The Watford Courier
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
No sign of nerves from Othmane Maamma at 20 — 8.07
The hardest thing about being 20 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Othmane Maamma did not need any: 8.07, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Egil Selvik falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Market24 Aug 2026
Eyes on Kévin Keben again
The phone has started ringing about Kévin Keben again, and this time the name on the line is Walsall. Watford are listening politely and promising nothing.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
Kwadwo Baah runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 18. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Mattie Pollock gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Watford
Daniel Bachmann was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Match22 Aug 2026
Watford share the spoils with Wrexham
A 1‑1 draw with Wrexham leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Nampalys Mendy dropped after a run of poor form
The one version of being left out a player cannot argue with, and the one he takes worst. Somebody else has been better and the team sheet says so, in public, every week until it changes.
Market24 Aug 2026
Wim Vanmarsenille joins Watford to strengthen the squad
Nobody sells a season ticket on a signing like this. Every manager who has been through a bad October wants one anyway, and Watford have gone and got theirs early.
In brief
- Player ratings Nestory Irankunda changes it off the bench
- Market The Rocco Vata question follows Watford around
- Market Watford bring in Jack Hinshelwood on loan