January Transfer Window - 2023

[HKP90]

Would Emery look at Ollie's finishing and consider using him as a false 9?

Suppose the problem then would be that we haven't got much in the way of potency anywhere along the front line.

I've always stuck up for Ollie but it's becoming clearer and clearer that we need a quality striker quite soon.

[messi11]

6 minutes ago, HKP90 said:

Would Emery look at Ollie's finishing and consider using him as a false 9?

Suppose the problem then would be that we haven't got much in the way of potency anywhere along the front line.

I've always stuck up for Ollie but it's becoming clearer and clearer that we need a quality striker quite soon.

He will look at Ollie's finishing and cry everynight 

[TRO]

2 hours ago, HKP90 said:

Would Emery look at Ollie's finishing and consider using him as a false 9?

Suppose the problem then would be that we haven't got much in the way of potency anywhere along the front line.

I've always stuck up for Ollie but it's becoming clearer and clearer that we need a quality striker quite soon.

I don't think he has the football IQ or first touch, to play that role.

Most false 9's are tremendous footballers, who can't be left out of the side....it was a kind of manufactured position.imo

A kind of accomodating role, that worked for some teams/managers....It now seems Pep has run his course,with it,  and gone back to a traditional No 9.

We haven't got that situation ....and our record for headed goals in the Prem' since 2019 leaves us 16th in a knocked up/formulated league.....Liverpool being the best.

We are missing out on a player, who can help us improve our ability to score from crosses.

UE has already hinted, we need a different type of character player......my suspicion is, he will find such a player.

Edited December 24, 2022 by TRO

[Sulberto21]

Watkins all round game has been poor for a while but in the games under Emery in the league his performances have been good overall. 

[TRO]

2 minutes ago, Sulberto21 said:

Watkins all round game has been poor for a while but in the games under Emery in the league his performances have been good overall. 

Ollie has to score goals.....its as simple as that.

E.G. Its like walking around the office, with paper in your hand, looking busy, but ineffective.

[Sulberto21]

Just now, TRO said:

Ollie has to score goals.....its as simple as that.

E.G. Its like walking around the office, with paper in your hand, looking busy, but ineffective.

Yes but no1 has ever questioned me about it during the last 13 years I’ve been doing that in the office. I’m the best ‘paper in hand walker about’ in the office. 

[TRO]

1 minute ago, Sulberto21 said:

Yes but no1 has ever questioned me about it during the last 13 years I’ve been doing that in the office. I’m the best ‘paper in hand walker about’ in the office. 

Good Luck, if you can get away with it.

[Laughable Chimp]

16 minutes ago, TRO said:

Most false 9's are tremendous footballers, who can't be left out of the side....it was a kind of manufactured position.imo

A kind of accomodating role, that worked for some teams/managers....It now seems Pep has run his course,with it,  and gone back to a traditional No 9.

We haven't got that situation ....and our record for headed goals in the Prem' since 2019 leaves us 16th in a knocked up/formulated league.....Liverpool being the best.

We are missing out on a player, who can help us improve our ability to score from crosses.

UE has already hinted, we need a different type of character player......my suspicion is, he will find such a player.

That might have to do with the fact that we don’t put in many crosses to begin with.

[TRO]

1 hour ago, Laughable Chimp said:

That might have to do with the fact that we don’t put in many crosses to begin with.

could be....and its probably why lIverpool are top.

Edited December 24, 2022 by TRO

[The_Steve]

1 hour ago, TRO said:

Ollie has to score goals.....its as simple as that.

E.G. Its like walking around the office, with paper in your hand, looking busy, but ineffective.

I agree - he either pivots to a winger role and Leon shifts to an inside forward but he will always be judged on his finishing. His first touch and finishing aren’t improving. 

[TRO]

8 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

I agree - he either pivots to a winger role and Leon shifts to an inside forward but he will always be judged on his finishing. His first touch and finishing aren’t improving. 

I too agree.

With the ambitions we have, I don't see a need for him to be sold, unless a tempting offer comes in....but he will have to fight for his place.

We just need to sign a striker of contrasting attributes to Ollie.....who has a consistent record of hitting the net.

Whether Ollie would accept that is another debate.....but we must pursue improvement with or without current players approval.

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by TRO

[MaVilla]

At the end of the day, Watkins just isnt good enough if we genuinely want to push up the table.

He works hard, thats great and all, but it isnt enough if we want to push on, none of the top 6 sides (if we ever want to get there), would accept a first team player solely based on their ability to work hard, they need to have all the other attributes AND are expected to work hard.

Watkins first touch, general control, skill, technique and football IQ are all poor to bang average.

The way i see Watkins is 9 or 10/10 for workrate, then 5/10 for pretty much every other area of his game.

we need a player who is 7/10 across the board, maybe with the odd 8 or 9 in there if we are lucky.

 

for me, Watkins kind of suffers from McGinn syndrome, as in Watkins isnt imo good enough as a striker for us if we actually want to improve, but he also cant really move out wide or to a deeper role, as he just isnt good enough compared to the specialist players we could buy/already have in those positions.

Watkins, like McGinn, could be a decent squad player for sure, either that or sell him, either or.

In a couple of seasons, if we still have Watkins up front and McGinn playing regularly, there is no way on this earth we will be pushing top 6 or 8, unless other players in the team are carrying them (ie: the other 9 players are just so good, they can carry and make up for their short comings).

Personally, i would sell Ings & Watkins if the right offers came in (not that they would).

 

[Mark Albrighton]

2 hours ago, TRO said:

could be....and its probably why lIverpool are top.

 

[MaVilla]

2 hours ago, TRO said:

could be....and its probably why lIverpool are top.

 

18 minutes ago, Mark Albrighton said:

 

 

@Mark Albrighton you missed the point here......

@TRO is actually Steven Gerrard in disguise.

By "top", "Tro the Slippy Gerrard" just meant Liverpool are "Good".....

Didnt Gerrard's tenure here scar your mind with that phrase!?!?!?!?

 

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

We should drop a record bid in for Harvey Barnes. Leicester still need money dont they. £50m and a statement from us, attainable?

[MaVilla]

8 minutes ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

We should drop a record bid in for Harvey Barnes. Leicester still need money dont they. £50m and a statement from us, attainable?

50m for Harvey Barnes?

[VillaChris]

6 hours ago, HKP90 said:

Would Emery look at Ollie's finishing and consider using him as a false 9?

Suppose the problem then would be that we haven't got much in the way of potency anywhere along the front line.

I've always stuck up for Ollie but it's becoming clearer and clearer that we need a quality striker quite soon.

Bailey's not that bad a finisher once he actually gets into the box. Scored a couple of one on ones confidently and generally gets decent shots away so think in short term he's most likely.

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

12 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

50m for Harvey Barnes?

Dont think they would let him go for any less. Young and English tax too

[TRO]

2 hours ago, MaVilla said:

 

 

@Mark Albrighton you missed the point here......

@TRO is actually Steven Gerrard in disguise.

By "top", "Tro the Slippy Gerrard" just meant Liverpool are "Good".....

Didnt Gerrard's tenure here scar your mind with that phrase!?!?!?!?

 

I was refering to Headed goals since 2019....Liverpool are top of the formulated league of headers, by club.

I think someone has got the wrong end of the stick.

 

[Xela]

1 hour ago, MaVilla said:

50m for Harvey Barnes?

There is no value in the Premier League is there? 

Need to shop in South America and the latin countries of Europe.