2018/19 Theo Walcott

[Barnfred 55]

If one wide forward has 89% pass completion and another has 68% then i dont think anyone needs to have an agenda to judge the figures.

Yep. Thats one interpretation to suit one agenda. Yours. The problem with passing accuracy stats is they are unreliable. You dont know whether they are short long forward backward key punts crosses through ball. You just cant rely on passing stats alone to base an argument on.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Two months ago the same press were asking whether he should be included in the squad for the September Internationals.

Sorry Nymz. That was meant as a response to a Zat post. On my mobile. Bloody hate them things.

 

[blackie_jones75]

I just think he's a bit of a fanny really without any burning hunger to succeed or win at all costs, too nice, bad decision making, bad finishing...if it wasn't for his pace he'd be useless ?

I remember a handful of amazing games he has had over the years - at Anfiled in the champions league where he ran most of the pitch and for England away in Croatia was it? (ok, two games)

 

[Debunkology]

I don't think Walcott has been top of his game in the past few games to be fair. But neither has Bernard. But there no denying that their pace puts fear in the opposition.

 

[BlueToff]

I don't think Walcott has been top of his game in the past few games to be fair. But neither has Bernard. But there no denying that their pace puts fear in the opposition.

The thing with Walcott is that he's still getting into the positions. It's not like Tosun who wasn't getting the chances at all. Like you said, his pace is always a threat and always means an opposition full-back has to be wary.

Like me and @Lanolin have pointed out is that's why it's not like he's not useful.

Yes, he needs to sharpen up. I think we can all readily say that if he is rotated out against Cardiff then it'd be fair, but it's equally okay to say that he's probably still worthy of a place too.

If he wasn't getting in those positions, then I'd be more worried. I do think it's a position we can improve on going forward, but I still see Walcott as a key part of the squad. Pretty sure Silva thinks the same way as well, based on the evidence so far.

There's only so long he can go missing these chances/making the wrong decision, granted, but whether the answer is to drop him because he took a heavy touch from a hard ball to control, I'm not sure on.

His defensive lapses were annoying the other week v Utd and overall he's improved that in the last two games. There was one time he switched off yesterday though and it nearly cost us, but that's why we have a quality goalkeeper to make those saves - the point of a team is to cover each other at all times!

 

[Nymzee]

Two months ago the same press were asking whether he should be included in the squad for the September Internationals.

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make, Fred.

 

[Connor]

Put it this way chiefs, if someone had told you at the end of last season that coming into November of the new season that Walcott playing/being in the team would be our biggest bone of contention, you'd have all pissed yourselves laughing at them.

 

[bicycleheader]

Put it this way chiefs, if someone had told you at the end of last season that coming into November of the new season that Walcott playing/being in the team would be our biggest bone of contention, you'd have all pissed yourselves laughing at them.

People are being a bit one-eyed about this.

Personally I'd say none of our attacking options are excelling at the moment. They all have had their good moments/games and in some cases some really good moments but have all also had poor spells with wrong options picked and chances missed.

Richarlison wasted good possesion in the danger zone a couple of times yesterday.

Walcott hasnt been great in the last few games but relatively speaking he is still contributing enough to our tactics for it to make total sense that the boss sticks with him.

Its over the top to be claiming he DEFO should be dropped.

 

[Connor]

People are being a bit one-eyed about this.

Personally I'd say none of our attacking options are excelling at the moment. They all have had their good moments/games and in some cases some really good moments but have all also had poor spells with wrong options picked and chances missed.

Richarlison wasted good possesion in the danger zone a couple of times yesterday.

Walcott hasnt been great in the last few games but relatively speaking he is still contributing enough to our tactics for it to make total sense that the boss sticks with him.

Its over the top to be claiming he DEFO should be dropped.

Agree with this BH.

At some point Marco will make the call on our attacking play. And that's the only call that matters.

 

[bicycleheader]

Agree with this BH.

At some point Marco will make the call on our attacking play. And that's the only call that matters.

People are already forming opinions and commenting based on us being a very good team, when we are still just a work in progress and on our day can easily look no better or different than a handful of the teams below us or those just above us.

Its the getting carried away stage. Including, as @BlueToff says, looking to drop a player when the team is actually doing okay. Just because they start to believe we should be great...right now....every game.

Soon comes the disappointment from a bad run and the backlash where we are terrible and the manager is second rate.

The backlash being bigger than it should be purely because impatient fans get excited at a couple of wins and get ahead of themselves.

I still think its more than possible, and understandable, were we to finish say 10th this season. Enjoying the team but nothings set in stone yet.

 

[Nymzee]

People are already forming opinions and commenting based on us being a very good team, when we are still just a work in progress and on our day can easily look no better or different than a handful of the teams below us or those just above us.

Its the getting carried away stage. Including, as @BlueToff says, looking to drop a player when the team is actually doing okay. Just because they start to believe we should be great...right now....every game.

Soon comes the disappointment from a bad run and the backlash where we are terrible and the manager is second rate.

The backlash being bigger than it should be purely because impatient fans get excited at a couple of wins and get ahead of themselves.

I still think its more than possible, and understandable, were we to finish say 10th this season. Enjoying the team but nothings set in stone yet.

My personal gripe is just the sheer wastefulness this season. He should be on like 5+ goals by now. If that was DCL people would be demanding he was dropped into the U18’s.

 

[bicycleheader]

My personal gripe is just the sheer wastefulness this season. He should be on like 5+ goals by now. If that was DCL people would be demanding he was dropped into the U18’s.

Think he has always been a player who hits form in patches. Personally think he is keeping his place in the team as his pace keeps the opposition defence on guard and gives us an outlet with a passer like Siggurdson in the team. That and his experience will be valued.

Of course I hope Silva is a manager who knows when its time to make the change but the argument here is its not that blatant a case as some are making out that Walcott should be dropped.

I dont agree with over the top reactions regardless, so those saying demote DCL a few levels would also be silly.

Hopefully we get a comfortable lead against Warnock FC though and Lookman gets a good half hour or so at least. Whether for Walcott or Bernard.

 

[evertonarntwe]

the main thing with Walcott for me isn't his wastefulness in front of goal, it's how sloppy he gives the ball away in stupid positions allowing the other team 2 break ( united scored both goals from him giving away the ball ) and that's something Bernard does a lot better, keeping hold of the ball

 

[Barnfred 55]

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make, Fred.

 

[blueblueday]

For periods last season we literally struggled to create one chance per game. Now all of a sudden we are creating many more chances. Its a bit of a culture shock for some of us blues to actually watch decent football at last. Its been a while. However it doesn't make us a great team at present cos great teams convert more chances and can sometimes beat top six teams. We are deffo a work in progress though creating a new identity for ourselves so I'm happy. If we can stay relatively injury free and sharpen up in front of goal I'm confident we'll finish a comfortable 7th. It's how you progress from that which is intriguing and our greatest challenge in the next few years. The top six at mo all have really good footballing sides assembled at great financial cost. I would love us to compete as finishing 7th or below for the foreseeable future just seems boring.