Ollie Watkins

[eamonn]

Do Sexual and Smirker still want to sell him?

[eamonn]

He was wearing a long sleeved shirt.  It made all the difference.

Thought the same. He looked hot in it too.

[eamonn]

When Watkins came on he was playing damn near the halfway line dropping deep to link up the play. I knew at that exact moment he was hungry and fired up.

I will be having a small punt on the hat trick for the next one because 4 shots, 4 shots on target and 2 goals in 30 minutes is pure filth.

The next one is against his favourite team on his 30th birthday at a ground where he likes scoring... in his interview, he even mentioned his family/friends having tickets in the Villa end despite being Gooners.

[Rory]

Hopefully this restores his confidence and he can go on a scoring run.

I think both his biggest defenders and biggest detractors would accept he's quite a streaky player.

If he can make the second half of the season one of those streaks to make up for the poor (albeit, not as poor as the crazy types would make you think) first half, this could get very interesting.

Agreed, Dave.

I just wish this thread could be more friendly!

[adrenachrome]

Hopefully this restores his confidence and he can go on a scoring run.

I think both his biggest defenders and biggest detractors would accept he's quite a streaky player.

If he can make the second half of the season one of those streaks to make up for the poor (albeit, not as poor as the crazy types would make you think) first half, this could get very interesting.

Agreed, Dave.

I just wish this thread could be more friendly!

Emery well knows what he is doing; he didn't come down with last night's rain.

Ollie is a vital cog in the machine.

[Rory]

Hopefully this restores his confidence and he can go on a scoring run.

I think both his biggest defenders and biggest detractors would accept he's quite a streaky player.

If he can make the second half of the season one of those streaks to make up for the poor (albeit, not as poor as the crazy types would make you think) first half, this could get very interesting.

Agreed, Dave.

I just wish this thread could be more friendly!

Emery well knows what he is doing; he didn't come down with last night's rain.

Ollie is a vital cog in the machine.

I think so too.

But it would be lovely to see him go on a mad scoring run now.

[rob_bridge]

Smashed the shit out of them yesterday.

[Brend'Watkins]

Hopefully this restores his confidence and he can go on a scoring run.

I think both his biggest defenders and biggest detractors would accept he's quite a streaky player.

If he can make the second half of the season one of those streaks to make up for the poor (albeit, not as poor as the crazy types would make you think) first half, this could get very interesting.

Agreed, Dave.

I just wish this thread could be more friendly!

Don’t let it get you down Rory. Villa fans come in all shapes and sizes, they say some good things and the say some stupid things. Every one of them wants the best for the club but none of them have the wherewithal to achieve it. They might think they do but they don’t.

[Mellin]

Hopefully this restores his confidence and he can go on a scoring run.

I think both his biggest defenders and biggest detractors would accept he's quite a streaky player.

If he can make the second half of the season one of those streaks to make up for the poor (albeit, not as poor as the crazy types would make you think) first half, this could get very interesting.

That second statement is exactly where I'm at with it. If Watkins, and to a lesser extent Sancho, find form now then we are going to another level (injuries and other player's form permitting) at just the right time.

It was the best thing about last night for me. How good they both looked. If Sancho can make it work on the right hand side then all the better. I'll admit to getting frustrated with Watkins. Just the other day I used the word "regression" and I do want another centre forward in, but if last night's performance signals a return to form then every single word goes straight in the bin. He was absolutely superb.

[eamonn]

The funny thing was his heavy first touch was still apparent last night - for his goal and one or two other occasions, but it didn't impact his effectiveness.

[Mellin]

He's always had that, hasn't he? Even at his absolute best. He was just so good at the other stuff that it didn't matter as much. It's probably one of the reasons people turn so quickly when he's out of form, as it makes him look worse than he really is.

[Sexual Ealing]

Yes, all his flaws are forgivable when he's on it. When he isn't he just looks like he doesn't belong there. Fair fucks to him for putting that performance in when we needed him though.

[LeeB]

That was a fantastic half hour hour, as good as he's ever been. If he can sustain anything near that for the rest of the season we'll be unstoppable.

[john e]

Do you start him against Arsenal ?

Bearing in mind it might be a very similar game to Chelsea where in the first half chances are few and far between and it’s a case of getting to halftime limiting damage while the home team run themselves out
Then second half bring on the subs to run at them

Who do you want in the last half an hour to be running at them when we’re taking the game to Arsenal
Watkins or Malen

[Brazilian Villain]

Do you start him against Arsenal ?

Absolutely. I suspect that him not starting yesterday was as much about resting him for Arsenal as bringing him on to score the winners against Chelsea.