Theo Walcott is the Emporerâ€™s new clothes (10/1)

Post by **gooner.ed** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:02 pm

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=497

usual thread starterâ€¦ So is Theo...

a) already good enough for you

b) not there yet, but you have faith he will improve?

This writer is obviously -

c) seen enough thanks very much, can we ship the lad out before the January transfer window is done!

stearmaster · Post by **stearmaster** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:12 pm

Im going for b. Hope im not wrong either as i was with baptista aka THE LEAST.

highburyJD · Post by **highburyJD** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:25 pm

Theo's first goal v Slava was a total gift
but he did actually play brilliantly in that game.
He was also excellent off the bench v Bolton.
Have to agree with a lot of the article but wengers stubborness has proven the fans wrong before.
(on that note Hoyte played very well when switched to centreback, maybe he can still be a key squad member)

dvbrisgooner1 · Post by **dvbrisgooner1** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:36 pm

I live in hope that the lad can prove a lot of us wrong, but I don't think he has what it takes. I have always found that youngsters that make it to the very top show something right from the off - in my lifetime I'm thinking about Adams, Rocastle, Thomas, Merson, Cole, Fabregas etc. With Walcott I just don't see that something. He seems to be slow in his thought processes - he seems to lack a football brain. When he gets the ball he takes so long to think of what he will do that he is surrounded by defenders. His pace is electric, and when he gets the ball out of his feet he looks dangerous but, all too often, it comes to nothing.

I hope he will come good, but I just don't see it at the moment.

Post by **REB** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:41 pm

as above

i hope he will make it as a first team regular but he's not there yet and as of now is not good enough

Rainham Red · Post by **Rainham Red** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:26 am

I`m afraid I must agree that Theo seems he cannot cut it at the highest level.I keep giving him the benefit of doubt but when he does play he rarely makes the most of it.I hope he proves me wrong because he seems a decent kid and always does his best but unfortunately thats not good enough.

proudtosaythatname · Post by **proudtosaythatname** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:33 am

b (as in Plan B) - come on guys, how long did it take for DB10 and TH14 to come good? Theo clearly has the skills. I think he first needs a regular place

Sammy Mooner · Post by **Sammy Mooner** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:33 pm

Will Theo make it? I believe he will. not all young players mature at the same rate and Theo came late to the game - I believe he didn't even play football till he was eleven. And since coming to Arsenal he's had to entirely relearn the game - given that he used to be able burn everyone off but now finds that no-one does that against Premiership opposition.

I agree he hasn't really shone yet for AFC, but he has shown little bits of class and he is still just 18 - over a whole year younger than Denilson, Bendtner, Song, Connolly and others.

Watch him for the England under 21's however and against his peers he really shows what he's got to offer despite being eligble to play for them for a few more seasons.

His game is going past players and that is the hardest trick of all. A couple of goals, a couple of good games and he will start to fly IMO.

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:59 am

I'm going for option b on this one.
If you watch Theo closely you can see he has all of the attributes necessary to be among the very best. His only problem at the moment is that his is not knitting them together in games. This could be down to confidence or lack of games etc. then again it could be that he will never get them together.
Strangely, he reminds me of Willy Thorne the snooker player (odd comparison I know but bear with me). He was probably the best player in the world during his career and whilst his technical ability and exhibition performances were outstanding, he simply could not do it in matches. Theo could be of a similar ilk.
Hopefully he will progress to become a club and country legend but the jury is definitely still out

Tyrone Boy · Post by **Tyrone Boy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:32 pm

Extremely headless. I've noticed Wenger has not be waxing lyrically about him as he has others eg 'special'. He's definitely no Jeffers but he ain't a Fabregas. We're crying out for an old fashioned, line-hugging winger with rockets up his arse.

proudtosaythatname · Post by **proudtosaythatname** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:13 am

It seems remarkable to me that so many on this forum are slagging off the guy who scored against the Spuds exactly 7 days ago. Last Wednesday evening, remember? We were one down and he got the equaliser. I know Theo was poor against Birmingham - but so was Cesc, he even scored an own goal - so give the Walcott lad a chance. He's only 18 - had a traumatic World Cup where he was taken to Germany and then not picked (imagine how that must have felt to an 18 year old). He has more footballing talent than most of us can ever dream of and he plays for Arsenal. And he loves Arsenal. Do you want to breed another Ashley Cole? If not then PLEASE GIVE THE KID A CHANCE AND STOP SLAGGING HIM OFF!

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:00 pm

Seen enough in the U21's to suggest he can make it with us, sure he hasn't scored enough and has been frustrating but he is only eighteen, trust Arsene and give Walcott some more time.

N17 Gooner · Post by **N17 Gooner** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:28 pm

I've tried to keep faith in him. He hasn't produced even a suggestion that he'll come good.

I don't want to scapegoat him for last night, I think we should keep him on for this season at least. He's just a bit too lightweght. Hopefully he can bulk up a bit (not to Tom Huddlestone proportions though).

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:31 pm

When are people gonna realise that Theo is not gonna make the grade at arsenal. I am one of his biggest supporters and would love him to do well but my faith in him is slowly diminishing.
For me his workrate is not good enough and his footballing brain is too slow. He's a good sub to have but hasn't really impresses me with the games he's started and u often don't even realise he's on the pitch.

If he doesn't make any improvements between now and the end of the season then surely at the very least we have to let him go out on loan.

Also I'm tired at people using his age as an excuse, yes he's young but football has changed a lot over the years and many players are starting out younger. Surely he should of improved a lot more then he has so far. For me he's got worst if anything!!