Scott Severin (free, Aberdeen),
Danny Graham (free, Carlisle United),
Jure Travner (undisclosed, CMC Publikum Celje)

There never seems to be much of an in between with Watford, they are either fighting for promotion or battling to stay up, last season it was the later although the season ended with plenty of positives.

They actually started the season well under Aidy Boothroyd with just one defeat in August coming at Nottingham Forest. Things quickly went wrong though and with just one win in September they found themselves sliding down the table.

A home defeat to Blackpool proved to be the end for Boothyroyd who was replaced after a few weeks by Brenden Rodgers, an unknown from Chelsea reserves but it turned out to be a wise move.

Watford began to pick up a few results and with a very young side they were soon picking up enough wins to move them away from trouble. They still suffered the odd hiccup including a 4-0 hiding at Reading but they ended the season in good form and finished well clear of trouble in 13th place.

If Brenden Rodgers had stayed this may well have been a different prediction from yours truly.

They looked a decent side towards the back end of last season but the loss of the manager could signal trouble for Watford.

They've gone for Malky Mackay to replace him who has been a good player for them over the years but it's unclear how he will do as a manager. They still have quality in the squad with Jay De Meritt and Tommy Smith but how long they can keep hold of them remains to be seen.

Danny Graham should be a good signing for them up front but looking at their squad they do look a little weak and in what could be a tough division I fear for them this year.

If they keep Tommy Smith they should stay up but if, as many expect, they lose him then they have a tough season ahead.

PREDICTION: 22nd in the Championship

Rangers and Watford have shared many players in recent years. After our relegation in 2001 to Division two we almost became a Watford cast off eleven. The Watford cast offs included Chris Day, Steve Palmer and Alex Bonnot.

Day was a quality keeper for us and made two of the best saves I’ve veer seen. One was at Wrexham and was Gordon banks 1970 World cup good and the other was in the final minute of the playoff semi final in 2003 when Fitz hall looked certain to score and Day made an outrageous save to send us to Cardiff .

Steve Palmer was Rangers captain after his move to Loftus Road and was an excellent player for both Rangers and Watford always giving his best and a model professional both on and off the pitch.

Clarke Carlisle had a spell at Watford in recent years after his years at QPR and he teamed up with Dan Shittu at both clubs. Shittu left QPR to join Watford’s premiership side in 2006 and he did well for them during his two years at Vicarage Road before his recent move to Bolton .

Another famous player to play for both clubs is David Bardsley. The bard was a quality right back for Watford in the mid 1980’s and moved to QPR in 1989 and is regarded as the second best right back to ever play for Queens Park Rangers

Rangers have faced Watford several times since this web site started and results haven't gone our way that often.

In the 1998/99 season legend has it that Vinnie Jones decided to motivate the players before the game at Watford by trying to have a fight with Mike Sheron. It didn’t work and Watford beat us 2-1 at Vicarage Road as Ray Harford's dire managerial spell came to an end. Steve Slade scored for Rangers as the fans sang for Gerry Francis.

Francis was in charge when the two sides met again but the result was the same with Gavin Peacock scoring for Rangers but Watford were too strong and were eventually promoted.

We met again in the 2000/01 season and things hardly got better. Watford murdered us 3-1 early in the season as fans began to fear relegation.

By the time we met again we had another new manager with Ian Holloway now in charge. This was Holloway’s second game in charge and he swapped things around to play a 4-4-2. It was a good performance by the team which showed plenty of heart and we got a 1-1 draw out of it.

In 2004 we travelled to Vicarage Road for our first away game of the season and the Sky cameras were there to record it. Once again we were rubbish and Watford thrashed us 3-0 with Rangers lucky to get nil.

The return game was a very different affair. Rangers dominated from the start, Kevin Gallen missed a penalty but with Rowlands impressing in central midfield we eventually ran away with as Furlong opened the scoring before Gallen added two more either side of half time.

In 2005/06 season Watford did the double on us. They thrashed us 3-1 in the away game and the game back at Loftus Road saw Georges Santos sign off his QPR career with a comedy own goal.

2007/08 was better for Rangers. Stefan Moore scored in a much needed 1-1 draw at Loftus Road and the return game was a stormer as we thrashed them 4-2 with goals from Stewart, Buzsaky and two from Rowlands.

Last season Watford thrashed us 3-0 at Vicarage Road with a pathetic display from Rangers. The return game was a dire 0-0 draw.

Click on the match for a report of the game from this web site.