the club’s last game of the campaign at Vicarage Road against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

In truth, the Hornets are now experts at appointing new bosses.

It seems that a boss only lasts a season or less at the club from Hertfordshire. The club’s hierarchy have an itchier trigger finger than Dirty Harry.

Walter Mazzarri not a popular figure

Mazzarri is the latest boss to lose his job at Watford, despite keeping the Hornets in the Premier League. The 55-year-old does not a popular figure at the club. One of the reported reasons for Mazzarri losing his job is the fact that the Italian failed to learn English.

In fact, it is believed to have contributed to poor communication with his players and fans. It even reportedly led to the players becoming disillusioned with the Italian’s training sessions. The fact that he used a translator to do his talking was no doubt a major disadvantage and maybe undermined his authority.

The Watford fans’ mood after the news was announced was in stark contrast to that of when Mazzarri’s predecessors Slavisa Jokanovic and Quique Sanchez Flores left the club.

Both Jokanovic and Flores received a certain amount of sympathy from the club’s fans on leaving the club. Jokanovic had just guided the club to promotion the previous campaign, while Flores kept the Hornets in the top-flight.

There seems to be very little disappointment at Mazzarri leaving. The team have been in terrible form of late and Mazzarri’s style of football did not seem to be the fan’s cup of tea. The consensus seems to be that the team played unattractive football under Mazzarri.

The fact that a recent poll on a Watford’s fans forum showed that 78 percent were in favour of sacking the Italian says it all really.

Watford a decent gig

No doubt the Hornets now need stability. However, the clubs owners seem to have some justification in sacking Mazzarri. It seems the majority of the clubs fans would agree judging by the fans forums and message boards.

Watford have a decent squad and are in the Premier League, which are two vital facts. With the right boss in charge, the Hornets may actually achieve something other than just surviving in the English top-flight.

The last few bosses have kept the Hornets in the Premier League and that has been enough. However, I am sure everybody connected with the club would like to see the team really progress, even that just means a top-half finish.

Who could be the next Watford boss?

The list of possible successors seems to be a long one. However, a surprise name has emerged as the frontrunner for the job in former Russia boss Leonard Slutsky, who is odds of 6/4 to be given the job.

Some recognisable figures in English football have also been mooted to fill the role alongside Slutsky in the likes of Claudio Ranieri, Marco Silva and Alan Pardew.

Ranieri’s link to the job is not surprising considering the Watford owners the Pozzo’s are compatriots of the veteran boss. However, appointing Ranieri would not be a Swansea-Bob Bradley situation.

Ranieri had done an incredible job to lead Leicester to the Premier League title last season. However, the Foxes performance dropped off dramatically last season. The Italian would be a steady hand on the rudder.

Silva is regarded as a highly-rated young up and coming boss. The Hull boss is unlikely to remain on Humberside. However, if the Hornets try to appoint the former Olympiakos boss they could face competition from Southampton for the 39-year-old’s services.

Alan Pardew is a boss that seems to be touted for every job that is available at any mid-lower half Premier League teams. In truth, he struggled to inspire Crystal Palace in his last job, after enjoying mixed fortunes at Newcastle.

It seems Pardew would not be a popular appointment for the Watford fans. The clubs owner’s recent appointments have been good enough to keep the Hornets in the top-flight, even if they have not stuck around for very long.

Watford seems to be gathering a reputation for going through bosses like hot dinners. However, if you look at the situation closer, Walter Mazzarri did not look like the man to take the Hornets to the next level. Let’s hope for the fans sake that the next boss will be.

Who should be the next Watford boss?