Ollie Watkins

[andyh]

The ONLY thing missing from Ollie’s game is the steak of single minded, ruthlessness that top strikers have.
He has everything else.

[pauliewalnuts]

Not sure that’s true (at least for some) - I think there is a disproportionate focus on what Ollie doesn’t do rather than focus on what he does.

Isn't that because we see it so often - what he doesn't do, I mean.

I like him, he's been brilliant for us, but the ones he doesn't score are the reason he's not an absolute top level, elite (as in handful sized group) strikers in Europe.

But then again, if he was, he probably wouldn't be playing for us still.

[Brazilian Villain]

The ONLY thing missing from Ollie’s game is the steak of single minded, ruthlessness that top strikers have.

That's why we play him in the centre rather than down the flanks.

[PeterWithesShin]

The list of players that would be better for us than Ollie is very small. They'd need to score more, provide assists, have his work rate and very rarely miss a game. And that list would be even smaller when you add in both them wanting to both join us and us being able to afford them.

[paul_e]

It really depends on what you want/value in your striker. If you see them as little more than a finisher then there are plenty of players as good or better than Watkins. I suspect most of the people who would like to see him replaced do so because that's what they expect.

For me I think the best teams over the last 20 odd years have moved away from that to having a front 3-4 who share the goals out between them a lot more. With Rashford, Rogers and Asensio behind him I think we are setup to do similar.

That said, If selling Watkins and using the funds to keep Rashford and Asensio is something we have to do then I could live with it given we have Malen who can step in.

[edgysatsuma89]

Not sure that’s true (at least for some) - I think there is a disproportionate focus on what Ollie doesn’t do rather than focus on what he does.

Isn't that because we see it so often - what he doesn't do, I mean.

I like him, he's been brilliant for us, but the ones he doesn't score are the reason he's not an absolute top level, elite (as in handful sized group) strikers in Europe.

But then again, if he was, he probably wouldn't be playing for us still.

Which is why, unless we are going to get one from that handful, I don't really see the point in replacing him.

[eamonn]

Was he dropped from the England squad or did Villa tell Tommy Tippee that we'd prefer Ollie to recover from a knock with his club rather than join England? Some of the reporting suggests the former.

[SamTheMouse]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

[danno]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

[Mister E]

It's been said earlier, but if other players were chipping in more the focus on Watkins would be less vocal. I've been an advocate for Ollie (the guy next to me at the ground always criticises him) but I think it may be time to cash in, and I'd bring in Delap.

[Mister E]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

so, you're disregarding Digne, Torres Tielemans, Garcia, Rogers, Asensio, Malen....
... I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.

[danno]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

so, you're disregarding Digne, Torres Tielemans, Garcia, Rogers, Asensio, Malen....
... I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.

I’m saying that barring Torres and Rogers none of Monchi or Emerys signings have significantly improved the first team. So I currently don’t have faith in them being able to find a player equal to or better than Watkins.

We’ve signed two left backs and two right backs since Gerrard was sacked, none of whom are better than Digne or Cash. Garcia might be in time. Heavy emphasis on might.

Diaby was not an improvement on Bailey, Philogene was moved on quickly, Moreno didn’t displace Digne, Onana has hardly played. Tielemans has been a bargain but is he really any better than Luiz?

I’m saying that their record in the transfer market is “mixed” at best.

[garyellis]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

so, you're disregarding Digne, Torres Tielemans, Garcia, Rogers, Asensio, Malen....
... I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.

I’m saying that barring Torres and Rogers none of Monchi or Emerys signings have significantly improved the first team. So I currently don’t have faith in them being able to find a player equal to or better than Watkins.

We’ve signed two left backs and two right backs since Gerrard was sacked, none of whom are better than Digne or Cash. Garcia might be in time. Heavy emphasis on might.

Diaby was not an improvement on Bailey, Philogene was moved on quickly, Moreno didn’t displace Digne, Onana has hardly played. Tielemans has been a bargain but is he really any better than Luiz?

I’m saying that their record in the transfer market is “mixed” at best.

So the best management we have had in place since the 1982 and you don’t trust them?

[danno]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

so, you're disregarding Digne, Torres Tielemans, Garcia, Rogers, Asensio, Malen....
... I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.

I’m saying that barring Torres and Rogers none of Monchi or Emerys signings have significantly improved the first team. So I currently don’t have faith in them being able to find a player equal to or better than Watkins.

We’ve signed two left backs and two right backs since Gerrard was sacked, none of whom are better than Digne or Cash. Garcia might be in time. Heavy emphasis on might.

Diaby was not an improvement on Bailey, Philogene was moved on quickly, Moreno didn’t displace Digne, Onana has hardly played. Tielemans has been a bargain but is he really any better than Luiz?

I’m saying that their record in the transfer market is “mixed” at best.

So the best management we have had in place since the 1982 and you don’t trust them?

Yes, clearly that’s exactly what I said. 🙄 Rather than expressing my admiration for Ollie Watkins and saying it is going to be very difficult to replace him.

We’ve had six transfer windows and not even found an upgrade on Matty Cash yet. So you know what? I think it’s OK to be a little sceptical about Monchi’s ability to find us a ready made replacement for Watkins.

That’s not the same thing as not trusting the management.

[garyellis]

I've come full circle on this recently.

He's 29. His value is probably at its peak. I can see the sense in selling him now. We'll have to replace him eventually anyway, and while that will be a difficult task, it'll be a bit easier if we have a shitload of money.

I’d be in agreement if signings like Diaby and Onana had set the world alight. For the most part our best players are still Dean Smith signings.

so, you're disregarding Digne, Torres Tielemans, Garcia, Rogers, Asensio, Malen....
... I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.

I’m saying that barring Torres and Rogers none of Monchi or Emerys signings have significantly improved the first team. So I currently don’t have faith in them being able to find a player equal to or better than Watkins.

We’ve signed two left backs and two right backs since Gerrard was sacked, none of whom are better than Digne or Cash. Garcia might be in time. Heavy emphasis on might.

Diaby was not an improvement on Bailey, Philogene was moved on quickly, Moreno didn’t displace Digne, Onana has hardly played. Tielemans has been a bargain but is he really any better than Luiz?

I’m saying that their record in the transfer market is “mixed” at best.

So the best management we have had in place since the 1982 and you don’t trust them?

Yes, clearly that’s exactly what I said. 🙄 Rather than expressing my admiration for Ollie Watkins and saying it is going to be very difficult to replace him.

We’ve had six transfer windows and not even found an upgrade on Matty Cash yet. So you know what? I think it’s OK to be a little sceptical about Monchi’s ability to find us a ready made replacement for Watkins.

That’s not the same thing as not trusting the management.

You miss the point completely, If you think Unai will say well Ollie’s off Monchi go find me a replacement that not been sceptical it's not understanding how it will work. The two successes you use were both Unai choices according to all the information shared with us. Agree Ollie will be a tough player to get an upgrade but we couldn’t be in better hands to move forward.