Ollie Watkins

[Risso]

Ollie's finish was something else last night. A really difficult shot to pull-off giving the advancing defenders/goalie and the angle.

It was. On two occasions before his goal I was calling him a "f**king donkey" for his complete lack of basic control. It's so frustrating. I've now come to the conclusion with Watkins you have to take the rough with the smooth. His speed, strength and goals are too important for us right now.

Honestly mate, where are you seeing this 'lack of control'? He looks like he's made of velcro since Unai arrived, that first touch for his goal was sensational.

Yep, he's stopped wearing his star-shaped boots and brings the ball under control much more efficiently now. His remaining issue is shooting accuracy at times, eg against Chelsea and Bournemouth, but given the run he's on even mntioning that seems unnecessarily picky.

[Monty]

His touch still sometimes lets him down, but a key thing is he's taking fewer touches than he used to when in possession. Used to be so infuriating how, in what should be two-touch situations he'd seem to need a first touch to get to the ball, a second touch to correct the first, a third to get on the ball and look up, a fourth to set himself, and finally a fifth to pass it. He still occasionally needs three where he should take two, but it's massively improved.

[SamTheMouse]

He's clearly an intelligent lad, so you'd expect him to be one of those who'd benefit most from being given thoughtful instructions. Whatever Emery is telling him, he's obviously taking it on board.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ollie has the second best shot accuracy rates of the current top 20 odd PL highest scorers at 74%, Firmino has 78%. Haaland 59%, Kane 63%, Salah 52% as a few other examples. His conversion rate though is a bit lower than a lot of them though.

[Monty]

He's clearly an intelligent lad, so you'd expect him to be one of those who'd benefit most from being given thoughtful instructions. Whatever Emery is telling him, he's obviously taking it on board.

What he said after the Chelsea game about how he and Emery had been working on off-the-ball runs at Koulibaly (and seeing it create two chances and a goal in the first half) was really something to hear. These guys are really operating on a different level.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Ollie's finish was something else last night. A really difficult shot to pull-off giving the advancing defenders/goalie and the angle.

It was. On two occasions before his goal I was calling him a "f**king donkey" for his complete lack of basic control. It's so frustrating. I've now come to the conclusion with Watkins you have to take the rough with the smooth. His speed, strength and goals are too important for us right now.

Honestly mate, where are you seeing this 'lack of control'? He looks like he's made of velcro since Unai arrived, that first touch for his goal was sensational.

As I said Lee, twice before he scored so that would in the the first 20 minutes. Of course he rammed those words down my throat minutes later with a cracking goal. Whilst I wouldn't say Velcro, as Risso said his control has recently improved under Emery. Like so many of our players we're seeing improvements right across the board, some where we'd never had thought possible 4 months ago.

[Dick Edwards]

Vardy's gone on a year too long. He's been a great player in his day and he absolutely terrorised us our first year back in the Premier League, but he's a shadow of that player now.

He probably knows that himself but he's got a pretty hefty legal bill that needs funding on his wife's behalf 

[Hookeysmith]

Vardy's gone on a year too long. He's been a great player in his day and he absolutely terrorised us our first year back in the Premier League, but he's a shadow of that player now.

He probably knows that himself but he's got a pretty hefty legal bill that needs funding on his wife's behalf 

Fuck him the rat faced snarly twat

[LeeB]

He's clearly an intelligent lad, so you'd expect him to be one of those who'd benefit most from being given thoughtful instructions. Whatever Emery is telling him, he's obviously taking it on board.

What he said after the Chelsea game about how he and Emery had been working on off-the-ball runs at Koulibaly (and seeing it create two chances and a goal in the first half) was really something to hear. These guys are really operating on a different level.

I used to do similar with my team in the Sutton Sunday League Division 4:

"Look at that big fat bastard at centre half, when you get it run at him every time, he doesn't want it at all"

Two peas in a pod, me and the Maestro

[Somniloquism]

Yes, with some of those changing rooms, you could hear the opposition manager very clearly from the other side. So did you used to wear the number 4 or the number 5?

[LeeB]

Yes, with some of those changing rooms, you could hear the opposition manager very clearly from the other side. So did you used to wear the number 4 or the number 5?

Cheeky fucker, players with my touch don't play centre half.

I was in goal.

[Brazilian Villain]

Probably the one player (along with Emi M) that we really can't afford an injury to in the run-in.

[rob_bridge]

Clinton Morrison played with him at Exeter when Watkins first started out - said back then he thought he had everything in the locker to play for England. Especially hard work and dedication - said he would do extra training everyday

[Goldenballs]

I read the below on Twitter, any idea if it's true?

"Ollie Watkins boasts the best goals per game ratio of all players to have made 100 or more Premier League appearances for #AVFC."

[Lastfootstamper]

Benteke scored many more in many fewer, so, no.