This is a very interesting piece, lifting the lid on many things. It's quite grim reading. You have to sign up to read the article, so I've cut and pasted it below, with the link at the very end. Why Watford have collapsed under Marco Silva Everton deeply unsettled the Portuguese head coach and players asked to leave with him Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent January 13 2018, 12:01am, The Times The new year’s resolutions have been made a week late at Watford, a club needing a seasonal reboot more than most. After a dismal run of one win in nine Premier League matches, harsh words were spoken in a clear-the-air meeting this week involving staff and players to discuss the side’s dramatic slide from fourth in the table in October to tenth. Recommit, focus or face the prospect of a relegation battle was the blunt message from Marco Silva, the club’s head coach, which was relayed in no uncertain terms to the players. From the outside it looks as if Watford are having a typical season — they were seventh in December in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons before fading to finish 13th and 17th respectively — but at Vicarage Road they feel this campaign is very different. The worrying dip in form and drift down the table has started earlier, with Silva’s side having won three and drawn one of 14 Premier League games since beating Arsenal 2-1 on October 14. It is hard to argue with the view of many Watford fans regarding the cause of the slump, which they largely attribute to Silva’s extended flirtation with and persistent agitation to join Everton. The chronology makes this case compelling. Watford were sixth and had only lost to Manchester City and Chelsea when Ronald Koeman was sacked by Everton on October 23. Noises from the dressing room reaffirm this theory; several players privately concede that they sensed Silva’s lack of commitment and lost focus. Some admit to asking Silva whether he would take them to Everton with him, shattering the team spirit and unity which, along with the more attacking style of football introduced by the Portuguese, had underpinned their outstanding start to the season. Watford voiced their anger over Everton’s conduct during the five-week saga, to the point of issuing a cease and desist letter. Having been told that Watford were unwilling to negotiate over Silva’s release, the Merseysiders kept coming back with new offers of compensation that rose from £8 million to £10 million, £12 million and finally £15 million before they abandoned their pursuit and appointed Sam Allardyce. Watford were also unhappy with the behaviour of Silva’s representatives. Instead of accepting the club’s position, there were constant demands for Silva to be allowed to talk to Everton. The relationship between Silva and his employers is believed to have deteriorated and there is an expectation that he will try to leave in the summer. There is a belief among those close to the dressing room that Silva’s demand to be released from a two-year contract after nine league matches unsettled the players, and may have contributed to their lack of focus at crucial times. Watford have conceded more goals in the final 15 minutes this season, 11, than any club in the Premier League and, as a result, have dropped 16 points from winning positions, more than anyone else in the top flight. Ironically, this problem emerged in the 3-2 defeat by Everton at the start of November, during which the two clubs discussed the Silva situation at length, with the visitors throwing away a 2-0 lead. It has continued to hurt them. Crystal Palace and Swansea City both scored twice in the final minutes to beat Watford last month, leading to questions about the manager’s use of substitutes. Gray was dropped by Silva after scoring his first Watford goalMARK RUNNACLES/***** IMAGES Silva’s work on the training ground, particularly his attention to detail and tactical preparation, has been very impressive since he joined from Hull City last summer, but there are frustrations about other aspects of his methodology. There is some concern that the 40-year-old may have alienated several players because he habitually freezes out those he believes do not fit with his philosophy. Stefano Okaka, Étienne Capoue and Sebastian Pr*dl have barely played, for example, which has caused some consternation as Watford do not have a big enough squad to accommodate individuals being ostracised. The treatment of Okaka is particularly curious. He scored and played well in the first game of the season against Liverpool, but was not seen again for almost two months, despite being fully fit. Unsurprisingly, the Italian striker wants to leave, but with Troy Deeney and Andre Gray the only other forwards at the club, it is unlikely that he will be sold this month. The way in which Silva has handled Gray has also raised eyebrows. Watford’s record signing has been in and out of the side and was dropped after scoring his first goal for the club in a win against Swansea in September. The 26-year-old is a confidence player, yet Silva has made it no secret that the former Burnley striker was not his first-choice signing last summer, and that he wanted to sign Islam Slimani from Leicester City. Despite dominating many matches, Watford have been short of goals. Those who have dealt with Silva regularly throughout a short, itinerant career describe an apparent contradiction in his methodology. Despite being an outstanding coach, he is also an old fashioned cheque-book manager, who will always look to the transfer market to solve any perceived problems. Such an outlook has led to inevitable tension at Watford, whose model relies on the players being bought by the club at the recommendation of Filippo Giraldi, the technical director, and Andy Scott, the UK recruitment director, with the head coach asked to make the best of his resources. History repeating for Watford 2015-16 They were seventh on December 20 after four straight wins, but then won four more from their next 21 games. Quique Flores was sacked at the end of the season. 2016-17 Again, they were seventh in mid-December, with 21 points. They won two of their next 12 matches and Walter Mazzarri was sacked at the end of the season. 2017-18 They won four of their first eight games, only losing to Manchester City. They reached fourth temporarily, before winning three of their next 12 games. At one stage, they took one point from 18 before beating Leicester City. Silva has clearly done that with some of the players he was given to work with, particularly Richarlison and Tom Cleverley, while he has also shown himself a shrewd judge in picking the best moment to introduce new players. Will Hughes was held back to adjust to a new freer role and to improve his strength in the gym before making a positive first impression, while Marvin Zeegelaar did not make his debut until the end of November and immediately played a key role in wins over West Ham United and Newcastle United. Silva has not been helped by a lengthy injury list, with eight first-team players unavailable at present, which was also a problem for Watford last season. Although Silva is known for working the players hard, that culture stems from the top of the club, with the owners believed to want them in training every day. There has been one occasion this season on which the players have been given successive days off — after the FA Cup third-round win over Bristol City last weekend — and a gruelling regime may be taking its toll. Poor discipline is another recurring problem, with Watford’s four red cards the highest in the Premier League and their tally of 38 yellows the joint-fourth highest, leading to suggestions that Silva sends the players out too fired up before kick-off. Silva remains popular with the players, particularly in contrast with Walter Mazzarri, his uncommunicative predecessor. But they need to start performing for him, starting today at home to Southampton, who have not won for nine league matches. Having been the seventh highest spenders in the Premier League in the summer, Watford’s ambitions are to push for a place in the top ten rather than battling relegation. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/why-watford-have-collapsed-under-marco-silva-hdthc60np
