A blistering start to the season, with 32 goals scored in their first 10 games and nine wins to boot, put lingering questions over Jose Mourinho's pragmatism at Manchester United to bed.
But such concerns from the terraces and jibes from other clubs' don't have a habit of sleeping through the night - and have been awoken by a run of four league games from five where United have scored only once.
They've lost two of those matches, too, to former club Chelsea but also Huddersfield Town, and with Manchester City already running away with the Premier League after 13 games, things are less rosey than they were only a few weeks ago.
But United look odds on to finish second behind their noisy neighbours, are top of their Champions League group and in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, so everything has to be put into a bit of perspective. This is hardly a crisis moment.
Mourinho's side struggled to a 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday at Old Trafford, but still have record signing Paul Pogba returning to full fitness, and as he returns towards his best form so should United.
Ashley Young, once of this parish, has taken over the reins at left-back for a brief period, and has slotted in well in the absence of Marcus Rojo and Daley Blind.
But at the other end of the pitch, the goals have dried up for Romelu Lukaku, who has only scored one in his last 10 games for the club.
Mourinho was asked about his memories of last season's 3-1 defeat at Vicarage Road in the build-up to tonight's game and his reaction, not a happy one, told a story that his first return could have a hint of revenge about it.
But Watford's recent form will leave them believing the giants are there to be toppled.
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