It was felt that the FA Cup campaign papered over cracks and the crushing defeat left a hangover

an office at Watford’s training ground. He is close to the ground and can make qualitative decisions.

Watford can also separate out all the work they do off the pitch – the rebuild of Vicarage Road, the upgrading of the training ground and the reconnection with the fans – with a ruthless edge towards what happens on it. It is why they analysed Gracia’s performance at the end of last season – and the repercussions of a heavy FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City – and the start of this campaign before making a forensic decision.

It may appear unpalatable to the outside world but it works for Watford, who believe their duty is to their supporters and to drive their ambition rather than staying loyal to a coach who – in their assessment – had lost some of his motivation. Results were poor. Watford had one point from four games this season, were bottom of the league and, overall, were on a run of just one win in 10 – and that was against doomed Huddersfield Town – taking only five points from those league games.

It was felt that the campaign to the FA Cup final papered over the cracks and the nature of that crushing defeat left a hangover.

What price loyalty? Watford were the ninth club in 12 years on Gracia’s coaching CV, with the most he had ever spent anywhere being his two years with Malaga. So, he also knew the score. Similarly, his successor had one season with Watford – their first back in the top flight in 2015-16 – but has never spent more than two years anywhere.

The normal football response to Watford’s predicament at present would have been to wait; to have given Gracia up until the next international break – next month – to turn things round. Surely that would have been the least he deserved? Instead, Watford acted. They felt they had to. They reasoned that the Premier League is so relentless and unforgiving that they could not wait and risk being cut adrift as has happened to others who hesitated.

They also showed their unorthodox approach in bringing back Flores, who they had let go because they feared he had also lost a bit of his focus and the team had dipped (a bit like Gracia?). But the circumstances were different and Watford made an analytical decision based on the fact that Flores was the best defensive coach they had employed and one who could organise them in a way to get the most out of an impressive midfield and attack that includes £31 million record signing Ismaila Sarr and Danny Welbeck (who had both barely featured under Gracia).

Watford’s unconventional approach also saw them reason that Flores was still smarting from his brief spell in the Premier League, wanted to work here again and felt he had a point to prove. And proving a point is the biggest motivation in football.

Watford even liked the fact that Flores stuck to his guns with his previous criticism of the club’s hierarchy for not enjoying his “positive achievements”. Instead, they have already shown him that they want more and more and to continually improve the club.

Watford can never be accused of being indecisive. Their greatest fear is complacency and they believe it would be negligent of them not to act. That is their standpoint and it may not be an easy one but they are entitled to it, given how far they have come in the past few years. It is certainly not negligent. It is different. And the reality is that it is the way they want it. It is the Watford Way.