Ollie Watkins is a player that divides opinions amongst the Aston Villa fan base as his goalscoring exploits have slowed, but team importance increases.
Watkins scored a hattrick against Hibernian in the Europa Conference League qualifier but his league form has seen some complaints from the fanbase.
The striker has yet to register a Premier League goal this season and has only scored once in his last ten games in the league.
His first touch this season has been off and is costing him the chance of goal scoring opportunities.
This record makes the situation look worse than it is, Villa have scored 15 goals in that time, with the England international involved heavily.
What does Ollie Watkins bring to Aston Villa?
The eye test is where Watkins does well generally.
It can not quite be quantified what he does well to make Unai Emery’s system work but he just does.
He is very unselfish and his running in behind defences helps to create space for his teammates which is why goals are so spread out.
His non-penalty xG is 0.45 per 90. In simple terms he should have scored just under every two games this year, but it just hasn’t happened.
Defending from the front is a massive help to Emery’s press as he makes over a clearance per match and ranks in the top 28% of strikers for interceptions.
When he is on form, he is a bagsman.
11 goals in 13 games midway through last season fired the Villains to European contention.
His lack of goals recently is concerning to an extent, but what he contributes is so much more.
Should Aston Villa replace Ollie Watkins?
It isn’t really a question of Watkins being replaced as he is one of the most important and liked players by Emery.
He will not be sold at any price by Villa any time soon.
Bringing in some top tier competition for the Englishman would be a wise decision.
A striker similar to Watkins will be hard to find so a striker in a different mould would be much more advisable.
Tammy Abraham has been one player that was heavily linked before his injury, but with eight goals last season is he really better?
The argument that Watkins doesn’t score enough goals is valid, especially with high hopes of a top 6 finish in the sights of the club.
The off ball attributes combined with his goal scoring, when he’s on song, makes him a unique player and as important as any other player in the Villa squad.
