WALCOTT - which position is best etc?

[QuartzGooner]

He has a ton of resolve, fighting spirit and professionalism.
He puts in the mileage and anyone who has fought back from the serious injuries he has had, to then be fitter and stronger, has shown determination.
He shows for the ball much more than he used to.
He also is capable of invention and trying the unexpected.
But he does have a tendency to drift out of games, and to run into dead ends more than one would expect of a player of his experience.
As for how good he thinks he is, he has confidence and all players need that.
He is in a dip at the moment, but he will bounce back.
I know not all fans can get to the stadium but he is a player who is much better appreciated at games, when one can see the whole pitch and the hard and intelligent off the ball work he does, than on the TV where less of the pitch is seen.

[northbank123]

Over the course of a season he will probably have about 2 great games, 8-10 decent games where he offers something at least and then the other 70% will be an unmitigated disaster where he is absolutely woeful, makes no contribution and means we might as well be playing with 10. Fine for a poorer side who only expect to pick up wins here and there, nowhere near good enough for a side that expects to win most weeks.

[arseofacrow]

I wouldn't give two hoots if he was sold.

Turns up, then doesn't.

10 fucking years. Cheers Arsene.

[Jock Gooner]

Sorry Quartz I just can't think of any games over the many years now when young wally has taken a game by the scruff of the neck against a team that matters when we need somebody to step up - he just can't do it. Lets be straight he guy really doesn't have an ounce of fight in him - he always comes across on the telly as a nice guy and that is his problem as he lacks genuine competitiveness or a mean streak which might just help him to be effective. As somebody said earlier, the fact that he has played us through two sets of pay deals is just another reminder that the mighty frenchman is an out of touch halfwit.

[cardinal2011]

Best position? Man City subs bench. Hopefully this will happen very soon.

[Sean]

Testimonial this summer?

First time we've had a player at the club for a decade since Dennis, I believe? They've normally given up by now in the Cashburton era

I had to laugh back when loads of Gooners slagged off Chis Waddle for saying that Walcott 'didn't have a football brain'. He was spot on

His last two payrises were underserved, but always had a great run of form before getting a long-term injury.

To be fair, we did sign him as a striker and played him on the right wing for 97% of his time here. Plus with 4-2-3-1 in vogue, it came at the wrong time for him.

[QuartzGooner]

Jock

He is a big game player.

How about the goals against Chelsea and Spurs?

Or Barcelona?

Or getting off the mark in both the League and FA Cup Finals?

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

Not to mention the excellent goal against city recently, a finish none of our other great players could muster that's for sure.

He's in poor form but will come good he always does, tbf he would have another assist if the French imposter hadn't missed from a foot.

His movement is the best in this team by a country mile too, it's just a lot of the time unless Ozil is on the ball he never receives it.

[StuartL]

Not to mention the excellent goal against city recently, a finish none of our other great players could muster that's for sure.

He's in poor form but will come good he always does, tbf he would have another assist if the French imposter hadn't missed from a foot.

His movement is the best in this team by a country mile too, it's just a lot of the time unless Ozil is on the ball he never receives it.

I have noticed Walcott make many, great runs but as Lefty said he has not been spotted, so he has to then check back or come back from an offside position back into play again.

Would benefit enormously from the occasional ball over the top rather than the slow build up which negates his greatest asset his pace.

He definitely needs to brush up on poaching goals from rebounds, following in on keepers etc as he all too often stands and watches rather than anticipates.

[northbank123]

Not to mention the excellent goal against city recently, a finish none of our other great players could muster that's for sure.

He's in poor form but will come good he always does, tbf he would have another assist if the French imposter hadn't missed from a foot.

His movement is the best in this team by a country mile too, it's just a lot of the time unless Ozil is on the ball he never receives it.

Erm no he won't and no he doesn't. Walcott has spent the last decade flattering to deceive, if he was as reliable as you suggest there wouldn't even be a debate. At some point - could be tomorrow, could be in 6 games time - he will have a good game and grab a goal or two. He might even do it the game after that again, or he might be shite again for the next 8 games. Nobody fucking knows with him.

If there is one player who you cannot rely upon to provide consistency it is Walcott. You know that over a course of a season you might get about 5 games where he is really dangerous, and as Quartz says he does tend to grab goals in big games, but you also know that 70% of the time he will be horrendously ineffective. It's just not good enough to get near a starting berth in a title-challenging side.

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

Not to mention the excellent goal against city recently, a finish none of our other great players could muster that's for sure.

He's in poor form but will come good he always does, tbf he would have another assist if the French imposter hadn't missed from a foot.

His movement is the best in this team by a country mile too, it's just a lot of the time unless Ozil is on the ball he never receives it.

Erm no he won't and no he doesn't. Walcott has spent the last decade flattering to deceive, if he was as reliable as you suggest there wouldn't even be a debate. At some point - could be tomorrow, could be in 6 games time - he will have a good game and grab a goal or two. He might even do it the game after that again, or he might be shite again for the next 8 games. Nobody fucking knows with him.

If there is one player who you cannot rely upon to provide consistency it is Walcott. You know that over a course of a season you might get about 5 games where he is really dangerous, and as Quartz says he does tend to grab goals in big games, but you also know that 70% of the time he will be horrendously ineffective. It's just not good enough to get near a starting berth in a title-challenging side.

Eeeerrrrmmmmmm yes he does and yes he does eeeeerrrrrrrrmmmmmmm

[northbank123]

Actually you're right all hail King Theo, proven class time and time again

[Sean]

I have noticed Walcott make many, great runs but as Lefty said he has not been spotted, so he has to then check back or come back from an offside position back into play again.

Would benefit enormously from the occasional ball over the top rather than the slow build up which negates his greatest asset his pace.

He definitely needs to brush up on poaching goals from rebounds, following in on keepers etc as he all too often stands and watches rather than anticipates.

Oh, this. So much this!

This tippy-tappy shite hurts us more than it helps us. Catching teams on the break and destroying them with pace and power was when we were at our best. It's gutting that TOF has mostly knocked that on the head. Watching us play tippy-tappy is torture (especially the Newcastle game, fucking hell).

[QuartzGooner]

Not to mention the excellent goal against city recently, a finish none of our other great players could muster that's for sure.

He's in poor form but will come good he always does, tbf he would have another assist if the French imposter hadn't missed from a foot.

His movement is the best in this team by a country mile too, it's just a lot of the time unless Ozil is on the ball he never receives it.

I have noticed Walcott make many, great runs but as Lefty said he has not been spotted, so he has to then check back or come back from an offside position back into play again.

Would benefit enormously from the occasional ball over the top rather than the slow build up which negates his greatest asset his pace.

He definitely needs to brush up on poaching goals from rebounds, following in on keepers etc as he all too often stands and watches rather than anticipates.

Agree very much.

This is what one sees in the stadium that television does not always pick up.
And it creates space for others because he makes defenders track his runs on purpose to help others, or he can also lose defenders if need be.
So many times he is in space and shows for the ball and it is passed elsewhere.

I do see the other side of the argument and it is true he has only once shown consistency over a whole season.
He also misses shots that he should easily score from (and then scores from ridiculous angles and tight situations that others would not even get a shot off from!).
And for all his good movement off the ball he can run with the ball straight into a defender (or equally zip past one like only Bellerin can match!)
I do not though agree with the "He lacks bottle" view, what is that based on?
Him being level headed and calm in interviews?

But on balance, I would much rather have him in the squad than sell him, especially with Rosicky nearing the end, Oxlade-Chamberlain not showing what we hoped and with Wilshere's continuing injury problems.

[StuartL]

I would say the lack of bottle is a general assessment of his bravery ( or lack of ) he is not willing to put head or foot into an area if it meant tacking a whack.