Kone, Asprilla, Pedro are recruitment successes but reliance on them as individuals let #watfordfc down. The January focus should be on profiles who fit the team TC wants to build (Kyprianou interests me) rather than randomly cluttering the squad with well-paid experience.

Manaj, Aroujo and co. didn't work out in the 2022/23 disasterclass but nor did EFL-ready Choudhury, Davis, Hause or Assombalonga. One successful #watfordfc signing that year? Ismael Kone, who signed in January and whose sale helped keep the lights on last summer.

If those types are available on loan, great, but they will generally be snaffled by top sides. Permanent deals bring a very real risk of #watfordfc being saddled with contracts we don't want for the next season or two - either in the Champ or after (a very unlikely) promotion.

To that end, I'm not clear who it is exactly that we're demanding. #watfordfc should be suspicious of any experienced players at this level desperate to join this month - there's a decent chance they don't improve us or are going to be paid too much money.

Tom Ince's contract extension was, perhaps with good reason, scoffed at last summer but that profile is being demanded now. Equally, the experienced Jake Livermore, Moussa Sissoko and Angelo Ogbonna haven't got #watfordfc far recently.

West Ham win 3.09-1.37 on xG and 31-8 on shots. Suspect that might be more to do with Leicester than them but would be tough on Lopetegui to be sacked after that.