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."

[Ian.]

Just out of interest, all those who have never quite liked him, or have ever given him the credit he’s earned, did you all think Angel, Dublin, Saunders, Atkinson, Benteke, Yorke etc were more prolific or productive?

[Smirker]

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."

He's not going to come out and say he's shit, is he?

[Smirker]

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.

Not sure where you got that from. Has you account been hacked by Smirker?. 24 goal contributions last season when he played a lot less minutes total then he had the season before. Yes he missed some chances but most strikers do.

Haha there it is.

[simon ward 50]

He has definitely lost a yard of pace? BUT

Agree that we are not playing to many early balls to test out the last defender which is where Ollie used to thrive!

[LeeB]

Just out of interest, all those who have never quite liked him, or have ever given him the credit he’s earned, did you all think Angel, Dublin, Saunders, Atkinson, Benteke, Yorke etc were more prolific or productive?

I'd like to point out that I have liked him, he's been a great siging. But he's nowhere near the player he was two seasons back and we need more than we're getting from him.

[Somniloquism]

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.

Not sure where you got that from. Has you account been hacked by Smirker?. 24 goal contributions last season when he played a lot less minutes total then he had the season before. Yes he missed some chances but most strikers do.

Haha there it is.

Yes, because unlike you, I prefer a player who contributes 24 goals to the team rather then someone who directly scores 21 but doesn't create anything else.

[Monty]

My good man, it's not worth it.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We'll be on here in 10 years bemoaning the fact we've not had anyone as good since.

I hope not. For one, I've never been a fan of the single centre forward. It's mad to rely on one player to score so many and unfair to blame him when he doesn't. Despite his obvious limitations we've until now managed to get a good return on Watkins. The problem now is not just his lack of goals, it's his deflated value should we decide to sell and invest in the summer.

I'm sure we all want him to get amongst the goals between now and the end of the season.
I'm sure almost everybody would love to see him make the England World Cup squad.
More importantly, if he's in the England squad it will mean he's had a great second half of the season for Villa.
If we are to sell him I don't think anybody would be happy to give him away for a fraction of what he was worth last season.
If we are to bring in another striker, we'll want the best our limited money can buy. Getting as much for Watkins is essential.

In the meantime Unai needs to find a way to get him scoring whilst we keep winning. For me that means Malen on the right, Rogers on the left and Watkins in the middle. If we stick with a double pivot of Bouba and Youri (plus Onana and Bogarde as cover) that leaves either SJM or Buendia (and possibly Youri) fighting for the 10 role.

On paper it may look fine but in practice I don't see many crosses coming in from the right. If only Matty Cash could cross a ball we'd be sorted.

[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.

Not sure where you got that from. Has you account been hacked by Smirker?. 24 goal contributions last season when he played a lot less minutes total then he had the season before. Yes he missed some chances but most strikers do.

Haha there it is.

Yes, because unlike you, I prefer a player who contributes 24 goals to the team rather then someone who directly scores 21 but doesn't create anything else.

I reckon anyone that scores 21 goals is inevitably going to create some chances for others, so I'll take my chances (if you'll excuse the pun) with that player.

[PeterWithesShin]

A lot don't though. The current top 4 PL scorers this season have 1 assist between them. They've all played in every game so far and have a total of 39 goals.