“They’re a different animal because they’ve changed their manager yet again”.
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Dyche can see similarities between the pair in their battle to reach the top, although he believes the 28-year-old Hornets captain and Gray are very different strikers on the pitch.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mazzarri added: “I would be proud and really happy if Deeney went to the national team”. “We’re at Burnley and money is not easy to come by here”.
The Watford right-back had to be replaced after 51 minutes of the club’s 3-1 win over Manchester United last weekend with a shoulder problem, having earlier set up the opening goal for Etienne Capoue.
“I respect the England manager and his decision, and I am biased as he is one of my players”.
“Maybe they will be a little bit aggressive towards us and I think it is going to be a hard away game”.
And the Clarets chief remembers the moment he realised Deeney was ready to become the main man at Vicarage Road.
“I said to him, “It’s gone, don’t even think about it” and he went on to play a very good game”.
“Troy was sitting next to me and I just looked at him as he said, “Me”.
“We just need to reflect and understand how they won and how well they played”. Indeed, Dyche’s men have won nine and lost just one of their last 15 home league matches between the Championship and the Premier League and they face a Watford side who have won just two of their first six games of the new season in all competitions, going W2-D1-L2 in the Premier League. They won against Liverpool and that shows they are strong. “But the real step forward I want to see is how we will behave against a club like Burnley”.
The “Ginger Mourinho”, who tried to sign Deeney for Burnley in 2014 but quickly discovered he was out of the Clarets’ reach financially, said: “Troy knew the respect I had for him and he still does”.
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“I think Andre is still learning and there are things from other strikers he can develop and use wisely, but I don’t like players trying to model themselves very close to other players, you’ve got to learn the game for yourself and then add other things in”.
