Analysis: Paderborn 0 Watford 2

In complete contrast to the hotel arrangements, match schedule and mad dash for the flight home, Watford were a model of organisation in their final pre-season game of their tour of Germany as they produced a classic continental performance to collect a morale-boosting win over SC Paderborn.

Yes, wins in friendly matches should be treated with a degree of caution and you will find no-one from the coaching staff getting carried away but this was an afternoon when you saw the first signs of the Quique Flores Sanchez blueprint. Organised and well drilled in defence, compact and combative in midfield and always a danger on the counter attack, the Hornets scored a goal in each half through Matej Vydra and Odion Ighalo to puncture the mood of the home fans excited about the prospects of their team bouncing back to the Bundesliga at the first attempt.

In suffocating the home side’s attack and taking their chances with ruthless efficiency, Watford succeeded where Bolton failed miserably last week (the Trotters lost 4-1) and, more significantly, where Everton tripped up at the same stage of their summer tour last year. It was just a shame the ultra-organised Sanchez Flores was not in charge of the match schedule and the choice of training base as then they might not have had to cancel a game and spend half the week fighting over the use the pitch and gym with Beskitas.

The trip ended somewhat fittingly in chaos, with the players hurriedly boarding the bus eating their post-match meal in a polystyrene kebab-style carton as they cut it incredibly fine to catch their chartered flight from Paderborn to Luton. At one stage, the flight was scheduled to take off in 25 minutes (the airport was 15 minutes away from the Benteler-Arena) yet Almen Abdi was still talking to friends in the upper tier of the stand and the dressing room had not yet emptied. The players were subsequently whisked through the posse of travelling fans waiting for autographs and selfies. Some, with justification, were angry, particularly those who had seen the Eintracht Braunschweig cancelled at the 11th hour. Sanchez Flores did not even have time to share his thoughts on the match with the media.

It was a shame as he had plenty of reasons to shout about aspects of the performance. He could, had he wished to, waxed lyrical about Etienne Capoue’s athletic and commanding midfield performance in midfield. Instead, it was left to Nick Proschwitz, the ex Hull striker now at Paderborn. “He looks a very smart signing,” said Proschwitz who had a first-half goal disallowed. “He’s very good and has got good power and energy.”

Significantly, Capoue was handed the armband when Deeney departed in the second half, a sign of the Frenchman’s growing stature in the squad. Sebastian Prodl could easily have inherited the captain’s role as he was a real leader at the heart of the defence, making a series of timely interceptions and important headers at both ends of the field. He is a good, vocal organiser and dovetailed well with the assured Craig Cathcart.

The 90 minutes Allan Nyom played will stand him in good stead, although Sanchez Flores will want to sit down and analyse the game with the incoming full-back from Udinese. The head coach, a right-back of some pedigree during his playing days, pointed out to Nyom on more than one occasion about failing to spot the opponent on his shoulder.

Jose Holebas, on the other side, had a steady game and was helped, particularly in the first half, by the defensive diligence of Ben Watson. Watson was surprisingly stationed on the left of the advanced midfield three but tucked in more than he overlapped. Valon Behrami was a spiky presence in midfield and become embroiled in a running battle with the Paderborn number ten. Both players were booked and it was probably a wise move when the Swiss midfielder was substituted around the hour mark. The head coach will not mind his aggression but several of the free-kicks he conceded in dangerous positions could cost Watford much dearer in the Premier League. Almen Abdi was neat and tidy, as always.

In attack, Vydra buzzed neatly around Deeney and his clinically taken goal had fans drawing comparisons with his prolific start to the 2012/13 season when he never looked like missing. The telepathy he showed with Deeney, who threaded a delicious pass through for the Czech, can only be achieved by players who have spent two of the last three seasons terrorising Championship defences. Vydra looks to be competing with Ighalo for that spot behind Deeney on the opening day and the Nigerian is making it impossible for the head coach to leave him out at Goodison Park. He made it six in four pre-season games and now has 23 in his last 24 games for the club. He can do no wrong.

Anya was the pick of the raft of second-half substitutes, creating the goal for Ighalo, and looks much more comfortable going forward than he does going the other way. Rene Gilmartin had to be alert for the final 13 minutes after replacing Giedrius Arlauskis who looked assured and composed throughout. Heurelho Gomes was given the afternoon off but he is certain to start at Everton on August 8.

All in all it was an encouraging afternoon, although the team still looks like it could do with three more players of the quality of Capoue. The head coach, in concert with Gino Pozzo, will be working on it. You can bet on that.

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