Striker Debate: Should it now be Watkins, Malen or both?

[Footy-Vill]

Thirty-nine replies, seems like a popular thread. I'd like to try them both together from the start on Tuesday, might be fun.

Personally I would be starting both Watkins AND Duran.

So would cdbearsfan, as he said earlier.

Do you think they can play together? It be interesting how they fit

[Footy-Vill]

He should absolutely be starting. He takes his chances.

Watkins scored tonight never a handball.
Personally I'm thinking Rogers may have to be out for Duran and Watkins as if you're talking about taking chances Rogers seems unable to actually finish ability of Watkins or Duran and maybe have to look at options because Rogers plays support striker at the moment and Watkins and Duran could dovetail nicely as the two instead.

[Footy-Vill]

Thirty-nine replies, seems like a popular thread. I'd like to try them both together from the start on Tuesday, might be fun.

Personally I would be starting both Watkins AND Duran.

So would cdbearsfan, as he said earlier.

Do you think they can play together? It be interesting how they fit

Nothing wrong with having 2 quality strikers at the club with the season we have ahead. Enjoy and let Emery manage them both . Working well so far albeit Watkins should be on about 6 goals not 2.

Agreed. We should not be afraid of that at all as a fan base. Ollie isn’t storming out of the club if he’s not picked every so often. The biggest clubs rotate their best players so they are fitter across the season and because they have that many good players they have to keep the squad happy. We need to do that also and not hit ourselves of one of the traditional starters gets a game or two off.

I ask do you think they can play together?
Would you play them from the start together?

[Footy-Vill]

Hmmmm. I’d have put my money on Duran taking the chance that Watkins mis-controlled off his knee in the first half when through on goal.

Based on current form, if Duran had the same chances Watkins’ has had so far this season then I reckon we’d be joint top of the league.

If they were both on the pitch he would score more ? Emery said they didn't connect well last season and he's saying it's a challenge hes working on in how play both of them
Watkins isn't 100% fit. I think have to be fair. Would you start both ?

[waynejames]

If we keep playing well as a team whilst winning there is no need to play them together....Play either or and protect fitness levels for the entire season.
As the season goes on i would consider starting Duran over Watkins a few times

[Percy McCarthy]

I'm generally a big fan of your work but it's getting a bit obvious and repetitive now. Kind of like when Weller used to bring out an album pretty much every year.

Maybe restrict yourself to fortnightly trolling or something.

How dare you!

[stevo_st]

Problem with starting with both is you lose your options from the bench to mix things up.
Watkins is clearly better with the press out of possession, if Duran can improve this team element of his game, he’ll find himself starting more games other than the occasional one to lesson Ollie’s workload.

Unai does though need to find opportunities in games when we are in control of games to try them together to help their understanding for those moments where we are chasing games and throwing the kitchen sink in the last 15/20 mins.
It seems when he does this he prefers Ollie up top with Duran in the hole, which is different to the usual big man up top with the runner feeding off scraps we were all brought up on

[Risso]

I think the main point people need to remember is that it's going to be a long, hard season, and even without injuries, it's just not possible to play 60 games and maintain the same levels throughout. We saw this with Watkins as the end of last season, who got to 19 goals and then just ran completely out of steam.

[ROBBO]

Durans biggest weakness is protecting the ball but that can be taught. His left foot reminds me of Rioch.

[eamonn]

I'm generally a big fan of your work but it's getting a bit obvious and repetitive now. Kind of like when Weller used to bring out an album pretty much every year.

Maybe restrict yourself to fortnightly trolling or something.

How dare you!

Yeah! Paul is always bursting with ideas, don't busy-shame him.

[Footy-Vill]

I know Ollie will absolutely insist on playing but I'd be inclined to sit him on the bench at the weekend and make absolutely sure that foot recovers. Big Jhon can handle the Dogs. We could well see a couple of changes and then I suspect wholesale changes against Wycombe.

Duran's finish last night was filfth. I'm baffled as to how far back VAR can look, because from handball (Onana had no one on him so had it not scuffed his hand he'd probably have done nothing different) to the goal was about 20 seconds and 7 passes. It's more feasible a decision than Ollies granted.

There's been a lot of debate as I suspect regards should it be Watkins , Duran or both.

I do think can't just forget how important Watkins is for us.
Emery has said it's a challenge for him how to fit them both in the team.

[Footy-Vill]

Why can Man U, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal all keep multiple top players in the same position and we can’t for fear of upsetting them?

Because none of them are Jhon Duran.

All of those clubs over the years have had players who wanted more playing time. That’s part of being in a top side. Jhon Duran can only get better which would mean a better side with even more competition and even less guarantee of first team football. He’s seeing that now based on what everyone at the club seems to saying regarding his focus and attitude. He’s just a young kid, with age of talent maturing in front of us in real time. You get the outrageous talent and occasional petulance. The closer Ollie gets to 30 and closer to the end of his peaks years we will see the rise of Jhon Duran as his successor.

This is an ideal world scenario which we’d all like
But do you honestly think Duran and his agent are going to sit around waiting for Watkins to get a bit leggy before he gets a chance to be the number one striker

What’s going to happen when one of those teams you mention slap 70 million for him maybe even as soon as January
Don’t forget he wanted to go a couple months ago, he would’ve gone if someone stumped up 40 mill,
Alvarez left Man City because he wasn’t getting game time behind Haaland, Harry Kane please every game is under city is a big part player, Duran won’t settle for that

I’m just leaving in the real world asking real questions

Welcome to my world.
I asked should it be Watkins , Duran or both and there seems to be little forthcoming with an answer

[Footy-Vill]

I think Duran is excellent, and I love that he's ours, however, Watkins is reliable, scores goals, works hard and has his head screwed on.

I want both, and with the games we've got, and the way it's working, I don't think it's an either/or choice.

It's very much an either or regards starting it seems.
Would you start Duran ahead of Watkins ?

[Footy-Vill]

He's a better finisher than Watkins but he can't link play like Watkins can. However, to have two great strikers that are so different is a great problem for the manager to have. Presently, I reckon the last 30 mins of a game is just right.

That's fair assessment.
Starting Watkins and Duran together would be interesting combo though but it can impact dynamics of the team
Real Madrid have adapted with Mbappe so it's funding right system for these two to play together for me.

[Footy-Vill]

Seeing Taremi and Thuram 2 strikers starting up front for Inter against Man City I hope that's what Emery does when go away to Man City.