Striker Debate: Should it now be Watkins, Rashford or both?

[Footy-Vill]

I'm not sure last night is any evidence of them not being able to play together, but it sure was evidence that the rest of the team haven't got a fucking clue how to play in that scenario.

I think evidence was clear .Emery has come out and said it was a mistake. He said it all.

"We have two good strikers. Playing with two strikers is my challenge. Both are very good players, but today it didn't work well,
I made a mistake when I decided to play with two strikers. Until that moment, we were more or less controlling the game."

I feel like it's 2010 but - you can't play two out and out strikers in a 4-4-2 these days unless you want to sit deep and counterattack like a relegation candidate.

Quite right Monty
Emery:

"I  think we played 70 minutes like I wanted. The opponent, of course, had a gameplan as well. They were good in transition,

We created three or four good chances to score. Of course, if we want to be at this level, we have to take the chances we had. But despite that, I was more or less positive.

The last 20 to 25 minutes we were playing with two strikers and we were not threatening like the first 70 minutes.
With two strikers, we were not organised with the positioning like I wanted."



Says it all

[PeterWithesShin]

Ollie and JD go together like bacon and custard.

[caster troy]

If we are going to play Watkins and Duran up front when we are losing surely we need to work it wide and get as many crosses in as possible? Instead we had no width whatsoever and seemed to persist with trying to play through the middle.

We also have tried Watkins wide left, I'm sure he doesn't want to play there long term but it was worth a go for 10 minutes.

We do seem very hesitant to try something different even when the players available on the pitch don't fit our usual system.

[Footy-Vill]

I have the impression Duran is becoming a problem due to his inability tactically and understanding of himself being a team player.
This lack of adaptation, discipline, and following instructions to me is the problem.

Now in reference to the debate Watkins , Duran or both ? well Duran hasn't completed one 90 minutes. And with Watkins proven scoring and in form then: It has to be Watkins starting.

[Footy-Vill]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12799/13295406/aston-villa-jhon-duran-transfer-and-ollie-watkins-partnership-in-focus-ahead-of-west-ham-clash

Sky Sports Article Jhon Duran transfer and Ollie Watkins partnership in focus ahead of West Ham clash.

Aston Villa rejected a £57m bid from West Ham for Jhon Duran on Monday; Hammers had tried to sign the striker in the summer; Duran has best strike rate in Premier League but largely as a sub, with Unai Emery unhappy with on-field partnership with Ollie Watkins in defeat to Monaco

[ozzjim]

I have the impression Duran is becoming a problem due to his inability tactically and understanding of himself being a team player.
This lack of adaptation, discipline, and following instructions to me is the problem.

Now in reference to the debate Watkins , Duran or both ? well Duran hasn't completed one 90 minutes. And with Watkins proven scoring and in form then: It has to be Watkins starting.

I think that's a massive disservice to how far Duran has come since last season. I think he presses well and his scoring record is phenomenal. For me he should start on Sunday to give him a run out and keep Ollie fresh for Wed night too.

[Toronto Villa]

I have the impression Duran is becoming a problem due to his inability tactically and understanding of himself being a team player.
This lack of adaptation, discipline, and following instructions to me is the problem.

Now in reference to the debate Watkins , Duran or both ? well Duran hasn't completed one 90 minutes. And with Watkins proven scoring and in form then: It has to be Watkins starting.

I think that's a massive disservice to how far Duran has come since last season. I think he presses well and his scoring record is phenomenal. For me he should start on Sunday to give him a run out and keep Ollie fresh for Wed night too.

He is the very opposite of the depcition of him presented by Footy. He's been brilliant this season in all areas of the game. Lots to improve upon but his all round game at both ends of the pitch and his overall work rate has been excellent.

[PhilVill]

Definitely not both. Just doesn't seem to click between them. I think they both prefer being the main man. To be honest, and its probably unfair to Watkins as he has to work the defence the hardest, I think Watkins for the first 60-70 minutes and then Duran from there on works very well. whether both are happy with that is another question.

[achilles]

If you want a team player then it has to be Watkins!
If you want a player to score goals then it has to be Duran!
Definitely not both as they just get in each others space!

[Drummond]

Watkins scores goals. And gets assists.

[ozzjim]

I still think Watkins scores and assists just as many coming from wide. Whether he's willing to do that is another argument, but he can because he has before.

[LeeB]

I still think Watkins scores and assists just as many coming from wide. Whether he's willing to do that is another argument, but he can because he has before.

Not at this level he hasn't though, and not for a long time now.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I still think Watkins scores and assists just as many coming from wide. Whether he's willing to do that is another argument, but he can because he has before.

Not at this level he hasn't though, and not for a long time now.

True plus I very much doubt Watkins wants to play out wide when he still has dreams of playing for England again.

[Tayls_7]

I still think Watkins scores and assists just as many coming from wide. Whether he's willing to do that is another argument, but he can because he has before.

Not at this level he hasn't though, and not for a long time now.

True plus I very much doubt Watkins wants to play out wide when he still has dreams of playing for England again.

It's Watkins up top for me currently with Duran deputising when required. I know Watkins can be profligate, especially this season, but his workrate etc do it for me.

Whether that's acceptable to Duran is another matter. Something I think the management will have been thinking a lot about. I suspect we'll cash in soonish.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I get that, Tayls but Duran has finally been putting in the kind of shifts that have been missing from his game and get highly used in defence of Watkins. In defence of Watkins I do finally see him being more of a team player, no more looking pissed off if somebody else scores and his assists record is there for all to see.

He does annoy me that now when he presses from the front, something he was very good at but now seems to be going through the motions. Defender had the ball and Watkins never really gives him anything to think about. Previously he'd be in with an attempted block. He gives the defender nothing to worry about.

As for Duran, I can understand him accepting a move if he's not been given the chance, especially when the player keeping him out of the team isn't having the best of spells. With so many games I'd have expected a bit more rotation, especially this month. My biggest concern with Duran is his attitude in training, always the last to get out there then behaving like a spoilt child. It's not funny, it's not clever, he needs to grow the hell up.