Norwich supporting mate of mine just posted on Facebook; “Marley Watkins take a bow you are officially the worst player to wear the shirt since Dean Coney just ahead of James Husband”
His unorthodox style doesn't endear him to some but he gets the job done. I'd have him back here up top with Bradshaw tomorrow.
If Hecky gets his way, he'll have Marley at left back and then he'll replace him in that position with Potts. Maybe Watkins is finding out that the grass isnt always greener when a player leaves us for more money.
To be fair I was told by 3 or 4 people down here that Norwich had signed our best player, I did try to warn them that he was a decent player in a League one side but our ‘best player”? nah.... Villa did that.
That would be Yiadom, even Roberts and Scowen probably were a bigger overall asset to the team at that time.
I'd say a player who put the ball in the back of the net is a bigger overall asset to the team. If you said we could have one of Roberts Scowen or Watkins back right now id take Watkins. Physical presence, threat in the air and a few goals in him. This is clearly the area we haven't replaced. Last season we had Winnall Hourihane and Watkins scoring goals.
They might not have the ability if many strikers in this division but a partnership of Bradshaw & Watkins would give any defence at this level a tough night
Agreed. I really liked Marley. A good honest pro. Not spectacular but good work ethic and team player. The type of player needed in a relegation scrap. I’d welcome him.
Some players just seem to work at certain clubs, within certain sides. Marley Watkins epitomised the high press, energetic style of play we produced last season. He was by no means clinical, nor a particularly effective winger. But he performed a role, he was effective. He would chase a ball from Hourihane down, make something of it, then feed the likes of Winnall to finish the move. He could score, usually when attention was on Winnall or Bradshaw, Watkins would pop up with a goal. He was no world beater, but he fitted in and it just worked. I'd argue that the team around him allowed him to play to his strengths and look possibly better than his own attributes, taken on their own, allow him to be. He was then taken out of that context, as an individual player, and dropped into Norwich's team. So Norwich now have an energetic player, not especially good at finishing, not really an effective winger, but without all the things around him to make him effective. Add in the extra pressure of playing or a team expecting success every week and it's no great surprise he's struggled. I'd have him back, certainly. But he'd need service and players around him to link with again. As does Bradshaw.
Being in Russia I can't very easily drive him back to Oakwell, but I'd definitely chip in fifty quid for his taxi. If he is out of favour and out of sorts at Norwich, a loan deal to bring him back here should be looked at very seriously. It could benefit all parties.
