Several Everton fans have taken to Twitter this morning to answer BBC Sport’s latest question: is Watford and Everton the Premier League’s newest rivalry?
Watford and Everton haven’t gotten along too much over the past few years, with the tension having begun when the Toffees approached the Hornets for Marco Silva after sacking Ronald Koeman.
The Hornets refused Everton’s proposal, despite Farhad Moshiri being willing to pay £10million, although the club sacked the Portuguese coach a few months later, pointing the finger of blame at Everton for having caused Silva’s focus to deteriorate.
Watford then made a formal complaint to the Premier League, accusing Moshiri of illegally approaching the manager, which Everton’s owner denied. Tension intensified when Silva approached his former club to sign Richarlison, Watford’s star forward.
The Toffees eventually agreed to pay £4million in compensation, but it didn’t prevent Watford fans waving plastic snakes hurling abuse at Silva when the two clubs faced each other last season, while some music with veiled messages were played over the tannoy system at Vicarage Road.
While tensions between the two clubs have now subsided for the time being, the two fan bases continue to poke each other online. These Everton fans reacted to BBC Sport’s question about whether the two clubs can now be deemed a rivalry.
Twitter: @BBCSport Wouldn’t blame Watford fans for not liking us. Got beat by us in their biggest ever game in 85 and then w… https://t.co/CZMGRN60Oz (@hargefc)
Twitter: @BBCSport How can you have a rivalry with your feeder club?
(@theblueeyedkid)
Twitter: @BBCSport If by rivalry you mean small club angry at big club for taking all their best assets then yes. However, r… https://t.co/PUpubFwzKL (@thebluesoccers)
Twitter: @BBCSport Were do you get this stuff, the 4th most successful club in England and a yo-yo championship club. https://t.co/9ldgTe8v8R (@soles08)
Twitter: @BBCSport https://t.co/1djJ2eTRdf (@EvertonNewsFeed)
Twitter: @BBCSport If by newest rivalry you mean manufactured by dilusional Watford fans, then yeah, maybe! But the real ans… https://t.co/nSclvuDlFW (@SanFran_Bielski)
Twitter: @BBCSport Hardly a rivalry when they cant even sell out their away at goodison, small club (@Ian_efc1878)
Twitter: @BBCSport you still have time to delete this (@HazoAG21)
Twitter: @BBCSport No. Never has been and never will be. Ridiculous question (@fletch2505)
