Ollie Watkins

[RamboandBruno]

If we sell Watkins, I'd wager he'll bring more to his next club than any striker we've sold in the PL era bar Yorke - and even then, only for two years at Man Utd, who were one of the two best teams in the country with or without him.

I'm not sure who these mythical strikers are that some hark back to who were so much better for us than Watkins that render his contribution to the club a subject of mockery.

The only ones I see in my lifetime are based not on things they did for Villa; only on things they might have, but didn't.

Edit: however, just to be clear, and based on recent performances, I would be starting Tammy for the next few games, and bringing Ollie on to use his running against tired legs. His performances do not justify a starting place right now.

Ollies career will be defined by what he’s done at Villa when he leaves and I’m not sure he will at the end of the season, but if he does, he will not find a manager that believes in him unconditionally like Unai
I disagree with you. I think he will struggle wherever he goes after Villa.

As far as legacy, I’m in a very weird position the two top Premier league goal scorers for Aston Villa Ollie Watkins and Gabby Agbonlahor whose numbers would compare against most strikers I’ve seen yet wouldn’t get in to my top 10 best strikers I’ve seen at Villa maybe even top 15
 But I have been going since 1975 so I’ve seen a few

I’ve said this before Ollie is where he is because of Unai if he had gone to Man United or Arsenal like was talked about at one time he would be nowhere near their first team
Watkins has been very good for Aston Villa but Aston Villa have been very good for Ollie Watkins

Putting aside this season for a minute, the Ollie Watkins that has scored goals for us in the last 5 years or so, wouldn’t get in your top 10-15 Villa strikers?
Ive been going since about 82, i did see Gary Shaw before his injury bit its a fleeting memory, but Ill give you him and Withe. McInally was great for a season or so but I dont think I would say overall he was better than Watkins. Atkinson on natural ability yes, not sure about overall contribution. Saunders, debatable. Yorke yes, Savo no, Angel no, Vassell no, Gabby no. I didnt see Little or Gray first time around but give you those, that’s still only 5 or 6 better, unless there are a load I’m missing?

[PeterWithesShin]

Little, Shaw, Withe, Yorke, Benteke were better. The likes of JPA, Saunders, Gray etc were not as consistently good as Ollie has been.

[Rigadon]

He hasn't looked as effective without Tielemans. He was excellent at Newcastle.

I think there’s something in that.  I can’t remember him being offside as much as he was yesterday. Half a yard every time as if he was expecting the through ball just a fraction earlier. 

But he had been generally below par all season, which I’m sure is injury related. 

[adrenachrome]

Little, Shaw, Withe, Yorke, Benteke were better. The likes of JPA, Saunders, Gray etc were not as consistently good as Ollie has been.

And yet, in the salad days of my misspent youth,  I distinctly remember singing with unalloyed gusto in the Upper Holte:

"We've got Pongo, Pongo Waring
In the air, in the air"

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I think about 25 may be the most we could eek out of a sale. Don't see it getting close to 40 myself.

Would you want us to pay £25m for him (he's 30, and getting worse)?

I wouldn't after this season. Could I see a West Ham/Everton doing it? Probably.

[brontebilly]

Ollie was depressingly bad in the first half. That through ball he absolutely butchered, glued to the ground for that goalmouth scramble, caught offside how many times? Very fortunate he wasn't hooked at the break. Improved a bit second half alright but he's struggling

[john e]

If we sell Watkins, I'd wager he'll bring more to his next club than any striker we've sold in the PL era bar Yorke - and even then, only for two years at Man Utd, who were one of the two best teams in the country with or without him.

I'm not sure who these mythical strikers are that some hark back to who were so much better for us than Watkins that render his contribution to the club a subject of mockery.

The only ones I see in my lifetime are based not on things they did for Villa; only on things they might have, but didn't.

Edit: however, just to be clear, and based on recent performances, I would be starting Tammy for the next few games, and bringing Ollie on to use his running against tired legs. His performances do not justify a starting place right now.

Ollies career will be defined by what he’s done at Villa when he leaves and I’m not sure he will at the end of the season, but if he does, he will not find a manager that believes in him unconditionally like Unai
I disagree with you. I think he will struggle wherever he goes after Villa.

As far as legacy, I’m in a very weird position the two top Premier league goal scorers for Aston Villa Ollie Watkins and Gabby Agbonlahor whose numbers would compare against most strikers I’ve seen yet wouldn’t get in to my top 10 best strikers I’ve seen at Villa maybe even top 15
 But I have been going since 1975 so I’ve seen a few

I’ve said this before Ollie is where he is because of Unai if he had gone to Man United or Arsenal like was talked about at one time he would be nowhere near their first team
Watkins has been very good for Aston Villa but Aston Villa have been very good for Ollie Watkins

Putting aside this season for a minute, the Ollie Watkins that has scored goals for us in the last 5 years or so, wouldn’t get in your top 10-15 Villa strikers?
Ive been going since about 82, i did see Gary Shaw before his injury bit its a fleeting memory, but Ill give you him and Withe. McInally was great for a season or so but I dont think I would say overall he was better than Watkins. Atkinson on natural ability yes, not sure about overall contribution. Saunders, debatable. Yorke yes, Savo no, Angel no, Vassell no, Gabby no. I didnt see Little or Gray first time around but give you those, that’s still only 5 or 6 better, unless there are a load I’m missing?

I said niether Ollie or Gabby would
which is why I said it’s wierd as they’re our top 2 prem goalscorers

[john e]

In fairness to gabby though he wasn’t an out and out no 9

[RamboandBruno]

In fairness to gabby though he wasn’t an out and out no 9

Just out of curiosity really, but who are the 10+ strikers from your time watching Villa,  you would have ahead of Watkins? Not looking to criticise, just interested.

[Sexual Ealing]

In fairness to gabby though he wasn’t an out and out no 9

Watkins and Gabby are both strange cases from different ends of the spectrum. Neither is a natural footballer, but Gabby had pace, which he of course didn't look after and decided getting ripped, closely followed by getting fat, was a good idea. Watkins is an absolute specimen with a great attitude (apart from the sulking) who tries a bit too hard, and cares a bit too much.

I'd say you'd love to combine them, but if you want an overthinking, wine-bloated striker who loves the Villa but is wracked with self-doubt and can't take a penalty, we could sign me for a fraction of the price.

[Villan For Life]

In fairness to gabby though he wasn’t an out and out no 9

Watkins and Gabby are both strange cases from different ends of the spectrum. Neither is a natural footballer, but Gabby had pace, which he of course didn't look after and decided getting ripped, closely followed by getting fat, was a good idea. Watkins is an absolute specimen with a great attitude (apart from the sulking) who tries a bit too hard, and cares a bit too much.

I'd say you'd love to combine them, but if you want an overthinking, wine-bloated striker who loves the Villa but is wracked with self-doubt and can't take a penalty, we could sign me for a fraction of the price.

What are you like in the box? Or do you play in the hole?

#Winky thing#

[john e]

In fairness to gabby though he wasn’t an out and out no 9

Just out of curiosity really, but who are the 10+ strikers from your time watching Villa,  you would have ahead of Watkins? Not looking to criticise, just interested.

 Cant be bothered listing them all but every name listed in the posts above for a start

[kippaxvilla2]

Little, Shaw, Withe, Yorke, Benteke were better. The likes of JPA, Saunders, Gray etc were not as consistently good as Ollie has been.

Holt?

[Sexual Ealing]

In the name of love.

[Villan For Life]

It’s difficult comparing players from other eras to modern day players as the game as evolved so much. As much as I loved Andy Gray and Peter Withe, they wouldn’t get anywhere near our first team now. The game is played much more on the floor now and there has been a reduction in the number of goals scored from headers as a result.

Gary Shaw and Sir Brian would get into our current squad, that’s about it.