Tim Sherwood has admitted to Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (17/10/20 at 2:10 pm) that Ollie Watkins has ‘surprised’ him given how he has started life at Aston Villa.
Another former Villa man in Paul Merson also lauded their 7-2 win against the Premier League champions and how that’s the best he has seen the club play for ‘many a year’.
Watkins netted a hat-trick during that game, with the likes of Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley and John McGinn also showcasing their talents on the night.
Merson touched upon that win and how he thinks Villa’s lively Scotsman in the middle of the park has ‘lost weight’.
“I thought they were very good, but there is a long way to go,” Merson told Sky Sports. “I thought they were outstanding. You have a look, you have Watkins, Barkley, you have Grealish and McGinn. It looks like he has lost weight and is back [to his best] after his injury. This team will cause problems.
“Everybody was there to bash down Liverpool, but Villa were outstanding. It’s the best Villa have played for many a year. For many a year.”
Things are now different for Watkins because the pressure and expectation will now be on his shoulders and it’s a case of whether he can now deliver on a consistent basis.
The last time Villa had a firing striker doing bits in the Premier League was a certain Christian Benteke.
Sherwood worked with the Belgian during a brief period, and whilst he was ‘surprised’ by Watkins rise, he made it clear that the shock element will no longer be on the table if the former Brentford man now continues to produce the goods.
“I think you are always surprised,” Sherwood told Sky Sports. “You never know what they can do when they have played so many games at the lower level with our pyramid system. We still have got that pyramid, by the way. Thank goodness.
“When he gets an opportunity to play in the Championship, you think when they score goals. Listen, are they going to ever do it in the Premier League? But no-one ever gives them a chance – they have got quality players around him now.
“He’s going to get more chances. He does play within the width of the goal. He will score goals. He has surprised me. But I am not surprised now if he goes and does it again because he has shown his quality and he could have had more [against Liverpool].”
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