Ollie Watkins

[PaulWinch again]

That’s nonsense Ian, they’ll all score at least 38 league goals a season.

[LeeB]

Funny enough, this weekend I’ve seen quite a few elite strikers miss chances or had the keeper save them. I saw Thiago look pretty awful, sluggish and immobile, which would make him a terrible signing if he’s to replace Ollie.

That fella for Wolves though is shocking.

The best header of the weekend went to Woltemade, peach of strike.

His eyes lit up at that cross, neck muscles pulled back, back arched, wonderful technique.

[Smirker]

Oh yes, it was entirely Watkins fault. It’s so weird to hate a Villa player who has delivered so much.

We couldn't score a goal. So yes it was largely his fault as our only striker.

You think we have to delude ourselves into believing he's still good enough because he was in the past? Nope.

[German James]

It's a perfectly rational position to take that, although Watkins has been brilliant for us, he isn't scoring anywhere near enough goals this season. I don't really understand what the one statement has to do with the other.

[PaulWinch again]

That is remarkably simplistic - did you watch any of the games? We produced virtually nothing at the start of the season. That’s why some people were calling Rogers hopeless.

Let’s be clear, I have no issue with call outs on Watkins being out of form - he patently has been. But he played well and scored twice against Brighton, played well and forced two good saves against Arsenal, and played a key part in us equalising yesterday. He is looking better, and this boring, pretty active, campaign to suggest he’s useless is just very weird.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Let’s be clear, I have no issue with call outs on Watkins being out of form - he patently has been. But he played well and scored twice against Brighton, played well and forced two good saves against Arsenal, and played a key part in us equalising yesterday. He is looking better, and this boring, pretty active, campaign to suggest he’s useless is just very weird.

Alternatively you could say he shot straight at the keeper against Arsenal (having brilliantly put himself in the position to shoot) and yesterday he missed a clear opportunity that normally he would have buried.

In his defence, I don't believe Watkins' form has dropped overnight so much compared to previous seasons without there being a reason other than 'he's crap'. You don't just lose a yard of pace overnight. I believe he's carrying an injury and is doing his best. His best may not be good enough for the rest of the season but he has played his part this season all be it without the goals. If we can get through until January maybe we can get him fixed whilst somebody else comes in to play the CF role.

Then we have him fully fit and fully motivated to finish the season on a high.

[German James]

He is looking better. And his work ethic, attitude and general play really can't be faulted by anyone sane... But he's is supposed to be our major goal threat, and to say he isn't/ hasn't been is a huge understatement! I think that's all anyone's moaning about, isn't it?
The problem's more obvious because of his position: no-one suggests John McGinn isn't scoring enough.

[paul_e]

He is looking better. And his work ethic, attitude and general play really can't be faulted by anyone sane... But he's is supposed to be our major goal threat, and to say he isn't/ hasn't been is a huge understatement! I think that's all anyone's moaning about, isn't it?
The problem's more obvious because of his position: no-one suggests John McGinn isn't scoring enough.

If Smirker didn't keep going with the 'shit for 18months' line I think far fewer people would argue (and If I'm honest I wish people would just ignore it for the attention seeking it has become).

[PaulWinch again]

Let’s be clear, I have no issue with call outs on Watkins being out of form - he patently has been. But he played well and scored twice against Brighton, played well and forced two good saves against Arsenal, and played a key part in us equalising yesterday. He is looking better, and this boring, pretty active, campaign to suggest he’s useless is just very weird.

Alternatively you could say he shot straight at the keeper against Arsenal (having brilliantly put himself in the position to shoot) and yesterday he missed a clear opportunity that normally he would have buried.

In his defence, I don't believe Watkins' form has dropped overnight so much compared to previous seasons without there being a reason other than 'he's crap'. You don't just lose a yard of pace overnight. I believe he's carrying an injury and is doing his best. His best may not be good enough for the rest of the season but he has played his part this season all be it without the goals. If we can get through until January maybe we can get him fixed whilst somebody else comes in to play the CF role.

Then we have him fully fit and fully motivated to finish the season on a high.

Which is a fair assessment. I could argue the toss on the Arsenal chances, particularly the first which I think he did very well to create and then it was a good save. But I don’t think anyone is saying he’s been spot on. It’s the utter unwillingness to acknowledge any value he offers, his performance over time that is daft. Also the idea that we’re being held back from being clear at the top all because Watkins is playing is just dense.

We do need another centre forward with similar attributes to compete with him.

[brontebilly]

Id be a bit more worried about Malen's performance yesterday when he had to lead the line himself when Watkins went off. He was dangerous in a 2.

[Ian.]

Funny enough, this weekend I’ve seen quite a few elite strikers miss chances or had the keeper save them. I saw Thiago look pretty awful, sluggish and immobile, which would make him a terrible signing if he’s to replace Ollie.

That fella for Wolves though is shocking.

The best header of the weekend went to Woltemade, peach of strike.

His eyes lit up at that cross, neck muscles pulled back, back arched, wonderful technique.

Ha ha!

[Dave P]

The best header of the weekend went to Woltemade, peach of strike.

I don't know, Mavropanos ran him close.

[Somniloquism]

Nah, both the relegation candidates ones were the defenders under pressure from the strikers and it just cannoning off them. Woltermade had all the time in the world to read the cross and had no Sunderland player anywhere near him, and as others mentioned, seemed to really ensure he got as much power whilst redirecting it under the bar. I honestly think he forgot which end he was attacking.