Stoke City 0–4 Watford: Slav MK II fits the Bill-ić as Hornets click

What a difference six days make.

On Monday, Watford fans were in the pits of despair after Gino Pozzo threw the baby out with the bath water, sacking Rob Edwards after 10 Championship games and handing the reins to Slaven Bilić.

By Sunday, the new man has overseen a resounding 4–0 win at Stoke City, a first away win of the season, a welcome clean sheet and an even more welcome return for Imran Louza.

Here are five things…

1. Anti-Pozzo demonstrations fall flat: How fans would react after Pozzo brought the cultural reset to a premature halt was the day’s biggest talking point. Some form of demonstration against the owner was expected. It did not materialise. There was one audible attempt to get ‘We want Pozzo out’ around me but it didn’t take off. Nor did the chant of ‘Watford loves you more than you will know’. A ‘Pozzo out’ flag made the trip to Staffordshire but – according ti social media – was confiscated as a fire hazard. Any appetite for protest was soon quelled by the on-field performance. But these are fraught times at Vicarage Road. It will not take much for the mood to switch – whenever that is.
2. Urgency increased: This felt a lot closer to the sort of performance Edwards had been trying to coax from the players. There was far more intensity to Watford’s press, greater urgency, bravery and directness in their passing and the full-backs – particularly Hassane Kamara – played like the wing-backs the former head coach had been crying out for. That’s not to get carried away. This display wasn’t perfect. After a bright first 20–25 minutes, Stoke got a foothold in the game and enjoyed their best spell until half time. The Hornets were determined to invite pressure with Daniel Bachmann, making his Potteries return, playing goal kicks short to Christian Kabasele and Francisco Sierralta who routinely lost possession with loose, sloppy passes into midfield.
3. Goals on Kamara: Nothing quite summed up the change like Kamara thriving on his natural side after spending a large portion of the season so far on the right. The Ivorian was back to his raiding best and made Ismaïla Sarr’s opener with an inch-perfect cross into the corridor uncertainty. Kamara regularly found himself in space down the left, or heavily involved in build-up play down his flank. He still spent an inordinate amount of time on the floor and his distribution was, at times, questionable. But he was a dangerous and effective outlet for the visitors.
4. Distance makes the heart grow fonder: Players who are sidelined often become the panacea and Louza is no different. The Moroccan was a surprise inclusion for the trip to the Bet365 Stadium and came off the bench with half an hour remaining. It was no coincidence his introduction coincided with Watford’s improvement and three goals. Much had been pinned on Louza’s return from knee surgery and, on this evidence, it was justified. Notwithstanding the fact Stoke were poor, the Hornets’ No6 kept the ball moving quickly and progressively, cutting through the lines and displaying the vision and incisiveness that has been missing. His crossed assist for Vakoun Bayo’s goal was the perfect encapsulation – albeit not what he is paid to do.
5. Big decisions for Bilić: With Louza back – and João Pedro to follow – Bilić suddenly has some big decisions to make. From the makeshift look under Edwards, suddenly the Croatian has the clichéd ‘nice headache to have’. Yáser Asprilla impressed as the most advanced of Watford’s three central midfielders but could lose out to Pedro. Equally, Edo Kayembe could be booted out by Louza. I’ve used this blog to criticise Kayembe before but my appreciation of him has increased and he was good again at the Potteries. Whether 4–2–3–1 or 4–3–3 with a more creative No8, Bilić feels like a better fit for this squad. Time will tell.