Ollie Watkins

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Impressive improvement year on year in terms of goals per minute

^^^

I think most fans would agree that he is playing in a better team than when he first joined (more chances created, etc.), AND that his technical ability and decision making as a player has also improved.

To me, this points to a settled and really good/great/fantastic* player than has consistently delivered and demonstrated season on season improvement. IMO it makes no sense to sell him, unless an elite and proven striker/goalscorer can be recruited without creating PFF problems. This is possible, though unlikely.

His market value will, probably, decline in 2-3 years, but we need to continue to improve whilst staying within the financial constraints that exist, and I think Watkins offers the best prospect of achieving that. UTV

*delete according to whether he missed a sitter/could have scored more/won us the game in the last fixture.

[eamonn]

Most of Oll's goals seem to be decisive too - rarely are they consolations or icing-on-cakes. He wins us games, like.

[Olof's Beard]

Most of Oll's goals seem to be decisive too - rarely are they consolations or icing-on-cakes. He wins us games, like.

Innit. Winners in 1-0 away victories at Everton, Brentford and Bournemouth in the last couple of months alone. Folk can chunter on about missed chances all they want, but what about this impact?

[Drummond]

There's some weird shit going on when a player becomes our highest scorer of the past 30-40 years and people find a way of making it about them.

He's bloody brilliant. He's scored a lot of really good goals, in important moments don't forget, and would have had a few more this season had we not been boosting Duran's price by giving him more minutes.

There are very few players around who'd replace him.

[Louzie0]

I hope he’s with us for another season ( or more) because he could get into the top ten scorers with just 10 more goals, which he could have wrapped up by October or November! There are still 2 games to go, this season.

On his form, he would be such an asset in a European cup campaign again, as well as in the league.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I hope he adds to the list of teams he’s scored against by banging in a few at Old Trafford.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

As long as it's the winner, even if it's another deflection, in off his arse, who cares, he can do what he wants. A few against Spursy wouldn't go a miss either.

[Somniloquism]

Not sure if ever linked.

[kippaxvilla2]

Is it me or did Ollie used to be more clinical?!  I loved the way Grealish was in those days as well.

[Somniloquism]

They are only showing his goals. There isn't much difference between the latter ones and these early ones in terms he looked clinical because he is being clinical.

[usav]

Is it me or did Ollie used to be more clinical?!  I loved the way Grealish was in those days as well.

I might be making this up, but my perception is that last season was his most clinical and this season he is back to needing a bunch of chances to take one.

I fully expect someone to follow-up with some stats to prove me wrong.

[edgysatsuma89]

According to Fotmob, his shot conversion rate last season was 17.8%, and this season, it is 19.8%. His goals per 90 mins have actually increased year on year since 21/22 (0.34, 0.43, 0.53, 0.59). None of this includes the cups.

[AV84]

Just looking at the list of premier league goal scorers and of players still playing for us, John McGinn is closest to breaking Ollie's record. He's on 17 goals.

[cdbearsfan]

"Easily replaceable".

[PaulWinch again]

To be fair there’s lots of “clinical” strikers out there that regularly get 30+ a season….