Ollie Watkins

[tomd2103]

"Easily replaceable".

Wouldn't say he is easily replaceable, but Brighton have scored more goals than us this season without a real top striker. 

I agree with you though that he would be difficult to replace and someone with his goal return would cost a fortune.  To borrow a term from the film Moneyball, we'd probably be looking at "re-creating him in the aggregate", which would mean a lot more goals from the number 10 and wide positions.

[Somniloquism]

Just shows the rest of the team haven't been chiming in like they did last season.

Last season five different players scored 5 goals or above, this year it is three. Five different players assisted 5 goals or more, this year that is also three.

Watkins still tops both scored and assisted for the second year.

(Biggest letdown in both stats is Bailey).

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/stats/_/id/362/league/ENG.1/season/2023

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/stats/_/id/362/aston-villa

[AV84]

I made the point a while ago that the lack of contributions from the rest of the team (compared to last season) makes Ollie's misses look worse. He has missed some real sitters, I'm not denying, but it feels like we were relying on him way more this season.

[Duncan Shaw]

Just wondered if anyone else thought it looked like our record PL goalscorer had already mentally checked out/left on Sunday?  I know none of them covered themselves in any glory, but it was a really poor and subdued performance from Ollie.

[LeeB]

Poor and subdued is being kind.

[brontebilly]

No, there was no checking out by any player but Ollie truly was dreadful on the day. His touch in that first was maybe the worst it has ever been.

[ozzjim]

I think that's probably where the eye test has resulted in more criticism this season. Previous years you could see him working like a dog, making endless runs, closing down etc, which helped mitigate the misses and dry spells. This season he's looked visibly less energetic, enthused etc, making it easier to get on his back after the misses. Even Rashford looked like he was putting more of a shift in at 9 than Ollie at times, which is quite the statement.

[paul_e]

Just wondered if anyone else thought it looked like our record PL goalscorer had already mentally checked out/left on Sunday?  I know none of them covered themselves in any glory, but it was a really poor and subdued performance from Ollie.

I don't think he was checked out as such, he was just bullied out of it. Too many longer balls towards his head that he was beaten too and then wasn't sure enough with his touch when we played to feet. It was about his worst performance for us I can remember though.

[caster troy]

Ollie has been open about not being at his best this season after not having a pre-season and being in and out of the team. He was superb against Newcastle after a few games out, maybe he just ran out of gas again by Sunday.

World Cup year next year, I expect him to be 'on it' after a proper break in the summer. Fingers crossed that will be in a Villa shirt.

[eamonn]

Even Rashford looked like he was putting more of a shift in at 9 than Ollie at times, which is quite the statement.

If there was ever a time for Rashford to look like he's trying it would have been when he left Yanited and joined us. Eager to impress because he's in the shop-window. Watkins has been working like a dog for us for five years.

[Dogtanian]

Lovely to see;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/video/7d617850-6c91-4512-8c51-ac68078ce819

What an amazing bit of memorabilia for these young fans to treasure for years to come.

[cdbearsfan]

Withdrawn from England squad as a precaution with "minor injury".

[VillaTim]

That will be like throwing petrol onto a fire

[andyh]

Withdrawn from England squad as a precaution with "minor injury".

Good…..plenty of R&R time

[kippaxvilla2]

Staying or going do we think?