TROY DEENEY has taken on the role of columnist for SunSport.
And now, as well as opening up on racist abuse and bumping into Arsenal rivals in Sainsbury’s, the Watford captain has revealed some of his footballing favourites…
Troy Deeney revealed Martin Atkinson whispers ‘you’re ugly’ during gamesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
FAVOURITE REFEREE
Andre Marriner and Watford’s Troy Deeney are both from BirminghamCredit: PA:Press Association
ANDRE MARRINER and I are both from Birmingham and we have a laugh. He’ll tell me I’m a softie if I fall over.
We’ve all got egos and some refs you clash with, personality-wise — but Martin Atkinson is also great.
He’ll whisper at you and tell you you’re ugly. He makes me laugh.
I thought he was retiring three years ago but he’s still going!
Hopefully he’ll still be there when we get back in the Premier League.
BEST EMERGING STAR
Troy Deeney reckons Mason Greenwood has unlimited potentialCredit: PA:Press Association
MASON GREENWOOD is unreal – two-footed and just the way he strikes it.
Outside of Harry Kane there’s not a more consistent clean striker of the ball in the Premier League.
You never see Kane drag a shot and the Manchester United youngster is in the same category – minimal backlift, too.
If he keeps his feet on the ground, he can be whatever he wants to be. I hope he’s getting looked after.
BEST WIND-UP MERCHANT
Jamie Vardy is a wind-up merchant even when scoring against Manchester City, according to DeeneyCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
IT takes a wind-up merchant to know one — and I know Jamie Vardy is good.
He gets under opponents’ skin. It’s the one who always scores against your team who winds you up and Vardy is very good at it and he knows it.
He’ll score, even against Manchester City and he’s like ‘ooh, I scored against you again!’
MOST AWKWARD OPPO
Deeney hates playing against Chelsea’s Kurt ZoumaCredit: AP:Associated Press
I’VE always hated playing against Kurt Zouma — he’s a big accidental lump.
He’ll elbow you in the head and land on your ankle, without meaning it and he’d say ‘sorry, sorry’.
He’s tough to play against — he’s improving and there’s more to come. Thiago Silva will help him.
MOST INTIMIDATING BOSS
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp eyeballs opponentsCredit: AP:Associated Press
LIVERPOOL’S Jurgen Klopp does the halfway-line stare-down when you’re warming up.
He always does it to the opposition and I find it funny. If a man looking at you intimidates you as a professional footballer then you’ve got a problem! I think it’s a superstition of his.
Pep Guardiola gives me a bit, too. Last season he was telling Eric Garcia ‘don’t get close’ and he got close to me and I went down and got a free-kick.
Pep says ‘you do that every time’ and I say ‘yeah but he hasn’t learnt has he?’
They won 4-0 though — and I think their average against us was about 7-0.
Troy Deeney joins The Sun as our new hard-hitting columnist with Watford star to give you the inside track in football
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
