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!
It’s happened.
I don’t think the Mail are actually there, but,;
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-united-villa-live-stream-18923162
Many thanks.
If this is true I’ll eat my hat, Ollie Watkins put us in front against Min Utd.
Martinez in for a medical today, apparently. So much for Brighton sneaking in.
No doubt we’ve offered him the no 1 spot, where Brighton probably couldn’t have guaranteed anything.
Heaton’s got the hump, it seems.
If Heaton isn’t up for the challenge then we don’t want him. We need serious competition across the squad to ensure top performances week in week out.
From everything I’ve read about Martinez he deserves a chance as an EPL side’s No 1.
No one should be guaranteed a place.
Absolutely.
What was Heaton expecting?
We go months waiting for him to recover?
If he doesn’t like it, tough, imo.
He’s still raking the corn in.
It’s being sai d Watkins 2 goals, hey we don’t need a goalkeeper.
Villa v man Utd 1-0 Villa today’s friendly
Bill, I was thinking we don’t need a keeper too, but we do.
Heaton is out for a couple of months at least. Steer is the same.
And Kalinic and Nyland just aren’t good enough and will be gone.
I think this will be a great signing.
Spot on Badger. I just can’t believe any Villa fan would be happy relying on Nyland.
Just been watching the game, Steer had a good game, Cash? well he has a lot to learn being his first game made 1 or 2 mistakes but give him time. Bit one sided first half man Utd unlucky not to have scored. You can pick the game up on utube well worth watching .
Well they got to the 5 th Oct , i can see things happening on Tuesday, it really needs to so the team can settle down .. up till now good business been made.
Let’s hope Martínez is in the bag. I believe the last keeper we purchased from Arsenal was a certain Jimmy Rimmer. Now wouldn’t it be good if Martinez won for Villa what Jimmy did!
Fee agreed on Martinez; medical this weekend but, contrary to reports, personal terms not yet agreed which makes sense.
I really can’t see us offering him £60k per week as has been reported.
I’m not so sure Hitch.
I think Heaton’s on the top level of pay and if Martinez is expected to equal him/take his place…….
What’s going on with Steer?
I thought he was injured, but he started today????
So did I Badger – he’ll be useful competition for Martinez – Heston will have to prove himself.
Nyland and Kalinic to move on before the end of the window?
Or even Heaton 🙂
My post jumped. …
I think Heaton is struggling with the harsh realities of Premiership demands. Unfortunately teams rarely have the patience for serially injured players, as Heaton is. Secondly there is always someone better out there. Heaton lost his place at Burnley due to injury and emergence of Nick Pope.
Last season Villa required a good Premier experienced goalkeeper- Heaton fulfilled that role.Now that we have stayed up depth needs to be added to the squad. Martinez in my opinion has proved himself more than adequate tone the number 1 goalie for us. If the back up is then Heaton followed by Steer, I believe we have strength in depth. Heaton at 34 does not have many seasons left at the top level, but he could be invaluable in helping Steer make the grade.
18+ goals for Ollie this season. Got a good feeling about this!
bertrand traore is coming 🙂 anybody know anything about this guy. he looks like a handful wide right player
Instead of Rashica? And is it a better deal?
Apparently he knows JT from Chelsea days and is keen to join us
i havent the foggiest. what you reckon ?
i like the looks of Rachica my kind of player, i like a player who have twinkle toes and dances through the defence. that traore i also looked on youtube he looks a totally different player more speedy and powerful runner. very hard to judge based on youtube .
we are gonna have to trust the club. i hope they bring that rashica too, but could be just the one of the two. maybe rashica just doesn’t want to come something seems wrong that its taking ages to progress this transfer
? 🙂
I wonder if benrharma is off because the stats or moneyball system they use suggested that he won’t improve much more and he’s reached his peak. We should have got him last year really.
Traore I’m not sure about look at the last traore we had?😀
On the other hand maybe we have agreed to sign benrharma and Brentford want get their transfer done first so other teams don’t hike their prices. Just a thought
But look at what the ‘last Traore’ has developed into!
It’s looking increasingly unlikely Bennie was every a serious target. Either the reports of 20m weren’t accurate and they want a whole lot more (which we refuse to pay) or we were never in for him. I think it’s more likely that Rachida and Traore are our two targets and we’ll let El Ghazi leave, keeping Trez for backup.
If we get a seller for Samatta, then it’ll be interesting to see who we go for out of Brewster, King et al.
I wonder if all these players been mentioned are just paper talking.
I have a feeling benrharma may still come to villa why has he not been in their squad which means he going somewhere. Maybe they after a replacement first.
I think he better than others named as he knows how Smith want’s to play and he knows what service Watkins needs.
Rasicha waste of time it’s obvious he doesn’t want to go to villa.
Not sure what villa are going to be like this season really. Good results in pre season but they’ve done that in previous years when it really matters though they fail.
I don’t fancy Traore at all. I remember him at Chelsea and he’s never set the world alight.
Doesn’t seem much of an upgrade to Trez to me..
I very much doubt we’ll get Benrahma, they want too much money (£30 mill).
I agree, Rashica is beginning to look doubtful and it’s probably a take it or leave it thing now, so will drag on.
I don’t fancy King either, but I’d guess he’s the most likely.
I agree on Benrahma and tbh I don’t think we should be paying £30m for him.
Traore has been playing Champions League football with Lyon with mixed success. It seems his form has dipped somewhat over the last season and particularly since the restart. Upside is his transfer value has also dipped – downside is his dip in performance levels permanent or temporary?
Be interesting to know what JT’s input has been.
So far not seen anything that suggests either Lange or MacKenzie have brought anything new to our transfer strategy – still waiting for us to announce the signing of a hidden gem!
There’s no chance we can sign top players who are starring in the champions league. They wouldn’t come to us and we probably couldn’t afford them either at the moment so Traore is the market we’re in. I’m excited, to say he failed at Chelsea is a bit harsh, I think he had 10 games and 2 goals from another news site I read so not really given a chance. People said De Bruyne failed at Chelsea and look what happened! I think he will certainly be an upgrade on El Ghazi, I actually like Trezeguet and think he will just get better this season. I’d love to get Rashica in too i think that gives us good depth and options from the bench. Traore can play wide or up front so a versatile player we need as I don’t think we will sign another sole striker. King really doesn’t inspire me with any confidence, I’d rather have Davis to be honest. We aren’t don’t yet in this window though i think one more to come after Martinez and Traore sign. My thinking is we might just get this Rashica deal over the line.
I like the way we haven’t kicked a ball yet and we’re in 7th place. That’ll do for me come the end of the season!!!
Birmingham mail LAST month
Rashica on the verge of signing
Rashica doesn’t want to come to Villa fears a relegation battle
Birmingham mail THIS month
Rashica on the verge of signing
Rashica doesn’t want to come to Villa fears a relegation battle
its all regurgitated bullshit
ps i’d never heard of him until we were supposedly interested in him. Could be good could be crap.
I’d much rather have someone I’ve heard of and know is good or has potential.
Traore may not have done any good at Chelsea when he was up and coming but Jordan Ayew did nothing for us and has just got player of the year at palace.
Wasn’t there rumours of us being in for Ings before he moved to Southampton which – if I remember correctly – weren’t received that positively by the Villa fans?
Bet we’d take him now?
Nobody mentioned this guy from Exeter we’ve signed ?
It’s ok I’ve got it 16 year old Chrisene striker.