I thought these guys were all English, OK OK it's just a joke

What stats? His stats on Football Manager?

Why are you being the way your name says?

We are talking about his numbers in the English second division. Which were not that very impressive. If you want it detailed, it's 9 goals and 5 assists in 3500 minutes as a left wing. Most goals he contributed to before this in the lower leagues were from a central position, center forward or second striker. But the club doesn't buy him for that, it buys him for what he showed in the Championship as a left wing. Not left modfielder, mind you, left wing in a 4-3-3 system. So he's not used to dropiing real low, but let's say he would do that because he's young and won't shy from defensive duties.

But let's get back to the 9 goals and 5 assists. Is it enough by the age of 22 to justify someone making the step to a higher division or should he be left to develop further before such a transfer is made? For the rumoured sum of 8 million, I think it's a pretty big gamble. I'd say there are many more players in European leagues who have done more by the age of 22. It's not a certainty to adapt if he is English and comes from the English system. The best players in the PL are foreigners.

But there are also many 22 year olds in the English system who have arguably done more than Watkins. The boy is 6 months away from being 23. Others have hundreds of matches in the Championship by this time. Take for example his teammate Sergi Canos. Maupay, Callum Robinson, Barrie McKay or Adama Traore have pretty much done more with similar skills at a similar age (though I admit the last one's price is much higher), even Jarrod Bowen might be a better prospect.

Overall not a bad player, but is he ready for the Premier League and will he offer more than other players could have offered in the same position?

Personally I think the fee is too high, although I am not adverse to players from lower divisions being given the chance (did we not do this with Gayle?) however as I have said on many occasions to Matteo STATS ARE NOT EVERYTHING!

Interesting to hear Matteo isn't impressed by his stats.

He seems to have had a better season for Brentford than Wilf had for us before Man U signed him. Certainly if you compare the league goals return.

Admittedly Wilf performed for us on a consistent basis over 3 full seasons and Watkins has had just the one stand out season for Brentford, however he has managed to excel at the first time of asking. Sometimes the step up requires some getting used to...Watkins seems to have taken to this level like a duck to water which suggests he may be capable of much more.

I would prefer to see these type of players coming to Palace than players like Babacar or Antonio.

Quite. Not only that but we shouldn't forget he's also 18 months away from 24. Never mind 27 months from 24 years and 9 months old. Also, it's only 1 year ago that he was a year younger. Though even then he was 21. And 9 months. Well, in 3 months. Plus he's only 2 doors away from being his next-door-neighbour-but-one. Avoid.

As a woman, I can step aside, or step up my game...