Rightdm00

None of the strikers press or hold up the ball at anywhere near the level Ollie does. Even then you can still only name 5 strikers better than Watkins. Of that 5 we could only dream of affording one, Isak. 3 of them are beyond us, Haaland, Son, and Jesus. The other, Alvarez, is not ready to lead the line as a sole striker. Ollie is by far the best striker we get that doesn't blow our wage bill to pieces. Yet there are moans every time he doesn't score. No striker scores every game. At least with Ollie when he doesn't score you get high pressure and the hold up play. This season he has even added assists to his game. Haaland just had a game where he did literally nothing for 90 minutes. He's elite though.

So you named 2 certainly and Isak as a maybe. That's puts Watkins at worst as #4 in the entire PL. I don't see how having the 4th best striker is something to moan about, especially when you consider how much the other 3 in your list cost in wages per week.

Honestly you have to question whether Pep even wanted him. Looks to be a purely profile boosting signing. Jack was the social media darling at the time wasn't he.

I hold no ill will to Jack but it's very obvious we sold him at his absolute peak. Amazing bit of business.

£100 million and not trusted even off the bench. Next move won't even be to another prem side. Going to join slippy next season.

Which top 4 regular CF would you take over him? I can only think of 1 out of the Top 6.

Absolutely. Setting up to at least get a point on the road against a side who just beat a high pressing team is a decent result. The thing I like about Unai is that even when we set up defensively we still have, through the course of the match, multiple chances to win the game. It's not like we are parking the bus and hoping for a goal.

Can you see the future? 4 months into a 5 year contract and you already know it's not money well spent.

Wolves manager just admitted Unai refused to play the way they wanted. Wanted us to come out and press and catch us on the break. Unai set us up to mitigate their counter which also neutered our attacking intent. Draw probably the fair result.

Great clipped in ball for the assist. This formation left him so isolated. In the 2nd half the lines were more connected and he finally got a couple decent chances. Don't want to see that formation again unless we are defending for our lives.

Good away point, especially after having to play during the midweek.

A scrappy home equaliser worthy of any mid-table clash.

Unbelievable how bad ManUs recruitment has been. Besides maybe rashford I don't think I would take anyone else from their 11.

To keep the metaphor going, Diaby is the quick left jab and Bertie is the massive uppercut when all else fails and your on the roaps.

The Jack that left here 3 years ago or the shell of himself currently playing for City? A healthy Ramsey would have that player firmly on the bench.

No one closes down like Buendia outside of Watkins. Against Zrinjski, The forward press was comical in its lethargy. Duran and Zaniolo jogging about aimlessly. I would describe Zaniolo's work rate as sufficient but in no ways top drawer. He's already technically gifted and a physical specimen. No need to prescribe other attributes that other players in the squad clearly do better.

Metatarsal fractures are tricky. They can re-break even after a full healing. See below: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24216284/ I remember Rooney having an issue with this way back. It happens. At least we have some attacking depth now so the wheels don't fall off when one player goes down injured.

Doku plays on the left and already has more minutes and starts than Grealish. City have found their left wing starter and Jack will be getting garbage time minutes by the end of the season. I'm only saying this because I can see the Jack back to Villa campaign getting stirred up as soon as Doku cements his place as first choice. I just want to say absolutely not. His wages are to high for any kind of loan and especially don't want to pay whatever fee City would ask for. It was nice the first time around but sometimes you have to, Just Say No!

To call his pressing lethargic is putting it kindly. Has to upgrade that part of his game if he wants more minutes under Unai.

Didn't have much to do from a defensive standpoint. Good attacking wise.

Looked better playing with the first teamers. Can't lead the 2nd unit that much is obvious.

TV announcer quoted the manager for Zrinjski stating this was the biggest match in the clubs history. As a club, supporters and players, are going to have to take these matches far more seriously. These clubs aren't showing up for a participation trophy. Great fight in the 2nd half by Villa. 1st half starters that got yanked at half need to show that energy going forward.

The difference in pressing between Diaby and Watkins and this front 2 is alarming.

Agree. Man City Jack doesn't even get into our first 11. He looks half the player he was at Villa. Glad we cashed in when we did. Douglas is so far beyond him. Can play anywhere on the pitch bar keeper and do a job.

The promoted teams are bad. We should take all 18 points available against them. Honestly I would be a bit peeved if we conceded another goal to this lot.