2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Third Round vs Bolton Wanderers (h) - lost 3-0. Carling Cup Third Round vs Wigan Athletic (a) - lost 3-0 after extra time.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Marlon King (striker) - 22 goals.
Players In Dan Shittu (Queens Park Rangers - ?1,600,000), Damien Francis (Wigan Athletic -?1,500,000), Tamas Priskin (Gyori ETO - Undisclosed), Claude Seanla (Tottenham Hotspur - Free), Chris Powell (Charlton Athletic - Free), Ben Foster (Manchester United - Loan).
Players Out Jamie Hand (Chester City - Free).
Watford enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes following the appointment of Adrian Boothroyd last summer. They went from the bookmaker's favourites to drop into League One to Championship play off winners in 10 months and return to the Premier League for the first time in six years.
Like Reading, Watford have not spent much money on new signings, with only Dan Shittu and Damien Francis commanding transfer fees. Queens Park Ranger defender Shittu, signed for an initial ?1.6 million although this could rise to ?3 million depending on appearances. Shittu moved to Loftus Road from Charlton Athletic for ?350,000 in 2002.
Francis returned to London following an unsuccessful spell at Wigan Athletic last season for a fee which could be worth up to ?1.5 million. Veteran defender Chris Powell joined on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic and signed a one year deal.
A couple of young players have joined the club in Tottenham Hotspur's Claude Seanla, an 18 year old Ivory Coast born striker and Hungarian striker Tamas Priskin who signed from Gyori ETO for an undisclosed fee.
A whole host of players have committed their futures to the Vicarage Road club following their return to the top flight. Captain Gavin Mahon signed a two year contract extension following his ?150,000 switch from Brentford four years ago.
Defender Lloyd Doyley, one of the club's longest serving players with over 100 league starts to his name following his debut in 2001, signed a one year extension to keep him at the club until 2008 while veteran goalkeeper and coach Alec Chamberlain signed a new one year contract to start his eleventh season at the club. Jay DeMerit and Al Bangura have also signed extensions until the summer of 2009.
Verdict The bookmaker's favourites for relegation and rightly so. Last season's top goal scorer Marlon King is untried at this level and the Hornets could struggle at both ends of the pitch. The 4/7 on relegation should give you a better than 50% profit on your investment.
2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Fourth Round vs Manchester City (a) - lost 1-0. Carling Cup Final vs Manchester United (n) - lost 4-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Jason Roberts (striker) - 14 goals.
Players In Emile Heskey (Birmingham City - ?5,500,000), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar - ?2,500,000), Emmerson Boyce (Crystal Palace - ?1,000,000), Fitz Hall (Crystal Palace - Free), Chris Kirland (Liverpool - Loan).
Players Out Jason Roberts (Blackburn Rovers - ?3,000,000), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham - ?2,500,000), Alan Mahon (Burnley - ?200,000), David Thompson (Portsmouth - Free), Kevin Lee (Southport - Free), Matt Jackson (Released), Stephane Henchoz (Released).
Wigan Athletic, like West Ham United, enjoyed an excellent first season in the Premiership, finishing tenth and reaching the Carling Cup final. The Latics now face a tough second season which will be even more difficult with the losses of both Jimmy Bullard and last season's top goal scorer Jason Roberts, both of whom moved on to different clubs in the summer.
Manager Paul Jewell broke the club's transfer record to bring striker Emile Heskey to the JJB Stadium from relegated Birmingham City in a ?5.5 million deal. Heskey will replace the departed Roberts although Jewell also tried to sign Andy Johnson from Crystal Palace.
However, two new recruits were signed from Palace in Fitz Hall and Emmerson Boyce. Hall joined for an undisclosed fee, reportedly ?3 million and signed a four year contract while Boyce joined for an initial fee of ?1 million which could rise by an extra ?200,000 depending on appearances. The versatile Boyce can play in central defence and at right back which fuels speculation that Pascal Chimbonda is set to leave the club.
Dutch international midfielder Denny Landzaat signed for a fee believed to be ?2.5 million from AZ Alkmaar, with Wigan seeing off competition from Espanyol to secure the 21 capped Alkmaar captain's signature.
Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland signed on a six month loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer. Kirkland, who cost ?6 million five years ago from Coventry City, spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion but was unable to oust Tomasz Kuszczak as the club's first choice goalkeeper.
Verdict Influential players such as Jason Roberts, Jimmy Bullard and Stephane Henchoz have left the club and the Latics could find themselves involved in a relegation battle next season rather than challenging for a place in Europe. They are good value for the drop at 10/3.
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