Ollie Watkins

[Lastfootstamper]

Is it true that Mourinho was sniffing around?

I don't think it'd got that far, but some rent-a-quotes had suggested that he could do worse than Watkins in his striker search. Some reports said he was in for Wilson.

[danno]

Does he take penalties?

[simon ward 50]

ITSOTP?

[chrisw1]

Brentford have seen us coming here.  The problem is we're desperate and couldn't risk waiting much longer and they knew it.  I doubt they would have got more than £20m off anybody else this window.

But needs must.  When we have a strong balanced squad we can pick and chose players to suplement the team and play the waiting game if needed.  We just weren't in a position to do that this time. 

I don't think I like Brentford anymore and hope this is the last time we do business with them for a good while.   

But welcome Ollie, it was one of the signings I was hoping for and hopefully he'll be great.

[chrisw1]

He at least looks equally good up front or playing wider, which will give him an immediate advantage over Wesley.

He at least looks good which will give him an immediate advantage over Wesley.

[JJ-AV]

Welcome aboard. I'm happy, looked good when I've seen him.

Re. the fee, we were desperate, have lots of money and haven't had long to prepare, it's a recipe for disaster. But Smith's got his man and now we've got a forward in we can afford to play the long game for the next one.

[PaulWinch again]

Just to be clear he’s not aboard yet.

[N'ZMAV]

Just to be clear he’s not aboard yet.

good point - this is Aston Villa we're talking about...

Juninho.

[danno]

On balance I'd probably prefer us overpaying for option A, than lashing out £20 million on option C or D.

[Ads]

Very happy when this is done. Big, quick, plays across the front 3, scores lots of different types of goals. Could careless about the fee.

[SaddVillan]

Hoping that the deal for Watkins goes through tomorrow.

No doubt some will complain about the price and £28m might seem high.

But:

Tammy Abraham scored 26 goals in 40 games for us when we got promoted. How much would we have been prepared to pay for him last summer if he'd been available - £25m, £30m?

Watkins scored 26 in 50 for Brentford. So you might think  that Abraham has a better goals per game record.

However:
Abraham got 6 pens, so 20 in 40 from open play. An average of 1 in 2
Watkins no pens at all. 26 from 50 in open play  - just over 1 in 2, marginally better than Tammy.

£28m seems reasonable.

[Clampy]

Hoping that the deal for Watkins goes through tomorrow.

No doubt some will complain about the price and £28m might seem high.

But:

Tammy Abraham scored 26 goals in 40 games for us when we got promoted. How much would we have been prepared to pay for him last summer if he'd been available - £25m, £30m?

Watkins scored 26 in 50 for Brentford. So you might think  that Abraham has a better goals per game record.

However:
Abraham got 6 pens, so 20 in 40 from open play. An average of 1 in 2
Watkins no pens at all. 26 from 50 in open play  - just over 1 in 2, marginally better than Tammy.

£28m seems reasonable.

The slight difference is, Tammy scored 25 the season before for Brizzle City and played in the Prem for Swansea. We did need a striker but I can understand the sharp intake of breath over the fee.

[N'ZMAV]

if this bloke was plan A then I'm pleased.

[andyh]

I can’t say I’ve seen much of him, but his performance against Swansea in their play off semi final was brilliant.
I won’t mention the final though.

The fee is the fee, there is no point us getting wound up about it.

I’m sure he’ll be miles better than all the forwards we have bought since Benteke.

[brontebilly]

I can’t say I’ve seen much of him, but his performance against Swansea in their play off semi final was brilliant.
I won’t mention the final though.

The fee is the fee, there is no point us getting wound up about it.

I’m sure he’ll be miles better than all the forwards we have bought since Benteke.

As long as he settles quickly, there is going to be huge pressure on him but maybe no crowds will help. Watkins has huge potential as identifed by a poster on here a few years back, who was it ??

I had absolutely no faith in Wesley or Samatta ever being the answer so fingers crossed for Watkins.