Ollie Watkins

[Sexual Ealing]

I can’t believe Tuchel is so naive that he only looks at what players do with a football. No wonder he’s never achieved anything.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only positive Watkins can take right now is Tuchel knows him well and obviously likes him. Finish the season on a high and he'll be impossible to ignore. Calvert-Lewin is hardly setting the world alight, 10 goals in 29 league games, just two more than Watkins. Solanke's injury record has to be taken into serious consideration, 848 minutes all season in all competitions. Not your ideal Kane replacement.

It's doable.

[PaulWinch again]

Indeed - if he can build on last night and kick into the gear for the rest of season, say score 5 goals + across both competitions he’s a shoe in. It’s up to him to do it.

[Smirker]

His whole season has been a case of 'if'.

Many thought if he got one goal he'd turn his season round. Went on a little run post-Brighton and what happened? Scored a header against Lille then followed it up with a stinker.

Tuchel shouldn't be taking injured players anyway.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If he's to build on last night we need an early goal and force teams to stop sitting deep, that way we can open them up more easily. Watkins thrives on space and being allowed to run at a defender. Allow teams to park the bus in the hope of snatching a goal and we'll see him substituted on 75-80 minutes.

[eamonn]

His whole season has been a case of 'if'.

Many thought if he got one goal he'd turn his season round. Went on a little run post-Brighton and what happened? Scored a header against Lille then followed it up with a stinker.

Tuchel shouldn't be taking injured players anyway.

So you admit, Ollie's got a cyst?

[Smirker]

His whole season has been a case of 'if'.

Many thought if he got one goal he'd turn his season round. Went on a little run post-Brighton and what happened? Scored a header against Lille then followed it up with a stinker.

Tuchel shouldn't be taking injured players anyway.

So you admit, Ollie's got a cyst?

No mate, he hasn't got an injury. I'm just making the point that if people genuinely believe he is carrying some injury and has been all season then why even discuss whether he should have been picked or not? He's injured isn't he? That should be the end of it.

[cdbearsfan]

Good one Eamonn. That's the first time I have seen anyone work the whole "assist"/"a cyst" angle. Magic stuff.

[Dave]

Agree in part with that Dave especially the starting striker but what you miss is that both Tammy and especially Duran are far superior footballers to Watkins.

You're welcome to believe that if you like. Many wouldn't agree with you.

[Smithy]

The only positive Watkins can take right now is Tuchel knows him well and obviously likes him. Finish the season on a high and he'll be impossible to ignore. Calvert-Lewin is hardly setting the world alight, 10 goals in 29 league games, just two more than Watkins. Solanke's injury record has to be taken into serious consideration, 848 minutes all season in all competitions. Not your ideal Kane replacement.

It's doable.

My guess is that he's made his mind up on Kane and Ollie, but has no idea where to look after that.  So he's got the next two in line to have look at them in camp, and see who's next in line, should Ollie or Kane get injured between now and the world cup.  There is no 'obvious' striker next in line, and he needs a plan.  In pretty much every other position he's got back-ups and options - but up front we're a bit thin on the ground.

I'll be VERY surprised if Ollie isn't on the plane, not least because he offers something very different in terms of his work rate and running in behind.  He's never going to be prolific, Tuchel knows that, but he also knows that if he's not scoring, he will do the required work to instruction - and that's important. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Agree in part with that Dave especially the starting striker but what you miss is that both Tammy and especially Duran are far superior footballers to Watkins.

You're welcome to believe that if you like. Many wouldn't agree with you.

I can live with that. Lots of Americans voted MAGA, it is what it is. Watkins most certainly has his strengths, something I've pointed out numerous times, his movement and positioning off the ball are top class, a rare talent few strikers have. That said, I don't think Unai is doing him any favours this season having Rogers hitting the near post with Watkins the back post waiting for crumbs.

The other two have superior technical ability though Abraham needs to sharpen his if he doesn't want to be sitting on the bench forever.

[paul_e]

We say players should be picked on form and Solanke is more in form than most of the options. Which says more about the lack of options than it does about Solanke being great.

and may as well include this snark as well...

I can’t believe Tuchel is so naive that he only looks at what players do with a football. No wonder he’s never achieved anything.

It's a team sport, he's the leading striker for a team that haven't won a league game since December (or alternatively for the entire time his 'good form' covers), and has played 90 minutes 5 times in that period. Yes form matters but form is more than just a few goals 2 months ago and a couple of meaningless goals on games where his team got absolutely battered and he barely touched the ball aside from the goals.

Again, I don't think Watkins deserved to be in the squad either but Solanke has no business being called up for what he's done in the 18 months since he was last involved (which is mostly sitting in a treatment room).

[Dave]

We say players should be picked on form and Solanke is more in form than most of the options. Which says more about the lack of options than it does about Solanke being great.

and may as well include this snark as well...

I can’t believe Tuchel is so naive that he only looks at what players do with a football. No wonder he’s never achieved anything.

It's a team sport, he's the leading striker for a team that haven't won a league game since December (or alternatively for the entire time his 'good form' covers), and has played 90 minutes 5 times in that period. Yes form matters but form is more than just a few goals 2 months ago and a couple of meaningless goals on games where his team got absolutely battered and he barely touched the ball aside from the goals.

Again, I don't think Watkins deserved to be in the squad either but Solanke has no business being called up for what he's done in the 18 months since he was last involved (which is mostly sitting in a treatment room).

Ultimately though, the position in the squad that they're all fighting over is "who does a bad impression of Harry Kane if he needs a twenty minute rest at the end of a game that's already won". There aren't many viable options for that.

Given all of our attacking eggs are going in the Kane basket, for a couple of friendlies before the World Cup squad gets picked, it doesn't feel crazy for the England manager to get a closer look at Solanke.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only positive Watkins can take right now is Tuchel knows him well and obviously likes him. Finish the season on a high and he'll be impossible to ignore. Calvert-Lewin is hardly setting the world alight, 10 goals in 29 league games, just two more than Watkins. Solanke's injury record has to be taken into serious consideration, 848 minutes all season in all competitions. Not your ideal Kane replacement.

It's doable.

My guess is that he's made his mind up on Kane and Ollie, but has no idea where to look after that.  So he's got the next two in line to have look at them in camp, and see who's next in line, should Ollie or Kane get injured between now and the world cup.  There is no 'obvious' striker next in line, and he needs a plan.  In pretty much every other position he's got back-ups and options - but up front we're a bit thin on the ground.

I'll be VERY surprised if Ollie isn't on the plane, not least because he offers something very different in terms of his work rate and running in behind.  He's never going to be prolific, Tuchel knows that, but he also knows that if he's not scoring, he will do the required work to instruction - and that's important. 

A 35 man squad and not inviting him? The last chance to give the second string a run out before the World Cup, I'd prefer to be there than sitting at home thinking 'the manager trusts me, doesn't he?' Your point's valid about potential injuries, especially to Kane, if that were the case he could have increased the squad by one extra place and selected 36 to have a closer look at Watkins especially given the season he's having.

For Watkins' (and Villa's coffers) sake I hope you're right.

[eamonn]

Good one Eamonn. That's the first time I have seen anyone work the whole "assist"/"a cyst" angle. Magic stuff.

It was purely non-pun'd.