Ollie Watkins

[Dave]

You could argue Wilson has had a striker alongside him (Isak).

Think I read that a game the other week was the first time they'd ever started a match together.

[Clampy]

You could argue Wilson has had a striker alongside him (Isak). Ollie has in the main played as the loan striker in that mad scoring run he had but if people have stopped praising him now he's stopped scoring, then so be it. It's what some fans do I suppose

I don't think it's unreasonable to be of the opinion that Wilson is a better striker than Watkins.

I haven't said otherwise.

[Olof's Beard]

Once you set aside the "picking on form" argument, the choices are fairly self explanatory. We have won with McGuire and Philips so he keeps picking them.

Yep, everyone knows they are both going to be in the squad regardless now so not sure why everyone gets het up about it. It's hardly a surprise. Phillips would probably be out if Southgate had a multitude of other defensive midfielders to choose from but he doesn't. Maguire obviously doesn't deserve his place but he'll still get picked after he's retired at this rate.

I do think the manager makes a bit of a rod for his own back for this selection because it magnifies the choices he makes when he leaves regulars out. Take Sterling, who has obviously had a shite season and doesn't deserve to be in on current form but has plenty of previous form to draw on. He could quite rightly argue that he shouldn't be dropped if Maguire is constantly retained.

[Toronto Villa]

Phillips is the one for me, I just don't get it at all. There must be a dozen players that can do what he does (or actually doesn't do anymore). He has never been a good enough footballer to earn a place without playing.

There are certain players that fly in the face of the whole “he’s in on merit” argument. I get Maguire does well for England. But when you mainly play utterly shit national teams it’s not hard to look competent. But what message does it send when clearly certain players are undroppable. And would Phillips have been picked if still played for Leeds and hadn’t played much all season? I very much doubt it. He’s at a “big club” now so gets that treatment from Southgate. And fucking Conor Gallagher are you joking? Not even close to what Ramsey has done.

[Footy-Vill]

Unai Emery keen to reward Watkins improved, long-term contract.
"Watkins, 27, also has two years to run having already equalled his best Premier League season goal tally – 14 – with one game to play. Having just missed out on a return to the England squad, the striker is considered key to Emery’s style of play"

Source: ITK John Percy

[Footy-Vill]

Ollie out of the two for me.

Why? Wilson is a far more confident finisher.

He's only scored three more than Ollie this season and I like Ollies all round play.

He's played just over half the minutes that Watkins has.

That in itself say a lot

Every season he only plays half the games. He is very good though.

Well the stats on finishing when he hits the target suggest Watkins is doing so very well.

22/23 Premier League Shot on target Conversion rate

1. Haaland 58%
2. Kane 52%
3. Salah and Rashford 44%
4. Watkins 43%
-------------------------------
Son and Toney 40%
Wilson 36%
Mitovic 34%

[Monty]

Good stat FV. It calls to mind Watkins talking about how Emery has got him working on his variety of finishes.

[Somniloquism]

I was going to mention that everyone is stating Wilson or Watkins, yet seem to not think Rashford or Watkins, especially as they are probably similar stats this season. And being as Rashford has been injured the last few matches, why risk him?

[Footy-Vill]

Good stat FV. It calls to mind Watkins talking about how Emery has got him working on his variety of finishes.

The penalty conversion rate would be less impressive for Watkins
I would say Wilson is one of the best in the Prem for converting penalties and one of the all time Premier league best having only missed one.
Watkins is below him on that metric.

Danny Ings is in the top 10 reliable penalty takers at 10th

[Simon Page]

I'm trying to work out what position we might finish if we could just acquire the 10th best of everything in the Premier League. Stats is fun.

My prediction is 20th.

[olaftab]

Wilson has below average conversion rate for a top striker and spends a fair amount of time out injured. Not sure why our Gareth prefers him over Ollie?

[not3bad]

Wilson has below average conversion rate for a top striker and spends a fair amount of time out injured. Not sure why our Gareth prefers him over Ollie?

He's going purely on recent form. Wilson has got 11 goals in his last 11. Watson hasn't scored in his last 6.

[Footy-Vill]

Wilson has below average conversion rate for a top striker and spends a fair amount of time out injured. Not sure why our Gareth prefers him over Ollie?

He's going purely on recent form. Wilson has got 11 goals in his last 11. Watson hasn't scored in his last 6.

Elementary selecting by Southgate it seems.

[Dogtanian]

Wilson has below average conversion rate for a top striker and spends a fair amount of time out injured. Not sure why our Gareth prefers him over Ollie?

He's going purely on recent form. Wilson has got 11 goals in his last 11. Watson hasn't scored in his last 6.

Elementary selecting by Southgate it seems.

 

[Rigadon]

Just read that we are apparently trying to organise new deals for both Watkins and McGinn before the transfer window opens .  It's very harsh on the lad, but given he is 27 now, I would entertain a big offer for Watkins this summer.  The attributes that he has (work rate and physicality) will naturally fade the older he gets - maybe in a year, maybe in 5, who knows.  The stuff he isn't as brilliant at will become more of a problem the older he gets.  It just feels like potentially the right time to cash in, so long as we got one or two great replacements of course!