Ollie Watkins

[brontebilly]

Ollie works hard no doubt but he misses sitters weeks after week.

He missed a sitter against Luton which in the end didn't matter and another today.

In the end this will matter.

Every striker, even Haaland, misses sitters. Poor effort for the header aside, I thought Watkins touch was awful today. One of a number of players that were simply miles off it today.

[Somniloquism]

As you mention, all the players were off it. Watkins gets it more each week as people still see our team as "striker is the scorer" when we have scored 26 goals this season, and Watkins has only 5* to his name. So surely being as the rest of the team have contributed a further 19 (not including OG's), why are they not getting the pelters for not scoring?

* Although officially he has had contributions to 10 this season, you could argue he has probably three or four more with being fouled for Penalties a few times and I think a pass for one that was given as an own goal.

[SoccerHQ]

Think he's going to go on another 6 or 7 game barren run again now

Hope not. I'd keep him in v Alkmaar as with the way they defended v pace in the home game he'll get 2-3 relatively simple chances so can get back on the scoresheet quickly.

With Duran on the naughty step seemingly wouldn't it be nice to have a CF in the squad we could be confident of starting instead of just watch Ollie fizzle out for a month and bemoan dropped points as a result of not scoring as happened in the run in last season.

[VillaTim]

Think he's going to go on another 6 or 7 game barren run again now

Hope not. I'd keep him in v Alkmaar as with the way they defended v pace in the home game he'll get 2-3 relatively simple chances so can get back on the scoresheet quickly.

With Duran on the naughty step seemingly wouldn't it be nice to have a CF in the squad we could be confident of starting instead of just watch Ollie fizzle out for a month and bemoan dropped points as a result of not scoring as happened in the run in last season.

It's why i was 100% against the sale of Archer. Still think that's a huge error of judgment.

[ChicagoLion]

Think he's going to go on another 6 or 7 game barren run again now

Hope not. I'd keep him in v Alkmaar as with the way they defended v pace in the home game he'll get 2-3 relatively simple chances so can get back on the scoresheet quickly.

With Duran on the naughty step seemingly wouldn't it be nice to have a CF in the squad we could be confident of starting instead of just watch Ollie fizzle out for a month and bemoan dropped points as a result of not scoring as happened in the run in last season.

It's why i was 100% against the sale of Archer. Still think that's a huge error of judgment.

Agree.Don’t mention that the idea of Philogene coming on would have also potentially given Forest something different  to think about.

[VillaTim]

Think he's going to go on another 6 or 7 game barren run again now

Hope not. I'd keep him in v Alkmaar as with the way they defended v pace in the home game he'll get 2-3 relatively simple chances so can get back on the scoresheet quickly.

With Duran on the naughty step seemingly wouldn't it be nice to have a CF in the squad we could be confident of starting instead of just watch Ollie fizzle out for a month and bemoan dropped points as a result of not scoring as happened in the run in last season.

It's why i was 100% against the sale of Archer. Still think that's a huge error of judgment.

Agree.Don’t mention that the idea of Philogene coming on would have also potentially given Forest something different  to think about.

Yep it's a shame they aren't here anymore,

[SoccerHQ]

Think he's going to go on another 6 or 7 game barren run again now

Hope not. I'd keep him in v Alkmaar as with the way they defended v pace in the home game he'll get 2-3 relatively simple chances so can get back on the scoresheet quickly.

With Duran on the naughty step seemingly wouldn't it be nice to have a CF in the squad we could be confident of starting instead of just watch Ollie fizzle out for a month and bemoan dropped points as a result of not scoring as happened in the run in last season.

It's why i was 100% against the sale of Archer. Still think that's a huge error of judgment.

Archer is gone. Maybe he'll return one day, maybe not. We are actually two strikers down on where we were 12 months ago given Ings and Archer were on the bench when we beat Man. United. Ings then came in and scored twice at Brighton which was a very big win.

With Duran not involved the only two options really are put Tielemans on and hope we can thread a ball quickly from the centre or Bailey gets some shots away. Traore clearly not trusted today to do anything. It was the same at Wolves.

We'll have a few more of these games as the season goes on and we simply need more options on the bench for days like this.

[OCD]

The odd cameo wasn't going to help Archer/JPB's development. Archer's a great finisher but his overall game needs time and coming up against Premier League defenders every week will be great for him imo and he'll have a clear idea of what he has to work on.

I agree that we need a Watkins alternative/partner though. Bringing Duran on against Palace completely turned the game. We could have done with that sort of option yesterday.

[Paul.S]

Should’ve scored yesterday but didn’t really get much service. The service into him from good positions, especially from Digne was very poor. It’s ok when you’re winning easily to miss a few but I think if he’d knocked that one in we’d have got something. It’s those chances in tight games that need to go in.

[Steve67]

We didn't get the ball into the box anywhere near enough yesterday.  Cash kept cutting back and went backwards far too often.  Just one of those games and I hope we don't have too many of them this season.

[john e]

wasn’t in the game first half because of poor service and I felt for him
Unfortunately when he was handed one on a plate in the second half he blew it

[pablo_picasso]

I think he can be excused & criticised equally for yesterdays performance.

As mentioned previously, the service was just not there, other than once.

And he failed miserably on that chance.

It was a relatively simple chance too & could have changed the game.

But at the same time, if the service was better, he could have had more opportunities to put the ball in the net.

Swings & roundabouts...

[Footy-Vill]

I can still see the 20 goals he wishes for this season.
Fully supporting him for this.

[Footy-Vill]

England Mens Squad named on Thursday hopeful for Watkins to be included and likely to be given some game time

[john e]

He’s our No 9 he’ll score some more goals he’ll miss some more goals but I’ll eat my sou’wester if he scores 20 league goals this season