Is Premier League sack race between Flores and Martinez?

The Toffees succumbed to the prevailing order in the Northwest, however, first bowing out of the Capital One Cup over two legs to Manchester City and then being beaten at Wembley by Manchester United in the FA Cup semis.

Even during his Wigan Athletic days, the joy of a trophy triumph was briefly savoured and abruptly lost by their subsequent relegation at the hands of Arsenal in a midweek Premier League match. Agony more than ecstasy is certainly the broad story arc of Martinez’s career so far.

Quique, don’t go breaking Hornets’ hearts

Fellow Spaniard Flores, meanwhile, faces an end of season review, with Watford part of the Pozzo family’s football assets that also include Serie A side Udinese and La Liga outfit Granada.

“The club would stress it is very happy with the job Quique and his staff have done this season,” an official Hornets statement read.

“As the club has consistently made clear, no decision has been made on the future of Quique Sanchez Flores and certainly no decision will be taken until the club has held in-depth discussions with Quique.”

Strike pairing have proven themselves

Blessed with a front two in Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo who have combined to net 25 Premier League goals between them this term, Flores is bizarrely odds-on at 2/9 to be relieved of his duties at Watford before next season.

Among the favourites to be relegated before a ball was kicked, the Hornets are safe and will thus benefit from the bonanza payday that the new Premier League TV mega deal starts in 2016/17.

There is now case whatsoever for Flores, who guided Watford to a Wembley day out yet suffered defeat by Crystal Palace in the other FA Cup semi-final, to lose his job or be removed from the Vicarage Road hotseat.

Are powers-that-be trustworthy?

Hornets owners the Pozzos are notoriously trigger-happy when it comes to managers, and they named four different bosses during their Championship promotion campaign in 2014/15.

Watford, like other outposts of the Italian investors’ empire, would really benefit from some stability on the coaching front. Flores, 3/1 to stay in his position, should be wary of becoming a victim of his own success somewhere down the road.

The tabloid rumour mill links the Hornets with wantaway West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino in the event that Nigeria frontman Ighalo leaves Hertfordshire this summer.

Berahino buy would be statement of intent

Such a signing, likely to be less than £10m, shows how far Burundi-born England call-up Berahino’s star has fallen, but Watford will face stiff competition at such a cut-price.

Bids in excess of £20m for Berahino were reportedly turned down by Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace in the last two transfer windows. Long-time suitors Spurs and Stoke City would surely be ahead of the Hornets in the queue for the player’s services.

Nonetheless, Watford make for intriguing 33/1 outsiders to be Berahino’s next club, but a bigger and more poignant question is whether Flores will be the man to coach him there next term or not?

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