I mean Deeney gets his first long term injury and it coincides with Watford having an anomalously bad run of form. I wondered then how much was due to the loss of Deeney. Deeney returns from injury, Watford are good again. I think it was all just Deeney. If I could be bothered to put together the stats it would be very hard to argue against it.
We have missed a leader on the pitch, and having him back has been a bonus. But he is not the sole reason for our diabolical start to this season. People on here have gone over this many times, and you can point the blame at several key things. Poor management, poor pre season preparation, weak mentality, player attitude - the list is almost endless. Losing Deeney was a blow, but the fact he started the season with an injured ankle is beyond me. It should of been sorted sooner than it was, and the fact he was running on it made it worse. Had Deeney been fully fit, there is no real way to tell if Gracia would of worked out, or QSF's appointment would of even happened. It's how we started, and we cannot change that. Yes we are playing better at the moment and the feel good factor is back, and I put that mainly down to Pearson and Co. and working with the players much closer than other managers did. Was it a lack of effort before under QSF/Gracia? Maybe. But we didn't play like we wanted to go down. The slapping at Manchester City was pathetic and all the players had nowhere to hide after that. QSF had no idea how to motivate the side - and although he drilled us better defensive. we were still piss poor up front. Not that much has changed even now. but with Sarr playing much more freely he is getting forward more. So Deeney was a miss yes - but he is not the reason we had a poor start. In my view.
Who knows. The club need to do a full investigation as to how & why the rot set in, so it can never happen again. Sarr has given the team a new outlet & his raw qualities are also a big factor. Credit to NP for having so much faith in him so soon. Interesting to read other fans now backing us to do the escape. Let's hope they're right. At the moment I still need a little bit more convincing.
Deeney is perfect for a relegation dog fight, and he is part of the reason why we are starting to pick-up results (along with Nige and the form of Sarr). I do think he has to play at his absolute maximum to be effective, and after 5 years in the Premier, he should be a back-up option rather than a starter.
Despite his goals yesterday still think he's gone a long way back from his championship days useful as a captain and defending set pieces, anyone confident he would have scored if not pushed over for the penalty? My issue with him and was interesting to hear him say in his interview that Pearson is setting him goals/tragetas which other coaches weren't. Does this mean Pearson wants him to actually get into goal scoring positions rather than shying way from showing in the box
I know you’re joking, but seeing those words written down, even sarcastically, makes me feel physically sick.
Hmm. Improved performances on the pitch. Still think he has some way to go to be a good captain. Roaring at the Rookery during positive moments seems to be what he does to mask his drawbacks as a leader. It’s going to take more than 2 penalties and a scuffed tap-in to convince me he’s a good striker though. Good when things are going our way but when the chips are down, like against Sheffield United, he doesn’t do the basics of his job well enough.
Is that ConnieBear or whatever her Twitter handle is? Yeah she posted a very small vid of herself in the bath.... i mean, yeah.
Gone back over his performance against Villa. Troy was involved with virtually every decent chance we had. Dominated the two centre backs of Villa. Won headers, decent control, good passes from his feet and head. Should of buried his chance earlier but was in the right position. A real captains performance and he will only get better. Goals breed confidence, don't care if they're scuffs or penalties they all count. Is he our best central forward? 100%. Gray has no control, he's weak in a challenge, doesn't win headers, doesn't link play, has no composure. A lower league player who has got lucky and quite frankly a waste of a shirt. If any club wants him he should be gone ASAP.
I’m not discounting his performance against Villa. I’m not doubting he is our best striker currently (unless Joao Pedro is introduced and shows different). I’m saying one swallow doesn’t makes a summer as far as Deeney is concerned. I have no problems with him when the team are in full flow - but I look more to him as a captain when the going gets tough - and in those moments he drifts into CM, throws his arms about and is behind play. And then roars at the Rookery/Away End when we get a corner to mask it all and show what a ‘leader’ he is. It’s about more than that. But I think he knows that the majority of our fanbase are sucked in by that kind of thing. He’s started an uphill curve in the last two home games - but was dreadful against Sheffield United. I hope he can change that going forward.
Yes I can see that opinion. But at this point we have nobody at all who can replace him. I put in another thread that Gray and Success should be moved on to find a real threat for Deeneys spot. His display going forward against Sheffield United was inept. But the whole team going forward that day was poor really.
Again I agree. But this thread isn’t about picking him because we have no one better. It seems to be about eulogising Deeney regardless of that.
More so than the performances, the loss of Deeney exposed the lack of connection between most of the playing staff and the fans. Deeney gets the fans going, which pumps up the players. He leads from the front, which inspires those behind him to graft harder. You need great skill to play in the EPL but without heart, character or resilience you're in a lot of trouble. Sure he's about as slow as a footballer solving a cryptic crossword, but I do think the team is markedly better when he plays. And that's the most important thing.
WE’VE GOT SUPER NIGEL PEARSON, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED. WITH CATHCART AT THE BACK, DEENEY IN ATTACK, HE’S GONNA KEEP US IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.......
