Ollie Watkins

[N'ZMAV]

Also, I don’t know why this gets to me. If someone else scores he looks so moody.

It gets to you because you've decided he's not good enough. I'm not saying that to be a dick but we've seen this many times, once a player is labelled as needing to be replaced he's moody (Ayew), too smily (Bacuna), etc etc.

I haven't seen a label on Watkins that says "needs replacing"

[LeeB]

I think Emery believes he can get more out of Watkins. And if you look at his first season when he had the likes of Grealish and Barkley around him, he looked a much better player. In fact, some of the interplay on the left with Grealish, Targett and Watkins (like in the Arsenal away game) was excellent at times.

I was on another clubs forum and they'd listed the top scorers from the championship that had moved to the top division, and the comment was that Watkins was head and shoulders above the others.

He's not the best or most natural finishers, but that is only one facet of a forwards game these days and that's just the way it is. You cannot carry a passenger for 90 minutes so he can tap in the odd cross, it doesn't work and the opposition will find ways to make you pay for it. We've just sold an example of it, and getting shot of Ronaldo has turned Man Utd's season around.

His strengths are that he's strong and quick, so he can hold players off as a target man but can also turn them and run in behind, he's fucking relentless and he's generally always fit. I reckon most teams outside of the Champions League clubs would take him and he'd be playing every week.

[London Villan]

If we signed - say Dembele - would Ollie play in the Bailey role?

[chrisw1]

I've been very critical of Watkins in the past, it's hard to look past his finishing sometimes.  But I think he has been playing really well recently and is very important to the way we play.

I'd still like an upgrade at some point, but there's no doubt Ollie is a big asset at the moment and I imagine most clubs outside the (usual) top 6 would love to have him.

[KevinGage]

If we signed - say Dembele - would Ollie play in the Bailey role?

He would most likely take his current position (or alternate with Ollie). But better hold up play than Bailey.

[Drummond]

I think Emery believes he can get more out of Watkins. And if you look at his first season when he had the likes of Grealish and Barkley around him, he looked a much better player. In fact, some of the interplay on the left with Grealish, Targett and Watkins (like in the Arsenal away game) was excellent at times.

I was on another clubs forum and they'd listed the top scorers from the championship that had moved to the top division, and the comment was that Watkins was head and shoulders above the others.

He's not the best or most natural finishers, but that is only one facet of a forwards game these days and that's just the way it is. You cannot carry a passenger for 90 minutes so he can tap in the odd cross, it doesn't work and the opposition will find ways to make you pay for it. We've just sold an example of it, and getting shot of Ronaldo has turned Man Utd's season around.

His strengths are that he's strong and quick, so he can hold players off as a target man but can also turn them and run in behind, he's fucking relentless and he's generally always fit. I reckon most teams outside of the Champions League clubs would take him and he'd be playing every week.

I agree with this. I saw a brief interview with him over the weekend where he acknowledged that he'd not been on top form and scoring as many as he should; I like that recognition and awareness. The trick for us is to have someone who can push him for a starting spot, someone we don't have to change the system for.

[ez]

I think some people have decided Watkins isn't good enough and he'll never change their minds.

Yesterday he won us the game and played a big part in pretty much every other chance we had. The bigger problem was Buendia and Bailey not using the space he was creating. If either of them had a good day we'd have won by 3 or 4 and Watkins would've played a big part in it. He didn't have enough touches but his job is to be the focal point of the attack and if the players supporting the attack aren't strugglnig that a really difficult job for anyone.

I think you're right. When it was Ings it was because he didn't get any service.

[Sexual Ealing]

I think Emery believes he can get more out of Watkins. And if you look at his first season when he had the likes of Grealish and Barkley around him, he looked a much better player. In fact, some of the interplay on the left with Grealish, Targett and Watkins (like in the Arsenal away game) was excellent at times.

I was on another clubs forum and they'd listed the top scorers from the championship that had moved to the top division, and the comment was that Watkins was head and shoulders above the others.

He's not the best or most natural finishers, but that is only one facet of a forwards game these days and that's just the way it is. You cannot carry a passenger for 90 minutes so he can tap in the odd cross, it doesn't work and the opposition will find ways to make you pay for it. We've just sold an example of it, and getting shot of Ronaldo has turned Man Utd's season around.

His strengths are that he's strong and quick, so he can hold players off as a target man but can also turn them and run in behind, he's fucking relentless and he's generally always fit. I reckon most teams outside of the Champions League clubs would take him and he'd be playing every week.

I largely agree with this. I've expressed my frustrations with him plenty of times on here, but he does offer us something beyond the obvious. I think it's because he's great at the stuff you don't necessarily look at in a game, and struggles with the aspect that should be easy enough for a striker.

[LeeB]

I think Emery believes he can get more out of Watkins. And if you look at his first season when he had the likes of Grealish and Barkley around him, he looked a much better player. In fact, some of the interplay on the left with Grealish, Targett and Watkins (like in the Arsenal away game) was excellent at times.

I was on another clubs forum and they'd listed the top scorers from the championship that had moved to the top division, and the comment was that Watkins was head and shoulders above the others.

He's not the best or most natural finishers, but that is only one facet of a forwards game these days and that's just the way it is. You cannot carry a passenger for 90 minutes so he can tap in the odd cross, it doesn't work and the opposition will find ways to make you pay for it. We've just sold an example of it, and getting shot of Ronaldo has turned Man Utd's season around.

His strengths are that he's strong and quick, so he can hold players off as a target man but can also turn them and run in behind, he's fucking relentless and he's generally always fit. I reckon most teams outside of the Champions League clubs would take him and he'd be playing every week.

I largely agree with this. I've expressed my frustrations with him plenty of times on here, but he does offer us something beyond the obvious. I think it's because he's great at the stuff you don't necessarily look at in a game, and struggles with the aspect that should be easy enough for a striker.

Yeah, I agree. I was thinking about his header on Saturday and in general, he's strong in the air in that he's physically strong and can hold off challenges, but when he heads he tends to fix bolt upright and the lets the ball hit him, he doesn't arch his back in the classic style of say Andy Gray or even the way the kid at Brighton took his goal at Leicester on Saturday.

But he's very effective, his movement is actually really good is my view. He's a Duracell bunny but not in an over aggressive headless chicken way like Neil Maupay and that's not to be sniffed at. When we bought him we were supposedly in for Callum Wilson who I think is probably a better player, but he's often out with injuries, which is no use to anyone.

I also reckon Emery loves him, and will get the best out of him.

[Mister E]

On Saturday, he seemed to have improved his combativeness with the oppo CB, and his lay-offs looked more convincing ... has he been coached, I wonder?!

[Risso]

He's another 'enigma' who is very inconsistent. He scored a great header and won us the game against Southampton, but other than that he was mostly completely anonymous. Which is obviously better than playing badly and not scoring, but he needs to up his overall contribution.

[Simon Page]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

[Rigadon]

That's a good way of looking at it actually.  It will be interesting to see what happens once another (senior) center forward arrives. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

[paul_e]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I'm not sure how you replicate 'give the ball to jack' without him though.