Ollie Watkins; What would be a decent season?

First, welcome Olliw Watkins.
I like this signing, because it’s obviously a player Dean Smith wants.
I know that the Villa system now is that we have more of a recruitment team, but I find it reassuring that the coach has obviously had a big input in this window.

However, I’m not at all impressed with the cost and feel that frankly, we might have paid £10 million too much for him.

I know what some of you will say and I get it.
It’s what you have to pay in this market.
But what a risk this is going to be.

I can’t actually say I’ve seen that much of the player, but everyone talks about how good a player he is; dynamic, quick when it comes to chances, pacy, etc,etc.
It all sounds great and he’s a shoe-in to be in the running for the Golden boot.

Except we all know it doesn’t work like that.
We have had more than our fair share of strikers who score for fun in the Championship, only to prove to be utter rubbish in the Premier league.
I’m not saying this is going to be the case with Watkins.
Indeed, the law of averages says it’s probably about time we got one right.
But it’s a decent possibility and one that would prove costly not only in money, but in Smith’s job too.

Anyway, of couse I hope he comes good and wish him very good luck.

And then I got to thinking, what would it take for Watkins to be deemed as having had a decent season?

Is it purely goals scored?
Well, that’s obviously the big priority. I’ve often said that I don’t care if a striker sits on the sidelines for 85 minutes a game smoking a fag, as long as he gets 20 goals a season. That’s his job and it doesn’t matter to me how he achieves it.
But while Watkins gets goals, that’s not all that his game is about.
A quick look at Whoscored says he’s got pretty much the lot in his locker, except for crossing and offside awareness. The latter can be trained out of him, so we can expect assists with his good passing, that can prove to be key.
How many would be deemed adequate depends on how many goals he gets, meaning more goals means less assists is acceptable and vice versa, so it’s not an easy question to answer.

Personally, I think if he can get a combination of twenty goals and assists, that would be an excellent first season.
Certainly, I’d be expecting 10 goals as a minimum requirement, if he remains mostly injury free. Throw in 5 assists and that would be acceptable I reckon.

Am I asking for too much?

Very possibly, but we need to remember the lad has not only broken our club record transfer fee, but smashed it out of the park.
So while the pressure on the lad is going to be nothing like he’s experienced before, that’s what he’s taken on.

I’m interested to know what you think.

PS, my source, who doesn’t come out with a massive amounts of tips, but has proven 100% reliable up to now, tells me we are indeed after another striker and a goalie.
That’s not news, I know, but it is confirmation of what the click-baiters are saying.

UTV!