Watford’s injury-hit squad struggled to get going as Stoke City left Vicarage Road with a deserved 2-1 win.

Jon, Kieran and DCW pick through a disjointed performance, the growing injury list and a midfield stretched almost to breaking point. There’s also discussion about which of Watford’s attacking options can make a position their own, whether the international break will really solve anything, and the difficult hand Alessio Dionisi has been dealt.

And after watching Stoke comfortably come out on top, is there an uncomfortable question to ask: is this simply where Watford are now?

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Watford came from behind to beat Preston North End 2-1 at Vicarage Road – but it took a dramatic half-time intervention to turn a pretty grim evening around.

Jon, Jason and Sam are joined by The Brigadier Colin Mace to look back at a game of two very different halves. We discuss the triple substitution that changed everything, the growing influence of Iker Bravo, whether Mamadou Doumbia should now be Watford’s first-choice striker and why Mattie Pollock might just be the most important player in this young side.

Plus, there’s more on Egil Selvik’s replacement in goal, the new arrivals, Alessio Dionisi ’s big decisions and whether Watford should head into Saturday’s game against Stoke with a little more confidence.

This is our take on life as a Watford fan.

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Watford left the heights of The Hawthorns empty-handed after another tight game was decided by a costly mistake.

Mike, Jordi and Sam look back at the 1-0 defeat to West Brom and ask why the pieces of this Watford side aren't quite fitting together yet.

There's Albert Eames' difficult first league start, a defence still searching for cohesion and the continuing problem at the other end of the pitch: where are the goals going to come from?

Plus, encouraging debuts for Stephy Mavididi and Soumaïla Coulibaly, the increasingly concerning lack of options at full-back, and the rather telling sight of Edo Kayembe finishing the game at left-back.

Five league games in, there's plenty to like about individual players. Now Watford need to turn those promising parts into a team.

COME ON YOU ORNS

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The transfer window is finally shut — so what do we make of Watford’s new-look squad?

Mike, Charlie and Sam are joined by Watford Observer correspondent Adam Drury to pick through a frantic end to the window, the late arrivals and the calculated gambles Watford have made.

There’s also the small matter of a difficult night at Swansea. What went wrong, how important is Edoardo Bové to the way Alessio Dionisi wants Watford to play, and were there still positives to take from defeat?

With the squad finally assembled, attention can now turn to the football. Has Dionisi got enough to work with — and should Watford fans feel more optimistic about the season ahead?

This is From The Rookery End - COME ON YOU ORNS

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Watford remain unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with newly relegated West Ham — but should the Hornets have grabbed all three points?

Jon, Jason, Charlie and DCW look back at a sold-out afternoon at Vicarage Road, from a superb Amin Nabizada finish to Kevin Keben’s choices that ended in an extraordinary own goal, and discuss the growing signs that Alessio Dionisi is building a team with a clear identity.

With the transfer window about to close, attention then turns to what Watford still desperately need. Are reinforcements finally on the way? Myron Boadu, Michail Antonio, Jamal Lascelles and a possible Adam Masina return are all on the agenda.

Unbeaten, improving… but still unfinished.

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This is From The Rookery End

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A 5-1 defeat at Peterborough was painful enough, but the result only tells part of the story.

Mike is joined by Watford Observer's Adam Drury to pick through a night that exposed just how thin Watford's squad has become.

How have Watford reached this point? What does it tell us about the club's recruitment and financial strategy? And with the transfer deadline approaching, can the gaps be filled before they cause even more damage?

Plus, Mike and Adam discuss the young players thrown into an incredibly difficult situation, the senior players who should have done more to help them, the continuing search for a striker and what could happen in the final days of the window.

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Watford followed up victory over Southampton with a hard-earned point at Wrexham – and four points from the opening two games feels a long way from where many of us feared we might be.

Jon is joined by Kieran, Jordi and Adam Drury to pick through the 1-1 draw at the Racecourse Ground. They discuss another impressive performance from Iker Bravo, whether Luca Kjerrumgaard can build on his first goal of the season, Albert Eames stepping into an increasingly stretched defence and a Watford side that suddenly looks like it's playing for each other.

There's also the changing mood among supporters and why Alessio Dionisi appears to be winning people over so quickly.

But with the squad being pushed to its limits and the transfer window entering its final days, can Watford keep this going without reinforcements?

Plus, a look ahead to what could be a very different Watford XI against Peterborough in the Carabao Cup.

This is The Weekend Debrief.

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The Warm Up is here – our new midweek podcast, getting you ready for the Watford weekend.

Jon is joined by Adam Drury from the Watford Observer to look back at an encouraging start under Alessio Dionisi and ahead to Saturday's trip to Wrexham. Is something genuinely beginning to change at Watford? What has Dionisi done to give this team a different feel, where does the squad still look short, and can they back up the intensity of the Southampton performance away from home?

Then it's time for the inaugural (Martin) Taylor Invitational Challenge.

Mike, Charlie and DCW take on Jon's new Watford quiz, featuring current Hornets, trips into the club's past, classic commentary, a race against the clock and the frankly prestigious Going for GoldEN.

Play along and see if you can beat their score.

The Warm Up – in your ears via From The Rookery End and on your screens on WD18.

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Watford are up and running — and in some style.

A 2-1 win over Southampton gave Vicarage Road the sort of afternoon that has been in short supply recently, with two young players finding the net, a captain leading from the front and plenty of early signs of what Alessio Dionisi wants from his team.

Mike is joined by Jason, Charlie and DCW to look back at the win and ask how much we should read into it. Is a new Watford starting to take shape? Can this young squad thrive as the underdog? And, despite all the good feeling, where are the weaknesses that still need addressing before the transfer window closes?

There’s also a fitting tribute to Kenny Jackett, thoughts on Michael Antonio, the latest on Imran Louza and plenty of love for a rather unexpected group of Watford heroes.

In your ears via From The Rookery End and on your screens on WD18.

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