Watford have to say Silva was right to leave
Everton boss is going places, but his old side face long season
FOR the first time, Watford fans may grudgingly accept that Marco Silva is better off in the long term at Goodison Park than in Hertfordshire.
Silva was courted by Everton during his tenure at Vicarage Road and the subsequent soap opera created a new hostile rivalry between the two clubs.
Yet here was evidence that Silva was right to try to further his career at Everton, even though on the day Watford would claim they deserved a draw, denied by two excellent stops by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Everton haven’t conceded in their first two Premier League games and challenging for the top six isn’t a ridiculous notion.
They have so many good options on the counter- attack including goalscorer Bernard and £36million summer signing Moise Kean that they’re going to be dangerous in any game they take the lead.
At the back, Colombian World Cup star Yerry Mina had his best game in a blue shirt, leading, cajoling and digging out opponents when Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pererya went over too easily.
In contrast, Watford have lost their last six games and conceded 19 goals in a poor run dating back to last season when they were humiliated in the FA Cup final by Manchester City.
Without a goal or point in the league this season, and bottom of an embryonic league table, there are clearly problems for Javi Gracia to solve. Top of the list is how to get captain and talisman Troy Deeney firing again.
The heart and soul of the dressing room, the 31-year-old has scored only once in the Premier League since early March.
He had his side’s best chance of an equaliser at Goodison but when clean through against Pickford his effort was blocked by a combination of the keeper’s glove and face.
‘Our mentality is always to play offensive football but you can’t be strong if you are not a solid team. Keeping clean sheets is always important,’ said Silva.
‘We controlled the first 30 minutes but after that we could have done better. But I always have this feeling if you win without being at your best it’s a really important quality.
‘They had one clear chance for Troy but I think we created more.’
Gracia announced himself better pleased with his side’s showing than the previous week’s 3-0 home defeat by Brighton.
‘We deserved something but you have to score when you have good moments,’ he said. In particular he was disappointed his side weren’t awarded a penalty after 37 minutes when Mina slid in on Deulofeu.
The incident was checked by VAR and referee Lee Mason’s decision to award a corner wasn’t changed.
‘Mina didn’t touch the ball. I don’t know what a penalty is any more,’ complained the Hornets boss.
Ever ton’ s bright start was rewarded with a goal after only 10 minutes. Bernard, the Premier League’s smallest player at 5ft 4ins, used his low centre of gravity to cut inside Kiko Femenia on the left edge of the penalty area and fire a strike to the near post that had too much power for Ben Foster.
Watford took time to get going but could have levelled when Craig Dawson headed against the bar.
Etienne Capoue also saw his shot beaten away by Pickford even without their loud penalty appeal.
Though Watford’s movement was impressive, one also felt Silva got his tactics right by sitting a little deeper to protect the lead, and use the counter-attack.
They could point to chances to add a second goal. Richarlison missed with two simple headers and beat the turf in frustration, taken off shortly afterwards for Theo Walcott. The young Brazilian did not look best pleased by getting the hook just after the hour but Silva justified the decision.
‘I wanted more speed on that side with Theo Walcott because their left-back (Jose Holebas) was on a yellow card,’ he said.
Kean was also given a late cameo and showed enough electric pace to suggest he’ll become a favourite following his move from Juventus.
For Watford, the sense of injustice grew when Pererya was booked for diving asGyl fi Sigurdsson moved in on him.
Gracia was asked whether Deeney was hard to drop because of his status within the club. ‘I am very proud of all my players,’ straightbatted the Watford boss.
He faces a difficult autumn. Silva will feel he is best out of it and probably happy that he’s now in the north-west where he can make a real push for Europe.