Ollie Watkins

[Ian.]

To be honest, he has his faults, as does half the team or more, we’ve been punching well above our weight with so many of the side we have. That’s credit to the players and the manager.

When you start looking at our actual net spend, it’s fuck all compared to most teams in the top 6 or 7. We can sit here and criticise, but I’m struggling to see how we can compete, unless we spend another 300 million or so, like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Man City do, even Man Utd who are still crap.

We really need Emery to work the magic again as we’re sure ain’t spending mega money on signings anytime soon.

[N'ZMAV]

17 in his last 63 apps is atrocious.

that's almost 2 league seasons' worth of games.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think the issue is around perception.

The majority of people seem to view Watkins as somewhere on the spectrum decent --> good --> very good.

Smirker seems to think if you're not outscoring  Salah and Haaland you're by definition shit.

One of these points of view appears unfair.

[N'ZMAV]

Watkins is a victim of the snail pace side to side ball. He was at his best with Bailey and Diaby in the team when we pressed high and hit on the break - now we have so much of the ball we don't know what to do with it.

[Smirker]

I think the issue is around perception.

The majority of people seem to view Watkins as somewhere on the spectrum decent --> good --> very good.

Smirker seems to think if you're not outscoring  Salah and Haaland you're by definition shit.

One of these points of view appears unfair.

I've never said he was shit.

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

[PeterWithesShin]

You know there's an agenda when Yorke doesn't count as he was a winger under Brian and Gregory. Which blatantly isn't true. And Benteke doesn't count because we were shit,

[N'ZMAV]

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

we're not one.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think the issue is around perception.

The majority of people seem to view Watkins as somewhere on the spectrum decent --> good --> very good.

Smirker seems to think if you're not outscoring  Salah and Haaland you're by definition shit.

One of these points of view appears unfair.

I've never said he was shit.

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

The way you complain about him you certainly give that impression.

[Smirker]

You know there's an agenda when Yorke doesn't count as he was a winger under Brian and Gregory. Which blatantly isn't true. And Benteke doesn't count because we were shit,

I didn't say it didn't count. If we were as shit now as we were during Benteke's time I'd accept Ollie's goal record. But we want to be a CL side regularly. He ain't at that level.

Fact:

Ollie last season: 17 goals in 54 apps
Milan Baros at Villa: 14 goals in 51 apps

[Ian.]

I think the issue is around perception.

The majority of people seem to view Watkins as somewhere on the spectrum decent --> good --> very good.

Smirker seems to think if you're not outscoring  Salah and Haaland you're by definition shit.

One of these points of view appears unfair.

I've never said he was shit.

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

I’m thinking we’re not as a team either though. The moment we’ve qualified we’ve had to weaken the team instead of strengthen. Losing Diaby, Dougie and Duran (ok, a mad man), the dreadful loss of form or Bailey and Pau. Not being able to afford replacements better or as good as Rashford and Asensio.

It’s bloody annoying.

[Smirker]

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

we're not one.

We want to be one don't we?

We were one goal away from it last season.

[N'ZMAV]

I just don't think he's good enough for a CL side.

we're not one.

We want to be one don't we?

We were one goal away from it last season.

Yes, but unitl then - we've got a decent centre forward who has no service.

[PeterWithesShin]

Yorke and Ollie, both played as strikers in the 3 seasons I posted with both playing in sides that finished 4th, 5th and 7th. So it's a decent comparison.

And Baros scored 9 in the 42 league games for us.

[Smirker]

Yorke and Ollie, both played as strikers in the 3 seasons I posted with both playing in sides that finished 4th, 5th and 7th. So it's a decent comparison.

And Baros scored 9 in the 42 league games for us.

51 apps in total.

The record is very, very similar.

Decent striker - yes.

Good enough for where we want to be - no.

If you lot are happy with midtable then fine. That's about his level.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's better to compare only league records. That's the standard they play the majority of time. Otherwise numbers can be skewed by cup rotation, strength of opposition etc. Stainrod scored loads one season, most were against Exeter though.