Why Watford Have Collapsed Under Marco Silva

Matt Hughes is The Times sport section today writes very informatively about the behind the scenes issues at our club. That's the headline above.

Dynamite stuff for the happy clappers.

He's clearly got good sources at this club.

I could not understand why the out of favour Jose Holebas would've signed a new contract if he thought he was not going to play. Has he or his agent been told Marco is history for next season or even sooner?

I will try to include the article here..but hey, buy a copy or subscribe for yourself. It's good work.


"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

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.

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."

 

Not judging the entire article on one "fact" but:

I thought Proedl's "absence" was due to injury rehabilitation?

 

Interesting stuff. Bit contradictory in that the majority of the article suggests he's lost the dressing room only for the last paragraph to say he is still popular with the players.

But interesting none the less.

SILVA OUT!!!

 

The problems also come when you've lost the boardroom. Or snubbed them.

 

Very interesting.


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He's a nutbag. Just because he's got an expensive watch it doesn't make him yoda.

 

Interesting, though quite a lot of it could just as well have been cobbled together from comments made on this forum.

 

Gino should have got rid after Everton away.

Players were asking to go with him? Sounds like more went on inside the camp than many of us feared. He's got his work cut out now to get the squad's attitudes and commitment back on track.

Another late collapse today, and surely he's got to go.

 

He's a gonner. Amazing how he's managed to self-destruct so spectacularly. Unfortunately though whenever he does go it'll be Watford who will attract the ire and exaggerations of the national media while he'll walk away basically unscathed. No doubt seen as a survivor of a basket case club.

 

I reckon we have a few more journalists on our side this time. Well we have 2.

 

Unfortunately the lazy ones are the loudest. "Silva leaves as Watford move on to 97th manager in the last 3 months" or whatever makes much better reading.

 

Fair point. I reckon he'll have Times up as the headline when he goes. One last picture of his wrist for the endorsement contract on his watch!

 

A decent article and no real surprises. Silva unhappy not allowed to speak to Everton, unhappy seemingly nothing moving on the transfer front and players unsettled. Only good news is seemingly there has been a clear the air meeting.... hope this is reflected on the performance today and the result

 

I'm slightly sceptical of the article. Which players wanted to go with him? If any did why do they want to leave? Why have less faith in the club when we were riding high than in Silva?

For the most part our team has been well set up and played well. Early in the season we won by narrow margins. Injuries, fitness, mistakes and poor game management have whittled that margin away. The club and Silva have a chance to reboot now, but does it help that the club have awarded a new contract to an ageing player that feigned injury and cost us points? The coach seems to wish to distance himself from it.

 

Sounds like an opinion piece from someone who is pretending to have 'sources'.

That being said, silva IS a wretched individual.

 

Great read. I can see the positive side of the story. Silva' just been a little unlucky lately as regards late goals. We have the same players who started so well, barring injuries, so we shouldn't end up fighting relegation.

 

Maybe because they (like most of the pundits and football fans across the world) believed that they were doing well because of Silva; if he was leaving, they wanted to be with him and ride that wave.

I'm not sure how much of this is true and I'm not gonna critique the stuff in this piece cos I can't be bothered. That said, with what's been going on recently with Giraldi's and Silva's comments, it seems the club are not willing to fully back him in this transfer window because they know he's going in the summer and see it as a pointless task to get new players in on his say-so when the next head coach might not like them.

There's arrogance from both sides here. Silva is an egotistical man, we've all clearly seen that with the Everton debacle and his game management. The board are also being arrogant because we definitely need to bolster our squad with a couple of signings and we're not doing that at the moment, instead putting out voices that our squad is fine as it is to stay up. All I want is some semblance of organisation going on behind the scenes with regards to the working relationship between Silva and the board, and Silva and his players, because if we keep on going the way we are it will end in disaster (especially looking at our current form).

Of course, we do have a load of injured players and when those key players come back, they'll be like new signings and they should (hopefully) help to keep us up. Silva will then leave and another head coach will be gracing our doorstep. Yay.

On a side note, obviously we all know the story about Sporting Club Portugal sacking him because he didn't wear the club tracksuit for a game. No board is actually going to do that, especially 4 days after he won them their first major trophy in a few years. I wonder what went on behind the scenes there and whether it's similar to what's happening here.

 

Interesting article, yet a lot of it is without proof:

“Several players privately concede they sensed Silva’s lack of commitment and lost focus”

Which players? Privately conceded to who? To me that’s stating an opinion as fact, it may well be true of course, but without naming specific players or sources it’s prettty meaningless.

 

But when do journalists ever name sources who speak to them off the record?

 

The only good thing is the apparent clear the air talks. We all know he'll be gone at the end of the season but at least he might try for the rest of the season now. Saying that, they might not be signing anyone because they want to give him the shove if we lose today.

 

I'm not a detective but I'm guessing the sources name begins with a T and ends with a roy Deeney

 

I am sure Silva will be gone in the summer. I think his desire to speak to Everton and jump ship after 9 games has infuriated the owners and the board. I don't think it's any surprise we have not made any signings yet, I don't think the club want to spend money on players who may not suit the next manager.

I was excited by the appointment, delighted with our start to the season and the way we were playing. But even from the start Silva was moaning - moaning we didn't sign all the players he wanted, moaning that we loaned amrabat. This was all brushed aside because we were doing so well. One thing that has always bothered me is his press conferences. He is a mini mourinho - dour, surly and just like it's an inconvenience for him.

From the Everton saga onwards its got worse. Performances have been poor, discipline poor, again he moans and shifts attention to the board about needing signings and how he has told them what he wants. He's just come out with the "holebas contract was a club decision" e.g. I wouldn't of given him a contract.

I think the clubs master plan has changed again and this season will be about survival. Next season will be about pushing for a comfortable 55pts top 8 position. Purely as a result of Silva and his lack of commitment - some outsiders will say we deserve it, what can we expect given our record with managers etc. There's no loyalty in football, and so on and so forth. But no one else came calling for him better than us in the summer. We took a calculated risk on him. After a few matches I think we all resigned ourselves to him not being with us too long as he was too good. He would use us as a stepping stone if things went well. I think we could accept that. But to try and bail out after 9 games and spending £50m is hard to take and shows a real lack of class or commitment (the Portuguese Rodgers)

We must support the team until the end of the season and get ourselves across the line, but sadly, from a tremendous start, I will be glad to the back of silva. But we will find the right manager to give us stability for several seasons and we will keep progressing as a club. Although I do wonder who will be next in - Koeman ? villas boas ? Probably not - but one thing I'm sure of it won't be silva come the end of May

 

When the writer states 'he is also an old fashioned cheque-book manager, who will always look to the transfer market to solve any perceived problems' can he name a single EPL manager who does not look to the transfer market to solve any perceived problems?
Come on people, there's nothing revelatory in this at all.

 

Next manager will be an Italian. The pozzos will go back to their comfort zone after this disaster, and I don't blame them.

 

Even if that were true, it would just be an excuse on Troy’s part for being fat and slow anyway.

 

When we appointed Silva, I really believed we'd made an excellent choice - and the early season performances seemed to support that. I backed him after the Everton saga, but it really has been down hill ever since. If this article is true (or at least contains elements of truth in it), then we really are in a mess behind the scenes.

Today's game should be all about putting on a performance to honour GT - but should we put in another weak performance, I fear the atmosphere could take a turn for the worse. Such a shame if so.

The most damning thing about that article is the part about players asking to go with him. Again - if true - which ones would it be? Think we can rule out any of our strikers; definitely not Holebas or Prodl; Chalobah has been injured for so long it's unlikely, plus he seems to be a genuinely decent fella that wouldn't want to jump ship so quickly - and the same goes for Hughes. So could it be Richarlison? Carrillo? I'd be gutted if it was the former, but he too seems like a sensible lad and I'm sure Gomes would have advised him otherwise.

Let's hope that part of the article is fiction - but if not, who do you think are the most likely players to have wanted to go with him?

Just a case now of when Marco leaves, not if. A steady end to the season, and he's gone in the summer; defeat today and in the following game or two - he's gone before the end of January. And as has been posted above, the club will get all the criticism in the press.

 

I didn't realise this had already been posted, as I've created a new post, although mine is better as it has pictures

Seriously though, this is very disturbing, but it's nothing that I haven't heard before, this is why I've been so vocal. It's clear there is a big disconnect between the owner and manager. Players wanting to leave with the coach, medical department problems, it's all reported in a creditable newspaper, so it's not just all rumour. For it to go to print in the Times, there surely has to be some truth behind it.

It's all coming to a head though. Today's game will be emotional because of Graham Taylor and I hope that inspires the team a little. If we lose today, then I think that could well be the last straw for Silva. We must win, scrape by and stumble over the finish line yet again to survive another season. Then we can start from scratch. One thing is for sure, we cannot keep having this kind of unstable season year after year. Eventually it will catch us out, and this season could be it.

 

Silva is an idiot. But I think the board made a mistake with this one. He clearly wanted to go. He clearly soured the relationship to a point where it's not going to be recovered. So why not take the 15 mil?

 

Yeah, it's hard to envisage an outcome from the situation that Watford as a club wins. Interestingly a mate of mine supports Soton, and they had the exact situation with Koeman after Everton came after him and he now hates Everton.

 

If the milk turns out to be sour Gino ain't the kind of pussy to drink it.

 

That's deep, man.