Ollie Watkins

[N'ZMAV]

He's also still sulking after Rashford came in and took his place. Attitude problem.

same happened with Duran.

[Somniloquism]

He's been brilliant for us in the past and I hate to say it but he's done at this level.

Which is why nobody has come in for him.

Sure they didn't? Or just didn't offer enough?

[villa for life]

He's been brilliant for us in the past and I hate to say it but he's done at this level.

Which is why nobody has come in for him.

Sure they didn't? Or just didn't offer enough?

Basically the same thing.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think that’s premature - when everything is clearly wrong there might be individual player issues but it looks more systemic to me.

Absolutely. Watkins got bullied today with two giant centre halves on him all game. He had little space to work in and we all know his close control and back to goal isn't his strength. Rogers, Cash, Guessand, Konsa were all worse and that's before we discuss the chastity belt put on the team by Unai. He really needs help.

[brontebilly]

I think that’s premature - when everything is clearly wrong there might be individual player issues but it looks more systemic to me.

Absolutely. Watkins got bullied today with two giant centre halves on him all game. He had little space to work in and we all know his close control and back to goal isn't his strength. Rogers, Cash, Guessand, Konsa were all worse and that's before we discuss the chastity belt put on the team by Unai. He really needs help.

There's absolutely no zip to him though. Like the team he has been incredibly flat so far. Maybe a bit pissed off that he hasn't managed to get a move over the summer. I see a declining athlete though, tell tale sign of a forward rarely trying to go in behind anymore.

[ez]

Sadly I think he's done. His hold up play was among the best in the league a few years ago. He just can't do it anymore.

[Hookeysmith]

At 60 mins last night i had completely forgot that he was playing - that is how much impact he had

[Ian.]

I wouldn’t write him off yet. He has dips in form, so does everyone. Kamara wasn’t great towards the end of last season. McGinn has had some right stinking months. I think the camp needs a boost and re-set. Hopefully they will do something to correct this.

[PaulWinch again]

Way too premature to write him off. We have been rubbish as a whole team it’s hardly a surprise individuals are struggling.

[cdbearsfan]

He never scores in the first two games, he always scores in the third or fourth games. Just as well he didn't waste a goal yesterday when we would have lost anyway. Save it for next game at the High Pitchedinson Stadium.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Ian, McGinn has been thrown into positions where Unai doesn't play to his strengths but it's been more poor games than months. It's not a difficult job as we only have one centre forward but Unai should know by now what are and aren't Watkins' strengths. To expect Watkins to deliver when we play to his weaknesses, I may have mentioned them once or twice over the years, is totally pointless.

Like all managers/coaches, you have to get the best out of what you have. You can't constantly buy your way out of trouble or poor performances. Plenty of others manage to do it and the majority would love to have Watkins in their team. Unai needs a reset more than the players. There's a Brazilian expression that sums it up, 'who doesn't have a dog hunts with a cat'.

[Ian.]

I was really going back to McGinn before Emery joined, he looked finished at this level. His form was so bad never thought we’d see him back to his best with us.

All I was implying is, form can dip, Ollie’s has yet again. He’s had his ups and downs with us so I’m not writing him off just yet.

We really could do with Ollie, Rogers and Torres rediscovering their form though.

[andyh]

I was really going back to McGinn before Emery joined, he looked finished at this level. His form was so bad never thought we’d see him back to his best with us.

All I was implying is, form can dip, Ollie’s has yet again. He’s had his ups and downs with us so I’m not writing him off just yet.

We really could do with Ollie, Rogers and Torres rediscovering their form though.

McGinn was completely fucked over by Gerrard, played wildly out of position and constrained to running a narrow channel between both boxes.
Once he was unshackled he was soon back to his brilliant best.
The cream always rises……..

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I was really going back to McGinn before Emery joined, he looked finished at this level. His form was so bad never thought we’d see him back to his best with us.

All I was implying is, form can dip, Ollie’s has yet again. He’s had his ups and downs with us so I’m not writing him off just yet.

We really could do with Ollie, Rogers and Torres rediscovering their form though.

Watkins has always been feast or famine. He is what he is but to get the best out of him we need to feed him. If we don't nobody should complain he does nothing. I saw some numbers over the summer regarding his stats last season, something like 84 shots in the box with a reward of 16 league goals. Anybody expecting him to feed off one or two half/chances a game need to think again. Give him the chances and he'll put one away. Right now he's not getting those realistic chances.

Over to you, Unai.