‘For the first time in eight years I have been treated like a proper man’: Troy Deeney gives a telling insight into Nigel Pearson’s management style, and says he loves ‘my way or the highway’ approach under new boss
- Troy Deeney has opened up on Nigel Pearson’s no-nonsense management style
- Watford have been given a hope of survival since Pearson took over the job
- They beat Aston Villa 3-0, and Deeney has now scored three in two matches
Troy Deeney has giving a telling insight into the managerial skills of Nigel Pearson that have given Watford hope of survival from what seemed a lost cause.
It is apparent that there is now a ‘my way or the highway’ philosophy at the club. The team is the beneficiary and Aston Villa have become the latest victims.
Deeney has scored three times in the last two matches and the 3-0 win against a Villa side in a worrying freefall came with two goals scored when Watford were down to 10 men following the dismissal of Adrian Mariappa for two yellow cards in the 57th minute.
Troy Deeney has scored three in two, and gave an insight into his new manager’s style
Deeney is loving the ‘my way or the highway’ approach employed by new boss Nigel Pearson
‘If you don’t buy into what the gaffer wants, you won’t be here,’ said Deeney, who is clearly responding to Pearson’s no-nonsense approach.
‘He has hammered me a few times but he has been brilliant with me,’ said Deeney who put Watford ahead just before half-time and then converted a controversial penalty after keeping his nerve during a lengthy delay for a VAR review.
‘For the first time in eight years I have been treated like a proper man.’
And Deeney can see light at the end of what looked like a very dark tunnel at one stage this season.
Wins over Manchester United and then Villa with a draw at Sheffield United have given Watford hope. ‘The other teams around us are dropping like a stone and we are on that forward momentum,’ said Deeney who listed the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley to come back to give Watford what he called a ‘proper’ squad.
‘When you are captain you do as you are told,’ said Deeney. ‘If you are treated like a man and with respect them you reciprocate that.
‘That is what the gaffer has done. I am not even fit yet. I know people don’t give a s**t. When you are playing people want you fit and ready but I have been out three and a half months and I have come straight back into the Premier League ‘
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith also questioned the sportsmanship of Watford as the move that brought the controversial penalty came with Villa defender Matt Targett laid out on the pitch injured.
But the truth was Villa had – and lost – possession while Targett was injured and they were also second best – as goalkeeper Tom Heaton admitted. ‘It was frustrating because I thought we were a long way off,’ said Heaton.
Watford now seem to have hopes of survival after a disastrous start to the 2019-20 campaign
‘On the back of a really good win against Norwich we were looking to step on but we didn’t do.
‘We are looking to sort that out.’
But the last word to Deeney, a Birmingham City fan at heart. He went toe-to-toe with Jack Grealish on several occasions but had sympathy for the midfield man.
‘He is carrying that club on his shoulders,’ said Deeney. ‘And Villa are a big club. But after the match he gave me his shirt for my young brother who is a Villa fan.’
