Southampton flop Will Still fired clear Watford warning after Javi Gracia shock | OneFootball

FLW's Watford fan pundit has given his verdict on former Southampton manager Will Still replacing Javi Gracia at Vicarage Road.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Watford are on the hunt for a new manager following the shock departure of Javi Gracia on Sunday.

Gracia led Watford to their highest-ever Premier League finish and the FA Cup final in his first spell in charge, and he returned to Vicarage Road for a second stint when he replaced Paulo Pezzolano in October.

The 55-year-old initially made a big impact after his arrival, and the Hornets sat as high as fourth in the Championship table in early January after a seven-game unbeaten run, but their momentum has stalled in recent weeks.

After Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Swansea City extended his side's winless run to five games in all competitions, Gracia resigned from his role on Sunday, departing with the club sitting 10th in the table, four points from the play-off places.

As Watford begin their search for their latest manager, former Southampton boss Will Still has been installed as the favourite to replace Gracia by some bookmakers.

Still has been out of work since being sacked by the Saints in November after winning just four of his 16 games in charge, drawing six and losing six, but if the current odds are to be believed, he could be handed a Championship lifeline by the Hornets.

Will Still, Watford links questioned as big Gino Pozzo issue raised

When asked for his thoughts on the potential appointment of Still, FLW's Watford fan pundit Justin Beattie insisted that he does not have any doubts about his coaching ability, but he admitted that a project manager like the 33-year-old may not be suited to the Vicarage Road hot seat given owner Gino Pozzo's usual lack of patience.

"When it comes to Will Still, I think he's one of those appointments that sounds clever before it actually happens," Justin told FLW.

"He's a progressive, data-led, modern coach, but then reality kicks in.

"He'll want time and a clear plan, maybe a couple of windows, but this club doesn't really do time, plans or windows without chaos.

"If he comes in, the best case is he'll get us playing nice football.

"The fans will buy into it for a while, we might even flirt with the play-offs.

"The worst case, and this is what is probably going to be most likely, is that the recruitment doesn't fit his style, the results start wobbling, and suddenly he's too inexperienced for the Championship.

"I don't doubt him at all, but I doubt us.

"It looks a little bit like another smart manager who walks into a club that eats them alive.

"It remains to be seen, who knows who we're going to get in next."

Will Still must avoid Watford move after Southampton nightmare

Still has been linked with the likes of Norwich City, Nantes and Strasbourg since leaving Southampton, which suggests his disappointing spell at St Mary's has not done too much damage to his reputation.

However, after underachieving significantly with the Saints, Still must choose his next role incredibly carefully, and while Watford have a talented squad that is more than capable of mounting a play-off push in the second half of the season, it would not be the most stable environment for him to work in.

Still is unlikely to get the time he would need to implement his ideas at Vicarage Road, and given that he is still unproven at Championship level, his appointment would be a big gamble for the Hornets, so the move is perhaps one to avoid for all parties.