[Football] Ollie Watkins

[Guinness Boy]

I’d 100% agree with this.

Lamptey and Bissouma both had stand out performances post lockdown but also had games when they were off the pace and didn’t look as good.

Webster however was much improved and consistent across the whole 9 games.

Yep, agree with that. The issue with Webster is that he might have improved for a couple of reasons. Either they worked on a lot of his weaknesses during lockdown and Potter’s specific coaching improved him. Or he plays better without the pressure of a crowd (particularly the number of dickheads we’ve got who turn on a player instantly). Or both.

If we’ve ironed out his problems with coaching then great. But otherwise I suspect White will be straight into that spot when crowds return


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[blockhseagull]

Yep, agree with that. The issue with Webster is that he might have improved for a couple of reasons. Either they worked on a lot of his weaknesses during lockdown and Potter’s specific coaching improved him. Or he plays better without the pressure of a crowd (particularly the number of dickheads we’ve got who turn on a player instantly). Or both.

If we’ve ironed out his problems with coaching then great. But otherwise I suspect White will be straight into that spot when crowds return


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I’d say probably a little bit of coaching

And a massive amount of having Lamptey outside him who has genuine pace and can get up and down the pitch.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I’d say probably a little bit of coaching

And a massive amount of having Lamptey outside him who has genuine pace and can get up and down the pitch.

Good point. Montoya used to leave him exposed time and again


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[b.w.2.]

This one is the one we have to go for. I suspect this will drag on, unless we sell soon and stump up the high price tag the Bees have put on this lad


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[albionfan37]

This one is the one we have to go for. I suspect this will drag on, unless we sell soon and stump up the high price tag the Bees have put on this lad


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I thought I read somewhere that his buyout was 18 mil? Naturally that could be speculation

 

[Hugo Rune]

I thought I read somewhere that his buyout was 18 mil? Naturally that could be speculation

That’s fine if one club bids £18m.

There will be multiple bids for this fella so Brentford can just accept the highest one (around £25m if speculation is true).

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I thought I read somewhere that his buyout was 18 mil? Naturally that could be speculation

That's the figure muted but if loads are interested is it now down to the player or can the club insist on one offer over another?

 

[b.w.2.]

And the £18m clause has been denied anyway


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[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Yep, agree with that. The issue with Webster is that he might have improved for a couple of reasons. Either they worked on a lot of his weaknesses during lockdown and Potter’s specific coaching improved him. Or he plays better without the pressure of a crowd (particularly the number of dickheads we’ve got who turn on a player instantly). Or both.

If we’ve ironed out his problems with coaching then great. But otherwise I suspect White will be straight into that spot when crowds return


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I'd suggest our more pragmatic approach had a significant part to play as well. Post lockdown we stopped trying to dominate the ball and were much more compact. For most of the season prior to the lock down we asked the defence to constantly play under pressure in our penalty box and the team as a whole to play expansively resulting in us being wide open and horribly exposed whenever we made a mistake/turned the ball over cheaply. All the defenders struggled but Webster's were probably the most notable.

It has probably helped having the pace of Lamptey outside him too.

On topic: I'm still a yes for Watkins, lets get him signed!

 

[BluesRockDJ]

And the £18m clause has been denied anyway


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Not in his new contract, apprently ?

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

This one is the one we have to go for. I suspect this will drag on, unless we sell soon and stump up the high price tag the Bees have put on this lad


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Hmmm as much as l would love to see Ollie Watkins in an Abion shirt, foresee two major obstacles, one, that Tony and his Bees counterpart Matthew Benham are swoen enemies, (although we did manage to prise Maupay from them), and secondly that Tony Bloom is reluctant to pay any more than he thinks a player is worth.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

He was much improved after the restart, but I’d argue that Lamptey, Dunk and probably Bissouma were our best players after the break.

Not sure any of them were as consistent as Webster in maintaining a high level of performance. But all opinions [emoji2]


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[Mo Gosfield]

Not sure any of them were as consistent as Webster in maintaining a high level of performance. But all opinions [emoji2]


Webster did well after restart and I wonder how much a lack of crowd played a part. At the Amex, the first Webster mistake was usually met with a concerted, widespread groan, which was repeated if he made any more. The best example was the Sheff Utd game, where he made an early error, the crowd got on his back and then his game fell apart. I guess he has had to battle to win over the Dunk/Duffy fan club and that won't happen overnight.
As for Watkins, his goalscoring in the Championship has been at the same level as Maupay and we would need 6-8 from him, which is achievable at PL level. We need another 8-10 goals in the side. Maupay could get to 12-13 and then we are looking for another 6-8 from Connelly or a newbie.

 

[b.w.2.]

Hmmm as much as l would love to see Ollie Watkins in an Abion shirt, foresee two major obstacles, one, that Tony and his Bees counterpart Matthew Benham are swoen enemies, (although we did manage to prise Maupay from them), and secondly that Tony Bloom is reluctant to pay any more than he thinks a player is worth.

No the Tony/Matt thing will have zero impact, as has been proved, and you allude to. You are right Tony will only pay what he is worth, but he is worth a big amount to us... as I say repeatedly, this is the most obvious gigantic gap in our team and squad.


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[JBizzle]

Not sure any of them were as consistent as Webster in maintaining a high level of performance. But all opinions [emoji2]


Webster did well after restart and I wonder how much a lack of crowd played a part. At the Amex, the first Webster mistake was usually met with a concerted, widespread groan, which was repeated if he made any more. The best example was the Sheff Utd game, where he made an early error, the crowd got on his back and then his game fell apart. I guess he has had to battle to win over the Dunk/Duffy fan club and that won't happen overnight.
As for Watkins, his goalscoring in the Championship has been at the same level as Maupay and we would need 6-8 from him, which is achievable at PL level. We need another 8-10 goals in the side. Maupay could get to 12-13 and then we are looking for another 6-8 from Connelly or a newbie.

I think 100% that you're right about Webster, but I also think it's wider than that and encompasses Potter's style overall. Splitting the defenders, heavy usage of the goal keeper, changing the system regularly, playing Stephens over Bissouma, passing around the back etc, were all met with heavy skepticism and a "concerted, widespread groan". When players make a minor mistake, or play the ball sideways, or lose possession, or try something that doesn't come off, all they hear is positive reinforcement from the bench which must be magical for a coach trying to instill a completely new way of playing.

The moment I knew we were going back behind closed doors, I knew we'd be safe.

On the Watkins front, I have no doubt we'll bring in a striker. None at all. Whether it's Watkins remains to be seen but we've shown in the past that we can compete with so-called "bigger clubs" because they see the potential of joining our club, rather than a crumbling monument to a by-gone era

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I think 100% that you're right about Webster, but I also think it's wider than that and encompasses Potter's style overall. Splitting the defenders, heavy usage of the goal keeper, changing the system regularly, playing Stephens over Bissouma, passing around the back etc, were all met with heavy skepticism and a "concerted, widespread groan". When players make a minor mistake, or play the ball sideways, or lose possession, or try something that doesn't come off, all they hear is positive reinforcement from the bench which must be magical for a coach trying to instill a completely new way of playing.

The moment I knew we were going back behind closed doors, I knew we'd be safe.

Potter says that football is a game of mistakes. They happen when you try things and take risks. That's why he doesn't get on Propper's back when a pass goes astray. The upside to these occasional mistakes is a counter-attacking opportunity. Potter and his coaches know this. The team are learning. Some fans are still a long way behind, Zero risk football doesn't exist and isn't desirable.

 

[Machiavelli]

I think 100% that you're right about Webster, but I also think it's wider than that and encompasses Potter's style overall. Splitting the defenders, heavy usage of the goal keeper, changing the system regularly, playing Stephens over Bissouma, passing around the back etc, were all met with heavy skepticism and a "concerted, widespread groan". When players make a minor mistake, or play the ball sideways, or lose possession, or try something that doesn't come off, all they hear is positive reinforcement from the bench which must be magical for a coach trying to instill a completely new way of playing.

The moment I knew we were going back behind closed doors, I knew we'd be safe.

That's really interesting.
I'm with you in that too many in the crowd use a game as an opportunity to display their jumpiness or set way of understanding the game of football.

 

[blue-shifted]

That's really interesting.
I'm with you in that too many in the crowd use a game as an opportunity to display their jumpiness or set way of understanding the game of football.

Don't really agree. I think there are a vocal minority of people who have it in for a particular player for a particular reason.

But the great majority is just an emotional reaction to an event, we all do it. So for example a defender trying to play out the back and giving it away, or a midfielder shanking one over the bar, the supporters of any team are going to audibly groan at the advantageous position lost. The manager is in a less emotional position, he might have been encouraging the action which turned out badly in training and understand this is part of a wider pattern of behaviour, so can remain positive. The fans aren't privy to these coaching conversations.

Mananging a team is logical. Supporting is emotional

 

[Gwylan]

Don't really agree. I think there are a vocal minority of people who have it in for a particular player for a particular reason.

The classic example is Ashley Barnes - a player who gave his all for us, even when playing out of position.

But there were plenty in the crowd who got on his back and who, I'm sure, played a part in driving him out. We've never really replaced him either. Andone was the closest but he was even more of a nutcase.

 

[blue-shifted]

The classic example is Ashley Barnes - a player who gave his all for us, even when playing out of position.

But there were plenty in the crowd who got on his back and who, I'm sure, played a part in driving him out. We've never really replaced him either. Andone was the closest but he was even more of a nutcase.

That wasn't really the point I was making, I was more saying that the majority of negative crowd reactions aren't to do with a particular player, they are more to do with a particular event. Fans groaning when you're keeper lets one through his legs is a natural and unavoidable thing that happens at every club in the world. Yes there are a few boo boys for a Barnes type player even when they do something well, but I don't think that's the main negative noise that comes from the stands.