Emi Martinez

[Sexual Ealing]

Name the several then?

Much as I dislike Arteta, the fact that Arsenal is considered the most likely destination for Watkins speaks volumes really - good, PL quality strikers are few and far between.  Watkins is behind Haaland & Isak.  After that it's a moot point.  Some will argue Delap (who I do rate), until this season some would have claimed Solanke.  Cuhna is very good, but different style.  Some wanted Archer to replace him. Before they can to the PL Dawin and Højlund looked good.  I think most of us would have taken Jackson in a heartbeat.  But these players still can't consistently outperform Watkins.

Of course strikers are available in world football, but the fact there are so few who are clearly better than Watkins in the PL shows how hard it is to find them.

What's the bold bit got to do with anything? If we're looking for a player who plays exactly like Watkins, I'd agree that Watkins is as close as we'll get. I don't think that ought to be the definitive characteristic though.

[Monty]

I love Ollie Watkins, and there are moments he makes me scream in rage and frustration.

[Dave]

Name the several then?

Much as I dislike Arteta, the fact that Arsenal is considered the most likely destination for Watkins speaks volumes really - good, PL quality strikers are few and far between.  Watkins is behind Haaland & Isak.  After that it's a moot point.  Some will argue Delap (who I do rate), until this season some would have claimed Solanke.  Cuhna is very good, but different style.  Some wanted Archer to replace him. Before they can to the PL Dawin and Højlund looked good.  I think most of us would have taken Jackson in a heartbeat.  But these players still can't consistently outperform Watkins.

Of course strikers are available in world football, but the fact there are so few who are clearly better than Watkins in the PL shows how hard it is to find them.

I'm very much Team Ollie, but I don't think it's really fair to compare the current Watkins against other strikers as history suggests that an Emery version of a striker is normally better than he was before he became an Emery player. Watkins is just the latest in a long line of forwards who were decent before and became much better. The pre-Emery Watkins was a solid, middle-of-the-road Premier League striker. And as you rightly say, he's now in the top three.

The Ipswich Delap is miles better than the Hull one, and I reckon the Emery Delap would be better again. The Lille Jonathan David is really good and the Emery one might be brilliant. The PSV Malen was good, maybe the Emery one will be great. The Atalanta Mateo Retegui is really good, maybe...etc.

This isn't an "Emery can do no wrong" thing (Lord knows he doesn't really seem to have much an idea around right-backs) but teaching a striker how to be the very best version they can be does seem to be a skill that he has.

[Somniloquism]

What's the bold bit got to do with anything? If we're looking for a player who plays exactly like Watkins, I'd agree that Watkins is as close as we'll get. I don't think that ought to be the definitive characteristic though.

I think he meant where he plays. Cunha is more of an AM or second striker then a player who can lead a line. Essentially someone who would probably thrive off a Watkins-type playing ahead of him.

[Sexual Ealing]

What's the bold bit got to do with anything? If we're looking for a player who plays exactly like Watkins, I'd agree that Watkins is as close as we'll get. I don't think that ought to be the definitive characteristic though.

I think he meant where he plays. Cunha is more of an AM or second striker then a player who can lead a line. Essentially someone who would probably thrive off a Watkins-type playing ahead of him.

That's fair enough, but lots of teams play without a 'Watkins' no. 9 type and prosper. There's no reason why a fluid attacking unit can't offer more than a single focal point.

[algy]

Agree with every word of that.

Unfortunately the lack of financial wriggle room will see us trading players we have a lot of affection for, for the foreseeable future. The great managers have always sold players at exactly the right time, and the amount of data now available will help them a lot in making these decisions.

I'd like to keep Emi and I dont think the transfer fee we'd get for him would make that much difference, but at 96% wages to turnover, if the stats and coaches suggest he's on the way down, his wages might catch the eye of the recruitment team.

Is the bold'ed bit definitely the case? We sold Jhon Duran for silly money in January ... does that not cover us for this summer?  Maybe if we were to sell Leon Bailey too?  Between the pair of them and with Saudi spending, you'd think that'd be fairly close to £100m.

[chrisw1]

Yes Algy.  We're definitely going to have to sell in the summer, and probably more than just Bailey.

[Dave]

Agree with every word of that.

Unfortunately the lack of financial wriggle room will see us trading players we have a lot of affection for, for the foreseeable future. The great managers have always sold players at exactly the right time, and the amount of data now available will help them a lot in making these decisions.

I'd like to keep Emi and I dont think the transfer fee we'd get for him would make that much difference, but at 96% wages to turnover, if the stats and coaches suggest he's on the way down, his wages might catch the eye of the recruitment team.

Is the bold'ed bit definitely the case? We sold Jhon Duran for silly money in January ... does that not cover us for this summer?  Maybe if we were to sell Leon Bailey too?  Between the pair of them and with Saudi spending, you'd think that'd be fairly close to £100m.

I expect that it's not definitely the case, but I think if we want to add the two or three players each year to keep the squad developing then that's going to be balanced by someone creating the economic space for them.

Personally I'd be amazed if we get to September and we haven't sold at least one player that the majority would have preferred we'd kept.

[brontebilly]

I love Ollie Watkins, and there are moments he makes me scream in rage and frustration.

He's basically everyone's wife or significant other. Yes he's annoying as f*ck and loses the plot at the hint of interest in anybody else. Younger models might seem attractive but you look at the track record. The utter resilience. You realise how good you actually have it. Time to renew our vows with Ollie over the summer. He will be flying next season  after a break over the summer.

[Monty]

I love Ollie Watkins, and there are moments he makes me scream in rage and frustration.

He's basically everyone's wife or significant other. Yes he's annoying as f*ck and loses the plot at the hint of interest in anybody else. Younger models might seem attractive but you look at the track record. The utter resilience. You realise how good you actually have it. Time to renew our vows with Ollie over the summer. He will be flying next season  after a break over the summer.

Was about to make a joke about bronte's wife needing 'resilience', but then I looked at my own track record and, well, frankly the analogy holds in my case.

[brontebilly]

I love Ollie Watkins, and there are moments he makes me scream in rage and frustration.

He's basically everyone's wife or significant other. Yes he's annoying as f*ck and loses the plot at the hint of interest in anybody else. Younger models might seem attractive but you look at the track record. The utter resilience. You realise how good you actually have it. Time to renew our vows with Ollie over the summer. He will be flying next season  after a break over the summer.

Was about to make a joke about bronte's wife needing 'resilience', but then I looked at my own track record and, well, frankly the analogy holds in my case.

You and me both pal 👍

[SamTheMouse]

Agree with Dave, I reckon we'll see at least one key player leave, possibly two. And they might not be the ones we expect.

[Sexual Ealing]

"I like long walks in the country, board games and fine dining. Looking for similar with GSOH and an indomitable will to put the fuck up with my bullshit for romantic days out and cosy nights in. Asbestos will be provided."

[Monty]

"I like long walks in the country, board games and fine dining. Looking for similar with GSOH and an indomitable will to put the fuck up with my bullshit for romantic days out and cosy nights in. Asbestos will be provided."

Stop hacking my accounts!

[Hookeysmith]

I love Ollie Watkins, and there are moments he makes me scream in rage and frustration.

This for me also