Ollie Watkins

[john e]

He’s a good player will always get you a few goals and his work rate is spot on
Too often when he receives the ball he’s looking for a foul goes down too easily rather than staying on his feet and trying to play football
His control, touch and link up play let’s him down big time
I know he’s had some tremendous games but they are interspersed with long periods of bland performances
We are a mid table premiership team at the moment and thats his level he isn’t good enough for us if we have higher aspirations in the future imo

[AlexAlexCropley]

Needs to change his canoe-like boots

[ChicagoLion]

He’s a good player will always get you a few goals and his work rate is spot on
Too often when he receives the ball he’s looking for a foul goes down too easily rather than staying on his feet and trying to play football
His control, touch and link up play let’s sit down big time
I know he’s had some tremendous games but they are interspersed with long periods of bland performances
We are a mid table premiership team at the moment and thats his level he isn’t good enough for us if we have higher aspirations in the future imo

Exactly how I see it. He is young enough to improve but he needs to get much better at the basics.

[Goldie.7]

9 times out of 10 his first touch is shocking. I also agree he goes down far too easy.

You know it wasn't a foul because after not getting the decision he wanted, 2 seconds later he elevates to his feet and sprints to retrieve possession usually giving away a freekick in the process.

He's also been caught offside 43 times in 62 league appearances which is another frustrating trait of his. We can probably knock 3 of those off for VAR blunders, but it's still very high.

[AV82EC]

Using a music analogy he’s very much in the difficult second album phase. I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets his mojo back.

[Drummond]

9 times out of 10 his first touch is shocking. I also agree he goes down far too easy.

You know it wasn't a foul because after not getting the decision he wanted, 2 seconds later he elevates to his feet and sprints to retrieve possession usually giving away a freekick in the process.

He's also been caught offside 43 times in 62 league appearances which is another frustrating trait of his. We can probably knock 3 of those off for VAR blunders, but it's still very high.

Bullshit. I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.

[brontebilly]

Conte did a great job on Lukaku at Inter. Lukaku admitted afterwards that Conte spent weeks getting him fitter and working on his first touch, repeating drills from the start if he lost the ball (Lukaku could do with a similar boot camp now based on his recent form). I think that's the intensive one to one coaching that Watkins needs if he is going to improve his game. Mobility isn't a problem for Ollie but his inability to retain possession is a huge issue in his game.

[Monty]

I worry about whether he'll get to that absolute top-level. The other week I saw a Venezia game and they have Nani on a Pires contract. Even at this age, even though he can't really run anymore, you could see the class in his first touch, how he doesn't just trap it with gorgeous ease but directs it and positions his body with it, totally assured technique allied with experience and football intelligence. And it's not like he was the greatest player on earth, but he was a player who made it at the very top of the game, a contributor and a champion. Ollie has so many attributes and is one infectiously likeable guy, but that pure talent? I'm just not totally sure it's there.

[wittonwarrior]

He's not good enough to push us to the next level.  First touch terrible, has a time delay in any attempt on goal, bottles any 50/50's, often offside and goes down far too easily

[Clark W Griswold]

I think based on his entire time with us, on balance he’s definitely good enough to be part of a core 16 players to get us to around 6th and European football. Therefore I’m more than happy with him at the moment. If we’re looking at CL qualification as a goal he’d be further down the pecking order but still ok for the squad, kind of like Traore is for us with our current aspirations.

[john e]

If we’re just looking at current players capable of playing in a team that is challenging for top 6/4 right now
I would say we have, and I’m being strict here
Martinez, Cash, Mcginn, Ramsey, Coutinho,

Then probable maybe’s are Digne, Buendia, Sanson,
Then there’s a few squad fillers and back ups, Also some Younger lads coming through The system where we don’t know what they can achieve yet but hopefully some will be capable enough in time

As always imo

[Risso]

I worry about whether he'll get to that absolute top-level. The other week I saw a Venezia game and they have Nani on a Pires contract. Even at this age, even though he can't really run anymore, you could see the class in his first touch, how he doesn't just trap it with gorgeous ease but directs it and positions his body with it, totally assured technique allied with experience and football intelligence. And it's not like he was the greatest player on earth, but he was a player who made it at the very top of the game, a contributor and a champion. Ollie has so many attributes and is one infectiously likeable guy, but that pure talent? I'm just not totally sure it's there.

Likeable? I'd put that right at the very bottom of his attributes to be honest. Not that it's that important, of course.

[Percy McCarthy]

If we’re just looking at current players capable of playing in a team that is challenging for top 6/4 right now
I would say we have, and I’m being strict here
Martinez, Cash, Mcginn, Ramsey, Coutinho,

Then probable maybe’s are Digne, Buendia, Sanson,
Then there’s a few squad fillers and back ups, Also some Younger lads coming through The system where we don’t know what they can achieve yet but hopefully some will be capable enough in time

As always imo

I wouldn’t have McGinn in the first lot. But I think Gerrard would.

I think the entire defence would be good enough if we had a midfield that functioned better and a striker who held the ball up.

[Brazilian Villain]

Ollie has so many attributes and is one infectiously likeable guy, but that pure talent? I'm just not totally sure it's there.

Likeable? I'd put that right at the very bottom of his attributes to be honest. Not that it's that important, of course.

I agree with Monty on this. Think Ollie and Matty Cash are for me the two most 'likeable' players in our squad along with McGinn (with his daft ways) and Emi M (professional and determined but with a bit of divilment in him).

[eamonn]

Nani lives! A pity he never linked-up with Nan's Hair as manager.