Ollie Watkins

[Rory]

I love Ollie and think some of the criticism of him is ridiculous, but I also think the penalty miss was at least partially his fault.

It wasn't as simple as the turf giving way - he clearly over-extends and doesn't plant his non-striking foot properly.

Not the end of the world, we still won, he was a vital part of us winning, and I still love him.

To a degree maybe but a premier league pitch shouldn't rip up that easily.

I'm not sure it would've done if he hadn't landed on the side of his boot, Paul.

But I'm not going to obsess over it. Just that, to me, that was the only 'sitter' he actually missed tonight, of the five cited.

For me it looked like his foot landed ok and then slipped onto the side as it took his weight, as if his studs just didn't get any grip.

But agreed I'm not going to worry over it because I think it's a bit of both.

Yep, bit of both for me, too.

Point is that's the only one of his efforts I would consider a 'miss'. Sometimes goalkeepers make saves and defenders make clearances.

[paul_e]

Yep agree on that as well. I find the complete disregard for a couple of top drawer saves a bit odd as well.

[adrenachrome]

I love Ollie and think some of the criticism of him is ridiculous, but I also think the penalty miss was at least partially his fault.

It wasn't as simple as the turf giving way - he clearly over-extends and doesn't plant his non-striking foot properly.

Not the end of the world, we still won, he was a vital part of us winning, and I still love him.

To a degree maybe but a premier league pitch shouldn't rip up that easily.

I think most PL clubs are over-sprinkling certain areas of the pitch these days.

Most goal celebrations involve the scorer doing a knee slide to the touch line and you can clearly see divots being torn up by his trailing studs.

Sky Sports usually have pundits in the area before the game and at half time and they often have to take cover or use umbrellas.

[Smirker]

Look, this is how it is.

Ollie is a hard worker and has been a good servant to the club. He has played a key role in getting us to where we are now. That's from relegation battles to upper half of the PL.

He is also very wasteful in front of goal. You can say he's the best in a generation at Villa in terms of numbers but that doesn't make him any less wasteful and it's more of a statement of how bad we've been, and the fact that he's the only one who has had such a long time in the team.

Tonight was particularly bad despite him scoring in the game.

These are the facts, don't care if you don't like them.

[PeterWithesShin]

I've shown the statistical stats, and those facts year after year show Ollie is no different to every other player.

[Rory]

Look, this is how it is.

Ollie is a hard worker and has been a good servant to the club. He has played a key role in getting us to where we are now. That's from relegation battles to upper half of the PL.

He is also very wasteful in front of goal. You can say he's the best in a generation at Villa in terms of numbers but that doesn't make him any less wasteful and it's more of a statement of how bad we've been, and the fact that he's the only one who has had such a long time in the team.

Tonight was particularly bad despite him scoring in the game.

These are the facts, don't care if you don't like them.

But what point are you trying to make? That we should sell him and sign one of the handful of forwards with better stats than him over the last four years?

[LeeB]

We may as well sell him, he'll never top tonight, that was absolutely peak Watkins.

Relentless, ragged dolled their defence, assisted teammates, scored, missed enough chances to win 3 games and fell on his arse taking a penalty against a 38 year old.

[Smirker]

Look, this is how it is.

Ollie is a hard worker and has been a good servant to the club. He has played a key role in getting us to where we are now. That's from relegation battles to upper half of the PL.

He is also very wasteful in front of goal. You can say he's the best in a generation at Villa in terms of numbers but that doesn't make him any less wasteful and it's more of a statement of how bad we've been, and the fact that he's the only one who has had such a long time in the team.

Tonight was particularly bad despite him scoring in the game.

These are the facts, don't care if you don't like them.

But what point are you trying to make? That we should sell him and sign one of the handful of forwards with better stats than him over the last four years?

That criticism of his finishing tonight was justified, as it is in general, regardless of whatever people try to throw at it to defend him.

[PeterWithesShin]

You mean throwing stuff at it like statistical facts that every striker misses 75-80% of chances?

[Rory]

Look, this is how it is.

Ollie is a hard worker and has been a good servant to the club. He has played a key role in getting us to where we are now. That's from relegation battles to upper half of the PL.

He is also very wasteful in front of goal. You can say he's the best in a generation at Villa in terms of numbers but that doesn't make him any less wasteful and it's more of a statement of how bad we've been, and the fact that he's the only one who has had such a long time in the team.

Tonight was particularly bad despite him scoring in the game.

These are the facts, don't care if you don't like them.

But what point are you trying to make? That we should sell him and sign one of the handful of forwards with better stats than him over the last four years?

That criticism of his finishing tonight was justified, as it is in general, regardless of whatever people try to throw at it to defend him.

Yeah but, so what? Is there something we've missed, like an obvious replacement?

Other than the guy who has wanted to leave since he joined us and is about to throw his career away in the desert. The guy who, a great few goals granted, has largely been used as a sub by our world-class manager.

Nobody is trying to block criticism, but it just feels relentless and towards no real end other than knocking our best forward in years.

[Smirker]

See the thread. Plenty try to block the criticism.

[aldridgeboy]

An off form Ollie still got a goal and 2 assists. Penalty was unfortunate. I just saw on MOTD that Morgan slipped with his shot.

When we had Ollie and Ings, Ollie seemed to be short it could confidence. When ings went and he wa: “ number one striker “ he went from strength to strength.

Hopefully now Duran is going , the same thing happens.

[PaulWinch again]

Nope, there’s no blocking of the criticism. It’s indisputable he misses chances, all forwards do. But it is also factually correct to say his direct role in three goals tonight won us the game. It’s odd that some would rather criticise him for what he failed to do, rather than acknowledge what he did do. Strikers will always miss chances, but not all strikers will assist the number of goals Ollie does either. If you’re looking for someone who takes all his chances, it’s not going to happen.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think I recall another game when he scored a penalty - but only just - when he slipped in the act of shooting.

The shoot-out in Lille.

[aj2k77]

I love him, but his finishing was shit tonight. The dink he should have slotted either side. The pen was crap and the other chance Schmeichel batted away  should have been slotted. He seems to have lost his composure. For £75 million I'd sell. You have to sell at the right time.