Ollie Watkins

[Risso]

Generations of footballers may come and go but their reassuringly ropey taste in music (Luther, Boyz II Men, Phil Collins et. al) shall always remain.

Luther does not belong in that list, a man of awesome talent.

Aren't Boyz II Men Motown's best selling act ever?

[Toronto Villa]

Despite Benrhama failing his  medical, West Ham still signed him on loan for £5m and are obliged to make the deal  permanent for £20m, plus £5m possible in add-ons. £30m in total

Villa signed Ollie Watkins for £28m, rising to £33m with possible add-ons.

Wonder who's got the better deal?

Impossible to say before he's played a single minute for West Ham.

He’ll be great. In fact both of them will be. Loved to have had them both.

[eamonn]

Generations of footballers may come and go but their reassuringly ropey taste in music (Luther, Boyz II Men, Phil Collins et. al) shall always remain.

Luther does not belong in that list, a man of awesome talent.

You're right. Love that old footage of Bowie trying out his plastic soul Young Americans era material with Vandross as a backing singer. Think he might have got a writing credit on that album too actually.

[CT]

Thought Ollie battled well last night.

Was still getting in good positions despite it being a fairly quiet night overall.

[Steve67]

I agree CT.  He has a knack if pulling centre backs out of position and creating space for Jack and Barkley to move into.  Very smart forward.

[Drummond]

Great article here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54631445

[olaftab]

Thank you. Agree very good piece.

[West Derby Villan]

Excellent article, thanks

[darren woolley]

Great read thanks for posting Mr Drummond.

[PaulWinch again]

This was discussed in the match thread, but I think Ollie, like Wesley before him, is ending up being too isolated. The team needs to be better at providing support. He’s got plenty of ability, but he needs the team to produce more.

[brontebilly]

This was discussed in the match thread, but I think Ollie, like Wesley before him, is ending up being too isolated. The team needs to be better at providing support. He’s got plenty of ability, but he needs the team to produce more.

It's another symptom of this awful two number eights formation. They aren't providing cover for Luiz not support for Watkins.

[Risso]

He's full of effort and running, but he looks completely lost.  Not surprising really when Traore/Trez plus Barkley and McGinn are so anonymous, but he looks like a little lad playing in the big league.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Stupid to play him so isolated.He must be tearing his hair out

[Mister E]

I was thinking that we should have bought both him and Callum Wilson, in order to get the best out of him and reduce the pressure on him. Wilson loves dropping deep for the ball, creating space for a second striker i.e. Watkins. Maybe that is what they're hoping will happen when Wes returns.

Perhaps they should try Davis and Watkins together, with JG dropping inside and Barkley taking a turn on the bench.

[SoccerHQ]

Need to take something out of the second half I think, he drifted wider and started to get more involved. He did that at Brentford so it's something I'd like to see for half a game at least with Davis on.

I wanted Wilson and his start at Newcastle dosen't surprise me. Karlan Grant is another I'd have looked at. He took his goal for WBA well the other day.