Watford clung on to open their League campaign with a thrilling win against 'Spygate' bad guys Southampton, but new head coach Alessio Dionisi faces a familiar predicament: Will he be given the tools to take us on a memorable funfair ride?

In golfing terms, Watford's new head coach isn't starting the season with a full set of clubs and the first four games could be like trying to dig his way out of a bunker without a sand wedge - but Alessio Dionisi is ready to give it a full swing off the tee

Watford's new head coach is determined to hurdle the language barrier - and he's been studying Hugh Grant's elocution in a famous romcom to inspire his crash course in fluent posh

From 1969 to the present day, The Watford Word has compiled a list of the Hornets' best goals. Many of the names will be familiar, some you may have forgotten - but all of these made your heart soar. Any glaring omissions?

Watford's 1-0 win against Crawley Town, a rare success in the EFL Cup, gave head coach Alessio Dionisi a winning start, but there are problems to solve at both ends of the pitch with a thankless start in the Championship around the corner

The numbers don't lie - Watford has become the spiritual home of short-termism when it comes to hiring and discarding head coaches, but four seasons in mid-table (11th, 15th, 14th and 16th) tell the story. It's time for the churn to slow down.

As a player, Ian Bolton was one of four Watford marvels who featured in all four divisions on the Hornets' climb through the leagues under Graham Taylor. He believes the values which sustained that golden era, and made Watford the original family club, are still applicable today.

All the talk, when Edoardo Bove rebooted his career at Watford, was of the convalescing heart patient who suffered a cardiac arrest. Now it's time to focus on what he can deliver on the pitch under new head coach Alessio Dionisi - and his pre-season was promising.

Mattie Pollock's ascension to take over as Watford captain for the 2026-27 season is no surprise, but the Hornets' new sergeant-major on the pitch has wasted no time in laying down the law