Watford host Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, with just a few games to go in the season. The outlook for both teams could not be any different really, this is the end of what has been a good season for Watford, while the curtains draw on what has been a Fulham disaster.

Watford are up in 10th position, only one point away from Wolves who are up in 7th, and a top half finish is very likely with how they have been playing both recently, and during the entire season. This is a game in hand they have on the two teams directly above them in the league, and a great opportunity to pass them both.

Many expected Watford to struggle this season, and at the start they were amongst the favourites for relegation. However, a good start to the season put them up towards the top of the table and on the back of what that did for them in terms of confidence, they have not looked back since. Their position is a surprise to me, I will happily admit that, but it is exactly what they deserve with the way they have performed this season, they have not been fortunate or lucky in any way.

Fulham have had a disaster of a season back in the top flight, and one that looks sure to result in relegation back to the Championship. Although they are not officially down just yet, it is a matter of time before that is confirmed, and along with Huddersfield who are already down, and someone else, it will be back down to the second tier for the London club.

Scott Parker is currently in charge at the club, and he is the third man to do that this season. On top of that, over £100 million has been spent in an attempt to build a squad here that was supposed to not only survive in the Premier League, but actually thrive in it. They have done completely the opposite, and actually, the case can be made to say that they would have had a better chance of survival this season had they not brought any new players into the club and tried to do it with the players that brought them success last season.

I think what Fulham did wrong last summer was look at Wolves, see how far away they were from them and also what they were spending on new players, and try to match it. Things have worked brilliantly for Wolves, and they are right up in 7th position, but there was no need for Fulham to try and match that, they should have instead created their own plan and tried to deliver that.

What Will Happen With Fulham Next Season?

Perhaps the most interesting time surrounding Fulham is still yet to come. They have a large squad, one that they cannot keep, and full of players who have done nothing but disappoint this season, so what exactly are they going to do next season? That may be the task that Scott Parker has to work out, or it may be yet another manager who has to do that. Whoever gets the job on a full time basis will certainly earn their money, that is for sure.

The biggest problem they are going to have alongside the squad they will be lumbered with is the expectations that are going to be laid down by the fans of the club. Many believe their team should never have been in the Championship in the first place, and those will be expecting a swift return to the top flight, with a fleeting visit to the Championship.

That will be a lot harder than many expect it to be though. We are seeing this season, the Championship continue to get tougher and tougher, and getting out of it and up into the Premier League is no easy task.

There is a lot going off at this club, both on and off the field and over the next few months we are going to see a lot of big decisions made by the board. The best way forward in the long term would be for everyone to breathe a little, and allow next season to be a transitional season where everything is put back in order. However, how many of the fans will either want that, or allow it? My guess is not very many, which could lead to further unrest and friction between the fans and the club.

Watford vs Fulham Betting Tips

This has been a very good season for Watford, and I am very hopeful that they can finish inside the top half of the Premier League when we arrive at the end of the season. It would certainly be what they deserve, after defying the odds and being well clear of where many expected them to be, which was towards the bottom of the table.

Fulham have been living out a nightmare season, and that is about to come to an end in the worst possible way for them with relegation back to the Championship. What the future holds for them is anyone’s guess, but further unrest would not be a surprise.

Fulham are waiting for the inevitable to happen right now, and I am expecting Watford to take full control of that. Not only do I see Watford winning this game, but I also see them winning it comfortably and that is why I am backing them on the handicap line. This also adds good value to the bet, and puts Watford at a price that is simply too good to ignore.

We have a real contrast here, a team that is over achieving and looking forward to the future against a team that has massively under achieved and let their fans down, and dreading what the future is going to bring them.

In this kind of situation, there is always little or no fight left in the club who are waiting for relegation, and that is where Fulham are right now. I’m backing Watford to win this game comfortably as they look to secure what would be a fantastic top half finish this season.

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