Ollie Watkins

[PaulWinch again]

I like Malen and think he’ll be very useful, but he’s scored 15+ goals in a season once. I’m not sure he’s nailed on to be a prolific finisher.

[Rigadon]

I think my favourite post of the day was the chap who'd heard that we might flog Ollie and replace him with DCL and wanted know if it was a rumour.

Did it make you feel cleverer?

[Clampy]

Not really. It was a bizarre thing to think, especially with who we have as our manager.

[Dante Lavelli]

I like Malen but if he was so great, why didn't he get the nod ahead of Watkins? I'll tell you, Watkins is currently a better player and one of the best in the business.

True, but the “currently” bit is critical.

[Rigadon]

Not really. It was a bizarre thing to think, especially with who we have as our manager.

Nah, it was skim reading the thread while being busy in work.  You really don’t need to be so sneery mate.

[Clampy]

Not sneery at all. Come on, no Villa fan, skimming the thread or not would really ask if we would sell Ollie and replace him with an injury prone striker who hardly scores.

You watch, it'll happen now.

[Olneythelonely]

If you gave Malen the amount of games and minutes that Watkins had last season I reckon he wouldn’t be far off maybe even ahead as he looks a better finisher and his work rate looks good as well

Not having a go at Watkins just think from what I saw of Malen last season he was impressive in the short bursts he had

Maybe one of the best managers in the world will also come to that conclusion, having watched him much more than us. Or maybe he won’t.

One of the best managers in the world paid 20-25 million for him
It’s my opinion from what I watched of him last season and there’s a good chance he’ll improve as well

Don’t forget one of the best managers in the world dropped Watkins for Duran and then again for Rashford so he certainly isn’t untouchable
The problem with you one eyed lot is you ask for any replacement names soon as someone suggests someone your all their ragging it because you don’t really want replacement names you just want to carry on with your own agendas

So the question is do I think Malen is good enough to score 16 goals in the Premier league next season if he plays in every game like Watkins did
And my answer is yeah I reckon he could
Do I think he will ? Dont know he probably won’t get the chance.

I’m not saying Malen won’t. I’m just saying that Unai decided last season that he wouldn’t.

[Dante Lavelli]

He also committed to loan Rashford in the same window.  Once we had both, we were always going  to pick the expensive one.

[paul_e]

Watkins got rested rather than dropped for Rashford. Duran earned his starts by being fantastic whenever he got a chance. Neither is evidence that Emery will be trying to replace Watkins.

Pointing out that replacing everything Watkins brings to us isn't an agenda, it's resourcing the fact that he's been a key player in talking is from survival on the last day to bring disappointed with 5th and he's got better as the team around him has improved, just like McGinn, Konsa and Mings.

Letting him leave because we get an offer we can't refuse is one thing (and I think it might happen this summer) but actively wanting to replace him and acting like that's a simple thing to do is another. People ask for names to get an idea of who people think can be an upgrade because it's a very small group to pick from.

[Smirker]

Hopefully going. Then we get a proper striker in.

Coops level of trolling. At least in how nonsensical it is.

Smirker's , definitely not a troll.

*Just a little misguided on this occasion.

Thanks.

I'm not repeating myself. You will all see. Better strikers are out there and the club will find one I'm sure.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Watkins got rested rather than dropped for Rashford. Duran earned his starts by being fantastic whenever he got a chance. Neither is evidence that Emery will be trying to replace Watkins.

Do we know that Watkins was just rested as opposed to being dropped for Rashford? I’m aware he had a knock but i thought Rashford was preferred at centre forward, especially seems as though initially Rashford played very well on the left.

[Rory]

Hopefully going. Then we get a proper striker in.

Coops level of trolling. At least in how nonsensical it is.

Smirker's , definitely not a troll.

*Just a little misguided on this occasion.

Thanks.

I'm not repeating myself. You will all see. Better strikers are out there and the club will find one I'm sure.

You just can't name any.

[Drummond]

This is the problem with the modern world. Tinder, Tik Tok, Instagram all swiping away what looks great on the basis that surely something better is just a little swipe away, right?

[nigel]

I like Malen and think he’ll be very useful, but he’s scored 15+ goals in a season once. I’m not sure he’s nailed on to be a prolific finisher.

I think the modern day striker role is different. They’re expected to bring more to the table than just goals.
They’re not as prolific as the Greaves, Müller, Shearer, Bent type of striker. Their job was to score and not a lot else. They would score 25-30 a season with a couple of assists.

Ollie is around 15-20 plus 15, or so, assists, so goal involvement wise, he’s up there with them.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep, for some, I think they’ll realise how good Ollie is after he’s gone. Strikers don’t take all their chances, they just don’t. He is not a consistently clinical finisher, but he scores plenty and where he makes up the gap and becomes top class, is he gets lots of assists and he brings lots with his all round game. He is a top class forward and whoever follows him will do incredibly well to match the consistency of his output - they almost certainly won’t.