The Impossible Dream

Moving up the table and a couple of impressive results against Spurs and Chelsea to go with it. All in all a quite decent month really.

A decent run of form, one that at the end of the season you'll probably look favourably upon! Plenty of positives to be taking for sure!

Roots: Costil is the first new signing of Pearson's Reign

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In the conclusion of a deal which was agreed in principle back in November when Nigel Pearson took over at Watford, the club have announced the completion of 29 year old French 'keeper Benoit Costil, who arrives from State Rennais for a fee thought to be around £2.6m.

The Frenchman has conceded around a goal a game in the first half of the season (20 goals in 19 games), but is likely to arrive as first choice goalkeeper, ahead of Heuerlho Gomes, who has conceded 25 in 18 games.

Despite previous performances, and some very good seasons in the past, Costil has never been capped by France, and some commentators have put this down to a combination of bad luck, and bad timing; most of his international career has been spent competing with Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda and even Cedric Carrasco, who beat Costil to a place at Euro 2012.

However, the 29-year old is optimistic that his time at Watford might allow him one final shot at international football, especially because "Goalkeepers play longer now; Watford are a good team and I really think I can make an impression here, and who knows, maybe get on the plane in 2018"

Watford fans will certainly be hoping Costil lives up to his promise, as they look to their side to continue climbing the table, and pushing towards the top half of the league.

Costil is a very solid signing from you there, will be an improvement on what you've got too I have to say.

Great signing that, he should be a starter ahead of Gomes and Pantilimon and for a great price!

Talent: Sevilla Youngster Correa joins Gabriel Jesus in Loan Move

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Watford are wasting no time in the January transfer window, following the signing of French goalkeeper Costil. Pearson's side today confirmed the loan singings of two young attackers who fans will hope bring a spark to the team's attack; Sevilla attacking midfielder Joaquin Correa, and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, who both join the club on loan until the end of the season.

Correa, now 22, was hailed as one of Argentina's biggest talents when he moved from Estudiantes to Sampdoria in 2014, for a fee of around £7m. He made 31 league appearances in Italy, scoring 3 times for his side before a move to Sevilla in summer, and has made one substitute appearance since that move.

A loan move to Watford present Correa - still uncapped by Argentina despite the hype - with a platform to test his game at the highest level, and make an impression on his club and international coaches ahead of international competitions.

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Manchester City starlet Gabriel Jesus has also joined the club on loan, following a disappointing start to his career in England. The 19-year old joined City from Palmeiras in summer for £27m, and has made 18 appearances for his side so far, scoring just twice.

However, Jesus was prolific in Brazil before his move, scoring 16 in 47 games; form which Watford fans will hope he can replicate at their club. With 11 international caps and 6 goals already, Gabriel Jesus will be looking to cement his place in a Brazil team not short on attacking talent, but he will have to fight some in-form names for his place on the Watford side before he can even think of making his mark on a larger scale.

Two very good loanees in my eyes, hopefully they can provide the goals for you. Alongside Deeney and Niang you look very good!

What a couple of signings, nice bit of flair to add to your attack!

Bloody hell, they are some signings! Especially on loan! I assume that you're paying all of their wages during the loan?

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments!

@Jack, yeah bit of a hefty wage hit, but hoping they're worth it

Going, Going, Gone: Deeney forced his way into a move to Spurs

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Watford fans will be waking this morning with a sour taste in their mouth, as it emerged In the early hours that club captain Troy Deeney had left Vicarage Road, in favour of White Hart Lane, with Spurs thought to have paid in the region of £17m for the striker.

Deeney was the club's top scorer, firing home 5 goals in 19 starts as Watford made their shaky start to the season, but is thought to have forced the move in light of Spurs' promise of Champions League football and increased exposure on the international stage.

Contacted for comment this morning, Deeney declined, saying only that he had to get to training. This is sure to be a kick in the teeth for fans and a club who showed him nothing but loyalty in his 6 year career at the club.

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However, Deeney's move is not the end of Watford's transfer business, as the scouting and coaching teams worked through the night to seal some deadline-day deals. Costel Pantillimon also departs, bound for Wigan in a £6m move, while Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson eats into most of the Deeney transfer fee, arriving at Vicarage Road in a £15m move, which fans will hope brings some bite to their midfield.

However, the most surprising transfer of the summer may well be Watford's final piece of transfer business: signing 33 year old Portuguese centre back Pepe from Real Madrid in a bargain basement £2.5m deal! The aggressive defender had found himself benched more times than not this season as Madrid favoured Nacho, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane over him.

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This transfer news comes at the end of a difficult month for Watford, as they battled to 14th in the table and crashed out of the FA Cup, winning just twice in 6 games.

January Results
1-1 v Burnley
4-0 v Wigan (FA Cup)
3-1 v Leicester
6-3 v Stoke
5-1 v Liverpool
2-0 v Southampton

League Position: 14th (27 Points)

What a win against Stoke! Shame about the other result beside the progression in the FA Cup. Surprised to see Deeney go, although that's a very good fee you got for him. Pantilimon was another good piece of business considering you now have Costil. Personally think you've paid too much for Howson, hope he proves me wrong. Finally a good deal in Pepe, he'll do you for at least the next couple years, let's hope his attitude is toned down a bit though, he could be getting sent off a lot if not.

What a busy deadline day! You are really good at structuring this update in particular, made it really easy to read and understand. Onto the signings, a blow in losing Deeney but with Correa and Gabriel Jesus coming on basically free transfers (I know they're loans but they're cheap), you've got good money for him and Pantilimon - buying a goalkeeper that in my opinion is even better at a cheaper rate!

Howson will do you well with that Premier League experience with Norwich, and blimey, Pepe will certainly put a bit of character in that side. £2.5M is an absolute steal for a defender of that quality, despite his age!

Surprise: Ben Watson was Watford's Key Man This Month

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Watford fans could have been forgiven for heading into February feeling less than confident, having watched their team pickup just 2 wins from their last six games. But Pearson's men, revitalised by January signings such Correa and Gabriel Jesus up front, and bolstered by Portuguese centre-back Pepe in defence, rallied to push themselves into the mix for a top-half finish to the season.

New signing Benoit Costil picked up a hernia injury in training which ruled him out for the month, but Heurelho Gomes stepped back into the No1 spot with aplomb, notching 2 clean sheets, and only losing a 3rd to a 90th minute Juan Mata strike in the tie at Old Trafford.

Watford opened the month with a thrilling victory over Swansea at Liberty Stadium. First half goals from leading scorer Roberto Pereyra and new signing Joaquin Correa saw them go in 2-0 up at the break. However, Swansea came back strong in the second half, tying the game through goals from Borja Baston and Gylfi Sigurdsson. It seemed like the game was headed for a draw, until Gabriel Jesus was dragged to the ground in the 6yard box, and Ben Watson stepped up to cooly slot home the penalty and seal the win.

Watford followed up with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Bournemouth at home, before travelling to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in what was possibly the most impressive performance of the month. A late Juan Mata wonder strike gave United the 3 points in a narrow 1-0 win, but Watford matched them all through the game, finishing with 8 shots on target and 68% possession. United could attribute their win more to the goalkeeping abilities of David De Gea more than anything else.

Against Sunderland, it was Watford's turn to leave it late, with loanee M'Baye Niang adding his name to the list of first-team striker options with a magnificent snapshot from the edge of the box to seal a 1-0 victory.

A solid 3 wins from 4 games saw Watford pull into 12th in the league, level on points with Manchester City, and only 2 points behind 10th-placed Sunderland, but with a game in hand over both teams


February Results
3-2 v Swansea
2-0 v Bournemouth
1-0 v Manchester United
1-0 v Sunderland

League Position: 12th (36 Points)

Great story mate, Great graphics too