Time is right for Deeney’s Troy Story to come to an end
Much was made of Troy Deeney’s declaration he could have played his final Watford match after the Hornets’ relegation to the Championship was confirmed last month.
In reality, it was just Troy being Troy, something Watford fans have become used to over the last decade. The point he was trying to make was that even he would not be exempt from scrutiny when the inevitable post-mortem got underway. But his comments were seized upon with many choosing to interpret he would not be prepared to follow Watford into the second tier. Less likely was the notion the Hornets would not want their talisman and captain to spearhead next season’s promotion push.
So it was a surprise to learn this week that both parties are happy to go their separate ways this summer. That according to Adam Leventhal of The Athletic, who reported that Deeney’s representatives are looking for a new club for their client. Watford, meanwhile, would entertain offers for their longest-serving player. Something which would have been unthinkable until now.
But this summer there is an air of change at Vicarage Road. After five seasons in the Premier League, Watford are back where they started under the Pozzos eight years ago; a second-tier side looking to escape the Championship rat race. There is an argument to be made that the club have rested on their laurels somewhat and that is how they’ve gone from never truly being in danger of relegation to slipping out the top-flight without prior warning.
So heads will be on the block. It’s anticipated much-maligned technical director Filippo Giraldi will relinquish his role — though stay in WD18 in some capacity — while long-serving players Adrian Mariappa, Heurelho Gomes and José Holebas have moved on.
But could Deeney really be next?
At a time when the club are making the most of his decade’s service with a five-part YouTube documentary, it had seemed unlikely. If Watford were going to place their faith in anyone to drag this group back up at the first attempt that player would surely have been Deeney. The man who has seen it all and outlasted 11 managers — and one of those twice — might be viewed as a critical component in setting the standards and maintaining the culture of the club. After all, he scored 65 goals in three Championship seasons before promotion to the Premier League. If that Deeney is still a member of Vladimir Ivić’s squad, he could be a huge coup.
But then is he part of the problem or part of the solution? On the field at least, the answer is the former. Deeney isn’t the player he once was. While his return to the side in 2019/20 coincided with an upturn in form, it’s impossible to say with any certainty whether there was any correlation or if it was purely coincidental. Equally, Watford had been that wretched it took until December 22 to pick up their second league win of the season. Arguably, the only way was up. But this is a huge part of Deeney’s legend. He’s viewed as the totemic figurehead of this club, the man who leads by example, drags others along with him, roughs up defenders and says it how it is. That’s all very well and good — if you’re still performing on the field.
What we can say with certainty is he laboured in front of goal in 2019/20. Though it wasn’t only Deeney who came up short. His ten goals — five of which were penalties — accounted for 27.8 per cent of all Watford’s league strikes last season. Only relegated Norwich (26) and Crystal Palace (21) found the back of the net fewer times. No-one comes out of the wreckage of last season with much glory and certainly not the Hornets’ forwards.
Deeney’s biggest problem is his lack of mobility. He isn’t a ‘lump’ in the same way Andy Carroll is — a head on a stick who can really only compete for aerial duels and little else — but he’s getting that way. Ismaïla Sarr copped a lot of flack for the accuracy of his crossing during Project Restart. In reality, the club’s record signing was putting a lot of deliveries into good areas, but no-one got there in time. Watford looked markedly more dangerous when Danny Welbeck was included in the side. The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward has been blighted by injury but his pace and mobility made him a threat in behind. It’s been a long time since you could say that about Deeney.
Much has been made of Deeney’s physical transformation since promotion to the Premier League in 2015. He is, in his own words, leaner than ever. It’s evident from his social media accounts that he puts in a tremendous amount of work away from the club-mandated program. No-one is accusing him of not being fit enough. But there is a legitimate case to answer as to whether he has put on too much muscle mass, making him bulkier and slower.
On one hand, that physical change has had its advantages. On his day, Deeney bullies defenders — see his display against Arsenal in 2017 and the now-infamous ‘Cojones’ comments. But Premier League defenders have largely wisened up to the tough guy act. With that threat neutralised, there’s not much else in his locker. He certainly isn’t going to get his head down and drive at defences like he did when scoring against Birmingham City on the first day of the 2013/14 season. You only have to compare pictures of Deeney then to now in order to see the physical difference.
Moving Deeney on would be a difficult sell. He is the club’s third-highest scorer with 133 goals and this is his testimonial year. He is still a hugely popular figure at Vicarage Road, albeit a more divisive one than at any point since completing his time at Her Majesty’s Pleasure in 2012.
But this is an issue that needs to be nipped in the bud. If Deeney scores the goals to fire the Hornets back to the Promised Land, it will be considerably harder to move him on. In fact, you can guarantee he won’t go quietly. That is a PR own goal Watford will be desperate to avoid.
Watford have to break this umbilical cord sooner rather than later. Doing so as part of the rebuild following relegation seems like the most palatable option for all parties. Especially if reported interest from the Premier League is credible. Graciously allowing their most-recognisable player to enjoy one last crack at the top-flight would be a suitable way to sever the ties of ten emotional years. Most importantly, it would give Watford the chance to start again.