Ollie Watkins

[Percy McCarthy]

If we're weak minded as supporters, we're reflecting what we've seen on the pitch over the years. We're fed up of seeing Villa as a club shit the bed every time they have a chance to do something really special.

Can we at least acknowledge that we’re either the best, or definitely one of the best, teams in the country for not giving up points from winning positions? Because reading the posts since yesterday it seems like everyone thinks we’re one of the worst.

Forgive me, but it reminds me of all the moaning about zonal marking when we were the best team in the country at defending set pieces.

[DC1874]

"Weak minded" supporters shouldn't effect performance levels of highly paid professionals on and off that pitch - as other posters have already stated we have long running form for f@@king things up and that has to change!

[Ads]

I've not said that they do impact it. They're just a cloying strangulation on a great city and its most cherished cultural actor.

[Proposition Joe]

If we're weak minded as supporters, we're reflecting what we've seen on the pitch over the years. We're fed up of seeing Villa as a club shit the bed every time they have a chance to do something really special.

Can we at least acknowledge that we’re either the best, or definitely one of the best, teams in the country for not giving up points from winning positions? Because reading the posts since yesterday it seems like everyone thinks we’re one of the worst.

Forgive me, but it reminds me of all the moaning about zonal marking when we were the best team in the country at defending set pieces.

Oh, I agree that this current team is better than many of its predecessors, just that we as supporters have been scarred over the years. That said, as good as we are there is a flakiness about us that we have got away with a couple of times (last being Luton away). If I had the power I'd transplant last season's run-in team with this one for the run-in, that solidity was very comforting.

[AV84]

What's he worth now ? £100m ? I just don't see anyone paying that .

It’s rarity value, there are so few proven centre forwards around.
His heading ability has come on a lot.

Can't take penalties though. So he'll still be here next year, as the "big" teams battle to bankrupt themselves to sign Ivan Toney.

I reckon that Isak might be the striker that the teams above us are trying to get and Toney ends up somewhere like West Ham. Or even back at Newcastle to replace Isak.

Yes, good point. I saw something last week heavily linking Toney to West Ham. I remember thinking it's a step up from Brentford, but it's not Arsenal. Makes sense though if Arsenal or the likes were looking at Isak. Man City are still supposedly interested in Paqueta too, so West Ham will likely have a fair bit of cash to throw around.

[German James]

How much cash are we likely to have to throw around in the summer? Can anyone make an educated guess?

[Olneythelonely]

How much cash are we likely to have to throw around in the summer? Can anyone make an educated guess?

Depends on what position we’re in from a FFP (or whatever it’s called) position. Presumably, not a whole lot from a net-spend point of view.

[AV84]

I'd assume there'll be a few players cleared out as early as possible too, to free up wages and what not.

[Dante Lavelli]

strikes me that Watkins comments are a good indication of how the mindset and expections of the squad have changed.  For example can anyone imagine Gaby coming out with such comments?

[Jane]

I'd have even preferred "we go again".

[Footy-Vill]

Only the other day Konsa said Emery has improved him as a player but also as a person.

[Percy McCarthy]

How much cash are we likely to have to throw around in the summer? Can anyone make an educated guess?

It’s a difficult one. Selling a player gives room to bring three or four in because of Risso/accounts/amortisation-type stuff. And bearing that in mind, I do find myself wondering if we should sell someone like Dougie to bring in say Palacios, Frimpong and Onana (Everton) who I think would be a top player in a good team. It’s difficult because I really love Dougie as most of us do.

Ideally we could make financial headroom by getting Couts, Donk, Morgan Sanson etc off the books but I think we have to sell one player to spend really big.

Saying all that, Morgan Rogers looks a bargain so a couple more would be great. RB and CDM ideally.

[kippaxvilla2]

“It’s really disappointing,” Watkins told VillaTV.

“As a team, we’ve come so far from when the manager joined – 17th in the league to fighting for Champions League football. Which is unbelievable.

“But we’ve got here for a reason and that’s being strong, seeing games out and we didn’t do that here.

“It’s happened to us a few times over the season now, Man Utd away on Boxing Day, 2-0 up cruising, came out second half lackadaisical – all over the pitch, I’m not saying anyone specifically, me myself.

“We’ve just got to be more consistent and be that horrible team to play against when we’re ahead 2-0.”

[PaulWinch again]

He’s spot on.

[PeterWithesShin]

A few times = twice now this season.

We've won far more points late on than we've dropped.