Two Signings, Two More Loans, and a Departure (Sort Of)

As expected, Watford has signed former Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia. In addition that have picked up QPR defender, 31-year old "One Size" Fitz Hall. Both are signed through the end of this season.

Watford has also picked up two more strikers on loan from the Pozzo stable: from Granada by way of Cadiz, Ikechi Anya and Cameroonian Steve Leo Beleck from Udinese via AEK Athens.

Saying goodbye is David Mirfin, acquired from Scunthorpe United a year ago, loaned to Scunny for most of the year, and returned to them this summer.

Watford Downs Cork City

The Hornets notched their first pre-season win yesterday with a pairs of goals from Joe Garner & Piero Mingoia against Cork City. Jonathan Bond kept a clean sheet for Watford.

Two Non-League Matches, Two Draws

Pre-season friendlies have started with two non-league away matches last week that each ended in 1-1 draws. Tuesday saw a draw against Boreham Wood and Saturday saw Wealdstone come from behind to even up a Mark Yeates goal.

Gianfranco Zola is trying out line-ups and formations to see what gels in anticipation of the August 18th league opener against Crystal Palace.

Unhappy Egg

It's not just managers and keepers being escorted out of Vicarage Road under new management. Newly signed sponsor The Happy Egg Company is on the way out according to the Watford Observer. Signed just a week before the Pozzo purchase, the sponsor did not appeared on the kits for Tuesday's pre-season match.

Loach Update

Update on the Loach deal: It is expected his transfer will bring less than £200,000. Loach only cost the club £50,000 when he arrived from Lincoln City in April 2006 as a 16-year old. £150,000 profit and 163 appearances. Not too bad.

Another Udinese Loanee

Swiss midfielder Almen Abdi has joined the Hornets on loan from Udinese (it's hard not to say "parent club Udinese"). Abdi has had 42 appearances with Udinese in two seasons and sports six caps for Switzerland.

Loach to Ipswich

Longtime Watford keeper Scott Loach is on his way to Ispwich Town for an undisclosed amount. The Hornets have their eye on Manuel Alumnia, recently released from Arsenal.

Mariappa Off To Reading

Pending a physical, Adrian Mariappa is on his way to the Premier League with last season's Championship League champions Reading.

The star defender and academy product will join the Royals for a reported £2 million transfer fee plus add-ons.

Adrian made 216 senior appearance during his time with Watford as well as earning four caps with Jamaica, home of his maternal grandparents.

Best of luck to a fine Hornet.

McGinn Signs Contract Extension

Midfielder Stephen McGinn, sidelined for the last year with an ACL injury has signed through the 2012-2013 season with a one-year club option.

And Loanees Start Rolling In . . .

According to Chovanec Sport and the Watford Observer, two Czechs from our sister clubs have arrived on loan for the next season.

From Granada, seasoned midfielder Daniel Pudil. The 26-year old has 22 caps for the Czech national squad.

From Udinese, a young striker with 38 national youth squad appearances, Matej Vydra.

Welcome to Watford lads.

A Message From the New Owners

Sounds encouraging if they follow through.

http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~2830998,00.html

Four Former Hornets on Team GB Olympic Squad

With the London Olympics around the corner, four former Hornets find themselves on the joint England/Wales Great Brittan squad.

Three of the lot are former loanees: Tom Cleverley, from Manchester United; Jack Cork, loaned from Chelsea but now with Southampton, and Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur.

Marvin Sordell, picked up by Bolton in January's transfer window is the Academy's sole product.

All have been on England's U-21 squad.

Pozzo Takeover Complete - Changes Ahead for Watford

The takeover of Watford by the Pozzo family, owners of Serie A side Udinese since 1986 and La Liga side Granada since 2009, has been completed, signaling significant changes for the Hertfordshire side.

First on the list is the impending appointment of former Chelsea/Italy national striker/attacking mid-fielder, Gianfranco Zola to replace Sean Dyche as manager.

Despite Dyche's success with limited resources, the new owners have thier own notion of how the club should be run and are in town today to share thier vision with the staff. Best of luck to Sean.

Pundits who are familiar with Udinese point to thier treatment of Granada as an example of the Pozzo's business model. The club rose from the third tier to La Liga after the Pozzo takeover three seasons ago and did so mostly on the backs of Udinese loanees (six of the starting eleven were on loan fron Udinese). The Pozzo model is one similar to South American clubs: find young promising talent, cycle them though their academy, gain them exposure, and sell them for a profit.

With Watford, as with Granada, the deal opens a new venue for exposure of Udinese players, potentially driving up their value for Premier League buyers. Additionally, Watford's stellar track record of producing senior team Football League players (50 and counting) opens a new vein of talent for Udinese to mine.

The downside is Watford's identity and tradition of home-grown talent is likely to come away diluted by the new order. On the upside, we are likely to see new talent, better football, and, if Granada is any indication, a serious shot at promotion.

Interesting times ahead.