When Xisco Munoz was asked to explain his game plan after Watford's dismal 1-0 defeat to Leeds United, he struggled.

He explained everything he knew about the opponents; how they had more intensity than his own side, how they shot more, how they won more duels, but offered no insight into how he had planned to stop them.

It was hardly an answer that inspired confidence in his ability to get either the most out of the players at his disposal or find a way to pick up the points necessary to achieve what he regularly described as his "amazing goal" of staying in the Premier League this season.

Prior to the match he had said he felt no pressure to perform other than the pressure he had put on himself, which seems somewhat naive given that people had started asking him how he felt about the sword of Damocles inching closer to his head from above.

Those questions were hardly unexpected, given that signs of board dissatisfaction were there for all to see.

Sporting director Cristiano Giaretta's less-than-cryptic tweets after poor performances showed that those in charge felt he could be doing much more and that perhaps his situation was more precarious than he realised.

However, like the proverbial frog in the pan of water slowly reaching boiling point, it was too late before he understood just how much trouble he was in.

By his own admission, his team have not been good enough this season, despite picking up seven points from their first seven matches, a respectable tally for a newly-promoted side.

Last weekend's draw with Newcastle was more of a damning indictment of how poor the Magpies are this season, rather than a suggestion that Watford can compete and take points from other Premier League teams and the fact is that grim displays, like that against Leeds, and Wolves and Brighton before, are much closer to what Watford fans have come to expect from their team.

While Munoz frequently spoke of a need to improve and cut out individual mistakes, yesterday's defeat showed that his troubleshooting just wasn't good enough to help his team get over their troubled shooting, or for that matter, their troubled defending.

However, despite his shortcomings, Xisco's departure is one that has the potential to affect a group of supporters who have grown accustomed to coaches coming and going, more than others before him.

He was a man who instantly bought into the club's ethos, identity and sense of community spirit and would regularly speak of how proud he was to be a part of it all.

His tears of happiness on the day he guided Watford back to the Premier League were a clear demonstration of just how much the achievement meant and in many ways, the saddest thing about his short time at the club is not the manner in which he departs, but that he was unable to share that high point with the supporters.

After winning 14 of the last 18 matches last season, he developed a kinship with the fans, despite never seeing them in person, and made himself the man they wanted to lead their side into their next chapter. Yet, following what now looks like an anomaly of a result against Aston Villa, it quickly became apparent that perhaps Munoz was out of his depth, and the board clearly felt that sticking with him would lead to sinking rather than swimming.

He leaves behind him a transitional squad in desperate need of guidance, identity and cohesion, ahead of a punishing-looking eight match schedule that includes games against all of the current top four, as well as Manchester City, Leicester and Arsenal and whoever comes in will need to be both stern and ruthless, to try and guide the team through that patch with confidence and hope intact.

The appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores two years ago is a lesson the board will need to heed when making such an important decision that will likely define the outcome of this season.

Already, as is often the case when a Watford head coach departs, the wider football world has started to pour scorn on the club's decision to move on "yet another" manager in a seemingly acceptable position, when a cursory peek beneath the surface reveals a number of concerns that those better suited to pass comment knew were there all along.

While Xisco's smile and positivity will be a miss around Vicarage Road, his naivety and lack of a clear plan meant an unceremonious departure was always going to be the most likely outcome.