One manager, in their first Premier League season, took us to a cup final and 8th place, another in their first got relegated. You can dress it up and spin it however you like, but that is fact. Something which even you cannot dispute.
Silva's done very well at Watford (although I seem to recall they've always started seasons well and dropped like a stone in the second half of the campaign) so I remain sceptical that he would've done any better with us. I've consistently stated that I believe the players are the issue rather than the manager. Nothing I've seen so far this season has made me change my mind.