The thing that frustrates me most about Theo is that the fastest man on the pitch seems so reluctant to just run at defenders? If he did, he might lose the ball 50% of the time, but the other 50% he would lace them and terrify the opposition. The amount of times he doesn't seem willing to do that does my nut in, come on lad, you are lightning quick, use that pace for gods sake!
I just don't think that's what he's good at though.
I mean, in terms of his close control, it's not really a strong point. He's better when he has no time to think, in all honesty, or he's running onto something.
I think a player like that is very useful to have, and at times in the first half yesterday he was a real threat with that pace in behind. His issues - for both goals - came when he had the ball with his back to their goal, and lost it, and then didn't work back.
So just because he's quick, doesn't mean that he should be the one running at players. He often runs into blind alleys, but in terms of his off-the-ball movement he's actually very good - he knows where to find space (i.e. that chance that Bernard missed, Walcott was the one who had busted a gut to get into that position for a cut-back).
Compare him to someone like Lookman, who has pace but likes to drive with the ball - Lookman is a player that I'd rather have running at a defender than Walcott.
I think he'll be rotated out against Brighton. Lookman deserves a go, but also the type of game just won't suit Walcott from the start imo. Brighton will sit deep so there'll be limited space in behind. It makes more sense to have Lookman running at them with the ball, than having Walcott try to move in behind to space that just won't be there.
When the game is stretched later on, that's the time to bring him on.
