Watford: The mistakes which signalled the end for Walter Mazzarri

His has been a tenure which promised much in its early stages but ultimately disappointed, with Hornets fans left disenchanted by the Italian’s style of play.

Premier League survival may have been secured for a third season – a feat which must not be downplayed – but in a manner which has failed to both excite and offer genuine belief of better things to come.

The Italian, who previously enjoyed success in his native Italy with Napoli, has cut a distant figure at the Vicarage Road helm.

Add to the mix issues with the English language, clashes of personality with members of the playing staff and an ever-changing starting XI and his departure can hardly be seen as a surprise.

But where did it all go wrong for Mazzarri?

Failure to master English

The news Mazzarri was set to take an intensive course in English this summer had added weight to his view he would be at Vicarage Road next season. Too little too late it would appear, however.

A full season into life on these shores and the Italian was no closer to entertaining the concept of conducting a press conference without the help of trusted translator Lorenzo Libutti.

READ MORE: Mazzarri to leave Watford

Instead the former Inter Milan boss would offer the odd platitude in English, most notably when answering a question during a live TV interview after a win over West Brom last month.

A communication barrier with the press is one thing, but such problems with the playing staff, where Mazzarri would rely on Italian speakers within the squad, is another.

This disconnect would only serve to make Mazzarri’s attempts to put his footballing philosophy into action more difficult.

Souring relationship with talisman Deeney

Despite enjoying a record-breaking season in which he brought up a century of goals for the club, Troy Deeney has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks.

The number nine’s talismanic stature at Vicarage Road has for the first time in a while come under question from Mazzarri, who has refused to shy away from dropping the striker, and suggested Deeney has to be prepared to fight for his starting place.

In fairness, a competitive squad where no one player can rest on their laurels is the ideal for any manager, but the Italian has done little to bring the best out of a player who has embodied the Watford spirit during his time at the club.

Deeney has often had to feed off scraps with little support around him and, while the 28-year-old has failed to reach his own high standards, little has been done to play to his strengths.

Losing the voice of such an influential figure could only have had a detrimental impact on Mazzarri’s hold of the dressing room.

Post-salvation slump

With survival all but secured with a 1-0 win over Swansea last month, Mazzarri and Watford had six games to claim a top-half finish which at the time seemed a genuine possibility.

The Hornets reached the 40-point mark with a run of three home wins in a row and two more victories would have taken them to a record tally for a top-flight campaign.

READ MORE: Why wobbling Walter had to walk

What followed was quite the opposite from the flourish those associated with the Hornets would have hoped for, however, as the club embarked on its worst run under Mazzarri.

A 2-0 defeat to 10-man Hull started a sequence of five defeats on the spin which have rubberstamped the 55-year-old’s fate.

Watford’s run without an away goal ticked beyond the 10-hour mark during this run and fan opinion swung firmly towards showing Mazzarri the exit door.

Inability to acknowledge failings

Mazzarri’s answers in post and pre-match press conference would undermine the intelligence of fans and media alike – a dangerous game to play when results are not on your side.

Nothing gets under the skin of a fan base quicker than a manager refusing to face up to the flaws which have been laid bare in defeat.

Misfortune would be Mazzarri’s most frequently leaned upon crutch when things weren’t going the Hornets’ way.

Scarcely a defeat went by in which Mazzarri didn’t cite Lady Luck as a deserter to the Watford cause, while injuries, plentiful though they have been this term, were also a readymade excuse for the Italian.

Poor use of squad

Injuries and suspension have undoubtedly wreaked havoc with Watford’s season, but Mazzarri’s use of the players available to him has been scattergun to say the least.

Players signed during his tenure have received short-shrift and the likes of Isaac Success, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Christian Kabasele have faced extended spells on the sidelines.

Doucoure’s emergence as Watford’s driving force in the centre of midfield in recent weeks provides perhaps the most pertinent evidence of Mazzarri’s short-sightedness.

The dynamic Frenchman suffered from some minor injuries but was criminally underused for the first half of the season, making just five league appearances before February.

Meanwhile players with reputation, such as Etienne Capoue, have been near ever-presents, despite fluctuating form throughout the campaign.