Arsenal’s Star Youngster Not Quite Ready For The Big Stage Yet

by Chris on October 8th, 2008

| 380 words |

What is it about former England players and the inane comments that they make ahead of international matches? Perhaps, when quizzed about the national team, they simply can’t resist making a controversial statement which is sure to give them the publicity that they once received for pulling on the Three Lions jersey with pride.

One thing’s for sure, the vast majority of football fans won’t agree with Chris Waddle’s assertion that Theo Walcott should be benched for England’s match against Kazakhstan on Saturday. Never mind that Capello’s team should win this match even if the entire Newcastle team were selected, surely scoring a hat-trick in your previous match is about as much as you can do to demonstrate that you are world-class. The big-mouthed Geordie tells the Daily Mail that he feels SWP should slot in instead.

“Despite his hat-trick, Walcott began the match very poorly in Croatia. He couldn’t control the ball, he looked very edgy and nervous. I would even go so far as to say that I wouldn’ t necessarily pick him on the right flank against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

If Capello uses injured Joe Cole’s absence to make room for Steven Gerrard, then I think Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips is a better bet than the Arsenal man.

I know Walcott grabbed the headlines and all the attention the last time he wore an England shirt - and everybody went ‘wow!’ - but that was a month or so ago.

Since then, it is Wright- Phillips who has been the star turn in the Premier League as far as right wingers go and, now that he is back in the England squad, I hope that he’s given the chance to continue his impressive club form on the international stage.”

First thing’s first, England need to go out and get the job done on Saturday, surely the best way to achieve this is stick with the same players that started the match in Croatia? If they lead the match 3-0 in the second half, then might be the time to start giving some of the squad players an opportunity, although Capello won’t be one for taking risks.

Does anyone think that the Manchester City winger should be picked ahead of the Arsenal youngster?

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{ 4 comments read them or add one }

Clacko the Gooner - October 8th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Is it just me or was Walcott not exactly shining before the Croatia game for Arsenal?? With waddle saying that now it’s SWP that is doing the best out of the wingers means absolutely jack because as i just said Walcott wasn’t exactly blinding before he got his call to start, Capello used him to give the team another dimension which it does. SWP has the advantage of being a more seasoned professional than Walcott but thats about it. Walcotts final ball has vastly improved this season and as such i think would be the right call to put on the right, we know that they will defend like their lives depend on it and probably just make camp in their own half of the pitch but all we have to do is put a couple of good balls in behind the back line or over the top into space an i can guarantee that Theo will be on the end of it or not far off and then all he has to do is lash it across the box or have a pop.
In conclusion if a hat-trick in your previous game against better opposition is not enough to get you a start in the next game, what is??!! I just wish that Arsene had seen that when Vela scored his hat-trick, albeit that wasn’t against as good an opposition as Hull City (oh wait weren’t they in the same league last season?)
Andrew Boyers - October 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

I think the only problem with Walcott at the minute is that he’s still slightly unpredictable. One game he’ll bag a hat-trick, and the next he’ll be conspicuous in his absence. It’s only to be expected soon as though he’s still young and getting experience at the highest level. I must say he’s vastly improved in terms of the end-product, and with his consistency too, which I’m sure is a natural progression.

Because he’s still a bit of a rough diamond, it’s a lot to expect him to be the star of the England setup already. He certainly has the talent to justify his inclusion, but against the more competitive teams, whether we can rely on him game in, game out, to perform, is questionable.

Against the likes of Kazakhstan and Belarus he should be included, as these are the matches where he’ll get chances, score goals and find his feet. You can’t disregard SWP, though - he has been fantastic since he moved back to City.

I just think it’s good that we have two players of such quality competing for places.

http://www.andrewboyers.co.uk
gunner - October 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

i think walcott should be benched not because of the reasons given though… how you can say he is undeserved to be in the senior squad when he scores a hatrick against one of the the top teams in the world, and the part about him not starting well in the croatia game is just bollox, he was targeted by croatia for a start which i wudnt expect anyone to deal with but wot i was impressed by is bearing in mind his age he found a way to get at the defenders n score a hatrick which is very intelligent, considering most of the game he was chopped at like a christmas turkey.

the only reason walcott should be benched is because if he plays all the time n doesnt perform like he did against croatia, the british public will only criticise him which is wrong to do at his age. atleast if he plays off the bench he ll be fresh ready to hurt the opposing teams and then he will look the part, boosting his confidence.

if walcott is taught n moulded by capello and wenger and takes his time, eventually he’ll be world class
Michael Rhodes - October 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

CHRIS WADDLE, YOU CUNT, JUST FUCK OFF!!!!!
WHAT A PATHETIC QUOTE…..SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET SOME COLUMN/WEB SPACE.
WHAT A COMPLETE CUNT.

Clacko the Gooner - October 8th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Is it just me or was Walcott not exactly shining before the Croatia game for Arsenal?? With waddle saying that now it’s SWP that is doing the best out of the wingers means absolutely jack because as i just said Walcott wasn’t exactly blinding before he got his call to start, Capello used him to give the team another dimension which it does. SWP has the advantage of being a more seasoned professional than Walcott but thats about it. Walcotts final ball has vastly improved this season and as such i think would be the right call to put on the right, we know that they will defend like their lives depend on it and probably just make camp in their own half of the pitch but all we have to do is put a couple of good balls in behind the back line or over the top into space an i can guarantee that Theo will be on the end of it or not far off and then all he has to do is lash it across the box or have a pop.
In conclusion if a hat-trick in your previous game against better opposition is not enough to get you a start in the next game, what is??!! I just wish that Arsene had seen that when Vela scored his hat-trick, albeit that wasn’t against as good an opposition as Hull City (oh wait weren’t they in the same league last season?)

Andrew Boyers - October 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

I think the only problem with Walcott at the minute is that he’s still slightly unpredictable. One game he’ll bag a hat-trick, and the next he’ll be conspicuous in his absence. It’s only to be expected soon as though he’s still young and getting experience at the highest level. I must say he’s vastly improved in terms of the end-product, and with his consistency too, which I’m sure is a natural progression.

Because he’s still a bit of a rough diamond, it’s a lot to expect him to be the star of the England setup already. He certainly has the talent to justify his inclusion, but against the more competitive teams, whether we can rely on him game in, game out, to perform, is questionable.

Against the likes of Kazakhstan and Belarus he should be included, as these are the matches where he’ll get chances, score goals and find his feet. You can’t disregard SWP, though - he has been fantastic since he moved back to City.

I just think it’s good that we have two players of such quality competing for places.

http://www.andrewboyers.co.uk

gunner - October 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

i think walcott should be benched not because of the reasons given though… how you can say he is undeserved to be in the senior squad when he scores a hatrick against one of the the top teams in the world, and the part about him not starting well in the croatia game is just bollox, he was targeted by croatia for a start which i wudnt expect anyone to deal with but wot i was impressed by is bearing in mind his age he found a way to get at the defenders n score a hatrick which is very intelligent, considering most of the game he was chopped at like a christmas turkey.

the only reason walcott should be benched is because if he plays all the time n doesnt perform like he did against croatia, the british public will only criticise him which is wrong to do at his age. atleast if he plays off the bench he ll be fresh ready to hurt the opposing teams and then he will look the part, boosting his confidence.

if walcott is taught n moulded by capello and wenger and takes his time, eventually he’ll be world class

Michael Rhodes - October 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

CHRIS WADDLE, YOU CUNT, JUST FUCK OFF!!!!!
WHAT A PATHETIC QUOTE…..SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET SOME COLUMN/WEB SPACE.
WHAT A COMPLETE CUNT.

Arsenal’s Star Youngster Not Quite Ready For The Big Stage Yet

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