A strong pre-season and successful start to the new campaign is what Watford need according to Tom Cleverley – what he doesn’t know is whether he will be involved in that or not.
The interim head coach has two games left of the nine he was put in charge for, and he was asked after Saturday’s game with Hull what he thought the Hornets required in order to be competitive at the top end of the table in 24/25.
“I haven’t put too much thought into it, because I’m very much focussed on the here and now and I’m not sure of my own future,” he replied.
“But it’s finding that balance between really shoring us up at the back, because the games I saw earlier in the season and against Southampton last week we’ve been too open, and when we play three at the back and are solid we look a little bit toothless in attack.
“Everyone says you need a 25-goal striker, but the last time we got promoted I think our top goalscorer was on about 10 or 11.
“We know how to have a challenge at one end of the pitch without having a prolific goalscorer, and I'm happy with our forwards.
“So it’s really finding that balance between being an attacking threat and tight at the back.”
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The Hornets won just two of their first 11 Championship games this season under Valerien Ismael, and were sitting a place above the relegation zone in early October.
“Without any shadow of a doubt I think the key in this league is starting well,” said Cleverley.
“If you can gain that belief at the start of the season you can really snowball from there.
“We’ve played five of the top seven since I came in and competed in absolutely every one of them.
“Alright, we’ve probably not done enough to win four or five of the games so far but we’re at the level.
“I want us to take massive belief from this that we can continue to improve with a strong pre-season.
“If we can do that then I have no doubt that we can be at the right end of the table challenging for promotion.”
Seven games into a head coaching career that started less than nine months after retiring as a player, Cleverley said he is relishing the new role.
“Football is my life,” he admitted.
“Some people think you’re mad going straight into coaching but my life is in football, and my life has been Watford Football Club for the last seven years.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying being such a responsible part of the team’s fortunes and I’ll give everything for the last couple of weeks of the season.”
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