Two new players already signed, the likelihood of a couple of loanees coming back again and a commitment from the owner to keep the club’s best players.
Sprinkle in a few more signings in key positions, and what will Watford have for the 25/26 campaign?
“There is a lot of potential in this squad,” said Mattie Pollock, in the third and final part of his exclusive Watford Observer interview (to read part one click here, while you can access part two by clicking here).
“Speaking from experience, when you’ve personally had a bit of a break-through season - so the likes of KB, Rocco - then the next season is the one where it really hits you.
“We have some incredible potential in there, and if that develops and people stay then if you aren’t pushing for promotion you know something is wrong.
“And for me, even more so if you add some players into the squad.
“It takes a season to find your feet, and we had a few lads doing that. Now they’re a season wiser.
“When I see these lads in training and in games, I know they’re good lads who will be better for the experience of last season and will kick on next season.”
It was only about 18 months ago that Pollock came close to leaving Watford.
During the January 2024 transfer window, the defender was lined up for a move to Europe – one he is very pleased collapsed.
“I’ve said all along, Watford gave me a chance at a tough point in my career when I’d just been relegated with Grimsby," he said.
“I was injured and I hadn’t had the best of years, and Watford took a chance on me.
“As a footballer, you need to play games and for a time at Watford I didn’t feel I was really given a chance.
“My plan was always to stay on, and go out on loan if I had to rather than leave permanently.
“I let myself down in that one game at Millwall, and I wanted to prove to myself and the fans that I could do it and what I was all about.
“It wasn’t just about me wanting to play, I wanted to give something back to the club.
“I’ve been here four years, I love the club, the fans and the area. I needed to prove myself.
“So the fact I’m still here and I’ve captained the club a couple of times means I’m buzzing.
“Football works in funny ways: one day in January 2024 I was almost going to Belgium, that fell through and I got the chance to stay and show everyone what I can do.”
Having had that infamous game at Millwall brought up, it seemed a fair point at which to discuss Pollock’s full debut in east London on October 19, 2022.
Brought into the team by Slaven Bilic due to injuries, Pollock was at fault for Millwall’s first goal and the home side raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time.
Watford played so badly in that opening 45 minutes, some fans headed back to the station early to avoid further punishment.
Pollock endured the full 90 minutes but then wasn’t named in the Watford starting XI again until a 0-0 draw away at Sheffield Wednesday on January 31, 2024.
He had a spell on loan at Aberdeen in between, and now – with his best Watford campaign to date in his locker – has that night at The Den been erased?
“I don’t think it’ll ever be totally out of my head, and it’s something I use to motivate and inspire me,” he said.
“That was the biggest learning curve of my life, that night.
“If anyone ever asks me about where I learn the most, that was the one – and it wasn’t just on the pitch it was off it as well.
“It’s probably the biggest single setback I’ve ever had.
“It drives me on, and it’s handy having it there in the back of my head.
“That game was the first time most Watford fans had seen me play and having it in the back of my mind motivates me to make sure every future performance is much better.”
There are only 67 days until the 25/26 season kicks off, and with Charlton Athletic having secured the final place with their Play-Off Final win, the full composition of the Championship is now known.
“There is a lot of money coming up out of League One, and three very good teams coming down,” Pollock pointed out.
“But in the same breath, when we got relegated we were seen as a big team and that meant nothing.
“Watford is a big club and is one that has to be pushing for promotion – and I know we say that every year but it’s true.
“We spent a lot of time in and around the top six last season, and we were there or thereabouts for about eight months.
“Coming down and going straight back up isn’t easy at all.
“We just have to make sure we do everything right and to the best of our abilities, and I’m sure the new manager and his staff will be planning for us to be up there and having a push.
“There’s wealthy teams coming up and players with big names coming down, but we have been in the Premier League only a few years ago and that shows we can do it.”
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