'We want a Watford way of playing and I want to be the person to create that'
The long-term vision is for there to be an agreed Watford way of playing with players recruited to suit that – and Tom Cleverley wants to be the man to create it.
The head coach has received backing from both owner Gino Pozzo and sporting director Gian Luca Nani in the last week, and Cleverley has said he has always had tremendous support from chairman Scott Duxbury.
However, when he gave his exclusive interview to The Watford Observer this week, Nani said that changes in team shape and how the Hornets want to play have made the transfer window trickier.
“He’s right in a certain sense that we look liked playing with wingers was going to be a direction for us because of how well Baah and Vata were playing,” Cleverley conceded.
“Their best positions are in wider areas.
“Then Baah gets a lengthy injury and you saw a little bit of uncertainty again.
“So the long-term vision would be to have a Watford way of playing and I want to be the person to create and drive that, and then you can recruit towards that way of playing.
“We’re in a moment here where we need players that are ready and as much quality as we can get.
“I’m an adaptable coach, and I will adapt around that.”
Having experienced his first summer transfer window last year, Cleverley is now working through his first winter equivalent.
“Both windows are really tough and it’s not for the want of hard work and trying,” he said.
“Gian Luca is genuinely here until midnight some nights.
“We don’t have the financial power that some other clubs in this division and the clubs in the league above certainly do.
“So we have to be creative and we have to wait.
“Sometimes we have to go after target C or D rather than A or B because they’ve gone somewhere else, they don’t want to leave their parent club or whatever.
“We are trying hard but both windows have been tough.”
While the summer window was an eye-opener for Cleverley, he’s had his gaze fixed more firmly on matches and coaching this time.
“This one I’ve not taken my off the ball. I’m disappointed results haven’t mirrored the focus I have maintained on the team,” he explained.
“I have left transfers more to Gian Luca and his scouts, and then I have input: ‘yes I like that player, no I don’t like that player’.
“We always collaborate but because we’ve had a real busy fixture schedule I haven’t been as involved this window.
“So I’ve not had my eyes opened too much this time to be honest.”
