WALCOTT - which position is best etc?

[arseofacrow]

I really enjoy mashed potato with butter and milk.

If you're doing shepherds pie hugh, mix in an egg yolk and parmesan cheese.

[DB10GOONER]

While i know most people have flogged this subject probably until it bled to death i just want to put my opinion up for discussion.
Theo has been with us some time now and its obvious to see he has a limited skill set. He has pace and pace and pace....I think thats about it really. Its not that i dont like the guy but its the way that his agents are obviously holding out for more money than he is worth. He is the exact reason why we tend to stay away from English players because they cost alot n signing and always think above their station.

You see i wouldnt mind if he was consistant. I mean going back in time here, Dixon and Winterburn were limited in their skills but they could be relyed upon week in week out and if they moaned back then i would have payed them whatever because they were worth it in bucketloads. Walcott?? one week yes next 3 weeks no..... I remember that Champions League against Liverpool a few years back. I nearly got into a row with a guy before the game because i was having a chat with friends telling them i didnt rate Walcott and this random older guy tells me im wrong then starts using the 'ive been a gooner 45 years argument' therefore im talking rubbish.. anyway we all know that game he played great.. after the game the guy tries to goad me and says 'see i was right' I wanted to smash his dumb face in because for all his experience he knew nothing about football and was trying to base his whole argument on 1 game. I cant stand stupid Gooners who make us look stupid too. So to sum it up..Do you think we should keep a player who divides everyone and performs 30% of the time and is he worth £100k a week (reportedly)

Welcome to the forum mate. Try not to start a new topic when there is already one on the same subject.

Merging this to the existing Feo Feo thread.

[QuartzGooner]

Theo states he wants to play up front.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8107318

[SteveO 35]

Theo states he wants to play up front.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8107318

Well if Gervinho and Giroud keep up present form he might be given a chance - not that I think he has anywhere near the required qualities for that role. Start him against Coventry on Weds night. This myth about him being a central striker needs to be put to bed once and for all

[1989]

Wenger needs to give the lad a go in the position he wants to play in. He might flop there, but he might also turn into a devastating striker and the decision would be viewed as a masterstroke. He'll never be a good winger, so give him that last chance before he leaves. Then, we won't have anything to regret at least, should he go on to become the player he thinks he can be at another club.

[armchair]

He'll be playing for the victims come January. They need a "goal threat"

[northbank123]

Wenger needs to give the lad a go in the position he wants to play in. He might flop there, but he might also turn into a devastating striker and the decision would be viewed as a masterstroke. He'll never be a good winger, so give him that last chance before he leaves. Then, we won't have anything to regret at least, should he go on to become the player he thinks he can be at another club.

Do agree we might as well give him a chance up there in a nothing game but what part of his game does he think makes him suited to being a striker. His ability to hide behind defenders for most of the game? His ability to fluff his lines when in promising positions? His woeful first touch? Although saying that it seems these attributes have got Gervinho the role so who knows.

[northbank123]

Also time will tell if his haggling is indeed about position or as I suspect pure greed and arrogance: nobody else is going to pay him stupid money to play him primarily as a striker. Fact is any other club near Arsenal's level wouldn't have given him anything like the game time he's had over the last few years based on his performances.

His comments about being a legend like Henry make me sick.

[Gunnersaurus]

If he doesn't play him there against Coventry then he is off.

That will be a sign that Wenger is not interested in playing him there.

[Red Member]

I think Walcott should have been given a chance up front. If he had played there yesterday instead of Gervinho...?

BUT to come out and make a public statement and basically tell Wenger where he wants to play is stupidity in the extreme.I have a feeling Walcott won't be seen playing for Arsenal much longer - which I personally think is a shame.

and just to make that absolutely clear that is my opinion and I am not trying to wind anyone up by saying it. Ok?
I know a lot of people will be glad to see the back of him.

[franksav63]

I think Walcott should have been given a chance up front. If he had played there yesterday instead of Gervinho...?

BUT to come out and make a public statement and basically tell Wenger where he wants to play is stupidity in the extreme.I have a feeling Walcott won't be seen playing for Arsenal much longer - which I personally think is a shame.

and just to make that absolutely clear that is my opinion and I am not trying to wind anyone up by saying it. Ok?
I know a lot of people will be glad to see the back of him.

Not unlike yourself...

[LDB]

BUT to come out and make a public statement and basically tell Wenger where he wants to play is stupidity in the extreme.I have a feeling Walcott won't be seen playing for Arsenal much longer - which I personally think is a shame.

But he has been making these statements for years and has been consistently ignored. Personally I think he's well within his rights to question the managers plans for his career before signing another long term contract. He's certainly not a winger and if he signs on for more of the same at Arsenal then he's pissing away his career.

Imo he's not good enough to play in any position for us but I respect him standing up for himself although I guess you can never fully believe a footballer who says its not about the money.

[QuartzGooner]

I think it is about money but not only about money.

Mainly because quite simply I do not think Walcott could earn huge money at any other UK club because they would not be prepared to pay him huge wages on his current form.
Even on a free transfer I am not sure he could get that much more than £75,000 a week.
No doubt Liverpool would bid for him but who else?
At a push Newcastle? Maybe.
Sunderland? Maybe.

Yes, Anzhi Boomshakalaka would pay him more, but I cannot see Theo wanting to live in Dagestan at this stage of his career.

It is only one game, but I think it is very much in Arsenal's interests to give Walcott a go up front vs Coventry...if he fails it strengthens Arsenal's negotiating hand, if he succeeds then we could have a desperately needed striker option.

[green gooner]

Theo states he wants to play up front.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8107318

Just what part of HIS game is HE seeing that has convinced HIM that HE can play the strikers role

If HE goes one on one with a keeper, put your house on the keeper

[northbank123]

BUT to come out and make a public statement and basically tell Wenger where he wants to play is stupidity in the extreme.I have a feeling Walcott won't be seen playing for Arsenal much longer - which I personally think is a shame.

But he has been making these statements for years and has been consistently ignored. Personally I think he's well within his rights to question the managers plans for his career before signing another long term contract. He's certainly not a winger and if he signs on for more of the same at Arsenal then he's pissing away his career.

Imo he's not good enough to play in any position for us but I respect him standing up for himself although I guess you can never fully believe a footballer who says its not about the money.

It's a strange situation really, because at most clubs the offer of a 5-year contract at £75k a week would show commitment and faith on behalf of the club but at AFC it means little nowadays given how willing we are to throw stupid money at shit players on long-term deals.

Do see what you're saying about Walcott and it's a testament to Wenger's stubbornness that he hasn't even disproved Walcott's self-perpetuated hype about being a striker by playing him there for a few meaningless games. That said, for me the Carling Cup is all about the future. There's no point playing shite squad players who are just running down their contracts like Arshavin, Djourou, Squillaci etc. We might as well give hungry young players a chance, even if they may not be ready for first-team football now. That poses the question: is Theo Walcott part of our future (up front or otherwise)? I personally think letting Giroud give League One defenders the run-around is more important than playing up to Walcott's demands. As I've said above, I'd have more sympathy with Walcott if he'd actually done anything to suggest he's destined to be a great striker. The truth is I can't think of a manager stupid enough to pay him £75-100k/w to play up front. Not even the Mousers.