AV82 Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Couldn't give a rats bollock about stats. He's been awful for a while, it's plain to see. Drop him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 8 hours ago, PaulC said: Exactly, he gets so much unfair stick on here. It's not unfair at all. His performance level can be shocking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bose Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Seems to be so fragile. Has played like he lacks confidence the whole season. Feels like Gerrard is waiting for him to go on a scoring run but just not happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Platt Posted March 20, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted March 20, 2022 I remember listening to Thierry Henry rave about Messi on how any player can look brilliant one season but to do it over and over again when defenders know your game is what sets the elite apart. Maybe Watkins has been found out and its upto him to figure out a few differences to his game to keep defenders guessing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaglint Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Just been called up to the England squad. Not sure what I find more concerning. That Southgate hasn't watched us play at all this season. That England have so few options that a woefully out of form Watkins is our best bet. That Watkins seems to keep getting rewarded despite his appauling form. (Keeps getting starts for Villa and now the national team call up). Am I missing something - is he actually playing really well and I am just an idiot fan? Disclaimer - I really like the kid, he was terrific for about 80% of last year but he does not look like a Premier League footballer this season let alone an international one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick76 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 7 minutes ago, villaglint said: Am I missing something - is he actually playing really well and I am just an idiot fan? He’s not playing well. Southgate is just lazy in his selections and even if players are out of form he falls back to them. No way should he be called up this time, he isn’t playing well enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Maybe it will give his confidence a boost. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallisFrizz Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 20 minutes ago, villaglint said: That England have so few options that a woefully out of form Watkins is our best bet. I think this is a big part of it. DCL was number 2 to Kane but returning from injury in a woeful Everton side. Probably would have been a good opportunity for Southgate to have a good look at Ivan Toney though. But now Jack is a favourite, Ollie has the advantage of a good playing relationship with him. I’m pleased for Ollie though, and yes, hopefully good for his confidence. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick76 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, WallisFrizz said: I think this is a big part of it. DCL was number 2 to Kane but returning from injury in a woeful Everton side. Probably would have been a good opportunity for Southgate to have a good look at Ivan Toney though. But now Jack is a favourite, Ollie has the advantage of a good playing relationship with him. I’m pleased for Ollie though, and yes, hopefully good for his confidence. I suppose it also keeps his value higher if we do decide to cash in the summer because he’s still being picked. Edited March 21, 2022 by nick76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villanmac Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 22 hours ago, Zatman said: 57 percent pass accuracy yesterday from 14 passes Tbf I think that's classing some of his attempts at trapping a football as attempted passes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSmirch Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 55 minutes ago, nick76 said: I suppose it also keeps his value higher if we do decide to cash in the summer because he’s still being picked. Or it plummets if he plays. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 1 hour ago, nick76 said: I suppose it also keeps his value higher if we do decide to cash in the summer because he’s still being picked. Yup. I think it's a ludicrous call up, but it's good news for us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mic09 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I think that, contrary to the popular belief, the DM midfielder position is not as key for us now as the striker role. We could really benefit from a strong power forward who could hold the ball and open up play for Coutinho, Buendia et al. Watkins did much better in the old Dean Smith system. Someone like Antonio would work better under Gerrard (obviously we won't get Antonio) but someone similar - unfortunately Watkins can't hold his own against top defenders. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntrimBlack Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Hopefully this call up will give him the belief to get back to his form of last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herman22 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Southgate must be the most confusing guy I’ve ever seen. He seems to go out of his way to pick players that are out of form. He trys to play it off as repaying previous good performances but I’m convinced he fundamentally doesn’t understand football. Sancho is another example, been terrible most of the season but he picks him. His performers have improved in the last month, not picked! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted March 21, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted March 21, 2022 2 hours ago, MrSmirch said: Or it plummets if he plays. Let's hope he stays stays in the squad, but doesn't play. That way we'll get the most of him in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallisFrizz Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 13 minutes ago, AVTuco said: Let's hope he stays stays in the squad, but doesn't play. That way we'll get the most of him in the summer. Or let’s hope he plays and does really well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Herman22 said: Southgate must be the most confusing guy I’ve ever seen. He seems to go out of his way to pick players that are out of form. He trys to play it off as repaying previous good performances but I’m convinced he fundamentally doesn’t understand football. Sancho is another example, been terrible most of the season but he picks him. His performers have improved in the last month, not picked! The most in form England defender doesn't get a call up now he plays for Milan but he did when he was a Chelsea reserve 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I just can't believe how slow he is. There was one point where the ball broke and he was up against Gabriel and Tierneys channel and he just got swallowed up. I think because he's a certain type of forward and maybe even a certain heritage shall we say he keeps being labeled as quick. It really wouldn't surprise me if Ings was quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AV82 Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 4 hours ago, villaglint said: Am I missing something - is he actually playing really well and I am just an idiot fan? He's been one of our worst players recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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