Monthly Archives: August 2025

30th August 2025- Championship, Watford 2 Southampton 2

Watford Observer Pre-Match coverage: Southampton team news: Kwadwo Baah, Mattie Pollock and Othmane Maamma updates

Paulo Pezzolano and Valon Behrami discuss why Watford signed Nampalys Mendy

Paulo Pezzolano wants Watford to flex their muscles against Southampton

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2025/august/30/digital-digest–southampton-edition/
Match Wrap: Watford 2-2 Southampton – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 2-2 Southampton

Five talking points as Watford draw with Southampton

Match report: Irankunda does it again as Watford draw 2-2 with Southampton

Pezzolano confirms imminent Andrews departure: ‘This is a good opportunity for him’

Paulo Pezzolano: ‘Nestory Irankunda hasn’t accomplished anything yet’

BBC: Southampton and Watford both scored late free-kicks in an entertaining draw at Vicarage Road in the Championship.

Sky: First, Ryan Manning curled his left-footed low set-piece shot into the bottom corner of Egil Selvik’s net to put a rebuilding Southampton side on the verge of a second away win of the season. Then, Watford’s Nestory Irankunda, who had posed a threat all match, used his right foot to take the aerial route past Southampton keeper Gavin Bazunu and into the top corner.

BHappy: It’s “only” a point, and we “only” have five after four games. Nonetheless, you’d need a heart of stone to be unexcited by the direction of travel. Chak, Wiley, Maamma, at least one Mendy still to come in, Louza to return from suspension. A head coach who is bold enough to make decisive moves to win a game, smart enough to bring his team to salute the Rookery before kick-off, decent enough to give Ryan Andrews a brief cameo on his way out of the door despite the very evident heat of the moment. The Switzerland-bound full-back was propelled in front of the Rookery for a final “one of our own” salute as the team returned on the final whistle.

Fran’s Watford Blog: I think we were all expecting Southampton to be tricky opponents and that proved to be the case, but the Hornets matched them and did very well to come from behind on two occasions to win a very creditable point. The goals were, of course, the main talking points. Having watched some painful VAR decisions in the televised games before the match, I was glad that it wasn’t in play for our first goal. It was notable that this was created by two substitutes with Vata’s forward ball met by a powerful strike from Baah. Then Irankunda showed that his free kick last week wasn’t a fluke with another beauty that gave the keeper no chance. Mike had recorded the goal and it was a joy to see it again. Nestory was tremendous all game, and I was pleased to see both Baah and Irankunda on the pitch at the same time. They will cause problems for many teams in this division. The early goal was disappointing, but the Hornets generally defended well from that point on.

23rd August 2025- Championship, Swansea City 1 Watford 1

Watford Observer pre-match coverage: Paulo Pezzolano eager for first away win as Watford seek consistency

Swansea now only produce online programmes. https://www.swanseacity.com/swansea-city-v-watford-2025-26-programme

Match Wrap: Swansea City 1-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Zan Vipotnik’s late header saw Swansea City fight back to draw with Watford after teenager Nestory Irankunda’s sparkling free-kick had looked set to end the Hornets’ long wait for an away win.

Sky: Watford had only found the net three times in their previous seven league trips – the previous six of those being defeats – but they went ahead 10 minutes before the break and it came from a moment of magic from Irankunda.

Watford Observer: AS IT HAPPENED: Swansea City v Watford

Match report: Watford forced to settle for 1-1 draw at Swansea after Irankunda beauty

Paulo Pezzolano: Watford ‘ran out of steam’ after strong first hour at Swansea

Irankunda on stunning free-kick: ‘If Louza had been here I wouldn’t have taken it’

Pezzolano on Irankunda’s free-kick, Alleyne’s full league debut and Watford fans

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been an enjoyable game. Watford had been excellent in the first half. Kjerrumgaard had a couple of decent chances and the goal from Irankunda was a thing of beauty. What a joy that we were behind the goal to see it fly into the top corner. Swansea made a much better fist of the second half, so a draw was probably a fair result, but an away point should always be treasured. The greatest concern of the afternoon was how apparent it was that we were lacking strength in depth. The first XI were excellent, but the replacements were generally not of the same quality.

From the Rookery End: As the Hornets made their second away trip of the season, this time down to south Wales to face Swansea City, the team behind the microphones was split in two. Mike, Kieran, and Ryan braved the long journey down the M4, while Jon, Jordi, Olly, and DCW opted for the considerably shorter — and far more sociable — trip to the Railway Arms opposite Bushey station.

16th August 2025- Championship, Watford v Queens Park Rangers

Watford Observer: Valon Behrami is not interfering with tactical decisions, insists Paulo Pezzolano

Rocco Vata returns as Paulo Pezzolano aims for greater goal threat

Paulo Pezzolano: ‘We are trying to change the short-term culture at Watford’

https://images.gc.watfordfcservices.co.uk/76f1da20-7a71-11f0-b75f-ed7554e2d3c1.pdf
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cwyeeypy5x8t#Line-ups
Match Wrap: Watford 2-1 QPR – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

Five talking points as Kjerrumgaard doubles fires Watford to first win of season

Match report: Watford 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

Paulo Pezzolano on QPR win, his change of system and Kwadwo Baah exclusion

Paulo Pezzolano: ‘Luca Kjerrumgaard is going to be a top striker’

Paulo Pezzolano caught everybody off guard with QPR selection – and it worked a treat

BBC: Luca Kjerrumgaard scored twice as Watford beat QPR to give Paulo Pezzolano his first win as Hornets head coach.

Sky: But the victory was marred when midfielder Imran Louza, on his 100th appearance for Watford, was given a straight red card three minutes into added time for a high tackle on Rangers sub Jonathan Varane.

BHappy: Luca Kjerrumgaard’s hold up play and work off the ball was excellent, his two finishes supremely unfussy. “Everyone’s looking for a centre-forward”. We’ve found one.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was a very enjoyable start to the Championship season at home. The first half was terrific with the Hornets taking a two-goal lead and completely dominating until Morgan’s goal, which was against the run of play. The second half was more even, and the nerves were shredded by the end, despite the fact that Selvik wasn’t really tested. It was disappointing to see Louza sent off on his 100th appearance, but his impetuous nature is part of what makes him such a good player. He will be missed in the upcoming games. It was great to see Kjerrumgaard on the score sheet, we have seen some good things from him in previous games and now that he has broken his duck, I expect to see many more goals from him. Irankunda had another good game, Kayembe impressed and Sissoko continues to look as though he has had an injection of youth serum during the Summer.

From The Rookery End: Dave, Mike and Jason gathered at the Mad Squirrel after Watford’s 2-1 win over QPR to discuss the Hornets’ first win of the season thanks to a first half brace from big Luca Kjerrumgaard. There was a surprising change of system from Paulo Pezzolano and plenty of encouraging individual performances for us to purr over, with the mood only slightly sullied by Imran Louza’s late and straight red card.

12th August 2025- League Cup First Round, Watford 1 Norwich City 2

Having previously announced that physical programmes would no longer be issued the club gave away a free sheet containing the squads as well as producing a digital programme.

https://images.gc.watfordfcservices.co.uk/6504f350-778e-11f0-957b-59a86ad2e01a.pdf
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cvg453vgv59t#Line-ups
Match Wrap: Watford 1-2 Norwich City – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Josh Sargent showed just why Norwich are keen to keep hold of their highly prized striker by kick-starting a 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Watford.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford v Norwich City

Match report: Watford 1-2 Norwich City

Five talking points after Watford knocked out of Carabao Cup

Paulo Pezzolano on Norwich selection: ‘I would pick the same team again’

Pezzolano confident in Watford’s attacking depth as Baah stars again

Watford talisman Kwadwo Baah can get the Hornets’ campaign going against QPR

BHappy: Boos, inevitably, after the worst half I can remember at Vicarage Road for a very long time. And you can rationalise, and make allowances, even write it off… “it’s only the League Cup”. But for myself, I was beating away the most negative takes on our latest incarnation. The system we’re being asked to play is too complicated. The players don’t know what they’re doing. They’re unhappy, that’s why so little energy. We’ve signed Investments rather than a team, a bunch of promising kids, one of them tapping gold will pay for the others. Where’s the gnarled old boot to build the rest of it around? Wrexham and Derby have found hundreds of them. Would John Eustace consider a playing contract?

Fran’s Watford Blog: The second half was much better. The defensive changes were needed and meant that we looked a lot more solid. The introduction of Louza strengthened the midfield and provided more service for the forwards. The highlight of the game was the performance of Irankunda and Baah on the two flanks. They both gave the Norwich defence a torrid time and were a joy to watch. I saw some good things from Semedo as well, which give me hope for the new season.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–26_EFL_Cup

9th August 2025- Championship, Charlton Athletic 1 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Paulo Pezzolano on Charlton test: ‘We have to win the fight’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cgqn9w9pg5nt#Line-ups
Match Wrap: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Sky: Summer signing Harvey Knibbs scored a stoppage-time winner for Charlton as the Championship new boys made it a losing start for new Watford head coach Paulo Pezzolano.

BBC: The impressive Apter curled a left-footed effort wide in the final few minutes before Watford had a penalty claim turned down in stoppage time when substitute Nestory Irankunda felt he was fouled by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski..

Watford Observer: RECAP: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Watford

REPORT: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Watford

Pezzolano on Charlton defeat, penalty controversy and subbing Imran Louza

Paulo Pezzolano analyses Luca Kjerrumgaard’s Watford debut at Charlton Athletic

Egil Selvik: ‘We have to grow up fast if we want to win games’

Where Watford went right and wrong as ‘small details’ cost them at Charlton

BHappy: There were some… euphemistically brave substitution decisions. Irankunda for Baah was a bit weird but then Baah hasn’t done a full 90 since mid-January, was on a yellow and getting increasingly feisty. The withdrawal of Louza in favour of Kayembe in the name of physicality was perhaps the most odd… Edo got as warm a reception as you’d hope and of course decisions are always easier in retrospect and if you’re not the one making them. Nonetheless, Louza’s departure was tantamount to sacrificing possession and inviting pressure… maybe we were better able to defend it, good decisions don’t guarantee good outcomes, but prevention (keep possession) is better than cure (defend set pieces).

Fran’s Watford Blog: As the post-match celebrations on the pitch continued, Baah got involved in some handbags. I wondered what had provoked it until I was told that Jones had celebrated in front of the Watford fans. I wouldn’t have expected anything else, although he had been receiving abuse from the away end throughout the game.

From the Rookery End: As the 2025–26 season got underway for Watford, Jon, Mike, and Kieran headed down to The Valley to watch the Hornets take on Charlton Athletic — only to see them suffer a gut-wrenching defeat to an injury-time goal. With the season’s business now underway, we took the chance to share our first impressions of the new players, the returning faces, and the fresh style of play under Paulo Pezzolano’s guidance.