Ollie Watkins

[Risso]

I think the point is, when you have a striker who is out of form, and an alternative who's playing well, why wouldn't you play the person who's in form?

[Chris Smith]

He was absolutely terrible today, just embarrassingly poor decision making and execution.

Needs some time out of the team.

That’s really harsh, Paulie. He wasn’t at his sharpest but he worked hard and his time on the pitch was the only period we were able to exert any control on the game.

[Olneythelonely]

I think the point is, when you have a striker who is out of form, and an alternative who's playing well, why wouldn't you play the person who's in form?

Despite Watkins playing really well against Brentford, he played Duran yesterday. Absolutely the correct decision. Thankfully, I think Emery recognises we will need both this season. Duran should start on Tuesday. God help him if he goes a couple of games without scoring though.

The anger Watkins receives whenever in a poor run of form is disproportionate, I don’t understand it at all. But then some have already got there knives sharpening for our best manager in at least 3 decades, so I shouldn’t be that surprised.

[Clampy]

He was absolutely terrible today, just embarrassingly poor decision making and execution.

Needs some time out of the team.

That’s really harsh, Paulie. He wasn’t at his sharpest but he worked hard and his time on the pitch was the only period we were able to exert any control on the game.

Agree, he wasn't that bad. It was just his finishing that let him down.

[aj2k77]

95 goals and assists in the Premier League for us. Anyone who says he isn't good enough for us is talking out of his arse. His finishing is off at the moment. He'll come good again as long as the mouth breathers don't decide to target him at games.

[Percy McCarthy]

He's just not good enough.

Yes, those jokers Salah and the Cyborg are ahead of him on goals scored since Emery came in. Playing for a team like Villa, he really should be ahead of them like he is every fucker else in the league. I mean, they play for perennial no-hopers 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' and the cheats and surprise surprise, they’ve scored more than him. Cock Piss Watkins. Not good enough.

[Percy McCarthy]

Oh dear. I’ve just read all the comments since I commented on the one above. I thought I’d be joining a pile-on taking the piss out of such a ridiculous comment.

His substitution changed the momentum of the game as it had been since half-time.

He’s not massively under-performing his xG.

He’d easily be on double figures if he was playing full games.

Watkins is on 7 goals and 4 assists, Duran 9 goals, 0 assists. So they’re both doing well considering our poor form lately.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think the point is, when you have a striker who is out of form, and an alternative who's playing well, why wouldn't you play the person who's in form?

Since you ask, it’s partly because he doesn’t follow instructions, and Emery’s trying to develop him to do so. It’s only because the coaches at the club know how good he can be that he’s getting the minutes he is.

I love Duran by the way, as I’m sure we all do.

[Drummond]

He's brilliant and makes such a difference for us.. Duran's attitude and all round game is improving but he's not ready to be first choice and ahead of Watkins.

[Sexual Ealing]

He is.

[Richard E]

We actually looked a more sustained attacking threat with him on the pitch yesterday, although obviously without the all important end product.

[Olneythelonely]

He is.

If we completely change the way we play, you’re probably right.

[Woody17]

He is.

If we completely change the way we play, you’re probably right.

That wouldn’t be such a bad thing though would it? Being able to play two different ways depending on the striker who’s in form is a great asset.

[Olneythelonely]

He is.

If we completely change the way we play, you’re probably right.

That wouldn’t be such a bad thing though would it? Being able to play two different ways depending on the striker who’s in form is a great asset.

I’m all for that. Our manager might be a bit more stubborn mind.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think the point is, when you have a striker who is out of form, and an alternative who's playing well, why wouldn't you play the person who's in form?

Since you ask, it’s partly because he doesn’t follow instructions, and Emery’s trying to develop him to do so. It’s only because the coaches at the club know how good he can be that he’s getting the minutes he is.

I love Duran by the way, as I’m sure we all do.

I thought Duran's performance yesterday was exactly what he's been missing, he was running, chasing and his goal came exactly from that additional work. On reflection I hope he will see that if he plays the way Unai wants he'll both score more goals and more importantly we'll win games.

EDIT: It seems Unai sees it that way too: “He’s young, he wants everything quick, sometimes [things go] faster, sometimes slower but the most important thing was how he worked during the 60 minutes he played.”