Ollie Watkins

[Steve kirk]

The penny has mostly dropped on here then, albeit after the title is long gone and CL qualification looks to be going. I said we'd pay for it months ago if he was still our starting striker. Sad that it's ended up happening.

Weird that he's 'injured' yet still being started every game when we've not long bought a new striker.

Welcome back home Smirker, you’ve been missed.

[Somniloquism]

It’s a total mystery as to why he has lost his first touch and ability to kick it into the net.
He still gets into great positions and pulls defenders all over the place. 
I wonder if they have had him talking to sports psychologists. 

This is why Tammy isn’t getting a start. Ollie is key to the team tactics, but also currently awful when trying to do the main part of his job. Unai will have to keep playing him through this, I reckon he’ll come good too. (No evidence to back this opinion up mind)

He hasn't come good consistently for nearly 18 months.

Seems Smirkers stats are spreading. He still got 16 goals last season when playing a lot less minutes then the season before. He has been poor this season yes, but not sure why last season is being used against him still.

[Ozzjim]

It’s a total mystery as to why he has lost his first touch and ability to kick it into the net.
He still gets into great positions and pulls defenders all over the place. 
I wonder if they have had him talking to sports psychologists. 

This is why Tammy isn’t getting a start. Ollie is key to the team tactics, but also currently awful when trying to do the main part of his job. Unai will have to keep playing him through this, I reckon he’ll come good too. (No evidence to back this opinion up mind)

He hasn't come good consistently for nearly 18 months.

Seems Smirkers stats are spreading. He still got 16 goals last season when playing a lot less minutes then the season before. He has been poor this season yes, but not sure why last season is being used against him still.

Because, as I've said previously, he was generally poor in his all round game and rightfully dropped for Rashford who was much more effective at stretching teams than Watkins was. The idea that he was anywhere close to the season before is mad, plus his misses last season were genuinely terrible.

[Somniloquism]

Because, as I've said previously, he was generally poor in his all round game and rightfully dropped for Rashford who was much more effective at stretching teams than Watkins was. The idea that he was anywhere close to the season before is mad, plus his misses last season were genuinely terrible.

And yet he still more goals per minute played then he did the 23/24. And actually had less misses then that season as well. Yet one season was "brilliant" and the next was "poor". I would also mention that Rashford had 4 league games where he replaced Watkins, scoring twice. Most of the others they were playing together. Of those we still still scored more goals with Watkins on the pitch. Although I think Asensio was more of a reason then either Watkins or Rashford for playing so well the second half.

[bill]

I use my eyes to judge a player. Stats are for anoraks. He’s been poor for a long time now. Should have snatched Arsenals arm off last season.

[Somniloquism]

So we should have sold him last Jan and kept Duran? Or sold them both and?

[LeeB]

So we should have sold him last Jan and kept Duran? Or sold them both and?

Signed Rashford on a permanent deal.

[Monty]

So we should have sold him last Jan and kept Duran? Or sold them both and?

Signed Rashford on a permanent deal.

Yeah, I'd have been so sceptical at the time had we done that, and hindsight is what it is, but Christ almighty with hindsight we should've done that.

[Meanwood Villa]

I don't think Rashford wanted to be here long term. Certainly not on a wage cut.

[cdbearsfan]

I think he would have happily joined if the options were Villa or Amorim-managed Man U. Once Barcelona were interested, we had no chance, even if we had qualified for the Champions League again.

[LeeB]

So we should have sold him last Jan and kept Duran? Or sold them both and?

Signed Rashford on a permanent deal.

Yeah, I'd have been so sceptical at the time had we done that, and hindsight is what it is, but Christ almighty with hindsight we should've done that.

Yeah, it's full 20-20 hindsight.

I think Unai would agree as well though, he's stuck with Ollie through thick and thin, seen off many other forwards, but the minute he had Rashford Ollie went in the bin.

[brontebilly]

I use my eyes to judge a player. Stats are for anoraks. He’s been poor for a long time now. Should have snatched Arsenals arm off last season.

Tried to if reports from likes of Carragher are to be believed. Punting on the talented but insane Duran wasn't going to work out either. Think we made the right choice there.

I don't understand Emery, likes of Leeds and Wolves, why buy Tammy if not giving him a start there? Lille and Man United in 4 days and still start Ollie twice. Bet he starts again during the week.

[ROBBO]

Previous posters correct, when we had Rashford Ollie was replaced, that leads me to believe that Unai has no confidence in Tammy, leads to the question why loan him. Seems we have let two or three very good players leave and gotten two or three not very good loan players in.

[LeeB]

Previous posters correct, when we had Rashford Ollie was replaced, that leads me to believe that Unai has no confidence in Tammy, leads to the question why loan him. Seems we have let two or three very good players leave and gotten two or three not very good loan players in.

Loaning would be one thing, signing him on a 4 year deal another inexplicable thing all together.

[Somniloquism]

I don't see the "Rashford replaced Ollie" side though. He was rotating him the same like he started doing with Duran and the same as we thought he would do with Tammy.

And during his time in the Bin, Ollie still scored 6.