Ollie Watkins

[Sexual Ealing]

I've been documenting his decline for about four years!

[Drummond]

And what a decline it's been over those four years.

[LeeB]

It doesn't really matter what he's done before. He's been totally shit this season, which is kind of what's important.

Correct, and he was mostly shite last season too, a worrying trend for a player about to hit 30.

On what basis was he shite last season? He looked worryingly poor when Duran was going well early on but once he got back in he was decent. More of a Euros hangover I thought at the time. I'm not sure there was much call for him to be dropped for Rashford when it happened. He finished the season strong when Rashford got injured. Missing sitters and a ropey first touch are part of the package with Ollie.

The club have been open to moving him on for 12 months though so I'd be interested if others, Emery aside, spotted a decline in him back then.

Are you arguing with me or agreeing?

He spent last season being the second best centre forward on our books, to two different players. One of whom isn't really a centre forward. He played well against Newcastle after Rashford's injury and that was about it. His performance at Old Trafford on the last day was horrific.

[SamTheMouse]

Notwithstanding the fact that he's the sort of striker who likes to play with wide men who deliver early balls, and we're not totally set up to his strengths... I don't think his heart's really in it any more.

They only thing I can't work out is whether he's disillusioned with Villa specifically, or with football in general.

[Drummond]

Unai Emery:

"And Ollie Watkins, he has my confidence, completely my confidence.

“He’s always doing his task. Maybe he’s feeling under his normal confidence, playing matches, because he’s not scoring, but he’s never giving up about his task.

“And always, he’s doing positive work for the team, and he’s very, very important for us. And the goals are coming, sure."