Ollie Watkins

[Pat McMahon]

Some fans were fine sarcastically cheering Rogers for completing a pass and being subbed earlier in the season, sarcastically cheering Emi yesterday for catching a cross and bouncing into player threads to call them shit during an 11 game winning run but then cry like babbies the second a player says anything they don't like.

It's nearly a century since we were as consistently great in the league as we have been in the three and a bit years since Unai arrived, look at how far back some of the records we're breaking are, so we absolutely shouldn't be taking it for granted.

I agree with this, and it reminds me of the time when the late, great Bob Willis, captain of Warwickshire C.C.C said members should be more appreciative of our success the John Player Sunday League 40 over tournament (many of us called it "rounders).

Then again, he once told the members in the old pavilion  that they should go home and moan at their wives.

I wrote this on another social media platform:

When I started to go to VP in the in the 1960's/70's, I said much the same thing.  We  used to deride the Upper Trinity as "the seats" and made full use of the terracing for aerobic exercise.

Sitting in the Lower Holte with a freezing NW wind  is a different prospect.

My first home was the Trinity enclosure when it was all standing in the late 60s and when we got a corner or were mounting a series of attacks the noise from the fans upstairs stamping their feet on the old wooden stand was brilliant.

In the 1974-75 promotion season a lot of chants started from the Trinity, admittedly the very simple "Villa clap clap clap", but then the rest of the ground joined in.

[PeterWithesShin]

When I was a nipper the Trinty often started a song. My memory is it was foot stamping rather than clapping.

[VILLA MOLE]

Good job I said "some" rather than 'all'.

Sorry PWS, wasn't aimed at you personally but it has pissed me off to be quite honest.  I don't know who that interviewer was, but I genuinely can't see why she would ask that question when we've just won.at home again and give 2nd in the league.  No way she would ask a question like that to a Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool player.

It always seems there has to be a negative added when the media are taking about us. 

"Arent Villa doing well this season?"
"Yes, but they're not in the title race."

Journos work the angles, more now than ever.  Controversy and clicks.

I have been a supporter of Ollie on here when he was getting stick, but he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I think he has always come across as quite bright.  I think he was being quite honest without being derogatory about the fans .  Yesterday was a bit flat but it happens with lunchtime kick offs .  He was right let’s enjoy it.

[PeterWithesShin]

My gut feeling is that it's something the players have talked about before between them rather than just Ollie doing it based on yesterday.

[eye digress]

Good job I said "some" rather than 'all'.

Sorry PWS, wasn't aimed at you personally but it has pissed me off to be quite honest.  I don't know who that interviewer was, but I genuinely can't see why she would ask that question when we've just won.at home again and give 2nd in the league.  No way she would ask a question like that to a Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool player.

It always seems there has to be a negative added when the media are taking about us. 

"Arent Villa doing well this season?"
"Yes, but they're not in the title race."

Journos work the angles, more now than ever.  Controversy and clicks.

I have been a supporter of Ollie on here when he was getting stick, but he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I think he has always come across as quite bright.  I think he was being quite honest without being derogatory about the fans .  Yesterday was a bit flat but it happens with lunchtime kick offs .  He was right let’s enjoy it.

Ollie “speaks nicely” with his round vowels, but isn’t very articulate - in this case, he said “don’t expect so much from us”, whereas what he meant (I think) was “don’t take winning for granted”, or similar.

He has a bit of previous for slightly left field press comments - there was all that stuff about not starting vs PSG last year, which was counter productive.

In this case, though, he seemed to be evoking (from a different angle) Unai’s “connection with our supporters” and exhortation to fans and players alike “to enjoy our way”.

Just came out a bit awks.

[brontebilly]

His opinion was kind of refreshing in an age where most interviews with players/managers are an exercise in PR only. He did mention the early kick-off as a possible factor but when pressed by the interviewer who was sensing she had a scoop, he suddenly seemed to remember that what he was saying could make unwanted headlines.

Ollie's worst enemy is the mike some times. Came out with some crackers after the Newcastle game last year. In any case, maybe one for some on here to take on the chin. Ollie has taken plenty of grief himself and worked hard to turn around his form.

[PaulWinch again]

Indeed. Atmosphere was a bit flat, many reasons for it. Reality is what Villa Park is ultimately a symbiotic relationship between the team and the fans. It’s not always spot on, but it often is and collectively it’s normally an intimidating place to go. A reminder of that importance, even if it was worded in a clunky way, isn’t a bad thing.

[Smirker]

Thought he did OK tonight.

Almost won it with that header.

Oh well.

[tomd2103]

Thought he did OK tonight.

Almost won it with that header.

Oh well.

Was unlucky with the header, but thought he had three clear opportunities in their box tonight and didn't even manage to get a shot on target.

[Steve67]

I thought he was poor but then nearly won it with the header that hit the post.  Not the only player below par this evening.  I did want him to attack the front post when Rogers burst into their area to get to the bi-line but he didn't.

[Rigadon]

Should’ve scored.

[itbrvilla]

I thought he was poor but then nearly won it with the header that hit the post.  Not the only player below par this evening.  I did want him to attack the front post when Rogers burst into their area to get to the bi-line but he didn't.

Wasn't it's Lindelof who hit the post?

[Steve67]

I thought he was poor but then nearly won it with the header that hit the post.  Not the only player below par this evening.  I did want him to attack the front post when Rogers burst into their area to get to the bi-line but he didn't.

Wasn't it's Lindelof who hit the post?

Ollie was behind Lindelof and he headed it.  I thought the same but watched it back and it was Ollie who hit the post.  Apologies if this is incorrect.

[Smirker]

Thought he did OK tonight.

Almost won it with that header.

Oh well.

Was unlucky with the header, but thought he had three clear opportunities in their box tonight and didn't even manage to get a shot on target.

The one that Tielemens played him in for, was a bit of a sloppy touch but was hit at him quickly and their keeper came iut very fast tbf.

Guehi got a good block at the end and I can't recall the other you're referring to unless you're on about the header.

[paul_e]

That's right, definitely Ollie's header and he'd probably have scored it if he'd had a clearer view, but no criticism of Lindelof for going for it.

His first chance was tough, the ball was fired into him and he needed to get it out in front of him to take it away from the defender but it meant the keeper was always going to be right on top of him. He might have been better to try to knock it past the keeper but it would've been a really tough chance either way.

The other one was just that he's really nervy shooting on his left so he took too long setting himself.

All decent chances but none of them was a bad miss really.