FERGIE FRETS AS HORNETS BUZZ
Deeney’s double is delightful
BLACKPOOL’S interim player-manager Barry Ferguson questioned if he is cut out for management after his side were humiliated at Watford.
Ferguson has presided over six winless games since taking the reins, but the Seasiders’ run extends to 16 games and their plunge towards League One shows no sign of slowing.
And the score could and probably should have been worse for Blackpool as they produced an abject defensive performance against Watford.
Ferguson said:“As long as I’ve been here I’ve given everything I’ve got.
“The vast majority (of the players) didn’t do that here, but if I can’t motivate a team then I've got a major problem as well.
“I need to look myself in the mirror and say ‘can I really do this job?’
“People tell me I can, but you need to ask (the players) that.
“The players have let themselves down. There are five contracted players for next season here. The rest are out of contract.
“If they want to get themselves a club they certainly haven’t done themselves any justice that’s for sure.
“We simply were not good enough. We got beaten by a better team.
“All I can do is put together training sessions and work on things like corner kicks and freekicks and go from there.
“You can go through things as long as you want, but if you don’t pick up your man they will score goals and that's what happened to us.”
Watford went ahead when home debutant Mathias Ranégie rose unchallenged to power in Daniel Pudil’s corner.
Last season the Hornets narrowly missed promotion, playing a swift, short passing game.
But under Beppe Sannino they are more typically English with Pudil and Ikechi Anya crossing for two powerful strikers – 6ft 5ins Ranégie and the powerful Troy Deeney.
Deeney doubled their lead when his deflected strike lifted over goalkeeper Matt Gilks, before Blackpool contributed further to their own downfall with a woeful third.
Gary MacKenzie lost possession to Ranégie, who received a return pass from Cristian Battocchio and slotted home with scarcely imaginable ease to leave Blackpool further red-faced.
Deeney’s second shot down a brief Blackpool improvement, as no defender was anywhere near him.
He collected Battocchio’s pass and curled a shot into the top corner to seal Watford's fourth consecutive home win – all with clean sheets.
For all Watford’s dominance; Blackpool contributed to their defeat.
Sannino said: “I’m happy for Ranégie, but also for Troy for the kind of goals they scored. They were very nice goals and I enjoyed them.
“In the box it is very important to have physical qualities, but sometimes we need more agility in other games.
“But don’t only watch how tall a player is, but what is in the heart.
“For English football you need a bit heart and I hope Ranégie will have this.
“He scored two goals, but I’m not focused on a striker’s goals, I’m focused on their work on top of that.
“It isn't the moment to speak about the play-offs, because I'm not thinking about the rest of the season right now.
“I have two days off and I'm going to Italy.
“All I’m thinking about right now is my flight home and that’s about it. After 75 days away I will be back at home.
“On Tuesday I will be back at Watford and I will start to think about the future and what the rest of the season can hold for us as a club.”