ASTON VILLA Q&A: Watkins vs Duran | Defensive depth | Big Club signs

[@alexandermcbrien264]

People are quick to forget how quality of a striker Ollie Watkins is as we saw how well he did last season scoring 19 goals and 18 assists throughout the season. Also, Watkins threat level and the runs he makes in the box works to make defenders tired in the second half then Duran comes on in the second half to capatilize on tired defenders. I still think Watkins should start as when he's at his best and on form he's better than Duran imo.

[@imbonkers3629]

For me Watkins is what he is a good player and works hard 😊Duran could be one of the best strikers we’ve ever had 😊

[@lovebleeds8785]

If my memory serves me well I believe we had the same scenario regarding Duran and Watkins at the beginning of last season....Watkins wasn't scoring and didn't in his first 5-6 games and Duran was from off the bench! I'm not concerned about Watkins at all atm....if his goalless drought went on for 9-10 games then yes, it would be a serious issue but I can't see that happening. I'd also be concerned if he wasn't getting into goal scoring positions but he is and I'm convinced once he scores he'll go on a good run. Let's keep the faith with him, he's more than deserved it! UTV!!

[@andrewc3509]

Love this podcast! 💙💜 I back Ollie to start banging them in again very soon. Its going to be a long season - keep the faith 🦁

[@realvilla]

Credit to Unai never shows ego or arrogance. Must be incredibly self confident to not take the Duran stuff personally and just focus on getting him where he needs to be.

[@VillansOnTour]

Great episodes guys 💜🩵🙌🏻

[@carlthomas7354]

I don't think it's about worrying Watkins won't score it's about whether it's fair to keep Jhon on the bench

[@nahitsthekid6858]

Give the boy a start

[@jjfreer]

Jons a fussy eater aint he 😫 hed do my head in 🤣 good vid lads. I think W will stick with starting ollie, bringing on ramsey maatsen and duran for the final 30 minutes, until champions league starts at least, then he may change up how we rotate the team. Ollie has only "missed" one clear chance.... the rest have been saved, think theres a big difference. People make out like hes sent 4 easy sitters wide or over the bar.

[@michaelbruce2699]

You don't reward Iron Arms at your main man's expense. You back Ollie until he gets off the schnide. We know how he was unsettled when Purslow signed Ings. We can't unsettle him again.

[@michellemaynard6808]

@@michaelbruce2699 💯 agree

[@jimmypopt.v.3037]

He`s not 16, if he`s "unsettled" then man up. Duran is firing quite well. How many games does Ollie need to sharpen up. UTV

[@richmac1874]

watkins starts for me, he’s getting the chances, only matter of time before they go in, duran is the perfect sub at this point, not disciplined enough for a start yet for me, he’s got a chance of getting a red before half time, the boy loves a late slide tackle.

[@nickdsilva4149]

Hi lads thanks for another top quality show. No doubt Emery will keep evolving the squad in future windows. Our first current 11 may not arguably be the strongest we have ever had but do you think that now the window has closed an argument can be made that Villa now have the strongest first team squad that we have ever had in any era of our history? I say this in the context that we have sent Barrenchea and Iling-Junior etc out on loan to continue their development as they would have struggled to regularly make it into the match day squad let alone the first 11. Even last season this wouldn't have been the case as we were stacking the bench with two goalkeepers as Emery seemed to believe we didn't have the strength in depth to fight for those places on the bench. I''m not just interested in the thoughts of the John, Mat and Dan's thoughts but other people on here too. I've been a Villa fan since the 87/88 season and what ever happens in the course of the season this is the most excited and expectant I have ever been by any Villa side during that time. Even when we we're challenging for Premier League titles or Champions League football. With Emery and his team and the players we have I truly feel that almost anything is possible. However long we are able to retain Emery as our manager I'm looking forward to enjoying the rollacoaster ride. It's going to be emotional!

[@jameswhiting5154]

Duran has to start !!!!. Give him 1 chance he scores. Watkins I love him but he needs 3 chances score. Give Duran the game time he deserves

[@jonhayes7322]

I DO THINK that if Haaland was out for the season, Citeh would go from title-certainty, to top 4 contenders… & we have to get away from the idea of the “first 11”: horses for course, there are different player profiles; & with 4 competitions, everyone will get their fill. My brother in law said we’d play the kids in the C cup, I’m not sure… something like: Gauci Ned Mings Hause Maatsen Barkley McGinn Philogene Buendia Rogers Hayes 💜💙🦁

[@realvilla]

Jota and Gakpo is a pretty handy strike partnership tbf

[@craigmills8930]

To say Bailey might lose his spot in the team is pure madness

[@ClaretBluePod]

I know it’s a crazy shout but things change, you never know!

[@LambriniSupernova]

If he starts Digne for back up captain?

[@JaySanAV]

For the replacement captain question I would throw Digne in that list of players very experienced and vocal

[@Bobby_sprinkles]

Ooooft look at me getting a question read out on here. In terms of Watkins 'needing to feel like the main man' I think this will potentially be the making of him. A very good player might end up getting pushed aside by competition where as a world class player will continually make the questions getting asked of them redundent. Obviously with Ings, Watkins answered the questions, we'll now see where he's at and if he isn't as good as we all think then it looks like Duran has the potential to be.

[@ciaranhegarty6585]

Do you guys know if Illing Junior and Barrenechea etc can be recalled from loan in January if needed? Any Villa loanees that you know of that can be recalled? I think squad depth is weak now!

[@ClaretBluePod]

Where do you think we’re weak?

[@Murphinator-gx5on]

Don't tell john but I'm listening to this while making mash

[@ClaretBluePod]

Delicious

[@stestetsonmusic]

Isn’t it like 7 or 8 league games that Ollie hasn’t scored in consecutively

[@rhys3379]

The recency bias surrounding Ollie Watkins is insane, man has always scored plenty of Prem goals every season for the last 4 years. Not only that he is quite important to the system regarding the way we press. Dropping him for Duran would be senseless. Stick to having Duran as an impact sub whilst it's working. Both will score plenty this season imo

[@ChippyBaileyFC]

UTV Guys 💜🦁💙No worries regarding Ollie , He will be banging them in again soon . We got the best 2 strikers in the league .

[@imbonkers3629]

After haaland let’s keep it real 😂

[@Dave68Goliath]

Minutes per Goal. Compare the last five Premier league games.

[@michellemaynard6808]

Hi Dan and John 💜💙💜

[@ClaretBluePod]

👋🏻

[@justininfrance]

Love Dan’s look of appalled contempt whenever John talks about food. I would say John has the palette of a seven year old but what kid doesn’t love mashed potatoes?

[@ClaretBluePod]

Honestly. I’ve seen him eat some decent looking stuff and then he’ll just throw out the most basic opinions it’s mad

[@Samboy666]

Duran is the closest thing iv seen to Drogba!

[@darylbarber731]

Can someone find out if there’s any update on the Villa documentary that Heck promised last season? Cheers

[@harrymcdivitt494]

I know managers don't like to play a 4 4 2 anymore but imagine them together 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mattydeeming493]

We literally play a 442 system out from the back It then becomes a 3 5 2

[@jonhayes7322]

5 weeks without food, 5 days with water… how long could all last without The Villa??? 💜💙🦁

[@bambinoquinn7917]

I genuinely don't know if I can live in a world where someone doesn't like mashed potato

[@jonhayes7322]

We go on cruises re sea days without WiFi… bliss!!!!!

[@louis8274]

We won't be in a situation where we have all those players fit and even when we do we will have 3 games in many weeks. I don't think it's an issue

[@CanadianLimey11]

The more podcast live streams I watch the more I wonder is John the kid from Jerry Maguire?

[@stestetsonmusic]

Ollie doesn’t like competition remember what he was like when Ings was scoring goals he really doesn’t like it, also noticed he doesn’t celebrate when Duran scores like the rest of the team do

[@UnaiAmazingery]

I have noticed this, have seen him look annoyed when Duran scores before. That's not a team player, Duran is far superior and his ceiling is the worlds best striker. I won't blame Duran if he dumps us in January as he deserves to be starting regularly.

[@stestetsonmusic]

@@UnaiAmazingery I love Ollie but if he wants to be a world class striker he has to see off competition not sulk, Luca Digne has seen off competition and and just seems to keep his place on merit

[@jonhayes7322]

Re Pricing… I don’t have a Ferrari because I can’t afford one, it happens; I have kilograms upon kilograms of Lego stuffed under the spare bed, that my hobby. The days of pie n a pint at the footy for £20 are long gone… it’s all about choice…

[@paulhanson5164]

Hopefully Duran got a reality check over the summer, Chelsea decided he wasn't worth double what they paid us for an untried kid and West Ham weren't prepared to pay the amount they paid Wolves for a journeyman centre half. Now get your head down son, learn your trade and bide your time...if your as good as you seem to think you are you'll be lifting a certain trophy in Munich in a few months time.

[@richardplacentino8307]

I have a feeling Bailey may be sold next season to balance the books

[@mattydeeming493]

Alright mystic Meg 😅

[@paulbracekorr2386]

with champions league duran will get starts 8 games in 22 days watkins wont start every games

[@RikimaruNobunaga]

This debate is ridiculous. We are three games into the season, Watkins scored 20ish premier league goals last season. I know you need to find something to talk about but isn't world of social media just ridiculous

[@marktaylor2412]

Duran is better than Watkins

[@leerobbins7533]

Grown man don't eat mash what's the world coming today 😂

[@UnaiAmazingery]

Duran must start. If you disagree then you are wrong.