Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Drummond]

It's surprised me how Watkins doesn't seem anywhere near as quick as he did.

[Ozzjim]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

[jwarry]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

Evidence?

[Gareth]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

Evidence?

He’s not running against the clock so there won’t be evidence…it’s just some people’s opinions.  I think (but dont know as I’m not a Villa physio) he played with a number of niggles last season particularly to his back which inevitably will slow him a little.  Hopefully skipping the England pointlessness will give him chance to be 100% for preseason - we need him flying and we need another striker in the squad to let him be rotated more.

[Ozzjim]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

Evidence?

My eyes. He looked slower than usual last season and has never been blistering.

I think on one of the CL speed things he was about 7th fastest for Villa.

[Dave]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

Evidence?

My eyes. He looked slower than usual last season and has never been blistering.

I think on one of the CL speed things he was about 7th fastest for Villa.

I think you're right, but he's also playing in a different way. Under Smith he was much more "playing on the shoulder, make a run, get in behind", and while you still occasionally see that he's now much more "hold the ball up, bring others into play" which means he's less likely to be sprinting for the ball. Also as we get better teams are sitting deeper against us so he's less likely to be using whatever pace he has.

I still think in a one vs one race chasing a through ball he's still getting away from most centre-backs

[LeeB]

Lewis Dunk yeah, but not sure about many others, and then he'd inexplicably head to the corner flag anyway.

[Ozzjim]

Not sure what his fastest clocked speed was but Onana, Rashford, Maatsen, Philogene, Bailey and Rogers were our top 6 last season in the league. I think he'd be 50/50, but like you say, he doesn't rely on it as much. I also think he was playing well within himself confidence and fitness wise much of last season.

[VillaTim]

He does seem to have lost a yard of pace. Maybe ages/ miles on the clock and niggles catching up with him

Evidence?

Seems to have bulked up a bit possibly to help with his hold up game

[pauliewalnuts]

Also seems to have got older.

[eamonn]

Gabby got old and fat and became our record PL goalscorer. Ollie only following a winng formula.

[VillaTim]

Gabby got old and fat and became our record PL goalscorer. Ollie only following a winng formula.

fast forward to 2030 he'll be on Talksport with Brazil and the Moose

[FatSam]

Gabby got old and fat and became our record PL goalscorer. Ollie only following a winng formula.

Most people follow the formula towards being old and fat. I know I’m well on course.

[Ozzjim]

Gabby got old and fat and became our record PL goalscorer. Ollie only following a winng formula.

fast forward to 2030 he'll be on Talksport with Brazil and the Moose

He's far too intelligent for that role.

[pauliewalnuts]

Gabby got old and fat and became our record PL goalscorer. Ollie only following a winng formula.

fast forward to 2030 he'll be on Talksport with Brazil and the Moose

Brazil looks like he's unlikely to see out the next 5 months, let alone 5 years.