Ollie Watkins

[rob_bridge]

Him coming into the team at the expense of Aspinall seemed to galvanise Gary Thompson. Rambo and Bruno were the pairing and we started to move up the table. Neither scored many but to be fair all teams knew they had been in a game after playing v those 2.

In reality the key was Keown/Evans partnership and the 2 Grays made  us a much better side. Blend of experience (S Gray and Evans were European Cup winners) and Keown and Andy Gray were excellent talents at the time.

Agree with PWS we got a fortune - he was a 500k player (at best) and we got a million due to that 1988/89 first half of the season including goal of the season IIRC. Bayern had bucketloads of money from selling Klinsmann and co to Inter.
On this occasion maybe give Doug some credit.

[LeeB]

Mussolini made the trains run on time but he was still a c**t

[Drummond]

Mussolini made the trains run on time but he was still a c**t

Yeah and Hitler was a snazzy dresser!

[Brazilian Villain]

Mussolini made the trains run on time but he was still a c**t

Shall I tell him or will I leave it to Monty?

[Monty]

Yeah the trains under Benito were a shambles.

[Brend'Watkins]

Interviewed on Soccer AM today. Nothing new really except he and all is family are Arsenal fans. Seems very happy though.

[RamboandBruno]

Him coming into the team at the expense of Aspinall seemed to galvanise Gary Thompson. Rambo and Bruno were the pairing and we started to move up the table. Neither scored many but to be fair all teams knew they had been in a game after playing v those 2.

In reality the key was Keown/Evans partnership and the 2 Grays made  us a much better side. Blend of experience (S Gray and Evans were European Cup winners) and Keown and Andy Gray were excellent talents at the time.

Agree with PWS we got a fortune - he was a 500k player (at best) and we got a million due to that 1988/89 first half of the season including goal of the season IIRC. Bayern had bucketloads of money from selling Klinsmann and co to Inter.
On this occasion maybe give Doug some credit.

I can look back now as a 49 year old and see that Thompson in particular but also McInally to an extent were limited players. But as a 14/15 year old, who had started going regularly mostly during our mid 80’s decline, they were heroes of mine for a couple of years. Thompson with his socks rolled down not in the Grealish fashion sense, but just in a don’t feck with me kind of look, with the bullet headers. McInally was so powerful when he was on form, the goal against Millwall in the league cup, with sadly a tiny crowd, when he barged through their defenders one after another from the halfway line, fantastic. I was gutted when he went, but in hindsight our struggles in 88-89 coincided with him not scoring for a lengthy spell, 20 games or something and that money probably did probably help to fund SGTs rebuild for 89-90.

Ill always look back with rose tinted glasses at both of these fellas.

[PeterWithesShin]

Apparently he's the first Villa player in the PL era to score in 5 consecutive away league games.

[Mellin]

I wanted Watkins replaced about 6 months ago. Have just come here to declare how wrong I was and eat humble pie. He was just another player who had shown what he was capable of and was being destroyed by a shit manager. Carry on all (especially Ollie).

[OCD]

His post match interview was interesting. He said he now stays closer to the penalty box instead of running everywhere and conserves his energy for when he needs it. That's what he puts his change in form down to.

[Brazilian Villain]

Apparently he's the first Villa player in the PL era to score in 5 consecutive away league games.

Read on another club's forum that he's the first Villa player to do it since Tony Hateley. No idea if that's the case, or just in the top flight.

[eamonn]

Interviewed on Soccer AM today. Nothing new really except he and all is family are Arsenal fans. Seems very happy though.

Hope he said how much he loves us, though. No one puts Villa in the corner.

[adrenachrome]

Apparently he's the first Villa player in the PL era to score in 5 consecutive away league games.

Read on another club's forum that he's the first Villa player to do it since Tony Hateley. No idea if that's the case, or just in the top flight.

Yes. Tony Hately did it in Division 1.

When we sold him to Chelsea in Autumn 1966, the writing was on the wall.  According to Wiki, Tommy Docherty described his passing technique as "to whom it may concern", but he was phenomenal in the air.

[aldridgeboy]

I wanted Watkins replaced about 6 months ago. Have just come here to declare how wrong I was and eat humble pie. He was just another player who had shown what he was capable of and was being destroyed by a shit manager. Carry on all (especially Ollie).

Me too. Enjoying a rather large slice of humble pie.
His stats are very good. 38 goals in 106 games. 12 assists. One of only three to score over 10 in 3 successive seasons ( Kane and Salah). Scored against the top 6. 4 th highest scorer since the summer of 2020.
His last time he failed to score away from home was October !!

Fabulous. Long may it continue.

[chrisw1]

He’s playing really well.  I’m not eating humble pie as those chances didn’t miss themselves, but right now he’s the player we need him to be. 

I think his form could well have us rethinking our transfer plans.  Hope he keeps it up.