Ollie Watkins

[Sexual Ealing]

It doesn't matter whether he's trying or not. In fact, it's worse if he is trying because he's producing nothing.

You make no distinction between a player out of form and a player not trying?

Not really. If they can play well without trying, good luck to them. Watkins can try as hard as he likes, but if he plays shit he's not worth his place on the pitch.

[eye digress]

You’re missing the point.

But intentionally so, so I will let you get on with it.

[Sexual Ealing]

Probably a good idea because I have no clue what you mean.

[brontebilly]

I can't think of another player that gets worse with healthy competition breathing down his neck.He hasn't been right since the Euros. And Konsa to some degree has become a bit laissez-faire . It's gone to their heads.

100% but more ollie than konsa. Half the time ollie looks like he can't be asked.  He has cost us so many points already with some of his misses this season.

Missing big chances isn't the problem. He missed plenty of them last season. He's not working centre halves anywhere near as hard as he was last season. Then when Duran comes on next to him he's not bothered at all, might as well just take him off. That's not acceptable. I thought he didnt try a leg when he came on for Duran v Bologna too. Sulking that he has competition for his spot it looks like.

[PhilVill]

Watkins needs a kick up the arse, some of his attempts this season have been woeful. I'm afraid he is far from alone though, there seems to be a malaise going through the team. All we have done is get to 4th, nothing else. The best teams see that as an absolute minimum rather than 'job done, lets enjoy the praise now'. I can't be too hard on Watkins though as the style of play presently is far too slow and allows teams to get into shape easily. It needs sorted out asap, it would be so Villa to fade back into mediocrity after so much hard work. Fingers crossed its just a blip....

[Mister E]

Osimhem showed last night what a classy striker looks like, but he was getting great service for the first 60 minutes (before Galatasary ran out of steam), playing in a team with pace and intensity.
Watkins would look good with a dynamic team behind him.
We are playing far too passively and without intensity: it feels unfair to judge our striker in these circumstances.

[Demitri_C]

Harsh. He doesn’t look like he’s not trying to me, just not playing that well and missing chances.

You could put the former down in part to our lack of penetration on the flanks. But he owns the missed chances.

Think he will come good again though, he’s always scored in fits and spurts.

The reason im saying this is because his work rate looks to have dropped a lot the last few games and isnt showing much passion on pitch. Low confidence? Maybe  playing witha injury? Maybe

But something is not right with him at the moment.  He looks a shadow of his normal self

[Richard]

Osimhem showed last night what a classy striker looks like, but he was getting great service for the first 60 minutes (before Galatasary ran out of steam), playing in a team with pace and intensity.
Watkins would look good with a dynamic team behind him.
We are playing far too passively and without intensity: it feels unfair to judge our striker in these circumstances.

Exactly and why Youri further forward might help.

[Clark W Griswold]

Osimhem showed last night what a classy striker looks like, but he was getting great service for the first 60 minutes (before Galatasary ran out of steam), playing in a team with pace and intensity.
Watkins would look good with a dynamic team behind him.
We are playing far too passively and without intensity: it feels unfair to judge our striker in these circumstances.

Exactly and why Youri further forward might help.

Could Rogers play right side, with Tielemans centre, Ramsey left and Watkins in front, Onana and Kamara centre mid?
Seems a good way to give Bailey and McGinn a ‘rest’ whilst not compromising solidity and keeping some proper width with Rogers wide. I’d say he could do a decent job anywhere in the final third myself.

[Hookeysmith]

Could it possibly England regular squad member billy big bollocks syndrome - got there so do not need to keep proving myself?

On a serious note it has effected players from a lot of teams over the years.

Maybe he is as stroppy as Duran is over being pulled off with a lot of regularity nowadays to appease Duran

Whatever it is he is nowhere near the sharp player he has been previously - his lack of ball control is astonishing lately

[AV82EC]

3 things for me

1) he’s a bit out of form
2) he’s getting minimal service
3) Rogers and Duran

The first one will sort itself, the second one will only get sorted once Unai has worked out how we should be playing and the third one is annoying because Rogers is not performing and we’re making too many allowances for Duran. Sort all that out and you’ll have your 20 goal a season Ollie back.

[Rigadon]

He's in one his periods where it doesn't quite come off.  He has consistently had these spells of 10 games when the goals dry up.  It's nothing more than that and he'll come good again I'm sure.  I reckon he'll score on Saturday evening.

[ChicagoLion]

He has the lowest conversion rate of any PL player with more than 10chances this season.

[Smirker]

This can't go on.

Duran needs to start.

[Risso]

He’s been dreadful for ages now.