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