Ollie Watkins

[aj2k77]

A player gets 4/5 games where they score and we win no matter any other factors or they're out? Sounds like a vendetta to me.

[purpletrousers]

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/april/17/ollie-s-century-of-goals-in-claret-and-blue/

The striker tapped home Morgan Rogers' cross in the 16th minute to bring up a ton of strikes in claret and blue, as the Villans progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League with a 6-1 aggregate victory over the Italian outfit.

6-1?!

[Smirker]

No one would give Tammy 15-20 starts ahead of the joint 10th highest scorer we've ever had and whose scored 5 in our last 7.

Cool so if he goes 20 games without a goal Tammy still doesn't start?

Probably depends on how well the team is doing.

I reckon four or five matches without a win or a significant Watkins contribution is the point at which you probably give the other a go.

That happened last month. Three losses and a draw.

Two losses and a draw with Watkins starting. Feels a bit churlish to count the Newcastle defeat, which Abraham started, as evidence for why Watkins should be dropped.

Not really, it also happened at the start of the season, Malen couldn't get a start either. We've had plenty of runs of shit form with Watkins not scoring.

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

Tammy is being very hard done by.

A player gets 4/5 games where they score and we win no matter any other factors or they're out? Sounds like a vendetta to me.

I didn't say he should be dropped NOW. I am saying he should have been dropped in the past. PWS is saying he should literally never be dropped to give Tammy a run of games.

[Dave]

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

An easier way to see it is that the manager will in all likelihood pick his first choice player when they're available, unless there's a good reason not to.

An out-of-form Rogers is still likely to start ahead of Buendia. An out-of-form Martinez is still likely to start over Bizot. An out-of-form McGinn is still likely to start over Barkley.

[dave.woodhall]

Given how the season's gone, I think Unai's team selection has been pretty much perfect regardless of how an individual player might be performing.

[rob_bridge]

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

An easier way to see it is that the manager will in all likelihood pick his first choice player when they're available, unless there's a good reason not to.

An out-of-form Rogers is still likely to start ahead of Buendia. An out-of-form Martinez is still likely to start over Bizot. An out-of-form McGinn is still likely to start over Barkley.

Indeed and Tammy (of whom I am a fan) hasn't exactly hit the ground running when given a chance to impress. I have no doubt that will change over time.

[PaulWinch again]

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

An easier way to see it is that the manager will in all likelihood pick his first choice player when they're available, unless there's a good reason not to.

An out-of-form Rogers is still likely to start ahead of Buendia. An out-of-form Martinez is still likely to start over Bizot. An out-of-form McGinn is still likely to start over Barkley.

Exactly that. Take individual viewpoints out of it, it is indisputable that Unai rates Watkins very highly and above any other strikers we’ve had over his tenure. He’s a pretty good judge for the most part.

[Smirker]

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

An easier way to see it is that the manager will in all likelihood pick his first choice player when they're available, unless there's a good reason not to.

An out-of-form Rogers is still likely to start ahead of Buendia. An out-of-form Martinez is still likely to start over Bizot. An out-of-form McGinn is still likely to start over Barkley.

Sometimes justified because one player is clearly better than the other.

That's not the case here. And Tammy could prove it if he had that run of games.

[PeterWithesShin]

No one would give Tammy 15-20 starts ahead of the joint 10th highest scorer we've ever had and whose scored 5 in our last 7.

Cool so if he goes 20 games without a goal Tammy still doesn't start?

When Ollie goes 20 without a goal while Tammy is here then we'll see. However you're making the argument that Tammy should be starting more since arriving. A period where Ollie has started 11 games and scored 7.

So again, no one would be giving Tammy more starts since he joined. I never mentioned "ever". That's just made up nonsense.

[Dave]

So basically Tammy gets one start and is out if he doesn't score but Watkins can go 10 games without a goal but some of you think he should still start?

An easier way to see it is that the manager will in all likelihood pick his first choice player when they're available, unless there's a good reason not to.

An out-of-form Rogers is still likely to start ahead of Buendia. An out-of-form Martinez is still likely to start over Bizot. An out-of-form McGinn is still likely to start over Barkley.

Sometimes justified because one player is clearly better than the other.

That's not the case here. And Tammy could prove it if he had that run of games.

I would say that one player clearly is better than the other. I'm guessing that if Emery didn't also think that, then Abraham would be starting more games.

[PaulWinch again]

Indeed - and it’s not a difficult conclusion to draw, Watkins is very clearly better than Tammy. He’s been the striker for a team who has consistently competed for Champions League places in the Premier League for the last three years. Tammy isn’t at that level, he’s a useful squad option - that’s what he is.

[Mister E]

Tammy is a better finisher, Ollie is a better player and much better for how we play.

Totally agree.
I am glad we have both but Ollie better all round player.

I'd like to see more minutes of them both on the pitch - playing Watkins a little wider instead of bringing on Bailey or Sancho would be worth a shout.

[LeeB]

Indeed - and it’s not a difficult conclusion to draw, Watkins is very clearly better than Tammy. He’s been the striker for a team who has consistently competed for Champions League places in the Premier League for the last three years. Tammy isn’t at that level, he’s a useful squad option - that’s what he is.

The arguments on both sides here feel a bit set in stone. I agree with the statement at this moment in time, as most would, but would we have said the same before Watkins worked with Emery? Maybe in time Emery will raise Tammy's game as high or higher than he has with Watkins.

[rob_bridge]

A pre season with Emery will readily show whether Tammy is good to go or the latest Ings/Duran/Malen.

Unai effectively had 6 weeks with Ollie during winter 2022 World Cup which meant Ings was superfluous to requirements.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

“Since his Villa debut on 15 September 2020, only Mohamed Salah (159) and Erling Haaland (157) have scored more goals than Watkins in all competitions.”

Imagine not enjoying this.

I think those numbers from those 2 also skew perceptions for other forwards.