Ollie Watkins

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I'm not sure how you replicate 'give the ball to jack' without him though.

Of his 15 goals in 20/21 Joe supplied two.

[Simon Page]

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I feel the point is managers ask players to do certain things. If they do them they stay in the team. We as fans, on the other hand, often want them to do certain other things.

Watkins is class. If we could get hold of better we would, in every position. Until then, he's neither the reincarnation of Pongo nor the antichrist. I like him, like what he does, but I'd be quite happy to take better when better finds they are in Aston-not-Calthorpe.

[paul_e]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I'm not sure how you replicate 'give the ball to jack' without him though.

Of his 15 goals in 20/21 Joe supplied two.

so you don't think having Grealish pull defenders out of position and create big gaps for Watkins to run into had any impact on him scoring so many goals? Also how many times did Grealish have the assist of the assist?

Let's not rewrite history because he's left, up until Christmas that season Grealish was one of the top 3-4 players in the league and his presence changed games for us on an almost weekly basis, Watkins is one of a number of players who benefitted from that and our trouble under Smith last season was that he couldn't find a way to replace that. Gerrard tried for a while but then lost the plot as soon as his only tactic got worked out. Emery seems to be finding ways to do it and Watkins now has 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 league matches (and he went off after half an hour in one of those) so he's clearly added some end product to his game on top of the dirty work that managers like from him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I'm not sure how you replicate 'give the ball to jack' without him though.

Of his 15 goals in 20/21 Joe supplied two.

so you don't think having Grealish pull defenders out of position and create big gaps for Watkins to run into had any impact on him scoring so many goals? Also how many times did Grealish have the assist of the assist?

Let's not rewrite history because he's left, up until Christmas that season Grealish was one of the top 3-4 players in the league and his presence changed games for us on an almost weekly basis, Watkins is one of a number of players who benefitted from that and our trouble under Smith last season was that he couldn't find a way to replace that. Gerrard tried for a while but then lost the plot as soon as his only tactic got worked out. Emery seems to be finding ways to do it and Watkins now has 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 league matches (and he went off after half an hour in one of those) so he's clearly added some end product to his game on top of the dirty work that managers like from him.

Ollie managed 12 goals the season after without Joe, wonder how that happened? I'll give you a clue, all minus a penalty and a corner were on the counter attack. He needs space (as he's technically poor) to run into and with it he can create and score by himself. It's what he's good at and a great quality to have. Slow build ups requiring one touch moves through a crowded area is not playing to his strengths. The opposite in fact.

[paul_e]

Ollie managed 12 goals the season after without Joe, wonder how that happened? I'll give you a clue, all minus a penalty and a corner were on the counter attack. He needs space (as he's technically poor) to run into and with it he can create and score by himself. It's what he's good at and a great quality to have. Slow build ups requiring one touch moves through a crowded area is not playing to his strengths. The opposite in fact.

Don't be so patronising, you can't have it both ways, either none of the 3 managers 'went back to look at what worked' or he scored a decent return of 12 goals under 2 of them and has started well under the 3rd.

You're correct that last season he scored on the counter-attack because that was pretty much the only tactic Gerrard had, the season before he benefitted heavily from Grealish creating gaps because that was the only tactic we needed and this season he's learning how to find space in a new way of playing.

[Olof's Beard]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

I think those three managers appreciate his pressing which he does so well and fits in with their tactics. I'm amazed that not one went back to look through the videos to see what it was we did when he was a top striker scoring loads. Obviously he's never going to be a technical player, the game and standard has moved on but like so many former Villa strikers, we're hardly playing to his strengths. That said, I expect him to be replaced in the summer and he'll move on.

I'm not sure how you replicate 'give the ball to jack' without him though.

Of his 15 goals in 20/21 Joe supplied two.

Not sure about this. I haven't even tried to think back but I can remember him supplying two assists for Watkins in the Liverpool game alone and at least one at Arsenal.

Watkins without doubt benefitted from Grealish as any forward would have done that season.

[ChicagoLion]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

And 3 managers have had little alternative.
I appreciate his work rate and commitment. He puts himself about and has good mobility. His first touch is poor and he is not a natural finisher. He is the best we have at this time and I can see him being around for a while yet.

[Sexual Ealing]

He lives in Barnt Green. My brother-in-law sees him walking his dog (a French bulldog [/eastie]). He (my b-i-l) reckons he's a miserable git. More as I have it.

[N'ZMAV]

he's our best centre forward. Whilst we're currently a bottom half team, he's good enough - when we're up towards that top 6, we'll need another striker.

[ChicagoLion]

he's our best centre forward. Whilst we're currently a bottom half team, he's good enough - when we're up towards that top 6, we'll need another striker.

I think we will need one to get us there.

[VILLA MOLE]

That first touch is so important in a game of this speed,Ollie is limited on this Ings had a good one but not the legs

[tomd2103]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

Three managers have thought he was better than Wesley, Danny Ings and some untried kids respectively!!

I don’t want to be overly critical of him though, as I like him.  He works hard and can be a real nuisance for defenders on his day. 

I do think we need a better option up front though if we are going to progress into the top reaches of the division - a more clinical striker with better link-up play, but they aren’t easy to find. 

[ChicagoLion]

We often hear variations on the phrase: "Three managers have decided he's not good enough." In Watkins' case, three managers have decided he is.

He's this era's Westwood; fans think he's shite, professional football managers think differently.

Three managers have thought he was better than Wesley, Danny Ings and some untried kids respectively!!

I don’t want to be overly critical of him though, as I like him.  He works hard and can be a real nuisance for defenders on his day. 

I do think we need a better option up front though if we are going to progress into the top reaches of the division - a more clinical striker with better link-up play, but they aren’t easy to find.

I agree mate, but maybe we could find the right player to play up with him.

[Risso]

he's our best centre forward. Whilst we're currently a bottom half team, he's good enough - when we're up towards that top 6, we'll need another striker.

He's our only centre forward. Emery has already said that Duran isn't going to be ready for the Premier League.

[VILLA MOLE]

he's our best centre forward. Whilst we're currently a bottom half team, he's good enough - when we're up towards that top 6, we'll need another striker.

He's our only centre forward. Emery has already said that Duran isn't going to be ready for the Premier League.

I think he will have some cameos though ,  i am quite interested to see how he does as he is a unit and looks quick