Ollie Watkins

[Sexual Ealing]

I wonder whether Tuchel's given him the wink for the World Cup and it's eased the anxiety.

[cdbearsfan]

He has looked half a yard quicker in his last two appearances. Maybe the injury story was true and he's recovered now?

[brontebilly]

Confidence I suppose. He hardly looked PL standard at Old Trafford a week ago. Good performance off the bench during the week and flying from the first minute today. Delighted for him with the goal as he did everything but score in the first half.

[PeterWithesShin]

Watkins gives Tuchel timely reminder as World Cup hopes still alive

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg3lxd74zjo

[PaulWinch again]

Whatever it is he’s starting to look like a top Premier League forward again, needs to keep it going.

[Smirker]

He has looked half a yard quicker in his last two appearances. Maybe the injury story was true and he's recovered now?

The story was that he was managing his minutes because of it. If that were true then Tammy would have started more games.

[aj2k77]

If we are to win the Europa this season we need Watkins firing. It's an extremely positive turn of events to see him sparking back to life the last game and a half.

[Mellin]

You could see he was going to have a good game today by the first time he ran with the ball. I don't know if it's his gait or the way he carries it. There's just something tangiable about Watkins' style that means you can SEE if he's at it or not.

Either way, more than welcome. Would love to have him back in consistent form.

[dorsetvillian]

Great to see Ollie back at it. His pressing was good but also his tracking back and putting pressure on players deep in our half. A very decent finish for the goal and could have had another couple. His contribution is going to be crucial in the remainder of the season.

[tomd2103]

You could see he was going to have a good game today by the first time he ran with the ball. I don't know if it's his gait or the way he carries it. There's just something tangiable about Watkins' style that means you can SEE if he's at it or not.

Either way, more than welcome. Would love to have him back in consistent form.

I find that his first touch is a key indicator of the kind of form he's in.  When he's on form l, his first touch is generally good and the rest comes naturally after that.  When it's not good, he's then trying to rectify that and ends up losing the ball more often than not.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

You could see he was going to have a good game today by the first time he ran with the ball. I don't know if it's his gait or the way he carries it. There's just something tangiable about Watkins' style that means you can SEE if he's at it or not.

Either way, more than welcome. Would love to have him back in consistent form.

I find that his first touch is a key indicator of the kind of form he's in.  When he's on form l, his first touch is generally good and the rest comes naturally after that.  When it's not good, he's then trying to rectify that and ends up losing the ball more often than not.

There was one ball Watkins took under control that had me rubbing my eyes, absolutely first class technique, the type of skill you'd expect from a top international striker. When you're so used to the ball bouncing off him like he's wearing Ronald McDonald's boots, you have to wonder what suddenly changed? Whatever it was more of that please, it was a joy to watch.

Overall he had probably had his best game of the season yesterday, thanks in part to West Ham allowing us to play to his strengths, big mistake and they got off lightly despite being punished. Watkins had a smile on his face all game, he knows the fans still sing his name, Unai loves him and just as important his teammates trust him. The rest now is up to him.

Credit too for his goal, he used his upper body strength combined with his determination to get to the ball and then buried it with aplomb. It won't have gone unnoticed in Tuchel's living room. Fortunately for Watkins he's got enough games until the end of the season both in the league and hopefully in Europe to convince Tuchel and the whole country it's a no brainer him being on the plane to the World Cup.

Mission Day One: Successfully completed.

[brontebilly]

Not the kind of goal poacher goal Ollie tends to get. He's on the move as Rogers shapes to shoot. Did well to get it in from that angle. When he has to think with the ball at his feet, that's when he struggles. Forced a great save in first half too.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Great save? Straight at the keeper. He only had to stick a leg out.

[brontebilly]

Great save? Straight at the keeper. He only had to stick a leg out.

Keeper did well to get anything on it I thought.

[Drummond]

He didn't please everyone, some bloke behind me in the Trinity shouting 'you fucking cart - horse' as he lost the ball with a couple of defenders around him late on. This had me sniggering far more than it should, the utter harshness after he'd run his bollocks off all afternoon and scored the second and decisive goal.

If he was bald and wearing sunglasses, it was probably Smirker.

Ah, I know him, looks jaundiced?