Aston Villa fans have no sympathy for Ollie Watkins after latest comments – ‘Ungrateful’
Ollie Watkins has left a lot to be desired with his performances for Aston Villa this season, with the Englishman subject to plenty of criticism.
The 30-year-old has scored just eight goals and assisted once in 28 Premier League appearances, which is quite a drop-off from previous campaigns.
Last season, Watkins contributed to 24 goals for the B6 outfit. With the difference in output, criticism was certain to follow, and the Villa man has since responded.
However, fans have not been pleased with his comments, and there is little sympathy for the striker among Aston Villa fans now.
- Read more: Find out what Aston Villa fans have been saying about Ollie Watkins’ performances this season
What did Ollie Watkins say about recent Aston Villa criticism?
Watkins has come under fire for much of this season as Aston Villa fans have grown impatient with his run of poor form in front of goal.
The Englishman recently sat down to speak with Sky Sports journalist Rob Jones to discuss that outside noise, and fans have not been pleased with his response.
Watkins said: “Where we are as a club as well, the elevation of the club has only gone up, and there’s a lot more fans that you see out and voice their opinion – sometimes it’s hard not to notice them. In the modern day, that’s what you have to deal with.
“I work hard every day, try to improve, sometimes it might be your day, sometimes it won’t but you’ve just got to keep plugging away. I know the manager backs me, and that’s all that matters.”
While much of his statement may be a fair assertion of the life of a modern footballer, it is the final line that rubbed supporters the wrong way.
One Aston Villa fan said on X: “That’s all that matters”? What a stab in the back to the Aston Villa supporters that have been singing his name while he drops stinker after stinker on a regular basis for the last 12 months.”
Others followed up expressing how much the Villa faithful have been standing behind Watkins this season.
One fan feels that Watkins is taking fans for granted saying on X: “Bloke gets more support than anyone, misses sitters and the crowd chant his name. Miles off it, any other club he would of got pelters. Ungrateful sod.”
Finally, one Aston Villa supporter is still holding out hope for Watkins to turn things around saying on X: “Best supported player in the squad. Unfortunately it’s been miss after miss this season and the crowd still chant his name after every one. Come on Ollie turn this round.”
Overall, it seems Watkins’ reaction to the criticism has gone down the wrong way. Fans feel like they have been fair in their concerns while still trying to lift the Englishman’s confidence in games.
- Read more: Find out why Micah Richards felt let down by Ollie Watkins in his last performance for Aston Villa
Why Unai Emery should bench Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa
Fans are growing impatient with Watkins, and after Unai Emery signed Tammy Abraham in the winter transfer window, it could be time to give the new arrival a bigger role.
Watkins is not in form, and with Aston Villa struggling to bring in results recently, they are in danger of losing their place in the top five.
Emery needs to start trusting other players to pop up with the goods rather than hoping players such as Watkins return to form.
So far this season, there have been few signs of the Englishman going back to last season’s performances.
Since returning to Villa Park, Abraham has started just two games; now, the manager should give him an extended run in the starting lineup.
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