Ollie Watkins

[Somniloquism]

As the initial post by Toronto was on Leagues only, I did wonder why we were suddenly including all the other games. And he had definitely played a lot less minutes then he has previously for is this season. I suspect he might have beaten the record several week ago.

[paul_e]

As the initial post by Toronto was on Leagues only, I did wonder why we were suddenly including all the other games. And he had definitely played a lot less minutes then he has previously for is this season. I suspect he might have beaten the record several week ago.

The bold bit is why I included minutes per goal above because the idea he's fallen back from where he was last season doesn't really hold up.

[MorrisNielson]

Breakdown of Ollie’s 75 league goals:
7 - Brighton & Hove Albion
6 - Arsenal
6 - Brentford
6 - Liverpool
5 - Everton
5 - Fulham
5 - Newcastle United
4 - Southampton
4 - West Ham United
3 - Crystal Palace
3 - Tottenham Hotspurs
2 - Bournemouth
2 - Burnley
2 - Chelsea
2 - Ipswich Town
2 - Leicester City
2 - Luton Town
2 - Manchester City
2 - Norwich City
2 - Nottingham Forest
2 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
1 - Sheffield United

[Smithy]

As the initial post by Toronto was on Leagues only, I did wonder why we were suddenly including all the other games. And he had definitely played a lot less minutes then he has previously for is this season. I suspect he might have beaten the record several week ago.

The bold bit is why I included minutes per goal above because the idea he's fallen back from where he was last season doesn't really hold up.

Yep, 152 minutes a goal this season is very good.  That's 22+ goals a season (if you play every minute).  Close to elite level.  I'm certainly one of those who sometimes question Ollie's ability as a "natural finisher", but the simple fact is he scores a LOT of goals, regularly gets into good positions, misses quite a few, but also works incredibly hard and does a great job for the team. 

I think he will be incredibly hard to replace.  Which we're going to have to do in the next few years whether we sell him, or not.

[MorrisNielson]

For those who like old money, before ‘football only started in 92’, this is the all-time Top Flight Top Scorers:
215 - H Hampton
214 - WH Walker
170 - JHG Devey
167 - JW Bache
159 - T Waring
136 - WE Houghton
132 - JT Dixon
96 - W Garraty
88 - LK Capewell
87 - DJ Astley
85 - C Stephenson
80 - RE York
79 - G Brown
76 - WC Athersmith
76 - PJ McParland
75 - OGA Watkins
74 - GI Agbonlahor
74 - P Withe
73 - DE Yorke
68 - A Hateley
68 - GF Wheldon

[AV82EC]

Thanks Morris, I’d like Ollie to at least to get in the top 10 in that all time list. Certainly doable if he stays a few more years.

[Reuben]

Looks like a nice piece here but I have jumped through a few hoops trying to get access to it but seems I need to subscribe to read it - anyone kind enough to transcribe?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6280620/2025/05/12/ollie-watkins-is-aston-villas-all-time-premier-league-top-goalscorer-heres-why-it-matters/

Here you go
https://archive.ph/RyEhT

Thank you

[paul_e]

The problem with comparing records like this to previous generations is that the game has changed too much for numbers to really mean anything.

Take Hampton for example, he played for us for 16 years. That's a 'problem' for 2 reasons, firstly an outfield player getting 16 seasons at the top level now is really fucking rare, I doubt there's more than about 50 players across the top 5 european leagues who managed that this century. Secondly, the nature of transfers has changed so much that players just don't spend that long at a single club very often any more.

[cdbearsfan]

If he scores against Man U he'll have scored against each Premier League opponent.

He will lose said record again shortly afterwards as he hasn't scored against Leeds (or, obviously, Coventry, Bristol City or Sunderland, should they go up)

[Drummond]

So if we're taking out his most prolific season because it skews the figures..... we should take out his least productive too, which would then put him on 2.44 games per goal. His actual Premier League only record is 2.42 (and 5.1 for assists). Based on minutes played he scores a goal every 201 minutes (and assists 430.8 ) .

He plays, on average, 93% of the matches he's involved in and has missed only 6 games in 5 seasons. That's an incredible record, and without him we'd not be where we are.





 

[Smithy]

If he scores against Man U he'll have scored against each Premier League opponent.

He will lose said record again shortly afterwards as he hasn't scored against Leeds (or, obviously, Coventry, Bristol City or Sunderland, should they go up)

He missed a penalty for Brentford against Leeds in the Championship.  No idea if he scored against them in any other games, I only know the missed pen as I went back to look at his penalty record when we were wondering who our pen taker would be

[cdbearsfan]

I had it filtered by Premier League. He still hasn't scored against Leeds (or Sunderland) if you include other competitions, though. Does have a League Cup goal against Man U. Has four goals against Bristol City in all competitions and an EFL Trophy goal against Coventry.

[oldhill_avfc]

Impressive improvement year on year in terms of goals per minute

[ADVILLAFAN]

Good list btw, thanks Morris.

[Keeno]

For those who like old money, before ‘football only started in 92’, this is the all-time Top Flight Top Scorers:
215 - H Hampton
214 - WH Walker
170 - JHG Devey
167 - JW Bache
159 - T Waring
136 - WE Houghton
132 - JT Dixon
96 - W Garraty
88 - LK Capewell
87 - DJ Astley
85 - C Stephenson
80 - RE York
79 - G Brown
76 - WC Athersmith
76 - PJ McParland
75 - OGA Watkins
74 - GI Agbonlahor
74 - P Withe
73 - DE Yorke
68 - A Hateley
68 - GF Wheldon

Lovely seeing "OGA Watkins" on there like he's made it onto the Lords' honours board. 1 more season and he'd probably be in our top 10 all time, which would be fitting for the impact he's had in his time here.