Funny i just read the Guardian revew and was coming here to post a link to it! https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/07/watford-norwich-city-premier-league-match-report
Deeney has without doubt, lost his power and presence on the pitch. He is a complex character. But, it should be forgotten what he has done for the club. Tough call for Pearson next game to drop him or not - more so as he has the captains armband. Get speed close to him either side and it can work. If that doesn't happen he looks a bit lost really at the moment. Shame.
Yes he really needs someone alongside him ... but of course we are not playing... 4-4-2 ... can leave us vulnerable... .so perhaps we should rest him....
To be fair to him, he's no mug. He's doing his best in a formation that really doesn't suit him - and I suspect that he would be the first to recognise that. If NP were to decide to drop him, he'd be professional enough to take it on the chin and simply try harder to get back in to the starting line up - or be happy being used as an impact sub. The ball really is in NP's court - he needs to either drop him or play to his strengths.
Troy isn't tall enough to win headers now against bigger and stronger defenders apart from Lovern. He also might be slower and less physical maybe which was his main asset.
If we are playing 1 up then it has to be Deeney. There is no like for like. We are playing this formation to be tighter in midfield and defence and have sacrificed quite a % of attacking intent. Deeney is also strong in defending set pieces. The idea, as we are riddled with self doubt, is to not give away easily what we have and hope to nick one. This has come about because of the loss of Delefeou as we have lost the balance with Sarr on the other side. He has tried various options and they haven't worked so he has plumped for 1 up top. I guess that if we are chasing a game he will change it, otherwise this looks the plan like it or not. For the most part Deeney is isolated but he is playing to what he has been told to do.