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

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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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