Watford opinion: Risky Ed Still appointment could unlock wingers’ potential

Most Watford supporters were open to the idea of a young, less experienced manager if it meant we would see a progressive, modern style of football implemented at Vicarage Road.

And many had come to terms with the fact the calibre of manager we would see take the reins after Javi Gracia’s departure would be the level of former Southampton manager Will Still, who was the bookies’ favourite to take over.

But in a bizarre turn of events, we have ended up with his brother, Ed Still.

The thought of Will Still as manager was somewhat underwhelming in itself, but putting the club’s play-off hopes in the hands of a 35-year-old manager with less than five years’ first-team managerial experience is a risk.

With experience almost exclusively in the Belgian Pro League, as well as a stint as his brother’s assistant at French club Lens, it is unclear what qualifies Ed Still to guide us to the Premier League.

But as with the many, many new arrivals in the dugout at Watford, we will always back the new man in charge. And will be more than happy to be proved wrong.

But it’s not all negatives.

Is the appointment a risk? Yes. Has the season begun to fizzle out, with seemingly less and less chance of a play-off spot anyway? Also, yes.

In Still’s arrival interview with the club, he told fans to expect his team to be aggressive, to be compact defensively and most importantly, to attack with pace.

So, if that means we will see the likes of Kwadwo Baah and Nestory Irankunda finally unlock their clear potential, then I am all for it.

And there will be many supporters who are happy to see interim boss Charlie Daniels deservedly get a spot in Still’s coaching set-up.

Chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury said the appointment gives the club a real chance to challenge for the play-offs this season.

But unfortunately for Duxbury, we have heard that about the last dozen or so managers who have come and inevitably gone.