Ollie Watkins

[originaltrueblade]

Don’t want Watkins IMHO not good enough for premier league as stated similar to Robinson and Brentford will inflate the price...we can now do better

 

[FriethBlade]

I agree with us not creating enough chances but just in the Southampton game Sharp had 2 golden chances to score and never looked like doing so. That kind of finishing will be more costly next season.

Watkins clearly knows where the back of the net is and I don't think we have the money to afford anyone better. My guess its between him and Dennis at Brugge as our number one target

 

[ChrisBlade]

We do not create these "be free in space" chances he scores from in that video. Virtually all his goals are goals you'd expect any striker to score, based on the service he is getting and the position he is in. Based on this, he would have scored 6 to 8 goals for us this season. And with that kind of crossing in the Championship, McBurnie or Sharp score 20 for Brentford, too.

 

[Jan Age]

Yes we did in the early part of the season when Moose was flying. After that we didn’t have a pacey striker to pass it too

weather we had changed our style of play by the time Moose went off the boil is debatable. I think we started to go more direct just before Xmas so you could argue either way.

a) we changed style which coincided with his poor form
b) we changed style to compensate for his poor form.

Either way as it currently stands we need to be more effective at playing though balls and more effective at deliveries in to the box from wide areas.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Worth every penny, but we need to start creating more chances if we are to make it worth it

Yep. Which in turn means we need to be much better at retaining possession.

30%+ possession, and occasionally 20%+ possession, was only sustainable for us this year because our defence and discipline without the ball was consistently so good. It would be remarkable if we shipped so few goals again next year with those kind of possession stats.

I do hope recruitment priorities this window have been shaped partly with an eye on improving ball retention. It isn’t discussed much on here, but I think it’s a big concern for us if we’re to kick on next season.

 

[Stevo71]

Would you say Sancho is proven at this level

Different player altogether. Everytime i've seen Watkins he's not any been better than what we've already got!

 

[Booker4]

Can't rally tell a lot from the video, other than he does well in the 6 yard box/ I think Billy would have scored all of those goals also. I'm sure he'll be going to the PL though this summer but not so sure we'll be the front runners as others have said.

I still think Adam Armstrong would be as good if not better than Watkins for us and probably cheaper, but would still cost £12m plus in today's market.

 

[Stevo71]

Ollie Watkins is a strange one. On his Wikipedia page he describes himself thusly: 'I am a Number 10. [...] I try to base my game on his [Thierry Henry], by driving at defenders and looking to make something happen when I get the ball'

But on this video



he's scored most of his goals this season from the ball being slung into the box. He seems to have become a completely different type of forward to what he originally saw himself as.

MkI would be an alternative to McGoldrick, I suppose. MKII would seem to be in competition with McBurnie.

A bogliner?

 

[S15Blade]

"No bids"

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Ollie Watkins is a strange one. On his Wikipedia page he describes himself thusly: 'I am a Number 10. [...] I try to base my game on his [Thierry Henry], by driving at defenders and looking to make something happen when I get the ball'

But on this video



he's scored most of his goals this season from the ball being slung into the box. He seems to have become a completely different type of forward to what he originally saw himself as.

MkI would be an alternative to McGoldrick, I suppose. MKII would seem to be in competition with McBurnie.

Those highlights are pretty reminiscent of mcburnies Swansea highlights - though he might have some additional pace oli mcburnie lacks.

if we can get moose fit For a season and / or become a bit more creative creating for mcburnie I’m sure we have a striker on the books to get 10-15 goals.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

NO BIDS

 

[YES Blade]

 

[FTPE]

Not one Brentford player stood up when they needed them in the last few games.
They absolutely bottled it.

I know we are talking individuals now but that kind of spineless collapse would never be allowed to happen under Wilder. I understand his 'personality test' probably takes more than just that into consideration, but if he is interested in a few players at Brentford then I'd be putting an * at the side of some of their names now.

 

[BanderSerge]

£25m for a 2nd division player? There isn’t a man alive that would be dim witted enough give Brentfordalona that fee. If there was, he’d be sectioned quicker than you can say, “Wendy are massive”.

 

[SUFCinks]

I think watkins looks a decent player.

but I think a signing like john swift at 4/5 mill would give us far more threat and value than watkins. Our issue this season has been Attacking threat. We need to create more chances and keep the ball better. our current strikers can score - they just arent getting much service and fighting for scraps. Defensively i cant fault our midfield but creatively there is a lot of room for improvement which would have a huge impact on our strikers ability to get into double figures for goals.

we need to recruit technically gifted, creative and pacey/athletic players. I think someone like Eze In an ideal world would be perfect. Can go past a man easily, loves driving forward, not scared to shoot from distance, most importantly loves a through ball for the strikers. Ovie Ejaria looks a decent prospect as well.

 

[BanderSerge]

I think watkins looks a decent player.

but I think a signing like john swift at 4/5 mill would give us far more threat and value than watkins. Our issue this season has been Attacking threat. We need to create more chances and keep the ball better. our current strikers can score - they just arent getting much service and fighting for scraps. Defensively i cant fault our midfield but creatively there is a lot of room for improvement which would have a huge impact on our strikers ability to get into double figures for goals.

we need to recruit technically gifted, creative and pacey/athletic players. I think someone like Eze In an ideal world would be perfect. Can go past a man easily, loves driving forward, not scared to shoot from distance, most importantly loves a through ball for the strikers. Ovie Ejaria looks a decent prospect as well.

Both a pair of lazy twonks who don’t track back. Our system doesn’t allow for that type of passenger.

 

[Keen Blade]

Watkins is too lightweight.
Don't let his goals fool you.
McB scored a load of goals in the Championship but can suffer from a lack of strength against PL defenders. (I hope he's in the gym all summer).
I want our next new striker to be built like Traore.
Strong as an ox & athletic.
Moose could be this but he doesn't want it enough.
They say you can turn an athlete into a footballer but not vice versa.
Let's hope for someone pacy who doesn't get brushed off the ball , can play 90 mins + be consistent.
Even if it has to be a loan.

 

[Weneverscorefromcorners]

Watkins is too lightweight.
Don't let his goals fool you.
McB scored a load of goals in the Championship but can suffer from a lack of strength against PL defenders. (I hope he's in the gym all summer).
I want our next new striker to be built like Traore.
Strong as an ox & athletic.
Moose could be this but he doesn't want it enough.
They say you can turn an athlete into a footballer but not vice versa.
Let's hope for someone pacy who doesn't get brushed off the ball , can play 90 mins + be consistent.
Even if it has to be a loan.

Got to disagree re strength and Oli Mc, he won the second most headers in the league last season. You cant do that without strength imo. As for built like Traore the lad is a freak of nature, that ain't normal.

 

[SUFCinks]

Both a pair of lazy twonks who don’t track back. Our system doesn’t allow for that type of passenger.

Our system is going to need to be tweaked to accommodate creativity If we are to progress. I dont think didzy used to track back in his previous clubs but he has had to evolve with our system. We have enough players that do the defensive work which is why we struggle with ball retention and getting up the pitch. For the record i think they do both get involved defensively but It’s just not to our levels ATM which demand a lot compared to any team.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Apparently the £18 million release clause is fake news, and it was negotiated out when he signed his new deal in August last year.
If true, I can't see us going above £20 million for him when there are options abroad. Brentford are one of the few in the Championship who don't need to sell.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Both a pair of lazy twonks who don’t track back. Our system doesn’t allow for that type of passenger.

What is the obsession with tracking back all the time you don't buy an attacking midfielder or a striker so that they can spend their time defending.

The obsession of tracking back all the time from some of our fans is ridiculous.

 

[Booker4]

Watkins is too lightweight.
Don't let his goals fool you.
McB scored a load of goals in the Championship but can suffer from a lack of strength against PL defenders. (I hope he's in the gym all summer).
I want our next new striker to be built like Traore.
Strong as an ox & athletic.
Moose could be this but he doesn't want it enough.
They say you can turn an athlete into a footballer but not vice versa.
Let's hope for someone pacy who doesn't get brushed off the ball , can play 90 mins + be consistent.
Even if it has to be a loan.

I think McBurnie is pretty good on the physical side of things but granted he could improve on it. The physical side of it is one of the reasons I think Brewster would be a great addition. See video

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Watkins is too lightweight.
Don't let his goals fool you.

Are we talking about the same Watkins? His strength on the ball is one of the things that I think is very good. Even against Fulham where he’d seen little of the ball you saw that, there was a 50/50 in that second half where he showed great strength to shield the ball from Hector, who in the end had to haul him down and concede a foul.

I’d offer in response: don’t let the goal highlight reel fool you, he has much more to his all round game too that makes him an attractive signing.

 

[JPSharpy93]

Save the £25 million, loan Brewster or Abraham. Use the cash to strengthen our ability to create more chances. Maybe next summer we get to pick off a better more proven PL striker.

 

[LondonBlade89]

Watkins is too lightweight.
Don't let his goals fool you.
McB scored a load of goals in the Championship but can suffer from a lack of strength against PL defenders. (I hope he's in the gym all summer).
I want our next new striker to be built like Traore.
Strong as an ox & athletic.
Moose could be this but he doesn't want it enough.
They say you can turn an athlete into a footballer but not vice versa.
Let's hope for someone pacy who doesn't get brushed off the ball , can play 90 mins + be consistent.
Even if it has to be a loan.

The only footballer built like Adama Traore is Adama Traore.

 

[Grizzly blade]

What is the obsession with tracking back all the time you don't buy an attacking midfielder or a striker so that they can spend their time defending.

The obsession of tracking back all the time from some of our fans is ridiculous.

it’s based on keeping us compact and difficult to break down.
If you can’t see why Wilder has our forwards defending out of possession then there’s no point trying to explain it.
Our possession stats are often 30%. So you’re going to allow 2 strikers or maybe even an attacking mid too to just watch the opponent batter the rest of them?
Think again.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He's changed his playing style this season. Most of his goals have been in and around the 6yard box.

Previously he's operated out wide or as a number 10. This year he's been a "Billy Sharp".

The difference being that at aged 24, Sharp was being shipped off to Doncaster after struggling to score at Championship level. It took Sharp till he was 33 and at the very top of his game to score over 20 at that level. “Like Billy Sharp” seems to be a bit of a bad label for some, but I’d have thought buying someone that can do the Sharp role already aged 24 (and scoring more than him in the process) with years to improve further is a hugely attractive prospect.

His flexibility as you highlight would be a real asset, and the fact he’s played a number of possible roles would suggest he may adjust a bit quicker than others.

 

[TONY_TONY_AGANA]

F.A. rules dictate that a premier league squad can't consist of more than 3 Oliver's. All i'm saying is if we sign him and he turns out to be gash, then we can't sign any more players called Oliver until one of them has been shipped off.

It's a risk.

 

[Houso]

F.A. rules dictate that a premier league squad can't consist of more than 3 Oliver's. All i'm saying is if we sign him and he turns out to be gash, then we can't sign any more players called Oliver until one of them has been shipped off.

It's a risk.

I believe it's why we let Oliver Greaves go this close season. To make space for a new one.

 

[TONY_TONY_AGANA]

I believe it's why we let Oliver Greaves go this close season. To make space for a new one.

Precisely. Which makes me think we're nailed on to sign Watkins. Why else would the messiah have let Greaves leave?