Ollie Watkins

[chrisw1]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

[paul_e]

Callum Wilson isn't a better striker than Watkins, he's a better goalscorer but if you think that's all that's needed to be a top class striker for most teams then you're about 20 out of date.

The problem with Watkins is that, like a few other players in our squad, he needs something to go for him to kick him up a level, that's why he's quite streaky as a goalscorer.

To address that we can either replace him with someone who adds a few extra goals to the team and doesn't weaken us in terms of off the ball running and work rate.
OR
We bring in players around him who can score more goals and reduce the burden on him to win us games.

We seem to have decided on the latter and 5 different goalscorers in 2 games is a big step in the right direction.

[Exeter 77]

Unless he signed a new one recently Toney's contract has two years left.

[LeeB]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

I'd be tempted too, but yes it's going to take sonething along those lines and I'm not sure he's that much better, if better at all, in terms of their all round game.

I think the thing is, it's going to cost a lot of money even for a backup to Watkins, so fuck that we may as well go all in and buy better, but are probably not in the position to do so regarding FFP or just that those players have Champions League suitors.

[chrisw1]

Callum Wilson isn't a better striker than Watkins, he's a better goalscorer but if you think that's all that's needed to be a top class striker for most teams then you're about 20 out of date.

The problem with Watkins is that, like a few other players in our squad, he needs something to go for him to kick him up a level, that's why he's quite streaky as a goalscorer.

To address that we can either replace him with someone who adds a few extra goals to the team and doesn't weaken us in terms of off the ball running and work rate.
OR
We bring in players around him who can score more goals and reduce the burden on him to win us games.

We seem to have decided on the latter and 5 different goalscorers in 2 games is a big step in the right direction.

Callum Wilson is a better striker than Watkins.  His fitness lets him down and so he wouldn't be a viable replacement, but when fit there's no doubt he's a better striker.

[danno]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

I know Spurs got a lot for Kane in similar circumstances. But I believe Toney’s contract is expiring this summer. So he might be available cut price in January.

Coincidentally I think he’ll end up at Spurs.

[Dave]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

I know Spurs got a lot for Kane in similar circumstances. But I believe Toney’s contract is expiring this summer. So he might be available cut price in January.

Summer '25 apparently.

[danno]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

I know Spurs got a lot for Kane in similar circumstances. But I believe Toney’s contract is expiring this summer. So he might be available cut price in January.

Summer '25 apparently.

Ah that’s it then, he’s got one year left as of the end of the season.
So if he’s not signing a new contract, possibly available in January.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I like Watkins, and getting better would mean taking a punt on a high potential signing from a lesser league that payed off. That can just as easy yield a Balaban as a Benteke, but we are no in a position to get a known quantity that is not over the hill or has some baggage. Going down that road might get us Lukaku for instance, who I actually think would score a lot of goals for us.

Seems to me we are trying very hard to convince Torres or Felix to 'drop down a level' and revive their career with us.

Edit. If it was up to me, and we had the cash, I would go for Jonathan David. Looks like a very good player to me.

[pablo_picasso]

But that’s reductive isn’t it? He doesn’t just work hard. He scores goals as well, and players that do both of those things or the latter to a consistently better level are high cost/probably playing in the Champions League.

Isak at Newcastle is, for me, significantly better than Watkins.

He cost twice as much.

Maybe that’s the key - spend more money, get a better player.

They signed him when they were nowhere near the champions league.

Diaby is a step in the right direction. If we can replace Watkins with a similarly costly and better player, we should do.

I was gutted we didn't go for Isak when he was available. He was perfect for us.

The next type of striker who is similar to Isak & scores in double figures consistently is probably Beto from Udinese.

Same height, same pace, good touch, stronger, but probably not as clinical.

[Lsvilla]

Putting the baggage and bans aside, what would folk think of buying Toney? Would cost a pretty penny but he is a genuine goalscorer.

Yep.  But they'll want £100m.

I know Spurs got a lot for Kane in similar circumstances. But I believe Toney’s contract is expiring this summer. So he might be available cut price in January.

Coincidentally I think he’ll end up at Spurs.

Not the way he's been gushing about Arsenal in a recent interview

[RamboandBruno]

Callum Wilson isn't a better striker than Watkins, he's a better goalscorer but if you think that's all that's needed to be a top class striker for most teams then you're about 20 out of date.

The problem with Watkins is that, like a few other players in our squad, he needs something to go for him to kick him up a level, that's why he's quite streaky as a goalscorer.

To address that we can either replace him with someone who adds a few extra goals to the team and doesn't weaken us in terms of off the ball running and work rate.
OR
We bring in players around him who can score more goals and reduce the burden on him to win us games.

We seem to have decided on the latter and 5 different goalscorers in 2 games is a big step in the right direction.

Callum Wilson is a better striker than Watkins.  His fitness lets him down and so he wouldn't be a viable replacement, but when fit there's no doubt he's a better striker.

There is doubt. Your not speaking for me on this Chris.

[chrisw1]

Callum Wilson isn't a better striker than Watkins, he's a better goalscorer but if you think that's all that's needed to be a top class striker for most teams then you're about 20 out of date.

The problem with Watkins is that, like a few other players in our squad, he needs something to go for him to kick him up a level, that's why he's quite streaky as a goalscorer.

To address that we can either replace him with someone who adds a few extra goals to the team and doesn't weaken us in terms of off the ball running and work rate.
OR
We bring in players around him who can score more goals and reduce the burden on him to win us games.

We seem to have decided on the latter and 5 different goalscorers in 2 games is a big step in the right direction.

Callum Wilson is a better striker than Watkins.  His fitness lets him down and so he wouldn't be a viable replacement, but when fit there's no doubt he's a better striker.

There is doubt. Your not speaking for me on this Chris.

I didn't say I was.  Opinions are like arseholes.

[Baldy]

Wonder if Ollie has lost the penalty taking responsibility? If so, that will not do his confidence any good.

Perhaps, he was still a bit dazed after Pickford's assault and Dougie stepped in on this occasion only.

[chrisw1]

Wonder if Ollie has lost the penalty taking responsibility? If so, that will not do his confidence any good.

Perhaps, he was still a bit dazed after Pickford's assault and Dougie stepped in on this occasion only.

He has.  McGinn said so in an interview - it's between him and Doug at the moment.