Scott Parker should be considered for Watford job should Valerien Ismael go. His promotion record speaks for itself, and he has the charisma to match.
Throughout their previous 13 Championship games, the Hornets have only managed two victories.
They were two points outside the play-off spots in seventh place before this bad run of play, and now they are in 13th place.
At Vicarage Road, rumours of a potential relegation are become more and more frequent every week. In light of this, trigger-happy owner Gino Pozzo might think about replacing the manager once more—for the twelfth time in the previous four and a half years.
The Hornets boss’s new three-year deal, which was awarded to him in October, would appear especially strange in light of this decision.
But knowing Watford and the way they operate, it wouldn’t come as a shock if they gave Ismael the axe. If they do, Pozzo should look no further than Parker to replace him. Given his proven track record in the Championship and his charisma, he’d be a good fit at Watford.
Parker’s perfect Championship promotion record
Parker has two seasons of management experience in the Championship and a perfect record of leading a team out of the division.
In 2019–20, Fulham earned promotion through the play-offs, and two years later, he was promoted automatically to Bournemouth.
Parker became the interim manager of Craven Cottage in the latter part of the 2018–19 campaign.
Following their Premier League relegation in May 2019, Fulham showed their faith in Parker by offering him a full-time position. He restored their faith by repaying it.
Parker’s influence at Bournemouth was comparable when he took over at the Vitality Stadium just after leaving West London, when he gained automatic promotion to the Premier League in 2021/22.
The flawless record speaks for itself, even though he frequently had the benefit of strong squads for the level.
He would walk into Watford and find himself in a similar setting to his two previous jobs in England.
Watford had played in the Premier League for six of the seven seasons previous to this one, thus even though they are currently in the Championship, they are used to playing in the highest division.
Similarly, Fulham had played in the top tier for 13 seasons running, from 2001–02 to 2013–14, therefore they were similarly accustomed to Premier League football. After being demoted right away after being promoted once more in 2017–18, Parker took over and guided the team back to their sense of identity.
Comparably, Bournemouth participated in the Premier League for five straight seasons from 2015–16 to 2019–20. losing in the 2021 play-offs and then being fired by Jonathan Woodgate after a string of bad performances at the beginning of the next season. When Parker first arrived, he immediately got them promoted.
Watford want a return to the Premier League
The goal at Watford will be the same as it is at Fulham and Bournemouth: to be promoted as soon as possible.
The Hornets continue to operate with the belief that they belong in the Premier League and ought to play there.
They don’t have a divine right, of course. They will miss it, though, having enjoyed so many years in the top division and benefiting from it both on and off the ground.
Parker will have financial support because the club will still be profitable due to the money they will have received from Premier League TV rights.
They must reinvest the £43 million they received from Brighton and Marseille for João Pedro and Ismaïla Sarr last summer.
This summer, they might get another sizable payment for Yaser Asprilla. The Colombian has lately been connected to a lucrative transfer to Barcelona.
Parker is the finest person to put this money back into a team that can get promoted. He has experience doing that, and he can do it at Watford.
Parker’s charming charisma fits the bill at Watford
In addition to securing Fulham and Bournemouth’s promotions, Parker laid the groundwork for their success in the Premier League.
His sides should play with great energy, play good football, and develop from the back.
Nowadays, it’s considered the cool way to play, and Pozzo at Watford won’t be an exception.
It all begins when players appreciate Parker as a person rather than merely when they buy into his style of play.
Parker is a likeable person off the pitch, and he undoubtedly carries it over to the practice pitch. When he does, he effectively disseminates his thoughts.
In the Premier League, Watford established a reputation for being challenging to play against. Goal-scoring players like Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo frequently used a strict 4-4-2 formation that relied on being direct and compact off the ball.
Owners no longer want managers to operate in such manner. They prefer playing from the back and open, expansive football.
Watford will undoubtedly want to modify, much like how Sean Dyche’s Burnley identity was altered when Vincent Kompany joined the team.
Parker is the ideal candidate to take Ismael’s job should he be fired because he meets that specific criteria.
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