Plenty of depth for Watford at long last

The Hornet’s squad has more options that it’s had in a long, long time, but where do they all fit in?

For the first time in years Watford have senior options throughout the first-team squad. Thanks largely to the return of the five-substitute bench and Sean Dyche`s busy summer shopping spree which saw 10 new faces at Vicarage Road, it`s a fight for the first-team players to even make the match day squad.

With Chris Iwelumo returning from injury following the international break, Dyche even has the luxury of six strikers (if you include Gavin Massey) to choose from.

In the event it looks like Massey will be sent out on loan now, which has to be better for his development than kicking his heels now we have no reserve team.

Troy Deeney has never really cut it up front for the ‘Orns in what has been quite a limited number of opportunities, but out wide his hard-work and endeavour look to have secured him a new role in the squad.

Marvin Sordell will surely start up front with Andi Weimann who looked impressive on his second Hornet`s debut against Birmingham nearly a fortnight ago.

All that leaves new-boy Joe Garner looking at a place on the bench alongside the returning Iwelumo who will surely be looking to prove himself after a slow start in Watford colours.

We then move onto the centre of midfielder where John Eustace and Jonathan Hogg immediately look like the established pairing.

Ross Jenkins is surely the obvious understudy to the skipper which leaves Prince Buaben as (hopefully one of two) midfielder`s on the bench.

Once Stephen McGinn comes back in the New Year, one fears for Buaben`s place as McGinn is the direct rival for his place and if Buaben`s fitness isn`t sorted soon then he`s losing the march on McGinn for a first team place.

In terms of the bench, I`d like to see Dyche being more adventurous with his selections. Where has Matty Whichelow been so far this season? I was aware of an injury problem early in the campaign but as far as I`m away he`s sorted now, so get him involved. He`s one of the few attacking threats we have who can change games and always worth a place on the bench.

Therefore I`d like to see a bench that looks something like this: Gilmartin; Mirfin/Bennett/Hodson, Whichelow, Buaben, Iwelumo/Deeney & Garner.

In an ideal world we maybe wouldn`t bother with a ‘keeper as it`s so rare they get injured or sent-off but that`s an incredibly risky game of brinkmanship.

Reading have hardly set the world alight so far this season so let`s hopefully enjoy the a Watford win for the first time this season and put utilise those options to good effect!