Ollie Watkins

[PeterWithesShin]

Not really, that would make him the 20th most expensive player in history. He's good, but not that good.

[Monty]

I think Shropshire's favourite Ealinger wasn't necessarily overcome with seriousness there.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He's scored 87 in 223 ( 1 in 2.5) and 36 assists. Smirker you have a blind spot on this one if you think that isn't good. Can you or anyone else think of someone who is also deemed ''not good'' with a similar or better record?

Classic case of 'poster posts ill thought-out opinion, realises he's talking nonsense, refuses to back down, so doubles down, digging self even deeper hole'.

He could have mentioned that Gabby rarely played as the lone striker and when he did it was in a generally crap team. That said, Watkins last season was both physically and mentally drained, at times he may as well have not been on the pitch so poor were the tactics and service. Technically he's always being playing catch up and like most strikers his confidence plays a massive part in his success. He's always been feast or famine.

Overall I think he deserves another go this season* after hopefully a real good rest. He's not getting any younger but I've yet to see any signs of his legs giving up on him. The fella is fit as a butcher's dog, he still manages to run around like a labrador puppy chasing a balloon. Enery has the task of making sure the team play to Watkins' strengths. Hoofing the ball up to the half way line whilst he is closely marked by two big central defenders shouldn't be repeated.

This summer, despite us losing resaleable value on Watkins was not the time to sell. Too many CL clubs looking for strikers and too few on the market. If he can have another injury free season I think he'll be fine for what we require this season. People bang on about his goals, the shift he puts in but it's his remarkable talent to get himself into goalscoring positions that really defines him. As a striker it's not a bad habit to have.

*We're fooked if his wife has another baby this season. Let's hope Ollie Watkins keeps it in his pants for just one more season.

[Bosco81]

Can we make Thursday Pau Torres day, where we can have the same tedious debate like the Watkins one, he’s shit, no he’s not, yes he is, perhaps Friday we can move onto Matty Cash.

But if the test match is any good I might just stick to that.

[Smirker]

He's scored 87 in 223 ( 1 in 2.5) and 36 assists. Smirker you have a blind spot on this one if you think that isn't good. Can you or anyone else think of someone who is also deemed ''not good'' with a similar or better record?

Yakubu.

[VillaTim]

Can we make Thursday Pau Torres day, where we can have the same tedious debate like the Watkins one, he’s shit, no he’s not, yes he is, perhaps Friday we can move onto Matty Cash.

But if the test match is any good I might just stick to that.

Poor analogy

[Pat McMahon]

He had a very short break after the euros last year and scoring that goal v Holland would have changed the recognition he gets and taken some getting used to. I’m hoping a more rested and settled Watkins can return to top form this season.

[Smirker]

He's scored 87 in 223 ( 1 in 2.5) and 36 assists. Smirker you have a blind spot on this one if you think that isn't good. Can you or anyone else think of someone who is also deemed ''not good'' with a similar or better record?

It's not. That's why you had to add the assists. If the goal record was good you wouldn't have done it.

He's had one good season of goalscoring. The rest are average at best.

[Monty]

87 with 36 assists in 223 games is better than 123 with 0 assists in 223 games in today's game! Indicates an all-round game that means not only does he score, but he helps others score too. Even Man City with Haaland have found depending on one solitary goalscorer to be too much.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure I completely agree with that.

League only (because comparing champions league to conference league is silly)

23/24 - 37 appearances totalling 3227 minutes and 19goals is a 1 per 169mins ratio.
24/25 - 38 appearances totalling 2612 minutes and 16goals is a 1 per 163mins ratio.

The main difference between the 2 was last year we were trying to keep Duran happy and get value out of Rashford, Watkins was very consistent, as he has been ever since Emery arrived.

[PeterWithesShin]

As has been said before, unless a freak like Haaland then strikers now have to be much more than a goal poacher. That type of striker was going out of fashion even when Bent was still with us. The game has moved on from them.

2.5 a goal, including a year under twat Gerrard, is hardly shit despite the claims. When you add in the assists and work rate, a necessity in a top striker these days, then Ollie is a high end player.

[cdbearsfan]

Similarly, it's mad that they're not knocking our door down to pay as little as £80m for him.

Teams won't offer over the odds, or even what players are worth, if they think we are in the shit. See: Luiz, Douglas.

[paul_e]

He's scored 87 in 223 ( 1 in 2.5) and 36 assists. Smirker you have a blind spot on this one if you think that isn't good. Can you or anyone else think of someone who is also deemed ''not good'' with a similar or better record?

It's not. That's why you had to add the assists. If the goal record was good you wouldn't have done it.

He's had one good season of goalscoring. The rest are average at best.

People add the asissts because ignoring them is really weird when it's a core part of his game.

[Smirker]

Ollie is Yakubu/Beattie/Viduka/Philips level. You wouldn't describe any of those as world class and yet Ollie had been described as such plenty of times. That's just daft.

Ollie is decent for a top 7 PL side but he is not a top striker. If you want to win or at least challenge for honours, you need better.

[Monty]

Good heavens.