Ollie Watkins

[AV84]

Also, being realistic, if Watkins had scored in the 20s last season we'd probably be struggling to hold onto him this summer.

[danno]

His conversion rate is roughly in line with Salah and Rashford.

[img width= height= alt=IMG-8718" border="0]https://i.ibb.co/C7hZh6w/IMG-8718.jpg[/img]

His minutes per goal is high, not helped by his run of one goal in eleven under that blockhead Gerrard.

[paul_e]

He does just fine for us. He's part of a team that was only behind Man City in the time since Emery took over and played a vital part in it.

Yes he misses some, but every player does.

He misses more than he should though, that's the issue.

This is where the ever loved xG comes in useful. Over his 3 seasons he's scored 40 and has an xG of closer to 45 which backs up the idea that his finishing lets him down. Last season it was 15G/~17.5xG.

Getting away from stuff that people don't like he managed 86 shots last season and hit the target with 47 which is very good and a conversion rate of about 17.5% which is decent as well, which contradicts the xG stats a touch.
Taking this bit out because Danno has given the same stats and I just noticed I gave them with more than just league games.

Both together suggests that, statistically, he hits too many straight at the keeper and misses the odd sitter. That lines up with the eyeball test for me as well.

[SamTheMouse]

It feels to me as if he lacks that laser-like accuracy that the top strikers seem to have. He gets his shots on target, but often doesn't hit the corners or the sides of the net. Probably being harsh but it's the impression I get.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Yup, as Paul mentioned above, Watkins suffers from Elghazitas, constantly shooting straight at the keeper.

[paul_e]

Yup, as Paul mentioned above, Watkins suffers from Elghazitas, constantly shooting straight at the keeper.

I mean I didn't say constantly...



The problem is the 8-10 bigger pins on there, those are the good chances that were saved by the keeper. that's about 1 in 9-10 over the season where he gave the keeper a chance. Add in a few that hit the woodwork and a handful where he didn't hit the target but should've and I can understand the complaints about him needing too many chances but his conversion rate does hold up so I'm not sure what the problem is really. He does let himself down 1on1 though, that would be the 1 criticism I think is fair, and was highlighted again yesterday.

[ChicagoLion]

He is not a natural finisher and you can not train that into someone.

[LeeB]

That was mad yesterday, he did the keeper no problem and the touch didn't look too heavy but that ball seemed to go quicker as it moved away from him

[Steve67]

Ollie is just getting warm, he'll be fine by the time the season starts.  We still need another forward though.

[tomd2103]

He is not a natural finisher and you can not train that into someone.

He just hasn't got that cuteness in and around the box that the genuinely top class strikers have.  It would cost us a small fortune to bring someone at the next level in though and we probably would struggle to attract that level of striker anyway. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It would cost us a small fortune to bring someone at the next level in though and we probably would struggle to attract that level of striker anyway. 

€20m is my guestimate. Risky business? Absolutely but then I'm not the one that's spent 6 months studying potential replacements.
I wouldn't be against him staying if we had nothing to play for next season and I believe he'll be gone in the next 12 months, assuming he signs a new contract. Why not cash in now, his value will never be so high?

[Percy McCarthy]

Come to think of it, we scored 8 in the US, and only one came from a striker. 5 from midfield, and 2 from defenders.

You must be counting Diaby as a midfielder. I don’t think he is, especially when SJM or JPB have been playing as the wide-right midfielder.

[AV84]

I wonder if there was any truth in the Tammy Abraham thing? If there was, it implies Emery did want a second striker.

Seems odd though that we haven't really been seriously linked with anyone else in that position. Maybe like back-up goalie, it's difficult to get someone who meets the requirements and isn't an extortionate price.

[tomd2103]

It would cost us a small fortune to bring someone at the next level in though and we probably would struggle to attract that level of striker anyway. 

€20m is my guestimate. Risky business? Absolutely but then I'm not the one that's spent 6 months studying potential replacements.
I wouldn't be against him staying if we had nothing to play for next season and I believe he'll be gone in the next 12 months, assuming he signs a new contract. Why not cash in now, his value will never be so high?

£20m?  To get an established striker a level above Watkins then I think we would probably be looking at £60m+ given the premium that is on them. 

In fairness, although it would be great to have someone like that come in, I think we could bring in an upcoming striker who will start as second choice, but with the potential to be better than Ollie Watkins in a couple of years.

[Percy McCarthy]

It would cost us a small fortune to bring someone at the next level in though and we probably would struggle to attract that level of striker anyway. 

€20m is my guestimate. Risky business? Absolutely but then I'm not the one that's spent 6 months studying potential replacements.
I wouldn't be against him staying if we had nothing to play for next season and I believe he'll be gone in the next 12 months, assuming he signs a new contract. Why not cash in now, his value will never be so high?

£20m?  To get an established striker a level above Watkins then I think we would probably be looking at £60m+ given the premium that is on them. 

In fairness, although it would be great to have someone like that come in, I think we could bring in an upcoming striker who will start as second choice, but with the potential to be better than Ollie Watkins in a couple of years.

He’s talking about net, ie £20m more than what we’d get for OW.