Aston Villa: Journalist rages at ‘unfair’ Ollie Watkins criticism after what he did for England
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins doesn’t deserve the “unfair” criticism he received following his performances for England during the latest international break, according to Dan Bardell.
The 28-year-old was widely criticised for his display when he started up front for the Three Lions in their 1-0 defeat against Brazil on 23 March.
The Villa forward is vying for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming European Championships with Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who scored a penalty in the 2-2 draw with Belgium on 26 March.
Bardell believes whoever led the line against the Red Devils was more likely to do better than in the game against the South Americans, while he noted that Watkins didn’t receive any praise for his involvement in England’s equaliser against their European counterparts.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I got a lot of stick off Villa fans for saying in January that as much as I wouldn’t change Ollie Watkins for anyone for Villa, Ivan Toney does more of the things that Kane does in terms of link-up play, dropping deep and his passing range.
“Watkins is very much a different type of forward. I think Southgate will only take one and it depends on whether he wants someone who does the same things as Kane or an alternative.
“In my mind, he will probably want an alternative because Kane will play every game at the Euros if he’s fit. I think Watkins goes as the alternative, rather than Toney who offers the same things.
“I think it’s unfair to criticise Watkins for that Brazil game because they are a sterner opposition than Belgium are. I think England didn’t really play to his strengths in that game and it was a tougher game for a centre-forward than the second game against Belgium.
“Toney has obviously scored his penalty and played quite well, fair play to him. But then I also think Watkins isn’t getting the credit he deserves for the second goal, everyone is talking about Maddison’s pass and Bellingham’s finish.
“Nobody is talking about the work rate from Watkins and the fact he never gave up on it. Everybody is talking about Toney had a good game, Toney scored, Toney’s going to be the one that goes.
“I still think Watkins goes. You can’t compare the two games. Had Watkins led the line against Belgium and Toney against Brazil, I think we’d be having the same conversation about the striker in the second game doing better. It doesn’t add up for me.
“My big message would be he isn’t getting any credit at all for his involvement in that goal, which was almost as important as Toney scoring a penalty.”
Ollie Watkins deserves England place amid Aston Villa form
It seems hard to believe that Southgate would even consider leaving Watkins at home for the European Championships on the back of his scintillating form for Villa this season.
While Toney may have made more of an impact in terms of getting on the scoresheet in the latest international fixtures, the Villa forward provides something different to Harry Kane.
The Three Lions boss will be thinking long and hard over who he takes, but given that Watkins started the first game against Brazil, he could still have the edge.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has reacted as a Villa flop is closing in on a £4million exit.
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