Upon the conclusion of the 2020/21 season, the only left-back under contract at Watford was Adam Masina. The Moroccan international performed well and was a contender to be in the Championship Team of the Year. However, the Hornets know, as is the case with most positions, depth and starting competition are needed to maintain their Premier League status. As a result, they secured the signature of former Tottenham Hotspur star Danny Rose, and the club were extremely shrewd in doing so.
Why Watford’s Danny Rose Signature is Perfect for Both Parties
Experienced Defender
The majority of Rose’s career has been at Tottenham, making his Premier League debut with a wonder-goal against Arsenal in 2010. The former Leeds United youth player had multiple spells on loan before breaking into the first-team White Hart Lane. His first loan move after joining Tottenham was, in fact, to Watford in 2007. Managed by Brendan Rodgers at the time, Rose only made seven appearances for the Hornets, scoring an own-goal against Norwich City. He also had lower-league loans to Peterborough United and Bristol City.
After starting to break into the Spurs’ first team at the end of the 2011/12 season, he earned a Premier League loan to Sunderland. Following a 29-appearance season, Rose finally nailed down the starting berth in the 2013/14 campaign.
The 30-year-old went on to win spots in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 PFA Premier League Team of the Seasons. However, he sustained a long-lasting injury in the second portion of the 2016/17 season, which saw him on the sidelines for most of the subsequent campaign as well. However, he bounced back the following season, playing a pivotal role in Tottenham’s run to the Champions League final.
Rose’s fortunes dramatically changed once Jose Mourinho arrived. He played 16 matches for Spurs in the 2019/20 season before moving on loan to Newcastle United. The player and manager’s falling out saw Rose stripped of a squad number for the 2020/21 campaign.
Watford Provides Danny Rose Ideal Bounce-Back Opportunity
Following the 30-year-old’s career stalling thanks to his turbulent relationship with Mourinho, a move to Vicarage Road is exactly what Danny Rose needs. A perfect example for the left-back to follow is Luke Shaw at Manchester United. When managed by Mourinho, many believed Shaw had an attitude problem and it was his fault for poor performances. As soon as Mourinho was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – a much-less disciplinarian type of manager – Shaw flourished.
Rose is going from the strict reign of Mourinho to a squad managed by Xisco Munoz, whose man-management skills and positive attitude played a pivotal role in Watford’s promotion.
Considering Rose’s return to stardom in 2018/19 after a year-and-a-half on the sideline, he clearly has a resilient mentality.
Hornets Have Made a Smart Gamble on a Potential Starter
Whether Masina or Rose will start the Hornets’ opening match against Aston Villa remains to be seen. The latter’s fitness will need to be assessed as he has not played first-team minutes for over a year.
Nonetheless, Rose’s talents are well-documented. He was once considered one of the best, if not the best, left-back in England. His footballing intelligence and knowledge of when to make attacking runs and smart deliveries fit the type of wide-attacking football Xisco wants to see from his players perfectly. Masina is a more defensively-minded left-back, whereas Rose will provide much more going forward.
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