Martin O’Neill questions Troy Deeney’s managerial nous after Ollie Watkins comments
Martin O'Neill believes Troy Deeney's comments about Ollie Watkins suggests why the Watford legend did not last long at Forest Green.
Deeney was sacked as the club's manager in January after going six games without a win in charge of the League Two side.
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As a regular on talkSPORT, the former Premier League striker is known for his forthright opinions and recently discussed Aston Villa star Watkins suggesting he is 'a winger trying to be a striker.'
After scoring his 19th Premier League goal of the season in his side's 2-0 win at Arsenal, Watkins hit back at the former Birmingham City man on Instagram, saying: "Not bad for a winger trying to be a striker."
And speaking on White and Jordan, ex-Villa manager O'Neill was adamant about Watkins' best position when Deeney's opinion - which he said was not meant as a negative - was put to him.
"Maybe that's why Troy lasted six games as a manager, maybe he just didn't recognise a winger or a striker," O'Neill wondered out loud.
"Ollie Watkins has had a phenomenal season, absolutely phenomenal. I think it's, what is it, 19 league goals, 20 league goals?
"The next couple of seasons, I think, will determine if Ollie Watkins is the centre-forward that Aston Villa fans think he is at this minute, but he's been terrific."
O'Neill then tried to see where Deeney was coming from as he added: "I think the manager [Unai Emery] has helped him greatly, he's said to him don't do a lot of needless running.
"Maybe this is the point Troy was making, he found himself out on the wing a lot at times when he shouldn't have been. If he's going to be a centre-forward, this is where the goals are going to be scored."
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Forest Green's decision to sack Deeney, who won just two points, came just hours after he was handed a four-match ban by the EFL for improper conduct and using abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official.
Club owner Dale Vince then told talkSPORT Deeney's post-match outburst after defeat to Hartlepool was a factor in his decision.
Darren Bent believes that Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins should be named the Premier League player of the season
Deeney's evaluation of Watkins came after he said he'd prefer to start Brentford's Ivan Toney over the Villa man for England if need be.
His comments also came during the international break in March, but Watkins had clearly not forgotten what he said.
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The 28-year-old now sits on 26 goals in all competitions this season for Villa, his best scoring tally for the club since he joined in 2020.
Watkins' goal against Arsenal encapsulated his quality - a perfectly executed chip over David Raya after outmuscling Emile Smith Rowe.
His efforts have helped guide Villa to fourth in the Premier League as they eye a Champions League return for the first time since 1983 when they were the defending champions having beaten Bayern Munich to win what was then the European Cup.
England boss Gareth Southgate could also reward him with a spot in his squad for Euro 2024 this summer, with Watkins coming to the end of an excellent season.