It came as a big shock to most Premier League fans when Watford sacked Quique Sanchez Flores, after just one season at Vicarage Road. Watford played good football throughout the season, comfortably avoiding relegation and reaching an F.A Cup semi-final at Wembley along the way. As reported here, Watford’s owners have always done things their own way, believing that regularly refreshing the coaching and playing staff is the best way to keep everyone motivated and, if you look at the rise Watford have enjoyed under their chop-and-change leadership style, it’s hard to argue that what they are doing is wrong.

Former Inter Milan manager Walter Mazzarri is the latest to take up the Watford hot-seat and in an attempt to appease the fans concerns, he broke the Watford’s transfer record to bring in Nigerian forward Isaac Success.
The 20 year old was an important part of the Granada side who managed, against all the odds, to avoid relegation from La Liga last season. That experience will stand him in good stead, as Watford are likely to be embroiled in a fierce relegation battle during the course of the next 12 months.

It’s not sure yet where the lively attacker will fit into Mazzarri’s system. Capable of playing both out wide and through the middle, Success recorded six goals and five assists last season. His pace and skill make him ideally suited to playing out on the wing and will provide plenty of chances and good cover for fellow countryman Odion Ighalo and club captain Troy Deeney, who have struck up an impressive partnership over the last 18 months.

It could take Success a little time to settle and has been integrated slowly into Watford’s first team plans during preseason. Surprisingly, he was left out of Nigeria’s Olympic football squad, but that omission could prove a blessing, as he will now have more time to adapt to his English surroundings before the season officially kicks off.

Living up to the big price-tag will be another problem the young Nigerian will have to face, but he looks to have both the technical quality and mental strength to be able to cope and he will be confident of making a big impact on the Premier League next season.

-Okwum Uchechukwu