Category Archives: Marco Silva

9th February 2019- Premier League, Watford 1 Everton 0

A lot happened in both the lead up and aftermath of this game so I’ve tried to provide a bit of context which is shown below in bold.

Referee:
Lee Probert
Attendance:
20,333

Pre Match Articles

Gracia: “This Game Will Be No Different”

Holebas: “They Push Us On”

Post Match Articles

Match Report: Watford 1-0 Everton

Gray: “I Wanted To Show I Can Make The Difference”

Gracia: “It’s Something Amazing For Us”

Mariappa: “Everyone Is Pulling In The Same Direction”

Highlights: Watford 1-0 Everton

FPL Review: Gameweek 26

Gallery: Watford v Everton

Affleck’s Angle: We’ve Moved On

Pre Match Articles

Marco Silva: Independent inquiry into Everton’s alleged illegal approach for former Watford boss ongoing

Javi Gracia expecting Watford fans to get behind Hornets against Everton

Watford vs Everton: Javi Gracia has no special plans to counter Richarlison threat

Watford vs Everton: Marco Silva claims he’s ‘ready for everything’ ahead of Hornets return

Post Match Articles

Relive our coverage of Watford’s Premier League clash with Everton

Watford vs Everton: Andre Gray ensures miserable return to Vicarage Road for Marco Silva

Watford head coach Javi Gracia delighted after Everton victory

Everton boss Marco Silva claims ‘I did my job well’ while at Watford

RATINGS: How we scored Watford’s performances against Everton

A selection of images from Watford’s win over Everton

Andre Gray says Watford are not putting limits on their ambitions this season

Adrian Mariappa hails ‘terrific’ support from Watford fans after Premier League win over Everton

Watford held off late pressure from Everton to claim a hard-fought victory over their former manager Marco Silva.

After Troy Deeney had appeared to stoke the flames ahead of the encounter at a Watford fans’ forum, Gray made the most of the only moment of real quality in the game when he converted Will Hughes’ cut-back 20 minutes into the second period, scoring his fourth goal of the season.

Gray was a Silva signing early in the Portuguese’s short stay at Vicarage Road, which began in May 2017 and went sour in November that year when he was prevented from going to Goodison. Watford sacked him in January last year amid tapping-up suggestions as their form nosedived. The amiable Javi Gracia took over to restore stability – “he’s better than you” sang the home fans to Silva to emphasise a point backed up by the league table.

They played Al Wilson’s 1968 hit The Snake at Vicarage Road, just before Rocket Man by Elton John and the Z-Cars theme both Watford and Everton use to signal their imminent arrival on the pitch.

Pre Match Report

Marco Silva has said Troy Deeney’s comments about intimidating Everton have been noted by his players and can serve as motivation for their visit to Watford on Saturday.

Post March Report

Before the match, the Watford captain, Troy Deeney, had distanced himself from comments he made at a fans forum this week where he promised to kick Everton’s players. Yet with passions running high in this part of Hertfordshire, as the chief executive, Scott Duxbury, said he would not engage with Silva in the opposition dugout, some supporters greeted their former manager with yellow inflatable snakes.

The Troy Deeney ‘comments’ mentioned above came from a Fan’s Forum which took place in London one evening in the week leading up to the Everton game.

Andy Lewers of the brilliant Hornet’s Nest blog and Love Sport Radio live tweeted what was said by those at the forum. Click on the tweet below to see the whole thread from the evening.

He later provided more details on what was said in a post on facebook.

The media then mis-quoted some of this which led to Silva’s motivation comments. This was how the Evening Standard reported the forum…

Troy Deeney’s Watford Fans’ Forum appearance was a joy to behold… unless you’re Marco Silva

Troy addressed the mis-reporting of his comments on the morning of the game

Andy then talked about the controversy in his usual post match blog.

Now, you will no doubt be aware that some of Troy’s comments from the evening were picked up and published in the national media. 

Many of you will have read my tweets quoted in the papers. My intention was purely to keep Watford fans who weren’t able to attend the evening up to date with what was going on. 

Sadly, some of Troy’s comments were taken out of context. They were tongue-in-cheek, exactly what you’d expect from the Watford captain, there was no malice in anything that he said and you could tell he had genuine respect for Marco Silva and Everton. 

I was perhaps naive in thinking that tweeting Troy’s comments wouldn’t have had consequences. Lesson learnt.

To be fair to Silva (not that I really want to be) he told 5 Live’s Vicki Sparks in his post match interview that he hadn’t really believed the reporting of Deeney’s comments and that Troy clarified them when they spoke before the game. (Apologies for the poor audio quality)

The atmosphere in the ground before kick-off was brittle. I must confess that I didn’t notice the widely-celebrated playlist, but there was no missing Emma Saunders’ pointed welcome to the visiting head coach over the tannoy. 

As we walked along Vicarage Road away from the ground, we could see something going on by the Everton coaches.  There was a crowd by the cemetery wall looking in and first reports were that there had been a stabbing, although that was proved wrong after the game.  But two Watford fans were hospitalised, one with a nasty head injury.  As someone who started to go to football matches in 1979, these scenes were seen on a weekly basis in those days but had become a rarity in recent times.  I really hope that it remains that way.

The trouble mentioned was widely reported.

Watford FC fans ‘covered in blood’ amid violence after Everton match

Watford v Everton: Four arrested over football violence

Police charge 23-year-old after altercation outside Vicarage Road

21st January 2018- Marco Silva leaves…and Javi Gracia arrives

Screen Shot 2018-01-22 at 20.03.20
Screen Shot 2018-01-22 at 20.23.46
Watford Observer

Marco Silva sacked by Watford after just 26 games

WATFORD OPINION: Marco Silva shot himself in the foot the moment he failed to distance himself from Everton job

Marco Silva: The errors which undermined Watford tenure

Marco Silva timeline: Departed Watford boss’ key Vicarage Road moments

Javier Gracia confirmed by Watford as new head coach

Watford have appointed Javi Gracia as head coach – but just who is he?

Javi Gracia: New Watford head coach says improving confidence will be his primary goal to improve club fortunes

New Watford head coach Javi Gracia has an impressive CV – but there are reasons to be cautious too

BBC SportMarco Silva: Watford blame Everton as they sack manager and hire Javi Gracia

Watford have named Javi Gracia as their new head coach, hours after the Premier League club sacked Marco Silva.

Javi Gracia: ‘Effective, rather than thrilling’ – what can Watford fans expect?

skyWatford manager Marco Silva has been sacked following a run of poor results, with the club apparently unhappy at Everton’s pursuit of him earlier in the season.

Marco Silva’s fall from grace has been spectacular, says Oliver Holt

Marco Silva sacked by Watford: This gifted coach is his own worst enemy

Watford have appointed Javi Gracia as their new head coach on an 18-month contract, having sacked Marco Silva on Sunday morning.

Javi Gracia says he already feels at home at new club Watford after being announced as Marco Silva’s replacement.

 guardianWatford have sacked their manager Marco Silva following the club’s 2-0 defeat against Leicester on Saturday, citing the “unwarranted approach” from Everton last year as “the catalyst” for the decision.
 
 
 
 

12th August 2017- Premier League, Watford 3 Liverpool 3

DG-TTjYXkAUVpzF.jpg
Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 20.49.29.png
Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 22.12.55.png

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary  Goals: 1 2 3

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Watford v Liverpool: Hornets begin life under Silva with six-goal thriller at Vicarage Road

Miguel Britos scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser as Watford claimed a 3-3 draw in a thrilling Premier League opener against Liverpool at Vicarage Road. Watford took a 2-1 lead into the half-time break after strong first half showing, which saw Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure score either side of Sadio Mane’s leveller. The game turned in Liverpool’s favour early in the second half as Roberto Firmino’s penalty and a debut goal for Mohamed Salah put the visitors ahead.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp bemoans his side’s lack of luck after claiming Watford’s late equaliser was ‘clearly offside’

Stefano Okaka praised by Watford head coach Marco Silva after scoring opener against Liverpool

Watford head coach Marco Silva says Hornets reacted well to Liverpool pressure to grab last-gasp equaliser

RATINGS: How did Watford’s players get on in their Premier League draw against Liverpool?

BBC SportMiguel Britos scored a controversial 93rd-minute equaliser for Watford as Liverpool were held in a thrilling game at Vicarage Road.

skyMiguel Britos struck deep into stoppage time as Watford secured a late point following a 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

guardianThe expression on Jürgen Klopp’s face as Watford celebrations broke out all around him said it all. A testing 24 hours for Liverpool, dominated by Philippe Coutinho’s emailed transfer request, ended with the sort of injury-time equaliser that drives managers insane. Miguel Britos, looking at least a yard offside, bundled the ball home from a corner in the 93rd minute, denying Liverpool the victory that would have brought some much-needed respite during the Coutinho saga.

IndependentNew season, same old problems for Liverpool. Against Watfordthey were made to pay the price for an all too familiar defensive horror show, as Miguel Britos headed home a 94th-minute equaliser to deny Jurgen Klopp victory in his 100th competitive game in charge of the club.

TelegraphWhatever it was the Premier League defenders were doing over the summer it was not improving their defending.  After Friday’s seven-goal opener to the season, came another six at Vicarage Road. And had Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini or Fabio Cannevaro been in  attendance as the self-proclaimed finest league in the world got under way, the great Italian defenders would have wondered what on earth had happened to the dark art of keeping a clean sheet.

BHappy imageIt’s a classic First Day of the Season.  Sunshine on your face walking down Vicarage Road.  Touts after tickets, programme vendors, charity buckets.  50/50 scarves on sale for a tenner (“who buys them?”).  Friends rock up, you’ve not seen them for three months…  “how was your summer?”.  Albert is here for the first time in even longer, it’s good to see him.  He’s stunned by how tall the girls are, they are nonplussed but grin anyway.  There are flags, and noise, a tremendous montage on the big screens.  And then, then the football.  As has been said many times if you rely solely on the sport itself for your enjoyment you’re going to be disappointed more often than not but still, football.  And it’s just brilliant…

FranThe first day of the season and, on arriving in Watford, it was grey and drizzly.  I was at the Hornet Shop before 9:30, so it was rather bizarre to see the programme sellers and burger stands already setting up.  Having bought the new home and away shirts, a woolly hat (just in case) and a Watford coffee cup, I headed to the museum to get in line for the Graham Taylor exhibition.

The Hornets NestFootball’s bloody brilliant, isn’t it?  We’ve waited the whole summer and our patience was rewarded in the most emphatic way.

Hornet effectWhatever it was the Premier League defenders were doing over the summer it certainly wasn’t improving their defence.

FTRE imageWatford are BACK, BACK, BACK! Jon and Jason are joined this week by friend of the pod Paul from Denver to go through the performance and the huge sums of money Watford have been playing this transfer window.  

https://www.11v11.com/competitions/premier-league/2018/matches/
Screen Shot 2017-08-13 at 22.04.47.png

27th May 2017- Marco Silva named Watford Head Coach

Screen Shot 2017-05-29 at 09.55.28.png
Watford Observer

Silva holds Watford talks

UPDATED: Silva to take over as Hornets head coach

How Watford got their Silva lining

Silva: ‘I’m excited’

BBC Sport  Marco Silva: Watford appoint former Hull boss as new head coach

sky Marco Silva confirmed as Watford manager

Marco Silva says Watford’s ambition is ‘really important’

guardian Marco Silva excited by Watford plans after appointment as manager

Independent Watford confirm the appointment of Marco Silva as their new head coach

TelegraphWatford appoint Marco Silva as new head coach