Troy Deeney faces the prospect of becoming a Championship player again after suffering relegation with his beloved Watford.The Hornets have enjoyed a topsy-turvy run in the Premier League over the last five years and this season has been more of the same with no less than four managers taking to the dugout.However, sacking Nigel Pearson with two games against Manchester City and Arsenal to go did little to save the Vicarage Road club as they crashed to relegation with back-to-back defeats.
Watford suffer relegation
They will now join Bournemouth and Norwich City in returning to the Championship, but there has been speculation about whether their captain will be joining them at the age of 32.
Deeney has plied his trade at Watford for the last decade, amassing almost 400 appearances and scoring 133 goals with 47 coming in the Premier League.
And his importance to the club has continued to be apparent this season with a solid 10 league goals, the most of any Watford player, including a strike at Arsenal on the final day.
Deeney reflects on relegation
According to the Hertfordshire Mercury, Deeney reacted to relegation by saying: “You’ve got to look at the bigger picture. It’s not a today moment or last week, it’s a reflection of the whole year.
"We haven’t been good enough at both ends of the pitch and it showed again today. It’s frustrating, it’s disappointing, it’s heartbreaking for the people that work behind the scenes."
But amidst the sullen looks on the Emirates Stadium pitch, Sky Sports were keen to ask the Watford captain, who is always refreshingly candid, about where he sees his future in the game.
Deeney's funny Sky interview
In fact, Deeney was so candid on this particular occasion that he jokingly swore at the Sky reporter for implying that he was old, which made for an incredibly funny clips that's gone viral on Twitter.
Deeney amusingly blurted out: "I’m not that old, cheeky b*****d!
"Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t swear. I’m 32, it’s just a clean up – I’ve been playing for the last month with a knee injury, but I just wanted to be there and help the boys.
"Sorry for swearing, sorry nan, I know you’re watching. Do I give up? No. You know my back story, you know where I’m from. I’m going to keep going to the end.
"If it’s next week, if it’s two years from now, I’m going to say I had a good time and made my kids proud. That’s all that matters.”
GIVEMESPORT's Kobe Tong says
Whether Deeney decides to call time on his Watford career or not, there's one thing that I know for certain: he's been a truly incredible servant for the club.
Plus, you can't fault his entertainment value in the Premier League both on and off the pitch.
In a world where professional players are media trained within an inch of their lives for good or for ill, it's always refreshing to hear Deeney speaking his mind whenever he steps in front of the camera.
Even if that manifests itself as calling out Arsenal for a lack of cojones, which somewhat backfired at the weekend, you've got to credit him for holding nothing back.
Sure, you've got to walk the walk if you talk the talk, but I'm inclined to think Deeney does exactly that. Fair play, Troy.