Football is back, and you’ll be relieved to know Paul Merson is still in the business of making blunt predictions.
The Sky Sports pundit still isn’t a Marco Silva fan either, and continues to put a premium on Premier League experience. Last season, Merson, and Phil Thompson, received a lot of attention for their rant about “foreign” managers when Hull City appointed Silva.
The Portuguese manager had no previous experience in English football, and was tasked with keeping Hull in the top flight. He improved the team, and led them to a respectable six victories in 18 league games, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Hull dropping into the Championship.
Silva still impressed enough to get the Watford job, and the 40-year-old has had a pre-season to work with his new team. However, Merson only sees it ending one way.
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In a preview of the upcoming Premier League season, Merson was asked: “Will Watford thrive under Silva?”
To which he replied:
“No, they will get relegated. To have a manager who has enhanced their reputation by being relegated is remarkable. He had the chance to bring in players and didn’t achieve what he was brought in for.”
Watford finished 17th last season, and it is reasonable to predict they could drop a place this year, despite Silva’s proven ability to raise a team’s performance. However, Merson’s logic seems flawed. He reckons Watford’s two new midfielders will struggle because of their lack of Premier League experience, and he’s worried they will suffer if Troy Deeney is not be retained as captain.
Who has emerged on top of our Premier League pundits table? https://t.co/MZb083idWs
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“Will Hughes looked a decent player and he was doing well in the Championship but it is a different challenge entirely stepping up to the Premier League,” the former Arsenal midfielder said.
“I always enjoy watching Troy Deeney, he’s a proper leader on and off the field. Nathaniel Chalobah is going to face a completely different game. I could have a game for Chelsea every now and then and do alright but this is a different gear. The problem is Watford will go to grounds and get dominated… I read that they might not give Troy Deeney the captaincy and for me he’s kept the club together. If they left him out they’d really struggle and I don’t think they’ve bought well… They’ve not really bought anybody with Premier League experience, and that’s why I worry about them. They struggled last season and have no momentum so I’m going to place them 18th.”
Merson goes full “proper football man” here. Overemphasising the importance of an English player? Check. Dismissing a non-British manager? Check. Claiming players without Premier League experience will struggle? Check.
Because no footballer has ever performed well in the Premier League without previous experience of the division. It’s never happened, ever.
We reckon Merson will have plenty more to say about Silva and Watford as the season goes on.
