Unimpressive Walcott

[Le King]

Former England winger Chris Waddle believes Theo Walcott "doesn't understand the game" and should not be in the international reckoning.

Walcott made a bright start in England's 3-1 win over Egypt on Wednesday, bursting past defenders to create a simple chance for Frank Lampard, but he struggled in the aftermath and was eventually substituted early in the second half after repeatedly running into trouble.

It has been a difficult season for Walcott and, a fortnight before his 21st birthday, many feel he has yet to show any real development since leaving Southampton for Arsenal in 2006 and Waddle, who won 62 caps for his country, has now suggested there is little hope he will fulfil expectations.

"People keep saying he's young but Wayne Rooney understood the game at 16, 17," Waddle said. "I've never seen any difference in Theo Walcott since he was at Southampton and broke into the team at a very young age.

"I've never seen him develop. He just doesn't understand the game for me - where to be running, when to run inside a full-back, (when to) just play a one-two."

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Waddle said: "It's all off the cuff. The ball comes to him and if he gets a good first touch he might be on his way if he shows pace, but he has a plan in his mind before the ball comes to him.

"He's not looking as if to think, 'This is where I want to be, this is where I want to go, and this is what I'm going to do'. It just seems to be all off the cuff.

"People keep saying to me, 'Oh he's young and he'll learn'. I keep thinking, 'Fabregas has learnt and he's young, Rooney has learnt... they all read the game so well'.

"I just don't think he's got a football brain and he's going to have problems. Eventually he could play up front, but would he know where to run? Let's be honest, good defenders would catch him offside every time.

"I just don't know whether he studies the game, learns the game, or what. He's at a great club where they play fantastic football week-in, week-out, and I'm just surprised he's never developed his game."

Waddle admits that he was surprised to see Walcott in the squad ahead of in-form Manchester City winger Adam Johnson and does not feel the hat-trick he scored against Croatia warrants his continued inclusion.

"I'm surprised Walcott was in the squad," Waddle said. "He doesn't play a lot of football, he hasn't done anything. He hasn't done anything for a long time and I think Croatia was a one-off.

"I just think he's got a lot to learn. I've been more impressed by Adam Johnson at Manchester City than Theo Walcott."

Former England boss Graham Taylor agreed with Waddle. "I'm not going to be in any disagreement at all," he said. "I haven't seen the improvement of Theo Walcott in terms of what Chris is saying of reading the game. I just haven't seen it. I just see a problem there.

[DOC]

he has a point

[ozzie owl]

Wenger disagrees.

[ruud]

hes not that good

and i thought wenger was supposed to make every young player good?

oh no, its only the ones he hasnt sold to small clubs

[delfino_1936]

played well tonight

[Derek]

Played well today, scored a cracker and played well for England in the week. I would trust Wenger and Capello's judgment over anyones in football.

[Judge Judy]

yes, the way he kept the ball at the corner flag was world class

those empty seats around emirates looked cute

[toonarmy#9]

yes, the way he kept the ball at the corner flag was world class

those empty seats around emirates looked cute

[Token]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

[3lionsonashirt]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

[simoo3]

killed burnley last night.

[paokara]

silenced the critics last night

[DUKE BLUE]

played well tonight

Smashed Croatia in Zagreb during world cup qualifier...Hatrick !

Can't be that bad.

[Le King]

silenced the critics last night

yeh cause 1 gd game in about 2 yrs makes him a star does it?

[ozzie owl]

had a great game if Bendtner could score it would have been about 7-1.

[paokara]

silenced the critics last night

yeh cause 1 gd game in about 2 yrs makes him a star does it?

He was critisised for not being football minded, he answered those who doubted him that game. Quit being so negative, I'm sure if he was playing at Manchester you'd have a completely different view you biased clown

[toonarmy#9]

He was critisised for not being football minded, he answered those who doubted him that game. Quit being so negative, I'm sure if he was playing at Manchester you'd have a completely different view you biased clown

+ 1

[Le King]

silenced the critics last night

yeh cause 1 gd game in about 2 yrs makes him a star does it?

He was critisised for not being football minded, he answered those who doubted him that game. Quit being so negative, I'm sure if he was playing at Manchester you'd have a completely different view you biased clown

At Manchester there is massive expectation on players, and if he scored 1 goal i wont be impressed unitl its a regual thing

[ruud]

silenced the critics last night

yeh cause 1 gd game in about 2 yrs makes him a star does it?

[paokara]

At Manchester United theres only one player that would be meeting Fergusons expectations, Wayne Rooney. I'd take Walcott over Nani anyday, im pretty sure anyone would. Everyone is acting this is the first time Walcott has performed well, he's had some brilliant games. The kids only 20 years old, nowhere near his prime and everyones got these high expectations.

[MR. DL]

I remember some Manure supporters claiming Nani to be a superstar after he played 15-20 mins against Arsenal, what has he done before or since? Walcott had a great game after injuries set him back.

[Token]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

I still reckon a lower league to let him develop without the spot light for now

[simoo3]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

I still reckon a lower league to let him develop without the spot light for now

dont think he would even consider it

[ForzaChievo]

A continuous run of games without injury, is exactly what he needs.

[Derek]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

I still reckon a lower league to let him develop without the spot light for now

Why the hell would he go to a lower league?? He is a world class England international, just because Chris waddle writes a little article about the lad, everyone jumps on the bandwagon. He is a very good player, simple.

[BTAC]

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

I still reckon a lower league to let him develop without the spot light for now

He is a world class England international.

........... :?

[ozzie owl]

Just because he hasn't developed as quickly as the likes Rooney, Cesc and Messi doesn't mean he will develop into a world class player. If he wasn't English the pressure wouldn't be so great. I reckon a loan to a lower league to develop his skills would help.

i think a lower league club would be a bit harsh, maybe a mid table team in the epl that would play him week-in-week-out could do the trick

I still reckon a lower league to let him develop without the spot light for now

Great idea put him in the Championship side and watch sides kick the crap out of him and lump long balls over his head.

[Le King]

macheda > walcot

proved his worth on the big stage vs villa last yr with 1 of the goals of the season, and one that won us the title

lol@ the guy thinkin hes a world class international
u rkn him and rooney are both world class????
walcot isnt even fit enuff 2 sit on the same private jet as rooney, he should jst fly economy on easyjet IF he makes it 2 south africa

[Litmanen]

The problem with Walcott lately is that he hasn't been in Wenger's plans because Wenger hasn't been playing with Traditional wingers.

As more and more injuries pile up, he's been playing more and more, presumably ( and this is just an assumption) Wenger is changing his tactics to suit the players he has.

As for his recent international failure ( benched for Wright-phillips, who then came on and changed the game), it was one game.

I honestly think he's currently just suffering because he doesn't fit the team plan, and isn't getting enough time.


I wouldn't consider him world class, but i haven't really followed his progress closely up until lately.

[haywood djablowme]

Blame Sven if anything! He was the one who created this pressure by taking him to the World Cup at such a young age. Sven said it was for experience but all it has created is a mountain of pressure on Theo from all English fans & the English press

Hopefully he will bag a double tomorrow morning to send us thru to the next stage of the UCL & shut the rest of you up