Ollie Watkins

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

There have been far too many times this season where he just has absolutely no idea what to do with the ball and our attack breaks down. It's so frustrating to watch.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Despite the fact that Watkins seems to hate having competition and had to sit on the bench every so often, today absolutely showed why we need that extra striker.  He was absolutely anonymous today, didn't get amongst and upset the Everton central defenders at any point. 

There were multiple occasions during the first half today when Ollie was signalling for a long pass from Martínez, a pass that would have put him one-on-one. None of these passes ever came. If he's not getting service, despite asking for it, is it down to him?

It's a fair point Chris but Ollie also has to turn a poor ball into a good one but being a complete and utter nuisance.  Fair enough if he's calling for the ball and doesn't receive it, although a long ball is always going to be a 50-50, which has been part of his quality in the past by harrassing his markers.  He needs competition to keep him on his toes.  Was wank today and not for the first time.  Great when he's more involved and working hard and pulling people about.

I’d agree that he didn’t get any service but as you say he doesn’t seem interested in showing himself for the ball, giving us an option, working the defenders, chasing a lost cause, making it difficult for defenders. These things aren’t just today they’ve been for the majority of the season.

Yes he’s not had as many chances as in previous seasons and he’s not going to score every one, like every other striker doesn’t but it’s the other things that we’ve come to expect from him that seem to be so lacking this season, that’s the most concerning thing for me.

Without having a sniff at goal I expect him to do the other stuff, try to get yourself involved, pretty rubbish today.

[ozzjim]

The pass smashed out of play in the second half was a particular low point of a terrible centre forward display.

[Beard82]

Personally I think the issue is our attacking unit hasnt been working that well this season.  We have relied on "wonder" strikes as a result but our actual ability to carve oiut changes is worse then in recent seasons.

As a result Watkins is out of position regularly and in errors where he cant impact the game

[ozzjim]

I think that comes from a genuine lack of threat out wide. Previously we’ve carried a good threat wide with runner allowing Watkins space. This season Buendia and Rogers have been fairly inverted and we have no wingers that can run, so teams can squeeze us quite easily. A couple of good wide forwards would probably get more from Ollie and Rogers but despite selling 85% of the squad over the last 3 years, we still haven’t got a pot to piss in. Must be infuriating for Emery at times.