Troy’s story shows difference in class

STEP UPWAS SHOCK FOR CHERRIES

IF I was Gianfranco Zola, I wouldn’t pick up the phone between now and the end of August. Not with a player like Troy Deeney on his books. He has to be the best striker in the Championship now. Last year, he didn’t start playing until September when he came out of prison for affray. He was just getting himself sharp, getting his confidence in front of goal.

Now, he looks the complete package. He’s big, he’s strong, he scores all different kinds of goals. He works his guts off for the team. And he’s a cleverer player than people give him credit for – he’s very good at seeing a pass.

You saw it all in Watford’s 6-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend – it was an exceptional performance from the lad.

Brutal

He’s ready to make that step up to the Premier League and Watford will be desperate to hang on to him because they wouldn’t be the same team without him. If they want to challenge for automatic promotion, Deeney is key.

On the other side of the coin, what a rude awakening for Bournemouth, who won their first game 2-0 and matched Watford first half.

Unfortunately, they found out the hard way that, when you step up a level, every mistake you make is brutally punished.

I remember I took Notts County up from the Third Division to the Second, then straight up to the top flight.

We weren’t far away, but we were always out of our depth.What we found – and I’m sure the players at Yeovil, Bournemouth and Doncaster will say the same – is that you notice a huge difference in the ability of strikers.

In the lower leagues, strikers need a few chances to score a goal. In the Champi- onship, they might need only one. Bournemouth’s defenders won’t have faced anyone like Troy Deeney last year.

When that third one went in, I’m sure Eddie Howe wanted to get off home. He probably knew they were done for. But his players chased the game and ended up getting picked off.

If the top teams have a bad game where they ship two or three, they just shut up shop and think ‘Right, let’s start again next week’.

That was a bit naive by the Cherries, but they displayed enough promise to show that, if they can tighten up and stop making silly mistakes, they can be a force to be reckoned with - as they showed yesterday against Wigan.

PICTURE: Action Images Win of the week goes to Derby beat Brighton who don’t 2-1 away. I still fancy them for Nigel Clough the top six, but tent has to be the manager in most consiscut costs, the league. sell his He’s had to he gets best players. no real financial Every year, never moaned. backing, but Other managers he’s gone to the Press might and said have they were about how disappointed Just not being given this summer, this or that. appointed he must have to lost John been so disright-back Brayford, – especially the young down the when he looks road and sees £2.5m on one Forest spending player. But he’s on with his job, just got squads built competitive year after year that’s a and great credit to him.DEADLY: Watford’s Troy Deeney scores Watford’s fifth goal against Bournemouth