I presume you mean 6:35, not 12:35. But no, Deeney had no idea Gray was coming up behind him, he didn't look once as he had no such thoughts in his head. Deeney should have taken the defenders away to the left or held back, either to give the defender in front of Bobby a decision to make or to take Mee with him, creating space behind. As it was Mee was able to keep an eye on both players as Deeney was so static, and he probably would have cut out a better ball from Bobby. For the 3rd, I'm not disagreeing Deeney may have helped out at the touchline initially. Apparently, pressing at throw-ins is something they have been focusing on in training. I was actually pointing out what Gray did to create the space for Hughes. It is something that Deeney rarely does, but should do more often. I chose those three examples, as they show what happens when a he is not interested in creating space, dragging defenders or giving them decisions to make, etc and comparing with examples of when he did create space and thirdly, when someone else does it.
I suspect that when we're beaten or draw a blank, both Deeney and Gray (or either if only one starts) will cop a load of flak for their performances.
Troy on talksport this morning: He lost a stone pre season. Mainly bulk. He had lost his passion for the game last season. The squad has pulled together this year. Everyone put in the yards in pre season. The owners know the players wanted less changes this season. His pre season was great. Players that didn't put a shift in were shifted out. Richarlison going was good business but Maxi Pereyra was a Champions League player. Very honest. Very funny. Even hit in a dig on Allardyce.. Dare I say we got our Captain Fantastic back.....
Players who didn’t put a shift in were shifted out? Wonder who that refers to... Players that left this summer: Pantilimon Amrabat Richarlison Lukebakio Hoban Sinclair Jakubiak Oulare Foulquier Plus others I can’t be bothered to write
Good stuff from Troy. Full interview can be listened to here: https://talksport.com/football/415950/troy-deeney-watford/
Sounds awfully sceptical on my part but can he just SHOW us what he's worked on, on the pitch, for another like 10/15 games and then do the talking in pre-season? 270 minutes of good football and he's back in the press already? Just a bit boring. Score 15 goals, lead us to top 10, possibly a League Cup final or a day out in Wembley and THEN do all the interviews you want lad. I'm the biggest Troy fan here but would like to see a prolonged period of talking on the pitch first.
Who knew consistency and team work were as important as buying lots of expensive players on inflated wages through super agents?
Some anon geezer came up to me after game and said that in the summer Southgate contacted Deeney and Noble and said that the England team was missing players with passion and that if they started season well, hed consider them for the friendlies. Not sure where he got it from, probably the back of his @rse, but interesting theory.
I like that Troy keeps alive the myth that we have a smaller tighter pitch. In fact it is exactly the same size as our fellow top teams.
Ours is the biggest pitch in the Prem (joint). Anfield is the smallest, if I remember. Imagine Salah, Mane & Firmino on an adult size pitch.
Not quite the biggest. Udders and Brighton have bigger ones: http://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/are-all-football-pitches-the-same-size/ But still, imagine those those players on an adult pitch with full sized balls.....
I always thought we were the max size permissible. Another Gino ruse no doubt. Btw, from the link I note that Udders reckon Man City are their rivals. They never have been. In the 20s, Udders were far superior. Since then, City.
Every Watford fan knew this anyway - but just for confirmation, Troy will never play for England under Gareth Southgate. Don't worry, though - Callum Wilson might: http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ill-turn-to-youth-as-they-enter-a-fresh-cycle "....Callum is another player who we worked with in the U21s so we know a lot about Callum. He's certainly one we have to keep monitoring and I think Troy is a player who really suits the way that Watford play. I'm a big fan of his, I think what he brings to their team, the way he leads their team and the way that they play and the games that they have... but I think that we play slightly differently and, for me, the next forward players that should be challenging are some of the younger ones." I'd love to know exactly what the 'way that we play' is, Gareth? I don't recall seeing Southgate at any of our games, certainly not this season so far. Therefore, his knowledge of 'the way we play' will be from highlights on motd........... Now there's two reasons for wanting to see Troy bang in a shed load of goals this season - us prospering and Southgate being forced to continually justify leaving him out of a 30 man squad. Seems I got swept along a bit with the temporary 'feel good' factor around the England team in the summer, only for it to now revert back to its natural state of I couldn't give a **** (at least until Hughes or Chalobah get called up). Is it too much to ask of a national coach to just pick the players that are in form?? Troy didn't deserve it last season, but if he's playing well this year, why rule him out in advance because of a ******** reason such as 'the way they play'???? Loftus-Cheek has retained his squad place. He's played 22 minutes this season, sub on the opening day. Hasn't been seen since. He's made the England squad on the back of playing for................................................................Palace. Tell me, Gareth - what's the way they play? A team that lost their first seven games without scoring a goal last season; a team that hasn't won without Zaha for two years. Why does that get you a squad place? Doesn't add up, does it? Southgate - my initial opinion of you as a coach was correct. You're an idiot that got lucky with comfortable fixtures during the world cup; the first decent side you faced switched tactics and left you without a clue as to how to combat it with a change of your own - hence we resorted to hoof ball and lost. Moron.
Southgate I think got lucky with the draw in the world cup. I don't think Deeney will ever be picked because of his time inside a bit like what happened with Tony Cotton. The old farts at the farm want to preserve a certain image whatever that might be. Southgates selection a bit baffling he has sad he will pick players on form so keeps in Loftus cheek and lallana who haven't featured and bemoans lack of selection options for creative players in the premier league and leaves out will Hughes. Lallana drops out with injury, perfect chance to pick Hughes as replacement, what does he do but picked another ffing goalkeeper
I'm always amazed how sore people get at what is clearly a throwaway remark. It's hardly a damning tactical analysis of Watford by the England manager. "The way they play" is more likely to mean 'with 2 up front' or 'with him as the focal point of the team'. Neither of which would happen with England. He's specifically mentioned Hughes and Chalobah positively in the same interview, so logic says it's hardly an anti-Watford thing. I also don't see the issue with him discounting Deeney from consideration. He's already 30. He'll be 32 at the time of the Euros. He's never played international football and would be a squad pick at best. Despite being captain and a legend here he basically phoned in his performances last season and has publicly admitted it. And his form over his 3 seasons in the PL has been variable - hardly been banging on the door every time a squad has to be picked. Combined with Southgate trying to involve younger players it's hardly a surprise. And surely you no more want the England squad picked solely on form than solely on reputation? There's clearly a balance to strike. Maybe Southgate thinks including Loftus-Cheek, especially if he performs well, might nudge Sarri into considering him more?
pffft what nonsense! It's a conspiracy against watford! Everybody hates us! Didnt you get the memo?? Why isnt pereyra in the argie squad? Argentina hates watford. Why isnt holebas in the greece squad? Greece hates watford. Why isnt femenia in the spain squad? Spain hates watford. etc
Is this the same Troy Deeney people were saying was past it for us over the summer? Let alone England! Steve Holland - Southgate's assistant was at the Palace game. Chalobah would probably be in the squad if fully fit and might well be come October . I'd be more disappointed if I was Kabasele tbh - has Boyata really done better than him this season so far ?
Holebas retired from international football but I expect that was just a smokescreen/cover up. I expect the main reason he didn't want to join us was because he knew that was the end of his international career.
I had a tenner on 'the depths of his @rse' and it paid out. Only evens though so not dining out on it.
It's OK, we have Marcus Rashford who, as people have pointed out on this forum, is as good as Mbappe.