Ollie Watkins

[LeeB]

In his productive seasons he was scoring far more with his head than somebody of his size normally would do. This season I don't really recall him even having a headed chance.

Whether that's through accident (Guessand / Sancho / Malen etc being rubbish at crossing) or design (playing more through the middle and shooting more from distance), I reckon that's where a big part of his drop-off has come from.

Sancho for all his faults has laid two absoulte sitters on a plate for him (Sunderland and Go Ahead Eagles)

[UK Redsox]

Last season or maybe the one before, I read that Ollice had been told to not to make his runs wider than the 18 yard box.

This season (and noticeably last night) he’s making wider runs. Which isn’t working.

[Drummond]

Agreed. Against good opposition that isn’t Malen’s role. He’s far more of a support striker - that’s not a criticism, but lone frontman isn’t Malen’s game.

Then we need to give Wilson a shot or buy a striker immediately in January.

We can't go on like this.

Yeah, winning games is shit.

[Smirker]

Agreed. Against good opposition that isn’t Malen’s role. He’s far more of a support striker - that’s not a criticism, but lone frontman isn’t Malen’s game.

Then we need to give Wilson a shot or buy a striker immediately in January.

We can't go on like this.

Yeah, winning games is shit.

In spite of. Not because of. And we've lost three in the league already. Could have got points from those had he not played.

We won by one goal last night, had we started our 1 goal in 18 apps striker there's a solid chance we would have dropped points again.

Needs to be dropped. You all know it as well.

[Drummond]

His confidence has gone and he's not fully fit. It's a tough place to be. But he's playing his part in our current run.

Our xG is the worst in the division, so we're not creating chances for him to score from (and he's not creating either), the lack of output from the wings is a big part of the problem.

[brontebilly]

In his productive seasons he was scoring far more with his head than somebody of his size normally would do. This season I don't really recall him even having a headed chance.

Whether that's through accident (Guessand / Sancho / Malen etc being rubbish at crossing) or design (playing more through the middle and shooting more from distance), I reckon that's where a big part of his drop-off has come from.

Definitely not getting many crosses in but Ollie had a couple of very good chances in the air recently, Man City was one and was it Leeds just after half time when McGinn put one in? Ollie was just lost anyway, body position all wrong and couldn't even jump. That's just self belief at rock bottom.

We don't do as many cut backs to the penalty spot this season. Asensio picked up goals from a few of them last season. Ollie did one for Buendia v Fulham. That Fulham goal hasn't kicked any kind of revival into Ollie unfortunately.

Emerys going to have to start Malen v Wolves but he might try both of them like he did v Burnley.

[Brend'Watkins]

Surely he can’t be declining at just under 30? He’s playing for a team riding high in the league and strong in the Europa, he’s also got the England squad for the WC in his sights. Don’t throw it all away Ollie. If Danny Wellbeck at 35 is touted as aback up striker now and it becomes a thing that could be it for him.

[Sexual Ealing]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's something in the thought that he might be sulking because he didn't get a move. We know he enjoys a lovely sulk.

[brontebilly]

Surely he can’t be declining at just under 30? He’s playing for a team riding high in the league and strong in the Europa, he’s also got the England squad for the WC in his sights. Don’t throw it all away Ollie. If Danny Wellbeck at 35 is touted as aback up striker now and it becomes a thing that could be it for him.

Does seem a bit early but Ollie has never had the strongest technical skills compared to Kane for example. Until he retires Kane will always have an elite first touch and outstanding ball striking ability. If the eye test is correct and Ollie has lost half a yard of acceleration then he's done at the top level unfortunately. His back to goal play is still strong but forwards are judged going the other way.

Financial restrictions aside, the club have been open to letting him go for 12 months.

[PaulWinch again]

Agreed. Against good opposition that isn’t Malen’s role. He’s far more of a support striker - that’s not a criticism, but lone frontman isn’t Malen’s game.

Then we need to give Wilson a shot or buy a striker immediately in January.

We can't go on like this.

Yeah, winning games is shit.

In spite of. Not because of. And we've lost three in the league already. Could have got points from those had he not played.

We won by one goal last night, had we started our 1 goal in 18 apps striker there's a solid chance we would have dropped points again.

Needs to be dropped. You all know it as well.

It’s not in spite of. He’s obviously not in form, but his general play has still supported the team functioning across this run of games. I know you don’t see it, but the stuff like running the centre halves, dragging them out of position etc enables others to find space, create, score etc. We need him to start scoring, but he has been doing stuff that helps the team.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't think we'd be having this conversation if Unai had started Watkins last night. Injured or lack of confidence, a goal or two would have given him a massive lift. Why Unai insisted with Guessland instead of playing Malen on the right with Watkins in the middle, I don't know. It would have been great preparation for Wolves on Sunday.

Right now, apart from Malen, we have Watkins, Guessland and Sanchos offering next to nothing in attack. If you had to choose one of those three to come good the money would still be on Watkins.

It's not like we're scoring goals for fun. Unai needs to sort it out.

[john e]

Watkins will get his chance again when he starts against Wolves

[Rigadon]

I think we may have gone past the point of him just needing a goal.  He looks a yard slower than he was a year ago.  I don't know if he's actually injured, his confidence has gone or both - neither of those things help.  But if he's just physically diminished, that isn't going to get better and the type of player he is, with a fair reliance on athleticism and dynamism rather than craft (at this very high level I mean), that cold be terminal in terms of his Villa career

Who would buy him if he were for sale this winter.  Everton or somebody like that maybe?  West Ham?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't doubt it, John it's just last night was a wonderful opportunity to finally get Watkins firing and more importantly get him playing with Malen. Right now Watkins needs all the help he can get and I believe he can have a great second half of the season if played with Malen. It's not like we discovered anything new about Guessland last night.

You'd have thought we'd learned our lesson about goal difference by now. 11-0 on Sunday should sort it out.

[Drummond]

I don't doubt it, John it's just last night was a wonderful opportunity to finally get Watkins firing and more importantly get him playing with Malen. Right now Watkins needs all the help he can get and I believe he can have a great second half of the season if played with Malen. It's not like we discovered anything new about Guessland last night.

You'd have thought we'd learned our lesson about goal difference by now. 11-0 on Sunday should sort it out.

Yes, but after half time we should push for more.