Ollie Watkins

[Olneythelonely]

Considering Smirker thinks that fans thinking the worst about upcoming matches is the reason we won’t win the league, I’m going to say it’s entirely his fault Watkins is performing poorly.

You admit he is performing poorly then?

I’ve said it a fair few times when he has been. Like today. I’m not a superfan, just someone with eyes and no irrational dislike.

[TonyD]

He scored today.

[Pete3206]

He scored today.

He certainly influenced the equaliser.

[Smirker]

He scored today.

No he didnt.

[Smithy]

There was passage of play in the first half today where Ollie had his centre-half isolated, with a chance to run at him him, and he just didn't have that burst of pace, at all, and had to stop and turn back.  At his best, he's always willing to run at (and beyond) defenders in tha tposition, but that's the first time I think I've seen him simply unable to do the things he was doing a year or so ago. 

I really hope it's related to his ongoing injury, and something from which he is capable of recovering, because if not, it's the first time I'd be thinking his legs have gone.

I hope the club have a plan to get him back to his best, because this 95% Ollie isn't going to be enough until the end of the season.

[PaulWinch again]

He scored today.

No he didnt.

No he didn’t, but we don’t score the equaliser without what he does. That in a nutshell is what you don’t get - he’s not at his best, but in the last three he’s scored two and been directly key to our first goal today. That has played a key role in us winning both games.

[ROBBO]

He looks lost and not sure how to get back home. The effort is still there but he gets bullied in the one on ones and not sure if he is carrying an injury but he has lost a pace or two. Been brilliant for us but how long does Emery persevere with him.

[Somniloquism]

Until Jan hopefully when we can get someone in. Malen, whilst he can finish is not great at doing hold up play up front either. But Watkins injury issues is also not going to heal when he is playing every most matches either.

[DrGonzo]

He’s not the headline striker of a PL winning team.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

We obviously need a challenger and to plan for life without Watkins but I also don't think Malen is that man, not in Emery's set up.

[Drummond]

Win 3-2, our 9th win in 10 games (13th in 15) and still this crap continues.

[Percy McCarthy]

Win 3-2, our 9th win in 10 games (13th in 15) and still this crap continues.

(15th in 17).

[ChicagoLion]

I would like to know what this injury is. Is it operable?
Will he ever get better or is it mental?
He looks shot.

[geolex]

You were crtitising him all of last season even though he was contributing.

Barely.

And I was right to seeing as we missed out on the CL on goal difference.

4
Strange how we conceded more goals than any other team in top 7 but the GD is all down to the striker

Our goals against was about par. Only three behind Newcastle.

However we scored 10 fewer. We simply didn't score enough goals.

4 behind Newcastle and we only scored 6 less than Chelsea who's GD was +21 could the +14 GD they had above ours have been down to their defence

[Mister E]

My concern yesterday was his apparent loss of pace: once in the first half and then early second half (down the right) he was running through treacle and getting nowhere.