Ollie Watkins

[sickbeggar]

Can't imagine that. If we flogged Watkins then we might as well give up.

[chrisw1]

Ollie out with a knee injury and Smith 'doesn't know much about it'

Surely that's bullshit?  Surely he'd want to know exactly what the injury was?  Fucking hell, I want to know excactly what the injury is and it's not my job to prepare and pick the fucking team.

[placeforparks]

they said it was a bruised knee, when he limped off nearly 2 weeks ago for that friendly.

google tells me 2-4 weeks to heal.

[mr underhill]

Did Smith really say he didn't know much about it? If so he's really begining tro piss me off when itr comes to the obfuscation over injuries.

[ozzjim]

Can you imagine if we sold Ollie too. Sporadic fighting would break out in the back.

[chrisw1]

I am 100% sure we will not sell Ollie this summer.  Not a chance in hell.  Non. 

[manic-road]

Did Smith really say he didn't know much about it? If so he's really begining tro piss me off when itr comes to the obfuscation over injuries.

Don't see why he should help out opposition teams prepare by informing them if they will possibly be facing Ollie or not.

[ozzjim]

But he did. He said he's out tomorrow.

[sickbeggar]

Sounds like it could be worse than they're letting on. Smith will know obviously.

[chrisw1]

Anyway, Ollies injury is exactly why we needed a second striker, so I'm just delighted we bought one. 

We don't need to change shape or shoe horn players in, sharing a role between two players should be perfectly acceptable in this day and age.  Particulalry when Watkins is versatile and can be given minutes out wide too.

Hopefully we'll have a few good games whilst Watkins is out and we can then afford to ease him back slowly from the bench.

[ASHTONVILLA]

True. Having Ings come in instead of Wesley or the injured again Davis is a godsend. We got very lucky last season with Ollie not missing many games injured.

[brontebilly]

True. Having Ings come in instead of Wesley or the injured again Davis is a godsend. We got very lucky last season with Ollie not missing many games injured.

True but we'll miss him anyway. He's a very different forward than Ings. Presses hard from the front, quick and can lead the line very well. Ings is more of a crafty type forward able to sniff out goals that Watkins wouldn't. We will need to use and keep possession a lot better without Watkins in the team.

[chrisw1]

They're certainly different and yes not many players press as well as Ollie.  But I think people under estimate how hard Ings works and how versatile he can be.  He's more than just a finisher.

[PaulWinch again]

Agree Ings when match fit is a hard worker.

[wince]

Is there something in how many injuries we seem to get? Is bodymoor like an injury factory as we seem so unlucky over last few seasons.