Ollie Watkins

[OCD]

I don't think it's been credited as an assist, has it?

[Dogtanian]

I don't think it's been credited as an assist, has it?

Nope. I thought it should have been, but watched the highlights on Villa TV yesterday he does hit it against the keeper, so I guess they're considering it as a shot.

[paul_e]

I don't think it's been credited as an assist, has it?

Nope. I thought it should have been, but watched the highlights on Villa TV yesterday he does hit it against the keeper, so I guess they're considering it as a shot.

I think this is where the definition of what as assist is can be a bit 'mucky'.

We know Watkins was trying to chip the keeper but was it meant to be a pass or a shot and does it matter?
If it was a shot, the keeper hadn't touched it and Bailey tapped it in to be sure it would be an assist? - Yes (for me)
On the other hand if the cross from Bailey for the first goal had clipped the defender before Watkins finished would that stop Bailey getting the assist? - No
How about if a player takes a shot that is going wide but another player deflects it in, is that an assist? - Yes
If a keeper saves a shot but spills the bal lto the feet of a follow-up attacker to score does the original shot count as an assist? - No

I've given my thoughts on each but it shows it's a messy situation so to state it more clearly; does the intent of the assist maker matter or should it be simplified to be something like "any deliberate action which directly leads to a scoring chance for the next player to get the ball"?

Of course there's also the debate of whether it matters or not...

[Dogtanian]

Nominated for Premier League Player of the Month;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/29/watkins-nominated-for-pl-player-of-the-month-award-/

Keep it up, Ollie! 

[chrisw1]

Jacob Tanswell does it again.

There's an Athletic piece on players of the season.  Jacob penned the case for Ollie:

As the figurehead of Aston Villa, the side threatening to upset the apple cart and break the ceiling of the top four, Ollie Watkins’ case for Premier League’s player of the year is increasingly robust.

Watkins’ is a player transformed under Unai Emery. Told to stay primarily between the posts and avoid going out wide, Emery showed the 28-year-old clips of Edinson Cavani and Carlos Bacca, strikers he had previously worked with, and explained the key movements needed to increase his goal output.

The results have been striking: only two other Villa players — Gabriel Agbonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60) — have scored more than 50 Premier League goals. It is only Yorke (27) who had been involved in more Premier League goals than Watkins in a single season. With a third of the season left, Watkins has been involved in 24 goals, scoring 11 and assisting 10 — the joint most of any player in the league, alongside Kieran Trippier and Pascal Gross.

Since November 2022, Emery’s first game in charge, only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored more Premier League goals than Watkins. In that time, he ranks in the top five per cent of forwards from Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions (0.64 per 90 minutes).

The England international has scored 53 of his 54 goals in the Premier League from inside the penalty area, including 14 out of 14 this season, as illustrated below. Only Haaland and Dominic Solanke have generated a higher non-penalty xG this season.





Watkins is now a bona fide scorer, transformed under Emery and with a robust claim to be the second-best No 9 in the league, behind Haaland. On the evidence of this season, he could well be the most important.

Jacob Tanswell

[Dave]

Nominated for Premier League Player of the Month;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/29/watkins-nominated-for-pl-player-of-the-month-award-/

Keep it up, Ollie! 

Pretty decent chance of winning it as well - although I reckon Saka will probably get it given Arsenal won every game and we didn't.

[LeeB]

And of course everybody loves Saka, except for everyone that hates him for being a diving little shit.

[Risso]

Nominated for Premier League Player of the Month;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/29/watkins-nominated-for-pl-player-of-the-month-award-/

Keep it up, Ollie! 

Pretty decent chance of winning it as well - although I reckon Saka will probably get it given Arsenal won every game and we didn't.

Plus it's partly voted for by Joe Public.

[Rigadon]

And of course everybody loves Saka, except for everyone that hates him for being a diving little shit.

Yes!  What is it with the Saka love in.  He winds me right up. 

[pablo_picasso]

Jacob Tanswell does it again.

There's an Athletic piece on players of the season.  Jacob penned the case for Ollie:

As the figurehead of Aston Villa, the side threatening to upset the apple cart and break the ceiling of the top four, Ollie Watkins’ case for Premier League’s player of the year is increasingly robust.

Watkins’ is a player transformed under Unai Emery. Told to stay primarily between the posts and avoid going out wide, Emery showed the 28-year-old clips of Edinson Cavani and Carlos Bacca, strikers he had previously worked with, and explained the key movements needed to increase his goal output.

The results have been striking: only two other Villa players — Gabriel Agbonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60) — have scored more than 50 Premier League goals. It is only Yorke (27) who had been involved in more Premier League goals than Watkins in a single season. With a third of the season left, Watkins has been involved in 24 goals, scoring 11 and assisting 10 — the joint most of any player in the league, alongside Kieran Trippier and Pascal Gross.

Since November 2022, Emery’s first game in charge, only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored more Premier League goals than Watkins. In that time, he ranks in the top five per cent of forwards from Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions (0.64 per 90 minutes).

The England international has scored 53 of his 54 goals in the Premier League from inside the penalty area, including 14 out of 14 this season, as illustrated below. Only Haaland and Dominic Solanke have generated a higher non-penalty xG this season.





Watkins is now a bona fide scorer, transformed under Emery and with a robust claim to be the second-best No 9 in the league, behind Haaland. On the evidence of this season, he could well be the most important.

Jacob Tanswell

Good article.

The only thing that I don't like about it is the narrative that football started when the Premier League started & only counting goals from Agbonlahor & Yorke from that time.

It is incredibly disrespectful to players pre-Premier League.

[brontebilly]

And of course everybody loves Saka, except for everyone that hates him for being a diving little shit.

Yes!  What is it with the Saka love in.  He winds me right up.

He's a brilliant player? Was quiet at Villa Park from memory, mind

[Dave]

Nominated for Premier League Player of the Month;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/29/watkins-nominated-for-pl-player-of-the-month-award-/

Keep it up, Ollie! 

Pretty decent chance of winning it as well - although I reckon Saka will probably get it given Arsenal won every game and we didn't.

Plus it's partly voted for by Joe Public.

Not to the extent that it would make a meaningful difference I think. Apparently the public vote accounts for around 10% of the decision. And I'd wager you might well have as many fans of rival teams voting against the name from the "bigger" team as you have fans voting for them.

[Sexual Ealing]

I don't understand the beef with Saka. All ours dive. He seems like a nice lad (and brilliant player) to me, apart from a perplexing  belief in God.

[chrisw1]

Agreed Pablo.

[danno]

I don't understand the beef with Saka. All ours dive. He seems like a nice lad (and brilliant player) to me, apart from a perplexing  belief in God.

You understand it perfectly well, he’s not our player, he’s quite good, so we don’t like him.