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.

[Tayls_7]

Has Smirker said Ollie was shit yet? Because he was. Effing terrible. Even Evann offered a threat whilst ambling around looking like a kid at the park waiting to be asked if he would like to join in.

[ChicagoLion]

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

It was

[ROBBO]

The only defence i can make for Ollie is that we play very narrow, no speedy winger getting the ball in first time, we generally just hold the ball up then eventually when all options have been closed down we then cross the ball when they have got all their defenders back. He is no longer quick enough for the through ball.

[Mister E]

He wasn't as bad as is being made out, on a generally poor day for all. The service to him was shite, and he was not as proactive as he should have been.
I think it's weird that, after a defeat, so many negative comments about Watkins and Buendia seem be thrown around. With Guessand and Sancho, I sort of get it because they have no credit in the bank, but not with our core players.

[Drummond]

Just to check, when was the last time he was 'shit'?

Hia movement first half was great, according to Dion Dublin.

Was it a good game , no, but as usual people can't wait to jump on any negative. He's been in great form for a few weeks. What happened yesterday was symptomatic of us not having an alternative, and missing our midfield.

[AV82EC]

It appears to me that when we do get in positions to cross the ball Watkins job is to take defenders closer to goal for the ball to be cut back for Roger’s/Buendia to pounce. We did this multiple times yesterday to either no one or Roger’s to perfect his Jonny Wilkinson impression.

In addition we just refused to use the long ball yesterday, Everton to my surprise were using a very high press and we refused to use the 60 yarder for a Watkins one on one with Tarkowski behind their fullbacks. It was most bizarre.

Ultimately though he wasn’t good yesterday, in those scenarios he needs to pull into midfield to receive the ball to feet and I think he did it about twice. A poor day for him.

[andyh]

He’s got a lot of credit in the bank with us, but after criticising the crowd after the last home game, he really shouldn’t have followed that up with a performance that he should be ashamed of.
Maybe it was his payback.

[Clampy]

He’s got a lot of credit in the bank with us, but after criticising the crowd after the last home game, he really shouldn’t have followed that up with a performance that he should be ashamed of.
Maybe it was his payback.

Oh dear.

[andyh]

He’s got a lot of credit in the bank with us, but after criticising the crowd after the last home game, he really shouldn’t have followed that up with a performance that he should be ashamed of.
Maybe it was his payback.

Oh dear.

Mr Snyde returns. What’s up now ?

[Clampy]

He’s got a lot of credit in the bank with us, but after criticising the crowd after the last home game, he really shouldn’t have followed that up with a performance that he should be ashamed of.
Maybe it was his payback.

Oh dear.

Mr Snyde returns. What’s up now ?

What do you mean by 'payback'?