Ollie Watkins

[Monty]

He had a mixed game.

As I said on the match thread, he was very energetic in the first half and looked up for it but showed no quality and that was what cost us going ahead.

It isn't the reason we lost, but it would have changed the game had he scored.

Second half nowhere to be seen but most of them were the same.

This is not controversial in any way.

He showed much quality, but he also had key lapses which may even have cost us the game. Like happens to a goalkeeper too. I suggest we cover that thread like a rash.

[brontebilly]

I said he was shit today and he was.

Do you think he was good?

Yes, he wasn't shit anyway. His performance level compared to Gyokeres was night and day stuff. Second half was poor but playing ahead of a beaten midfield. Still a fine header late on. He's getting chances now that he wasn't earlier in the season.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Glad he's scored tonight and seems to have started to find his scoring boots generally, but my god that chance he missed at nil-nil. Could have made a huge difference.

To not even get it on target was very poor.

[SamTheMouse]

As usual, he worked and fought hard and showed intelligence to get into great positions, but his poor technique let him down.

I love him, but he's frustrating as fuck sometimes.

As bronte rightly points out though, Gyokeres was utter rubbish again, which just serves to underline the fact that really good target men are like rocking horse shit and we perhaps underappreciate Watkins.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gyokeres and Jesus cost them well over £100m and I wouldn't swap either for Ollie.

[Drummond]

"All that matters is that he gets goals."

After a poor personal return (as part of the team that wins 16 out of 18) he starts scoring goals. 5 in last 6.

"He didn't do enough." And "but I mean this season" and "but you can't include last season"  or "but you can't include his career" (where the goals comparison stacks up against everyone).

Give it a rest Smirker.

[Rory]

Does the thread of any other player get bumped after every single game? This is fucking ridiculous.

[cdbearsfan]

Yes

[cdbearsfan]

It

[cdbearsfan]

Is

[Smirker]

"All that matters is that he gets goals."

After a poor personal return (as part of the team that wins 16 out of 18) he starts scoring goals. 5 in last 6.

"He didn't do enough." And "but I mean this season" and "but you can't include last season"  or "but you can't include his career" (where the goals comparison stacks up against everyone).

Give it a rest Smirker.

I didn't criticise his goalscoring today though did I? I said his lack of quality cost us a 1-0 lead.

And it did.

[paul_e]

I know xG is hated by some on here but the chance that he had early on was 0.34 so about 1 in 3. That's a good chance but not a 'he had to score and by missing he's responsible for us losing the game' one.

That said if he was more confident with his left foot I think it was easier on that side but if we're going to criticise players for having a weaker foot he's nowhere near the top of the list for that.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s the disproportionate focus on this thread that does my head in. Literally unless he’s faultless, immediately a post on here having a go at his perceived limitations. It’s just so bloody negative.

[Smirker]

I know xG is hated by some on here but the chance that he had early on was 0.34 so about 1 in 3. That's a good chance but not a 'he had to score and by missing he's responsible for us losing the game' one.

That said if he was more confident with his left foot I think it was easier on that side but if we're going to criticise players for having a weaker foot he's nowhere near the top of the list for that.

Literally nobody has said he's responsible for us losing.

[Monty]

I know xG is hated by some on here but the chance that he had early on was 0.34 so about 1 in 3. That's a good chance but not a 'he had to score and by missing he's responsible for us losing the game' one.

That said if he was more confident with his left foot I think it was easier on that side but if we're going to criticise players for having a weaker foot he's nowhere near the top of the list for that.

Literally nobody has said he's responsible for us losing.

I did!