Mutch to do still for ‘Orns loanees

Why the Hornet’s loanees are so important and how will Watford replace Andrew Taylor and Jordon Mutch?

In three days time Watford will lose the services of loan duo Andrew Taylor and Jordon Mutch, back to parent clubs Middlesbrough and Birmingham City.

With both out of contract Malky Mackay has as yet been unable to secure extensions to the players loans after making positive impacts at Vicarage Road since the beginning of the season.

Middlesbrough have since said they will require a greater percentage wage contribution from the Hornet’s to allow Taylor to return to the Vic’ on loan whilst Brum gaffer Alex McLeish has Mutch will need to a sign a new deal with the Midlands outfit before going out on on loan again.

When Jordon Mutch arrived on an initial one-month loan I was surprised. I didn’t see what he would add to midfield and the fact that we had just signed Josh Walker to play in the centre of midfield made the move all the more baffling.

However, after witnessing Mutch’s ever-improving midfield displays and the chemistry between Mutch and skipper Eustace has proven the 19 year-old to be an integral part of the Hornet’s Play Off charge.

Left-back meanwhile has been a problem position for the Hornet’s since frankly, Autumn 2003 when Paul Robinson was sold to WBA for a paltry 350k. Plenty have tried – Jack Smith, Wayne Brown, Jermaine Darlington, Paul Mayo, Jordan Stewart, Mat Sadler and Lloyd Doyley, with only the latter coming close to replacing Robbo.

Taylor however has been an excellent addition and one I was surprised we managed. One-time highly rated, Taylor has a number of England U21 caps and Premier League appearances to his name and at a former Premier League club is doubtless on a reasonably pretty penny. Out of our league you might say…

There are ready-made replacements for Taylor and Mutch waiting on the bench in Josh Walker and Lee Hodson however if Mutch and Taylor cannot be lured back to Hertfordshire we are left with two problems.

Firstly, the continuity of a winning eleven is disturbed. Lloyd Doyley has to shuffle over to left back and the rusty Josh Walker and Lee Hodson have to bed themselves back into a winning team; easier than coming into a losing team but not an ideal situation.

Furthermore it’s two players less to carry on an extremely thin first-team roster.

Whilst last season we were carrying large numbers making little or no input, this season everyone in Malky’s much-more sleek-looking squad has a part to play and with the average age of the bench being just 20 of late, Mutch and Taylor are critical to keep.

With seven players out on loan ourselves the squad will be extremely thin with Taylor and Mutch, we’d be left with just 19 professional’s on the books, four of which – McGinn, Bryan, Hodson and Deeney are all injured to varying degrees.

So, if Malky is unable to get Mutch and/or Taylor back on loan for the remainder of the campaign, what do we do?

VITAL WATFORD: BY THE FANS FOR THE FANS! — GET INVOLVED!

> Do we direct replacements on loan?

> Do we sign some free/cheap replacements?

> Do we just manage with those who remain?

> Do we (God forbid), re-call untried kids or even Jure Travner?!

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