Ollie Watkins

[Dave]

And of course a player that will turn 29 this year who's spent his whole career working his way to the top will happily chuck the chance to play in the Champions League away for the chance to chase errant long balls from Harry Maguire or marvel at just how much they spunked on Anthony at first hand.

There will be a queue (albeit short based on the absolute mountain of cash it would take) for Watkins this summer.  But the thought of him going there given their current state and lack of CL would be very surprising.  If I squint, I can see Arsenal as potentially realistic if the fee was ridiculous - £120m as per Dave's post above would be too big a fee to turn down, and a bit like when Coutinho left Liverpool, might be right for all concerned.

There's also the possibility *whisper it* that Watkins being one of the best strikers in the world now is as much down to Emery as it is down to Watkins himself.

Gerard Moreno was a solid 10-15 goals per season striker for most of his career and turned into a ultra-reliable, goal-every-other-game striker for a couple of seasons which coincided with Emery's time at Villareal. He's now back to the sort of return he was getting pre-Emery.

If we were to sell Watkins (and I don't think we will), I wouldn't be surprised to see both (a) Watkins not being as good elsewhere and (b) Emery to turn someone else into Watkins / Moreno for us.

[chrisw1]

And of course a player that will turn 29 this year who's spent his whole career working his way to the top will happily chuck the chance to play in the Champions League away for the chance to chase errant long balls from Harry Maguire or marvel at just how much they spunked on Anthony at first hand.

There will be a queue (albeit short based on the absolute mountain of cash it would take) for Watkins this summer.  But the thought of him going there given their current state and lack of CL would be very surprising.  If I squint, I can see Arsenal as potentially realistic if the fee was ridiculous - £120m as per Dave's post above would be too big a fee to turn down, and a bit like when Coutinho left Liverpool, might be right for all concerned.

If we ended up finishing 5th I think it'd be more likely he'd leave.   

Agree with all this.  The only English team I could see him going to is Arsenal, particularly as he's a fan.  But I'm not sure they could fork out another £100m after buying Rice last season.

If we finish 5th I'd guess we'd be in danger of losing Martinez, Luiz and Watkins (but prob not all three).

[Footy-Vill]

Time for a Watkins hat trick tonight -he's running out of games and thought he have another in him before season out.

[wince]

Modern players are different to the old days. Ask Pongo or even Brian Little to run as much as Watkins does and you'd get a right earful.

As for the others, Hitchens by all accounts was the man, Hateley suffered by being his eventual replacement. Andy Gray was ludicrously brave but perhaps a bit one-dimensional. Withe was a great all-rounder with a lot more skill than he was credited with. Gary Shaw was a goalpoacher whereas Little was more of an old-fashioned inside-forward who would have done well in a front three now.

Atkinson had it all except commitment. Saunders ran around a lot but didn't score enough. Percy summed up Darren Bent by saying him in the team was like being a goal up and a player short. Benteke put in some of the best all-round centre-forward performances I've ever seen.

Benteke had habit of letting his head drop after a missed chance but he is also one of my a time favourite villa strikers. Followed by Dwight Yorke and John Carew. Ollie has the goals but not the ego of a striker meaning he goes under a lot of radars but he is someone we are blessed to have

[AV84]

And of course a player that will turn 29 this year who's spent his whole career working his way to the top will happily chuck the chance to play in the Champions League away for the chance to chase errant long balls from Harry Maguire or marvel at just how much they spunked on Anthony at first hand.

There will be a queue (albeit short based on the absolute mountain of cash it would take) for Watkins this summer.  But the thought of him going there given their current state and lack of CL would be very surprising.  If I squint, I can see Arsenal as potentially realistic if the fee was ridiculous - £120m as per Dave's post above would be too big a fee to turn down, and a bit like when Coutinho left Liverpool, might be right for all concerned.

If we ended up finishing 5th I think it'd be more likely he'd leave.   

Agree with all this.  The only English team I could see him going to is Arsenal, particularly as he's a fan.  But I'm not sure they could fork out another £100m after buying Rice last season.

If we finish 5th I'd guess we'd be in danger of losing Martinez, Luiz and Watkins (but prob not all three).

I dunno, if we win the Conference and have Europa next season it's still a major step forward and might well be enough to keep them here another season. Next season will be the real challenge, to progress again, and keep the big names.

[Richard]

He didn't win but was in the Football Writers top 6. Foden, Rice, Rodri, Palmer and Odegaard the others.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

His goal last night was Champions League quality, he didn't need to even see where he was shooting, he instinctively knew. It was a superb finish.

[Nunkin1965]

His goal last night was Champions League quality, he didn't need to even see where he was shooting, he instinctively knew. It was a superb finish.

Yes a fantastic finish and one of the few players who are playing like the season has just started rather than almost over.

[edgysatsuma89]

His goal last night was Champions League quality, he didn't need to even see where he was shooting, he instinctively knew. It was a superb finish.

When you watch the replay and see that he doesn't ever look up. *chef's kiss*

[Rudy Can't Fail]

There's also the possibility *whisper it* that Watkins being one of the best strikers in the world now is as much down to Emery as it is down to Watkins himself.

You're half right. Watkins told Peter Crouch in an interview earlier this week than Unai rarely speaks to him, ever. Maybe a couple of pointers before the game but that's generally it. Basically, Unai is the Boss and you speak to him when your spoken to. The real improvement has come with Watkins working with his striker coach, Rodri.

[pauliewalnuts]

If we were to sell Watkins (and I don't think we will), I wouldn't be surprised to see both (a) Watkins not being as good elsewhere and (b) Emery to turn someone else into Watkins / Moreno for us.

Spot on.

[Dogtanian]

Nominated for Premier League Player of the Season;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/09/watkins-nominated-for-pl-player-of-the-season-award/

Bang in a couple on Monday to show 'em, Ollie! 

[PeterWithesShin]

You can vote for Ollie here, not that he has a chance of winning a public vote

https://pl.pots.easports.com/

[Duncan Shaw]

Well, he's already got my vote!  But yeah, little chance.

[Dogtanian]

Aren't these things weighted against the public vote anyway?