Ollie Watkins

[VillaTim]

Watkins misses too many big chances . Look at last night would he have put the Rashford chance away , not sure though he did score a slightly similar goal in the win at Goodison

[Brazilian Villain]

He's not a perfect finisher but the most frustrating thing about him at Villa, is that shit 'Ollie Watkins, duh, duh, duh, duh' chant we have for him.

[VillaTim]

still better than the Malen song that debuted last night

[JUAN PABLO]

bloody lora

[Footy-Vill]

This article explains Watkins form and non selections for England and starting for Villa

Revealed: The injury issue keeping Ollie Watkins out of Aston Villa's starting XI - as Unai Emery insists 'we are taking care not to risk him'
By Tom Collomosse

Unai Emery has revealed Ollie Watkins is carrying a knee injury that means he must be handled with care during the crucial phase of Aston Villa’s season.

The problem ruled Watkins out of England’s recent fixtures against Albania and Latvia and though he featured in Villa’s recent wins over Preston and Brighton, it remains a cause for concern.

In both those games, Watkins was introduced as a second-half substitute with Marcus Rashford given the nod at centre-forward. Rashford scored three goals across those two fixtures and is likely to keep his place up front against Nottingham Forest on Saturday

Four days after the Forest game, Villa travel to France to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Emery said: ‘In the first matches he played this season, he had the same small pain and needed time to recover, but he was playing. Now it is more or less the same.

‘He was working individually in the international break with the physios, to try to recover his best form as soon as possible. Now he is available and feeling better but we are taking care not to risk him.

We need to try to get the best from him, firstly when he has this small issue and then secondly when he is feeling strong and comfortable.’

Villa have won six matches in all competitions and have the majority of their players available. They take on Forest three points adrift of fifth place, which is likely to be enough for Champions League qualification next season.

[rougegorge]

I know Milenkovic is a tough opponent but Ollie never looked like he was in the game today.  He's in a flat spell of form.

[Dave]

I know Milenkovic is a tough opponent but Ollie never looked like he was in the game today.  He's in a flat spell of form.

As was mentioned by someone on the match thread, when they were playing three at the back we were getting so much joy because they were ALL looking after Watkins giving all the other attackers the space.

So it's probably one of those games where he actually was being very useful by doing nothing.

[VillaTim]

Very poor today , didn't win many duels or control the ball well . Made some poor choices too with the ball.

[tony scott]

Like all strikers going through off form period his current small injury hasn’t helped.

[Smirker]

Sell in the summer.

[LeonW]

I don’t know if he’s carrying an injury but for me, he’s been poor for quite awhile now.

[paul_e]

I don’t know if he’s carrying an injury but for me, he’s been poor for quite awhile now.

He is, Emery has been pretty clear about it.

[PaulWinch again]

He is - for a player who has been consistently key to us going up the levels some people are incredibly quick to write him off.

[Somniloquism]

For Malens goal, their number 5 has both arms wrapped around Watkins to stop his run. Rogers and Malen's goals took advantage of those defenders looking at Ollie only.

[paul_e]

For Malens goal, their number 5 has both arms wrapped around Watkins to stop his run. Rogers and Malen's goals took advantage of those defenders looking at Ollie only.

Yep, I mentioned it on the match thread, Nuno got his tactics totally wrong so they had their fullbacks forced to defend against ours and the 3 centre halves all holding their positions and picking up Watkins when he moved into their 'zone' but that left Anderson and Yates trying to contain Rogers, Malen, Asensio and Tielemans and we completely overwhelmed them 3-4 times in the first 20 before they pulled a bit deeper and fell into their normal fast counter style.