“Something has changed” – Watford’s Tom Cleverley makes a Premier League prediction.

This post is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which features personal comments from FLW Fan Pundits on breaking news, teams, players, managers, possible signings, and more.

Watford have began their third consecutive season in the Championship after being demoted from the Premier League in 2022, but there is optimism that the team can return to the top tier under Tom Cleverley.

After being relegated from the Premier League, the Hornets have struggled to gain promotion in the Championship, with five different coaches leading them to mid-table results in the last two seasons.

However, there is optimism that their new head coach, Tom Cleverley, will be able to bring some stability to Vicarage Road and push Watford back to the top of the second tier table.

The former Manchester United and England midfielder has had a successful debut season in charge of the Hornets, with his team lying third in the Championship standings and progressing to the third round of the Carabao Cup, where they will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The 35-year-old will be aware that there is a long way to go, but Watford supporters appear to be more optimistic than in previous seasons about their chances of returning to the top flight.

Fan commentator provides comments on Watford’s chances of returning to the Premier League.

According to Football League World’s Watford fan analyst Justin Beattie, the Hornets have the potential to return to the Premier League over the next five years if their current performance in the 2024/25 season continues.

“Can my club make the Premier League during the next five years? “If you had asked me this question last season or the season before, I would have said no, absolutely no chance whatsoever,” Beattie said.

“However, something has shifted at Watford since Tom Cleverley arrived. We’re starting to play for each other, there are possibilities off the bench, and there are guys without egos, something I believe we’ve struggled with for the previous five seasons.

“We now seem like a team rather than a desperate group of strangers or talents, so I would say yes in five years if things continue as they are.

“With the start of this season, and supporting Tom Cleverley, and being savvy in the transfer market, and not getting costly, big-name players, then yes, absolutely.

“If we go back to where we were in terms of hiring and firing managers, lack of continuity, and signing appealing named players who don’t produce anything for us, that will be a slippery slope, and I don’t see us getting there.

“A long way of saying yes, if things continue as they are.”

 

Tom Cleverley might lead Watford back to the Premier League.

Cleverley was appointed interim head coach at Watford in March after Valerien Ismael’s dismissal. He led the team to eight points in seven games, including a win at Birmingham City and draws against Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion, Ipswich Town, and Hull City. Cleverley was given the permanent position with two games left in the 2023/24 season.

Since then, he has won six of the Hornets’ eight games in all competitions, restoring some harmony among players and supporters at Vicarage Road.

Cleverley is a youthful head coach in his first senior post, but if he continues to achieve the results he has, Watford might return to the Premier League, according to Beattie.

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