Ollie Watkins

[Ian.]

The face on Grealish after Ollie tapped that in, priceless 😀. Good for Ollie to be on the scoresheet anyway.

Ha ha! Me and my wife just said that. His face was priceless! Ollie also looked a little scared too for a minute.

Well done Ollie Watkins, he played well and was a menace, really pleased for him.

[brontebilly]

Yes, the oily tosspiece ******

He should be nowhere near the England team. Doesn't play for his club team, when he does he's rubbish. ******

He started pretty slow last season but was a key player for them by the end of the season. Seems to be running in treacle whenever I've seen him this season and refusing to take defenders on. Unfortunately Grealish most likely will kick into form at some point. Not the same player he was with us either way. Rashford has been brutal, Sterling looks finished so not many of the competition standing out either.

For Watkins, realistically the role up for grabs is Kane's backup competing with likes of Wilson. It's a tight call there, Wilson definitely a better finisher but Watkins more resilient.

[Dave]

Yes, the oily tosspiece ******

He should be nowhere near the England team. Doesn't play for his club team, when he does he's rubbish. ******

He started pretty slow last season but was a key player for them by the end of the season. Seems to be running in treacle whenever I've seen him this season and refusing to take defenders on. Unfortunately Grealish most likely will kick into form at some point. Not the same player he was with us either way. Rashford has been brutal, Sterling looks finished so not many of the competition standing out either.

For Watkins, realistically the role up for grabs is Kane's backup competing with likes of Wilson. It's a tight call there, Wilson definitely a better finisher but Watkins more resilient.

I'd argue there's probably room for more than two proper strikers and that each of Wilson and Watkins might be useful in different situations. You'd also think that Toney coming back could easily have a strong second half to the season, or someone else might have an Watkins '23 end to this season.

[danno]

The face on Grealish after Ollie tapped that in, priceless 😀. Good for Ollie to be on the scoresheet anyway.

Think it was shock, he spends most of his time at Man City passing inside to De Bruyne or Silva. Him actually doing something that resulted in a goal must have felt alien to him.

And his shot was going wide anyway.

[Footy-Vill]

Should Watkins and Kane both start?

[Dave]

Should Watkins and Kane both start?

Neither Watkins nor Kane play in a system with another striker.

So the question is basically "should Watkins be played out of position just to accommodate someone who plays there all the time, presumably well enough to play for England?"

So, no.

[Pete3206]

Should Watkins and Kane both start?

No.

[Hookeysmith]

That news now shite has Arsenal linked with a "swoop" for Ollie in Jan.

Are they mental. Just signed a 5 year deal so they would be expecting to pay £100+   tossers

[dcdavecollett]

£100? What a bargain!!

[N'ZMAV]

Should Watkins and Kane both start?

No.

Kane starts. Watkins sub,

[paul_e]

Should Watkins and Kane both start?

No.

Kane starts. Watkins sub,

I agree but I'd be looking at giving Watkins as long as possible. We can't keep giving Kane all the game time in competitive matches and then moaning about inexperienced backup for him.

[Rigadon]

That news now shite has Arsenal linked with a "swoop" for Ollie in Jan.

Are they mental. Just signed a 5 year deal so they would be expecting to pay £100+   tossers

Hmm, that one seems likely...

As far as rumours go, this one on the BBC site made me laugh:

"Manchester United are in no rush to sell Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 26, but would consider a deal if the price was right." (90min)

I mean, that's not even a rumour. 

[ChicagoLion]

£100? What a bargain!!

is that the release clause amount?

[dcdavecollett]

I'm guessing it's a bit more than that.

[Footy-Vill]

Since Emery arrived he's top in goals/assists by English players in the PL.

In 2023 he's 3rd in goals/assists in the PL behind Haaland and Salah.

This season he's 3rd in goals/assists in the PL behind Haaland and Salah.

Watkins has also set a target of 20 goals this season and it is a sign of his form over the past year that it almost sounds unambitious. But if he keeps delivering for Emery on the pitch, slowly but surely, the recognition will come his way.

“I'm confident I'm gonna get to that number, and then I think people start talking and you get put into a bracket of the top players"