Watford have an exceptional young talent in Max Alleyne this season and Javi Gracia must use him to avoid another possible dismissal at Vicarage Road.
Watford has had a hectic start to the 2025/26 season after ten games. The Hornets fired Paulo Pezzolano after five months in charge and replaced him with Javia Gracia, who has returned for his second stint.
It was a defeat for the 55-year-old in his first game back in charge since 2019 his team was defeated 1-0 of Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last weekend. The loss leaves Hertfordshire in 15th place with 12 points.
Eleven new signings arrived at Vicarage Road this summer under Pezzolano and it will be an exciting few weeks for the signings to impress their new head coach. One player who participated in the final period that Gracia should include in his starting XI this season is Max Alleyne.
Alleyne was loaned out for this season from Manchester City and has a lot of potential to become a future star. The defender was on the bench in Gracia’s first game, causing some confusion among fans due to the youngster’s positive start for the Hornets this season.
The twenty-year-old is on loan for the first time and has played in eight of the ten championship games this season. So far, the England U21 international has shown that he is a standout in the second tier this year.
Javi Gracia should play Max Alleyne
Ideally, the Hornets want to avoid another round of layoffs this season and Gracia must take action quickly if he wants to avoid the same fate as Pezzolano. Including Alleyne in the starting line-up every week is the first step towards a successful second reign at Vicarage Road.
Max Alleyne stats for Watford – via Transfer market
The young defender’s time in Manchester City’s academy is evident in his play for Watford this season. The 20-year-old is composed on the ball, and playing in the Championship hasn’t phased him in the least.
According to FotMobThe centre-back has won 76% of his matches and is averaging three tackles won per 90. If the youngster continues on the same trajectory, the Hertfordshire side could have a strong run and Alleyne could be in and around Manchester City’s first team next year.
Playoffs still possible for Watford?
Watford had just started to hit some points from before Pezzolano’s dismissal and it could be a decision that comes back to haunt them depending on how Gracia fares this season.
The championship is wide open this season and the Hornets are just five points clear of the top six despite an overall shaky start to the season.
If the new man at the helm can identify his best XI, Watford could sneak into the play-off places. With talents like Nestory Irankunda, Imran Louza, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Alleyne in the team, anything is possible.
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