BBC chief football reporter Ian Dennis
In announcing Silva’s departure, Watford described Everton’s approach for the Portuguese in November as the “catalyst”.
Things had not been right at the club since they turned down the Toffees’ £8.5m offer. It did not go unnoticed among the Watford hierarchy that Silva did not kill the speculation.
You compare his stance to, say, Burnley boss Sean Dyche when he has been linked with jobs. He will come out with a line that he is fully focused and concentrating on the job. Silva never did that, and the owners believed he had lost focus. They have seen the spirit ebb away from inside the club.
I have been saying for a while that Watford are a club on the slide. Perception is everything. Last season, people would say Walter Mazzarri was struggling but Marco Silva made a strong start and everything was fine. The hard facts are Watford are four points worse off now than at this stage last season.
Watford have got a lot of flak for the hiring and firing, and chopping and changing of managers, but there is no instability in the boardroom. There is a clear focus.
