Troy Deeney and Neil Custis had an entertaining exchange on talkSPORT.
The Watford striker and newest talkSPORT pundit went head-to-head with The Sun’s journalist on Monday’s Sports Breakfast show, as they clashed over Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the media’s portrayal of Paul Pogba.
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Pogba has faced his latest dosage of criticism after his ‘stupid mistake’ that saw United suffer a 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
Those were the words of the player himself, with the Frenchman fronting up to his blunder after a needless challenge on Hector Bellerin, which practically handed Gunners the win as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck from the penalty spot.
But, overall, it was a really poor performance from the entire Red Devils team, who looked a shadow of the side that thumped RB Leipzig 5-0 in the Champions League last week.
It was also Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 100th match at the wheel, which ended with Arsenal claiming their first win at Old Trafford since 2006, and left United facing up to their worst start at home since 1972/73.
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Pogba dominated the headlines after the defeat, and Watford striker Deeney took Man United correspondent Custis to task over the media’s focus on the Frenchman, while team captain Harry Maguire escapes the same level of criticism.
And it all got a bit heated…
Deeney: “You spoke earlier about leaders and Solksjaer, but who takes accountability for it, for when the lads go from a 5-0 win to losing 1-0 in the manner they did? Who’s accountable for that, players, Solskjaer, the club’s transfers, who do you think it is?”
Custis: “Well, I don’t think it’s transfer policies, I think that’s an easy one if people don’t want to criticise Solskjaer or the players.
“There should be accountability in major players like Pogba, and I keep going on about Pogba and everyone seems to think the media pick on Pogba, but this is a major player! I can’t remember the last time I actually saw him sprint! He just seems to amble around the middle of the park and let the game just go on around him.
“It’s players like that who should be accountable and should be the ones geeing everyone up and helping young players.”
Deeney: “I can understand why people talk about Pogba, but why is no one going at Harry Maguire? Why hasn’t he faced much criticism? Is he not the captain? Is he not the guy who is meant to lead the ship? Other than the England stuff, where’s the criticism of him over the last two or three weeks?
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“You talk about the time under Ferguson, that’s gone, the people need to just put that away, it’s like talking about Arsenal under Wenger, it’s finished, you’ve had three or four managers since then.
“I understand Pogba needs to be better, but I don’t see the level of criticism raised at Harry Maguire. You’re the captain of this ship, why are you not leading it? Why are you not visibly calling people out in front of everybody?”
Custis: “Well, he has been. I’ve called him captain calamity two weeks ago, so he has been getting criticism.”
Deeney: “But no one has said anything about him today, that’s what I’m saying. When he had that little spell in the summer it was acceptable to call him out but in general, in the whole two years of him being at the club, are you going to tell me he’s just been bad just over that two-week period and that’s the only time we can call him out?”
Custis: “Well, last season they had their third best defensive record in the Premier League, only three goals behind Liverpool, and had the most clean sheets of any of the top five leagues in Europe.”
Deeney: “So what we’re going to do then is hide behind stats? Ok, no problem…”
Custis: “Hide behind stats?! So you never use stats on talkSPORT, do you not?”
Deeney: “I’m not talkSPORT, I’m Troy, I’m talking to you…”
Custis: “So you never use stats?”
Deeney: “Yes, but what I’m saying is you have to hold him accountable. Listen to what I’m saying, Neil: That was last season, and do you still hold him accountable to that standard last year when they’re 15th now?”
Custis: “Are you going to let me talk?”
Deeney: “Yeah, that’s why I just asked you a question…”
Custis: “Right… you just asked me about Harry Maguire over the last two years, that’s why I refereed to last season. Those stats are very, very relevant when you’re talking about the captain and a central defender. So it’s not hiding behind them…”
Deeney: “So the accountability to his year, is what? They’re 15th! So are you saying they’re the third-best defence now, or are you going to call him out for what he is? That’s the question.”
Custis: “No, you’re now changing the question. You asked a question over the last two years, so I’m referring to last season, right? We’re six games in now and he has been criticised, he’s been criticised in my paper because he hasn’t been as good as he was last season.
Deeney: “OK… thanks mate…”
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