Watford FC haters will be eating their words right now | OneFootball

Watford are currently in the play-off places after 15 games, something that not too many people would have seen coming

After 15 Championship games, Watford currently occupy sixth place and a play-off spot, a sentence that not too many people would have expected to hear prior to the season beginning.

Watford were relegated from the Premier League in 2022, and while they were one of the favourites to make an immediate return to the top-flight during the 2022/23 season, they suffered an 11th place finish in the Championship, and things got even worse the following campaign.

They finished 15th last season, just six points above relegation, and with no identity or long-term plan, the Hornets looked like a side going nowhere.

If you had told people that Watford wouldn't be in the Championship when the 2025/26 season begins, most people would have assumed that's because they'd been relegated to League One rather than had won promotion, and people had low expectations for Tom Cleverley's side going into the season.

However, Cleverley, who took over on a permanent basis in April after becoming caretaker boss in March, has rejuvenated Watford, and while they're far from the finished article just yet, they've certainly taken people by surprise this season.

Watford FC have made people eat their words this season

While Watford have always been a basket case when it came to hiring and firing managers, the club's hierarchy have made some poor decisions which led to last season's 15th place finish.

They appointed Rob Edwards following their relegation from the Premier League but sacked him in September 2022, only for him to go and win promotion with bitter rivals Luton Town, highlighting what a poor call it was to sack him so early on.

Tried and tested managers like Slaven Bilic, Chris Wilder and Valerien Ismael all came and went, before Cleverley took the reins in March, before being given the job full-time.

Given his lack of experience and the club's form in recent seasons, Watford were tipped to struggle, and the summer departures of Yaser Asprilla and Wesley Hoedt didn't do too much to raise expectations.

However, the Hornets started the season excellently, winning their first five games in all competitions, and while they've suffered some disappointing results along the way, three wins in their last four games has left them in the play-offs places going into the international break.

Cleverley will be the first to admit that his side aren't the finished article, and heavy defeats away to Norwich, Preston and rivals Luton suggest that there's work to be done away from home.

Watford have dropped just two points at home this season, a draw with Coventry City, and wins over the likes of Middlesbrough and Sunderland show that they've made Vicarage Road a fortress.

Away form needs to improve if Watford are to sustain a play-off push, but they've made a lot of people eat their words so far this season, and supporters will be hoping long may it continues.

Tom Cleverley deserves huge credit for the job he's doing at Watford

Cleverley was thrown in at the deep end less than a year after retiring from injury, but he's made an excellent start to life as a manager in difficult circumstances, and it's hard to imagine a more experienced manager doing a better job.

He deservedly got the job on a full-time basis back in April, and while there aren't many more daunting clubs to start your managerial career at, Cleverley has taken it all in his stride.

Watford are notorious for sacking managers after short spells at the club and Cleverley will want to avoid becoming yet another victim, but on current evidence, he doesn't have anything to worry about.

It remains to be seen whether Watford are able to sustain their excellent start to the season, and hopefully the club's hierarchy appreciates that Cleverley is overachieving, so they shouldn't pull the trigger if they slip towards mid-table, because, ultimately, they could have no qualms about a mid-table finish.

However, Watford will be looking to remain in the top six for the duration of the campaign, and they've certainly proven a lot of people wrong so far this season.