RENOWNED for making his sides hard to beat, Roy Hodgson has built a reputation as a survival expert — but the 74-year-old has his work cut out to save Watford from relegation.
Hodgson has agreed to a remarkable return to management on a mission to rescue a side that sits 19th in the table, managed only two wins in 14 matches under Claudio Ranieri and has so far failed to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
Friday’s abject 3-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Norwich proved the final straw for owner Gino Pozzo and also highlighted the size of the job Hodgson has on his hands.
Watford are onto their third manager of a season that started with Xisco Munoz in charge and, unless Hodgson can turn things around, could end with them back in the Championship.
In Hodgson, Watford hope they have the perfect man to steady the ship and guide them to safety.
Their first priority must be to plug a leaky defence that has shipped 40 goals in 20 matches in the League this season.
Denne historien er fra January 25, 2022-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 25, 2022-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why are England wasting time waiting for Tuchel?
Winning the World Cup is the aim, so the new boss should start now
He's been shot, and punched by Mike Tyson, but British boxing's great survivor is back on top and aiming to rule the world
This is where the magic happens,\" reads a big neon sign scrawled across the entrance to the offices of arguably the most powerful man in British boxing today.
How Sketch went from 'obscene' to era-defining
After arocky start, the glamorous and infamous restaurant is now an institution
Money is worth less than time'
He's quit Fendi, but what will Kim Jones do next?
London's Roman Amphitheatre
Guildhall Yard, EC2V
Liberals didn't notice they'd lost relevance in the all-consuming digital sphere
There are many reasons why Donald Trump might have won the election last week.
Do we have to die?
One neuroscientist thinks the answer is no
How to have a magical Christmas in Edinburgh
From cosy cobblestone streets to abundant Yuletide goings-on, few cities rival the Scottish capital in creating Christmas whimsy.
London's best festive restaurants
The social season is upon us once more. These are the city’s most coveted Christmas venues, which need to be booked soon so as to not miss out on the tinsel and tipples.
Rag'n'Bone Man
I struggle with being recognised... I'll never really feel comfortable with it'
