[RELEASED] Troy Deeney

Can we not have posts full of glee please? If he's going, and you got your way, don't be a twåt about it.

 

Yeah, it is strange. All that I can put it down to was that there were too many questions being asked by the media and the club and Troy wanted to quell any groundless speculation.

 

If he’s going it’s hardly the fans who forced him out is it? He’s going because it’s time for him to go, nobody has ‘got their way’ it’s just a logical outcome for all involved.

 

I see you've not yet posted this same wording on the "Transfer Talk & Suggestions" or "Transfer List" page.
I'd be grateful if you could recify this oversight immediately as I believe there are 3 forum readers who've not yet seen this important narrative.
Thanks. TuT.

 

I think if this is the end game for the club with Deeney, it’s a shame it couldn’t have been done earlier in the summer and some sort of testimonial game arranged - whatever your current thoughts on him, we would have all liked to have gone and shown him the respect and praise for his time at the club.

As much as I think this is ultimately the right move, it’s just a shame it’s being done in a bit of a ‘through the back door’ manner. I can only assume Deeney wanted to give himself the fullness of time to try and get game time. With the window closing in a few days, he probably has accepted the inevitable.

 

My take is the club didn’t want to force him out in his final year (given his overall status at the club) so were just happy to have him around and let him run his contract down. Troy probably still thought he could get starts, and when it became clear he wouldn’t that’s when discussions were had. As you say, it’s a shame these discussions were not had sooner so he could have a proper send off. If that is how it played out then I guess the club probably thought they were doing the right thing, but it would’ve been kinder in the long run (for us fans as well) to have been up front sooner.

A bit like not dumping a girlfriend you want to dump because you don’t want to hurt their feelings, but instead being horrible to them so they dump you.

 

Self important delusions, like everything associated with the cult of Troy

 

I wouldn’t hold your breath .

 

Okay, got what you wanted/what you wanted to happen has happened. Message stands - don't be a **** about it.

 

A bit of a **** move from the club, why sign Fletcher to effectively play the Deeney role if you have no intention of letting Deeney go? Deeney probably should have taken the hint, but I suppose a lot of professional footballers would have that pig-headed belief they can force their way into the team

 

I think a testimonial next summer has to be arranged. Troy leaving and not getting a moment with the fans would be a travesty, even though I think it's the right time for everyone to move on.

 

Nobody is? How about we let people on here comment their thoughts before assuming what they will be??

So far (nearly) everyone here seems to be saying it’s the right move but they are a bit sad about it aren’t they? HB1 he said he’s not sure it’s the right move - but I haven’t seen anyone say ‘good riddance’ or similar.

It’s hardly about anyone ‘getting their own way’!

 

Most people with an average IQ or higher haven’t wanted him in the team for a while, because it was actively harming our club. There are only a handful of posters on here, if that, who actively dislike the guy. It’s simultaneously possible to not want him in the side but also have nothing personal against the bloke, as well as act with dignity now the inevitable has happened, you know.

 

This is why it is imperative we have a good season. You just know that if we go down the Deeney fan boys will be ruminating on it as if he would have made any difference whatsoever.

 

Don’t get this, unless it’s partly Troy’s decision. That leaves us with Sick note King, Pedro, Fletcher and an unproven Dennis. If you want some money off the books get rid of the likes of Cleverly, Gosling and Cathcart who are just not up to it.

 

Several thoughts based on what I've read here, in no particular order:

1) MLS. MLS is a rational destination for him. However, MLS has some bizarre salary administration rules. A player at Troy salary would almost certainly need to be classified as a "Designated Player" (which essentially means he costs a lot and is paid a lot). Teams are limited to 3 DPs. There are all sorts of arcane rules around things like Allocation Money which can create salary cap space, "buy down" DPs so another can be added, etc., which I don't claim to even remotely understand. The net of it is that there are limited slots available and not every team spends as much as they can. If Troy were a big name in the USA (he isn't) or someone who could transform a side's chances, he might have a shot. As he's not really either, I'd rate this as a low possibility. It gets even lower given that (I just googled this) the MLS transfer window is closed. So I *think* that means he'd have to be a free agent, which would mean Watford would buy him out/pay him off. The only way I see that happening is if Troy's agent has worked out an MLS deal for a few million. Then he might take a lesser payout from Watford to go collect those monies. I think this is a non-starter.

2) Loan "back home" to the Birmingham area, one of the clubs up there pays a small portion of his wages. This is moderately likely. Not sure how it'd work with his media aspirations. I'd rate this moderately likely, btu I don't know how much interest there is at places like Birmingham City or WBA.

3) Retires. His contract is amended to one which stretches out several more years, but at a reduced rate. I'm totally making up these numbers, but it could work out from an FFP standpoint if the club agrees to pay Troy say 900K per year for 4 years instead of the 3.38 he's due this year. Frees up cash for us and smooths things out for FFP. He retires and becomes a full time pundit. A deal like this might also allow additional smoothing of the remaining non-amortised parts of his original signing fee. This could have a positive balance sheet impact of several millions in the current year. This I think is the most likely scenario.

 

Doesn't the reference to 'mutual respect' suggest that he has at least had some input into it?

 

I am really worried about him leaving, who is going to pick the team and decide when to change manager, and all the other things we are told TD controls at the club??

 

As has been said it’s a rather unusual announcement. I can only think it’s been done to see if any clubs would be interested in signing Troy on a free etc.

He’s clearly no longer good enough to start. I wouldn’t object, in theory, to him staying as a bench option if he was accepting of a bit part role. However, it doesn’t make financial sense to have a sub on his salary so this seems like the best move.

He’s been an integral part of our recent history so it would be good if there’s a farewell at the Vic in some form or another.

 

I hope any mutual termination includes a gaging clause to stop him airing the clubs business all over talksport

 

I know your comment was a direct reply but I don’t understand what the club have done wrong in those circumstances.

Troy has been very good for Watford over the years, but let’s not forget the Pozzos have been very good for Troy too. Under previous owners we’d not be discussing testimonials and how high esteem he holds the club, he’d have been sold off after his first good season.

The club have replaced him because he’s 33 years old, not the player he was and needs replacing. In terms of letting him go, who’s to say Deeney wants to go? No disrespect to the fella, he ain’t getting £80k a week anywhere else now and his next contract is his last, so I can’t see him asking for a transfer. If I was him I’d be letting the club show their hand and if they want me off the wage bill, then fine, pay me up and off I go.

The Pozzos are businessmen though and have probably hoped that someone would come in, meet their valuation of him and accept it. Again, we don’t know if anyone has enquired over the last year or so (unsubstantiated click bait articles aside)

That said, it’s a strange article to put out and it would be a shame if his legacy is damaged by issues going on behind the scenes. I’m probably reading too much into it though

 

Could be, but Fock me, look what we are left with? Even at Troy’s tender age he should be getting more game time than he is. I’d worry if Munoz has had any input into this saying Troys chances of being picked are limited as he himself is pretty clueless.

 

I think the point is that on the face of it the club probably haven’t forced him out at all, they just decided to let him run his contract down quietly. Troy probably thought he’d be more involved than he has and hence we’ve found ourselves where we are now.

 

Pedro, Sarr, Sema, Dennis, Fletcher, King, Cucho?

What do you mean more game time? Ahead of who?

The Head Coach isn't starting Deeney, therefore he's had a huge input on this

 

Deeney to be announced as our new head coach I've heard.

 

Were you asleep for all of last season?

There are about 5 strikers ahead of Troy in terms of ability now. You’d have to question the sanity of any manager actively picking him at this stage, not the other way round.

 

Agreed - Troy has been linked with moves away countless times, but only this time they release an official statement?

 

The time feels right for him to leave us.

I hope he will be allowed to do so with dignity.

While sadly now he appears a shadow of his former self, he has given all of us so many great memories over the past decade. We all cheered and celebrated his goals on our journey to the play-off final, promotion and to the cup final, and whatever our thoughts are about him as a contributing force now, we were all happy to be part of the ride when he was in his prime. For that reason I believe he deserves our thanks.

For the record, I respect the argument that he could still have something to give this season, but I think his place in our squad could be better used.

These past few weeks have also been a lesson to us all, myself included, in terms of actually waiting to see how events play out rather than a default position of assuming the worse. Not long ago many people thought we’d have an awful transfer window and start the season with Deeney up top because Xisco was a mere puppet in the bigger scheme of things. Instead it seems Troy may be on his way, we are playing a generally more exciting and pacier style (well, in home games at least) and signing the likes of Sissoko (tbc), Dennis, Rose, Kucka, Tufan, King and so on.

I feel these are exciting times for us, especially if we can sort the away form out.

 

Only reason I can think it's already out with journos who've said they're going to reveal it and the club's media people have tried to get ahead of the story.

 

Biggest legend the club has had in the 21st century, and his goals will be talked for years to come. It's been time to move on for a little while now, but he deserves the respect I'm sure he'll get from the vast majority of Watford fans.

I'd be surprised if any player surpasses his goal tally for us in any of our lifetimes.

 

Whether you like him or loathe him Troy will go down as a club legend alongside the likes of Blissett, Helguson, Callahan, GT, Doyle’s, Gibbs, Jenkins (the old one), the list goes on.

He has been absolutely incredible for us. He rehabilitated himself after his conviction and became the forward that I don’t think any of us had ever imagined he would when we signed him from Walsall.

I cried with joy the day he scored against Leicester. I cried again the day he scored his first premier league goal against Leicester, although this was more out of relief as I so wanted him to succeed in the premier league. He stayed loyal when other heads were turned and he has been a great ambassador for the club.

Yes his powers have waned over the last two seasons, but his determination has not.

I think it’s the right time to go, but I will never not look back at his time with us fondly.

Thanks for the memories Troy.

 

Ronaldo is rejoining United. I doubt any journo’s care about Deeney being paid off right now.

 

Harsh on Jurado.

 

I don't agree, actually. He IS Watford as far as the media and most other fans are concerned. There's bound to be some degree of interest.