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Troy Deeney doesn’t seem to like Nottingham Forest very much, and it would appear as though he’s placed another Reds star in his sights for criticism.
Deeney notoriously leaves Forest players out of his Team of the Week even after brilliant results in the past, and there is definitely an axe to grind, it would seem.
Forest were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal on Sunday evening as the Gunners continued their solid start to the season in which they’re defending their title for the first time under Mikel Arteta.
Football is a very fickle game. Only weeks ago, Delap had scored in his second start for Forest against Aston Villa and people were suggesting the Reds might have hit the jackpot.
After yesterday’s defeat to Arsenal, Deeney has told Delap that he’s got a lot still to learn when it comes to leading the line in the Premier League.
He told TalkSPORT: “He’s got a lot of work to do, Liam Delap. I’m a big fan of Liam Delap as a human, but my God, you can’t just keep going, ‘I’m big, I’m going to run through people’.
“You need a little bit more class, a little bit more touch, and also to be calmer in front of the goal.
“I don’t know what more confidence these players need. You’ve gone to Chelsea, so, naturally, you’ve been around better players; your skill level has risen from your time at Ipswich.
“But now, since he’s gone to Forest, he looks like a deer in headlights.
‘Every time he’s in front of the goal, it’s like he’s tense, and he’s like, ‘What am I going to do?’
“Relax, you’ve just been playing with really good players. He’s missing big moments; maybe he needs that goal that goes in off his ass, and then he’s like, ‘Right, we’re off to races.’
“But right now, he needs to do a lot more. I don’t think Forest are too far away from a couple of wins, but will he get that time with this manager?”
Nobody is expecting Delap to be perfect after a handful of games. The striker played very little at Chelsea last season, and Forest fans need to be patient with him.
Deeney makes some good points, but to suggest he needs to curb his physical presence is a little bit harsh. He’s already showcased at Forest that he can show good touches with the ball and isn’t merely a bulldozer of a striker.