The Decline Of The Deeney Empire - Professor Steve Leo Beleck

The decline of Deeney is alarming, he looks finished to me. Although it's easy to see the difference in the level of his performances over the last few seasons, when you see the stats behind them it makes it even more damning:

Shots per game:
15/16 - 2.5
16/17 - 1.1
17/18 - 0.7

Key passes per game (passes leading to a shot):
15/16 - 1.5
16/17 - 1.1
17/18 - 0.5

Successful dribbles per game:
15/16 - 0.6
16/17 - 0.4
17/18 - 0.1

Tackles per game:
15/16 - 1.3
16/17 - 0.5
17/18 - 0.5

Aerials won per game:
15/16 - 6.2
16/17 - 5.2
17/18 - 3.4

In summary, based on this season's stats, Deeney will have 2 shots for every 3 games he plays (that's not even shots on target); make 1 pass that leads to a team mate shooting every 2 games; complete 1 dribble every 10 games; make 1 tackle every 2 games and win 3.5 headers each game.

What's the point of him even being on the pitch? The games just pass him by. Ok, he's not going to burst onto through balls like he used to in the Championship but it turns out he's now not even shooting, making important passes, tackling or even winning many headers. His whole spiel about being a nightmare to play against and bullying defenders is nonsense - an afternoon playing against Deeney will be one of the easiest most Premier League centre backs will have all season. Still, at least he always claps the fans and gives someone his boots at the end of the game, eh?

 

Hopefully Everton won't be studying these figures too closely!

 

Yeah and those boots are as good as new too

 

Should have sold him 2 years ago

Gray has an awful touch and finish and is a complete waste of £18m, but I'd still play him over Deeney

 

Those stats really are shocking. A total waste of space.

He definitely should have gone last January - at the latest.

 

Pretty damning, and I’ve been a Troy supporter up to now.

I think he’s a classic case of a player getting the the Premier League, working his balls off to prove he’s a Premier league standard striker, and then just sitting back believing his own hype from the one season when he actually performed.

I was actually suprised by how good he was in our first season, he proved to be a cleverer player than I’d ever given him credit for, but he has just sat back and expected to just happen automatically since.

I also think he’s got an unhealthy and weird obsession with being ‘the big man’, Just play football Troy, score goals, set team mates up, stop worrying about being a boxer.

 

I'd play Okaka over both of them. But I'm not a Portugese head coach with my head up my arse

 

Any stats available for weight differences?

 

He’s definitely picking up his red card stats though

 

As far as I know, we haven't won with him starting this season. I really can't see why he is picked over any striker.

 

Back on the Baileys!

 

You would have thought he would hold the ball up more but so far he's not contributing anything. He doesnt win the ball in the air, he's slow, he doesnt move show any movement off the ball and he rarely seems to be on the ball long enough to pass it to anyone. Its a shame but we should have sold him when Leicester were banding about silly money.

 

Marco doesn't like his name. Thinks it gives off the wrong signals to the team.

 

That's quite revealing. But I find it utterly appalling the s*** Deeney is given by fans on this forum.

He may not be as good as he was, but he does not deserve anything other than respect for what he's achieved at the club in the past.

Anyone that abuses him, is a total c***, IMHO.

 

I totally respect what he has done for us - is loce to have him over for Christmas dinner - but right now he isn't the answer.

It is actually sad that his firm has dropped so much. I honesty can't see any case for him starting for us at the moment

 

Did that on my phone hence the typos!

 

It's either him or Gray.......so this is why he's getting the nod. Neither are the answer though unfortunately.

 

Interesting. Where did you get these stats from?

 

If you want some, I'll give it ya.

 

Is that a Deeney impression?

 

Hope you aren't going to play the 'anyone who calls me nasty names has lost the argument' card ever again after that gem.

 

Got to say HB1, I'm not sure where you're seeing it, but I don't see a whole lot of '****' given to Deeney here, just recognition and discussion of how woefully he is underperforming. And has been for quite some time. It's a legitimate and immediate concern.

To say he "may not be as good as he was" is a cop out and a serious understatement at this point. And now he's decided to 'help' his team by getting himself a 4 match ban; his second multiple match ban of the season.

Wonderful, what professionalism and leadership!

 

He hasn't been his best this year, but he did miss pre season and hasn't played more than 2? in a row as a starter. Agreed partially his fault.

We also know he's limited up top by himself. He was average by himself under flores in our first prem season so I don't buy that he's particularly worse this year. I think those stats reflect that in our first season he played alongside a flying iggy.

The man is a Watford legend, and he gives his all. For me the only things hes drive wrong this season are the red cards. I've seen him be ineffective (Stoke) but I've also seen him change games off the bench, seen us fold twice as soon as he's subbed off, and for me he always gives more up top than gray. But I also accept he won't score many playing up front alone

 

Doesn't anyone one think that the stats presented in the OP are at least in part due to the formation Silva insists on playing? He hoped Gray would be the fast mobile goal scoring lone striker that he wants up top, but he isn't. And of course neither is Deeney who never has been. Silva should have swallowed his pride by now and played the two of them together, especially at two nil down at home to Huddersfield yesterday!

 

I disagree. He used to give his all and that's the Troy to remember. Sadly the recent moaning media manipulating lumping hulk is not the old Troy. It's sad but as his wealth has grown through real hard work his want to chase lost causes has gone. That is the part of his character that gets the crowd behind him. Without that he's a liability.

 

My first thought after the red card was that's Christmas sorted for him.

He is a million miles away from the player and man who returned from jail away at Huddersfield 5 years ago.

Think a move away would be good for everyone.

 

I thought he was pretty awesome in his first premier season. He showed a side to his game beyond the big man tag with intelligent play, vision, skilful touch and finishing ability. I believed he deserved the England call up at the time and I don't think I was the only one.

What's happened since is a travesty and he's never recovered from coming back overweight from that preseason. Real shame.

He should go for his own sake as well as the club's especially if the rumour is true that his contract matches the highest wage earner at the club.

 

Maybe that's part of the reason and perhaps he wins fewer headers because we play the ball on the floor more often.

But... There are other stats I didn't include that point towards his general lack of interest/involvement. He's well down on interceptions, clearances, even fouls committed as well as tackles. Those are the real killer ones for me - if for whatever reason you're significantly less involved in the attacking side of play, then you bust a gut defensively to help the team. He's down on all of these measures too which suggests to me he's just not that bothered or he's too unfit to be able to contribute defensively either.

 

I agree Deeney is in decline, but the formation Silva insists on certainly doesn't play to his, or Gray's, strengths.

 

I’d say it plays exactly to Gray’s strengths, I don’t think it’s Silvas fault, or the formations that Gray has missed a large number of easy chances.

 

I am not sure what constitutes a "legend" in other fans eyes, but for me, Deeney comes nowhere near legendary status, he has barely reached the first rung up that ladder. For me, he will be remembered as the player that thinks he is far better than he is, and has fallen well short of what we should expect from our Captain.

Pundits and potential suiters in the Premier League transfer market, cannot be doing much more than watching his YouTube vids from 3 to 5 years ago, because apart from a few months when we first got promoted his attitude has been poor, and his overall football has been incredibly poor.

I make a comparison with someone like Tommy Mooney who has been described as a Watford legend (although I wouldn't quite agree), who was perhaps of similar footballing ability in the era he was playing. Tommy was not the greatest of players, but you would never leave a game thinking that Mooney was anonymous, or terrible, or didn't try his best, etc, etc. We are saying all those things about Deeney now, almost every time he plays.