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Author Topic: Ollie Watkins  (Read 1222186 times)

Offline PeterWithesShin

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10515 on: January 20, 2026, 06:13:50 PM »

Offline PaulWinch again

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10516 on: January 20, 2026, 06:22:37 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

Offline Ianu

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10517 on: January 20, 2026, 07:18:03 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

I don’t think it is. It’s condescending to say someone else’s viewpoint is ill informed or trolling. It’s just a viewpoint! Chill.

Offline Smirker

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10518 on: January 20, 2026, 07:37:32 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

I don’t think it is. It’s condescending to say someone else’s viewpoint is ill informed or trolling. It’s just a viewpoint! Chill.

Thank you mate  8)

Offline Monty

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10519 on: January 20, 2026, 07:51:04 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

I don’t think it is. It’s condescending to say someone else’s viewpoint is ill informed or trolling. It’s just a viewpoint! Chill.

What if my viewpoint is both condescending and right?

Offline PaulWinch again

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10520 on: January 20, 2026, 07:55:14 PM »
If it was not preceded by literally months of this, perhaps. But it has been a singular myopic focus on slagging Ollie off - again criticism of his performance earlier in the season is fine - but it went beyond that. He’s also been good since end of November, not every of course, but up there in terms of centre forward performance over that period - scoring several, good, and important goals.

To then cite a better option for getting us higher up the league as someone who has scored less league goals, is just a continuation of what has gone before.

Offline Ianu

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10521 on: January 20, 2026, 07:57:58 PM »
If it was not preceded by literally months of this, perhaps. But it has been a singular myopic focus on slagging Ollie off - again criticism of his performance earlier in the season is fine - but it went beyond that. He’s also been good since end of November, not every of course, but up there in terms of centre forward performance over that period - scoring several, good, and important goals.

To then cite a better option for getting us higher up the league as someone who has scored less league goals, is just a continuation of what has gone before.

It’s hard to say. Sometimes the unpopular opinion is the first to get shot down, but actually has value.

Offline PaulWinch again

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10522 on: January 20, 2026, 08:02:02 PM »
Sometimes, often it’s unpopular for a reason. Like I say, I don’t think anyone is arguing Ollie hasn’t been at his best, it’s obvious. It’s the “he’s useless, he’s holding us back stuff”. On balance he looks on for around 14 goals or so, which would be a decent return. Replacing his consistency and wider value to our play is not impossible I’m sure, but not cheap or easy.

Online eamonn

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10523 on: January 20, 2026, 08:05:15 PM »
All comps please.

Ah, playing the Watkins doesn't score in Europe card?

8 goals and one assist for Gyokeres.

2 were penalties (35% of his goals for Sporting last season were from the spot too). Imagine getting 19(!) penalties in one season. Fair play for scoring them all but from open play he's a bit blose for what Arsenal need.

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10524 on: January 20, 2026, 08:07:38 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

I don’t think it is. It’s condescending to say someone else’s viewpoint is ill informed or trolling. It’s just a viewpoint! Chill.

What if my viewpoint is both condescending and right?

Something in all these years on H&V I've never seen, Monty. You're never right.

Offline Ianu

  • Member
  • Posts: 77
Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10525 on: January 20, 2026, 08:09:48 PM »
Sometimes, often it’s unpopular for a reason. Like I say, I don’t think anyone is arguing Ollie hasn’t been at his best, it’s obvious. It’s the “he’s useless, he’s holding us back stuff”. On balance he looks on for around 14 goals or so, which would be a decent return. Replacing his consistency and wider value to our play is not impossible I’m sure, but not cheap or easy.

Not easy or cheap to replace, probably true.

“He’s useless”: agree- a tad too far.

However..

“Holding us back” - very much a viewpoint that one is entitled to have.


Offline Monty

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  • GM : 25.05.2024
Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10526 on: January 20, 2026, 08:10:20 PM »
I think Smirker is ok. He’s pushing the debate on. We all support the same team. Some fans don’t like certain players. Still legitimate. 6 months ago, you’d be abused for saying a bad word against Martinez, but now it’s more accepted.

Not sure anyone has said Ollie has had a good season, although his record since later last year is very good. Reasoned debate is fine, I think stating we’d be further up the league with a better centre forward and then citing a centre forward who has scored less league goals (in a better team) is at best ill informed, or it’s trolling.

I don’t think it is. It’s condescending to say someone else’s viewpoint is ill informed or trolling. It’s just a viewpoint! Chill.

What if my viewpoint is both condescending and right?

Something in all these years on H&V I've never seen, Monty. You're never right.

Why I oughtta...

Offline SamTheMouse

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10527 on: January 20, 2026, 10:13:19 PM »
This site's always been a difficult place to be right. :-b

Offline Small Rodent

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Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10528 on: January 20, 2026, 10:22:06 PM »
What have I missed?

Offline cdbearsfan

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  • GM : 03.02.2027
Re: Ollie Watkins
« Reply #10529 on: January 20, 2026, 11:00:44 PM »
What have I missed?

If you can believe such a thing, Smirker has been critical of Ollie Watkins and there have been one or two disagreements along the way. Statistics have been quoted. Someone nearly mentioned xG, then the police were called.

 


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