One hallmark of Chris Wilder’s time at Vicarage Road has been his preparedness to forensically and brutally assess some of the worst performances.

Watford have won just two of his ten games in charge, and of the five defeats he has suffered there have been some truly dreadful displays against Luton, Cardiff and Huddersfield.

The Hornets have also dropped 12 points from winning positions in Wilder’s stint as manager, although that has as much to do as the mentality and brittleness of the team.

Through all of the trials and tribulations packed in this short spell at the Watford helm, Wilder has said it as he’s seen it and that has earned him a lot of respect among the fans even if results have been unimpressive.

“Honesty is what you’ll always get and that’s what I’ve always been, whether that’s players, stakeholders or supporters,” he said.

“I’m not a spin merchant and I say it as it is – some people like that, some people don’t. But that’s the way I’ve been brought up as a player, a coach and a person.

“I’ll be honest when we do well, when we do average and when we perform in a way that’s not expected of us.

“I’ve really enjoyed being here, but I’m also really disappointed I’ve not been able to help the team in terms of getting the results we needed.

“I think everyone understands we are in a difficult situation, and not one that we wanted or hoped for.

“From a personal point of view, and from my coaching staff's point of view, we can all put our heads on the pillow at night and go to sleep knowing we’ve done everything we can.

“Unfortunately it’s not been good enough from all of us, and that’s a collective thing.

“I loved my time at this club, and it’s been great to be back at the coal face, trying to get three points each week. I’ve met some great people here.

“It’s bitter-sweet in terms of the results but I’ve no regrets and it’s been a great learning experience to work at a football club that’s obviously very different to ones I’ve worked at previously.”

He came to Watford knowing he would only definitely be in charge for 11 games but, to paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of Wilder’s demise have been greatly exaggerated though.

The Hornets head coach will oversee the last game of his current contract against Stoke tomorrow, but despite stories to the contrary Wilder has not been told he is not required beyond that.

“Nothing has been said either way. The contract I had when I came here is there, and I’m just working away,” he said.

“I’m here until tomorrow and my headspace and attitude can’t be one of ‘I’m not going to be here next season’, but I also can’t say I’m going to be here for the next two or three years.

“The focus, since I came here, has been for the next game coming up. It has to be.

“A win tomorrow won’t solve everything, but it will make people feel a bit better about themselves.”

In a recent press conference, Wilder said it would not take too much for Watford – as a club – to turn itself around and get back on the course it hoped to follow.

“I got criticised by somebody in the media when I said that, saying so why didn’t I do it then,” Wilder grinned.

“I think that’s harsh, given the timescale needed. It won’t happen in one or two weeks, but it doesn’t need a two or three-year plan to get it going either.

“I’ve been at clubs where a good pre-season has turned things around by good recruitment, good planning and good structure.

“This is a massive year for the football club and a massive pre-season in terms of a lot of things.”

His assessments of his team have been out there for all to see – but what about his own performance since he arrived? Has he made mistakes?

“There are a couple of things, but I’ll keep those in-house,” he admitted.

“I’m a massive reflector and I look at myself first and foremost. I’m not arrogant enough to think everything we’ve done is correct and right.

“But I look through the season and I think the club has used 36 players. That’s ridiculous.

“I imagine Rob, and Slav and myself will reflect and think we might have picked a different player, or chosen something a bit different to do.

“But I’ve done the best I can, although as I always do I’ll reflect and look in the mirror and not out through the window.”

Having mentioned this season’s two previous head coaches, Rob Edwards and Slaven Bilic, is it fair to say that the problems Wilder has encountered are the same that ultimately led to the demise of his predecessors?

“Yeah, totally 100%. There’s no doubt about that,” said Wilder.

“I’ve talked about things after games like Luton and Cardiff and I won’t go too deeply into it again. But I think this is a huge summer for the club and it’s so important because the position it is in is not acceptable for anybody.

“Managers, players and the ownership shouldn’t find it acceptable, and most importantly the fans won’t.

“Mid-table is where the club deserves to be and there’s a reason for that over a year, over three managers and over 36 players.

“There needs to be change in the summer.”