VillaHatesMe

One area I think Ollie could make a major impact on us is simply getting shots on target. In three seasons with Brentford he averaged 1.01 shots on target per 90 minutes, with an xG of 0.36 per SOT. Last year it was 1.07 and 0.51 respectively. Last year nobody on the team averaged more than 0.86 SOT per 90 and that was Wesley. The highest xG per SOT was Jack at 0.36, but he only averaged 0.61 SOT per 90. None of this means that Ollie is going to show up and score 15-20 goals for us next season, but he's going to boost our attacking prowess at the least.

Another way to look at Ollie compared to Tammy and Wes as well. This is a map that shows where their "actions" took place on the pitch. It's Ollie and Wes last season, and Tammy with us. As you can see, Ollie moves around a lot more and is much more balanced getting the play going from anywhere in the attacking half. Wesley seems more comfortable on the left while Tammy prefers the middle. Key since I had to make the photos too small to see Blue/Green: short passes Yellow/Red: Long passes Pink/Purple: Dribbles White: Shots

Doesn't take a genius to notice, but they've had a great summer even without the James Rodriguez signing. Allan and Doucoure were their bigger needs. James is just icing on the cake.

Only posting this because I know how much @Delphinho123 cherishes them A comparison of Ollie Watkins in the Championship last season and Tammy with us two seasons ago. A rating of 50 is average. The numbers suggest that Tammy was great at the finishing aspects and getting shots off, but that Ollie is more involved in build-up as well as defending, and while he didn't shoot as often, Ollie took better quality shots. Which isn't a shock considering Brentford's approach.

“WE HAVE BILLIONAIRE OWNERS! WHEN WILL WE SHOW INTENT!?” ”WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY!? SURELY OUR OWNERS ARE SMARTER THAN THIS!” It is with all the sincerity in the world when I say I truly love this board and 95% of the people on it.

I never laughed at it, though I did question a newly promoted team spending that much on a player nearing 30 who has recently dealt with injuries. If Leeds go back down they could be in a lot of trouble.

It shows they’re versatile. Something they’ve been looking for the whole time. Not just guys who can do one thing and one thing only.

It's almost as if every move is just part of a bigger plan and not THE PLAN.

I prefer King to Wilson anyway, so this is fine with me. Wilson is too dependent on service I'm not sure we can supply. King can at least dribble a football. Likely to come cheaper as well.

Behind a paywall but VT favorite Maxi Gomez seems to be available.

Wouldn't shock me if we were one of the teams inquiring. He fits the profile of what we've looked for elsewhere. His numbers have bad in a terrible SPAL team the last couple years, but it's not him that's the problem. Was quite productive for Atalanta before that.

We've been interested in him for a while. Have been trying to get him on loan for months, but Klopp isn't sure he wants to let him go. But now that Liverpool needs money and the owners aren't willing to just give him a blank check, decisions have to be made.

Same.

I don't know anything but just to add to the KEVIN speculation.

Think he's likely to end up at Napoli once Man City buys Koulibaly and Napoli has more money to spend.

It's The Mystery Box. The player you know is the player you know, but The Mystery Box? The Mystery Box could be anything!

Wasn't sure where the best place to put this is, but an interesting preview of Aston Villa on Statsbomb today. https://statsbomb.com/2020/09/aston-villa-season-preview-2020-21/

Do we even know if Edouard is for sale? I know Celtic's manager said he wasn't, but managers say lot of things. Still, I don't see a whole lot of reports of other teams going after him, either. The only news I've seen about him recently is that he's dealing with a thigh injury.

Fixed.

The last two seasons saw Watford bring in players from the Premier League, the Championship, Serie A, La Liga and others. They were sent down. Bournemouth brought in players from the Premier League, the Championship and La Liga. They were sent down. Last year the only Premier League player Sheffield United brought in that wasn't on a free was Lys Mousset. They stayed up. It's not where the players come from. It's who the players are.

Maybe if COVID stops the season again that's how they'll decide the final standings.

Well, one signing in. Time to move on to more rumors.

I'd buy Camavinga without a second thought. Tonali too, but AC Milan won't be letting him go any time soon.

For whatever it's worth to whomever finds it worth anything xGoals in 2019-20 Callum Wilson: 10.0 Wesley: 5.2 xGoals (non-penalty) Callum Wilson: 10.0 Wesley: 4.3 xG per 90 Callum Wilson: 0.31 Wesley: 0.26 xG per 90 (non-penalty) Callum Wilson: 0.31 Wesley: 0.22 xG+xA per 90 Callum Wilson: 0.41 Wesley: 0.30 It's not the signing we want, but it certainly raises the floor of our production. Nor do I believe it precludes us from signing Watkins, who is somebody who can play out wide and centrally. Also, this could all just be a negotiating tactic to get Brentford to lower the price on Watkins.

Milik is going to Roma.