Ollie Watkins

[brontebilly]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

[Monty]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

Yeah that's my read on it too. Very much the Watkins Paradox in action, looking both very dangerous and also strangely amateurish at times. It can happen, but I'd still say on an upward trajectory compared to a month ago.

[Olneythelonely]

He was a bit hit and miss with his back to goal but thought overall he did ok. Bit weird to go on to any player thread today and have a moan.

[Dave]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

Yeah that's my read on it too. Very much the Watkins Paradox in action, looking both very dangerous and also strangely amateurish at times. It can happen, but I'd still say on an upward trajectory compared to a month ago.

That early chance sums him up. Strength, skill, intelligence and if he then has to think about his shot rather than go on instinct, he'll inevitably do the wrong thing.

[PaulWinch again]

He was a bit hit and miss with his back to goal but thought overall he did ok. Bit weird to go on to any player thread today and have a moan.

Indeed, but not a surprise. I thought the two big chances he in part made were encouraging. Yes he didn’t score, but he won the battles and forced two decent saves. He replicates that level and he’ll score plenty.

[Monty]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

Yeah that's my read on it too. Very much the Watkins Paradox in action, looking both very dangerous and also strangely amateurish at times. It can happen, but I'd still say on an upward trajectory compared to a month ago.

That early chance sums him up. Strength, skill, intelligence and if he then has to think about his shot rather than go on instinct, he'll inevitably do the wrong thing.

Certainly right now. The difference between frustrating Ollie and world-beating Ollie is something mysterious between the ears.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

Yeah that's my read on it too. Very much the Watkins Paradox in action, looking both very dangerous and also strangely amateurish at times. It can happen, but I'd still say on an upward trajectory compared to a month ago.

That early chance sums him up. Strength, skill, intelligence and if he then has to think about his shot rather than go on instinct, he'll inevitably do the wrong thing.

Certainly right now. The difference between frustrating Ollie and world-beating Ollie is something mysterious between the ears.

Yep. He's one frustrating player. He's one of the best forwards for making intelligent runs but give him time and I don't trust him at all. Malen doesn't give you that anywhere near as much but he is a better finisher. I still think we look a better 'team' with Watkins up top.

[manic-road]

Worked his socks off, stretched the Arsenal defence and didn't give them a minutes rest.

[Monty]

Thought he played well. Big chance missed obviously but was a lot of good work from him to make the chance in the first place.

Yeah that's my read on it too. Very much the Watkins Paradox in action, looking both very dangerous and also strangely amateurish at times. It can happen, but I'd still say on an upward trajectory compared to a month ago.

That early chance sums him up. Strength, skill, intelligence and if he then has to think about his shot rather than go on instinct, he'll inevitably do the wrong thing.

Certainly right now. The difference between frustrating Ollie and world-beating Ollie is something mysterious between the ears.

Yep. He's one frustrating player. He's one of the best forwards for making intelligent runs but give him time and I don't trust him at all. Malen doesn't give you that anywhere near as much but he is a better finisher. I still think we look a better 'team' with Watkins up top.

I agree. I mean, I know assists don't count (running joke alert), but I was listening to a podcast thing the other day where his assist stats were brought up as if to say 'Fuck, that's mental, look at those'. Which isn't a way of blowing smoke up him or anything, more just to underline how important his all-round game has been to our overall success.

[andyh]

Just looking at the chances that Ollie misses, is one of his problems that he nearly always hits his shots along the ground ?
Most of the one on ones he has missed all seem to be pretty much exactly the same shot, with the same outcome.

I only mention it because it was highlighted how well little Emi did against Arsenal to get his shot high into the net and away from any blocks.

[eye digress]

Nothing wrong with hard and low. He just didn’t get an angle on it and he’d sort of telegraphed where he was going to hit it.

[PeterWithesShin]

He's been playing in pain since the Euros, it is a cyst and his playing minutes and training are managed by the club.

[Somniloquism]

Needle and candle needed at BMH?

[eamonn]

Most strukers would have missed that early shot, he didn't have enough of the goal to aim at, it was point-blank so power was all he could really go with. Most strikers wouldn't have made that chance for themselves, either. Great tenacity, strength and skill.

[paul_e]

Most strukers would have missed that early shot, he didn't have enough of the goal to aim at, it was point-blank so power was all he could really go with. Most strikers wouldn't have made that chance for themselves, either. Great tenacity, strength and skill.

I agree, I think there was one a little later that he should've done better with but that early chance would've been an exceptional solo goal if he'd managed to squeeze it in.