THEO

[QuartzGooner]

My points were though:

1 - He is not so much "Out of position" as a player whom falls between two positions, as it currently stands he seems to be neither an orthodox winger, nor an orthodox striker.

2 - I did not say he definitely will or should be a central striker, but that it is quite possible he will end up as one further along in his career.

I do not know if it will work, as when he played pushed very far forward against Evra in 2009 at Old Trafford, he was stymied, but that may have been because he was also playing very wide on the right.

We agree that Walcott's best pattern of play is to cut inside, and subsequently he should continue to do that if possible in addition to simply running down the wing.

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Fair enough. It wasn’t so much a point aimed at you alone, more so the general theory put forward a lot on here that Walcott’s performances can be excused due to him being played out of position. He’s hardly being asked to play left-back, and wide in a front 3 should actually be tailor-made for him right now.

[North bank girl]

ALAN HANSEN stuck the knife into Theo Walcott despite his hat-trick against Blackpool.

The BBC pundit left Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker shell-shocked after slaughtering the winger for not having a "footballing brain". Former Liverpool hero Hansen reckons Walcott makes too many wrong decisions when he has time on the ball.

He said; "People have said he doesn't have a footballing brain.And if you haven't got a footballing brain, you can't just acquire one.

"You can't coach a footballing brain but I think he's a wonderful player and he will get better.

"The big problem is when he's got time to think, he never, ever picks out the right ball. If you're going to be the best in the Premier League or the world, you've got to have an all-round game."



source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... g-off.html


Ok Hansen may have some points here but i just hate him even more!

Wrighty's view from the sun today

PICTURE the scene. Theo Walcott has just scored a brilliant hat-trick to help Arsenal thrash Blackpool 6-0 at the Emirates.
He settles down to watch the highlights on Match of the Day, looking forward to seeing it all over again.
But then he gets slaughtered by Alan Hansen. Totally and unnecessarily insulted.
He's told he cannot cross. How he cannot do this, isn't very good at that - and how, when he thinks too much, there are problems.
For me, that's Hansen basically saying the lad is thick - which is insulting and very, very wrong.
I bet Theo, 21, was staring at the TV thinking 'what the hell can I do to get people off my back?'
Now, I know Hansen has a job to do. But he went way over the top. It was harsh, it was unnecessary and it was bang out of order.
I'm not saying Theo should be immune to any criticism. He will agree his crossing needs to be worked on.
But please, give the guy a break. This is a young English player learning his trade and striving to get better. Yet here we have a bloke like Hansen criticising just for the sake of it.
I used to sit there thinking 'I cannot do this, it's too negative.' Why didn't Hansen focus on the positives? The great finishing, the movement, the pace?
He wouldn't have been able to cope with Theo if he was still playing, that's for sure.
Hansen was a reader of the game. More like Rio Ferdinand than John Terry. He would be less involved, not get stuck into the more rough and tumble stuff.
Theo's pace would have done him up like a kipper.
Hearing all this nonsense isn't good for young players. Ever since Theo was called up by Sven Goran Eriksson for the World Cup in 2006 he has had a lot to deal with.
It was a mistake to take him to Germany. Sven didn't do him any favours at all nor did Arsene Wenger for letting him go.
You cannot blame Theo though. What's he going to do? Say he's not up for it? No way. He has become an easy target.
But Saturday's display showed once again just what he is capable of. And for anyone saying, well it was only Blackpool, stop right there.
It still takes class and talent to perform the way he did, no matter who he is playing against.
I have consistently said he should be playing up front rather than out on the wing. He has the pace to scare the life out defenders and is decent on the ball.
I wish people like Hansen would give him a break and let him flourish under the guidance of Wenger.
Remember, this is the same Alan Hansen who said a Manchester United team with the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers wouldn't win anything.
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So my advice to Theo is not to listen, just carry on what you are doing and look forward to ramming all this negative nonsense down certain TV pundits' throats.
To be honest, it's made even more annoying considering the cracking start to the Premier League season.
There were 35 goals this weekend. If ever there was a perfect pick-me- up after the dross served up in the World Cup then this is it. Every team seems to be really going for it.
Fulham had a real go at United on Sunday and I think Alex Ferguson's men are looking a bit vulnerable at the moment.
Dropping two points could be crucial and the decision to let Nani take that penalty was just baffling.
Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs all could have stepped up. So why did Nani take it? I found that really strange.
But there has been nothing unusual about Chelsea's start to the campaign.
They have scored 12 in two games and absolutely destroyed West Brom and Wigan.
That is how champions should play. Carlo Ancelotti and Co are sending out a clear message they are the team to beat and the best around.
And not even Alan Hansen would disagree with that. Then again...


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z0xVhe9R2N

[psychoangus]

Hansen's basically a prick, who will never go back on his initial comments, even if Theo scores a hat-trick in the World Cup final.

So he ballooned a ball over the bar? He looked up, saw nothing on and had a go. It wasn't a waste, it was his only option.

I remember when Darren Gibson was smashing shots into row Z last season and he was commended by MOTD for "looking like a young Scholes" and "not being afraid to have a go".

Lawro's another that needs to fuck right off.

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Hansen is indeed a prick. And Lawrenson a twunt, Linikunt too.

But whatever his reasons for doing it, I don’t think it’s such a bad thing that he ripped into Walcott a bit. If it maintains & even adds to Walcott’s drive to prove people wrong that can only be good for us. Last thing he needed was the same overreaction that happened after his hat-trick for England. Old Beaver-Bonce might have done us a favour inadvertently.

Besides they had 5 minutes of air time to fill cos Liverpool weren’t playing till Monday so what else were they gonna talk about.

[psychoangus]

Hansen is indeed a prick. And Lawrenson a twunt, Linikunt too.

But whatever his reasons for doing it, I don’t think it’s such a bad thing that he ripped into Walcott a bit. If it maintains & even adds to Walcott’s drive to prove people wrong that can only be good for us. Last thing he needed was the same overreaction that happened after his hat-trick for England. Old Beaver-Bonce might have done us a favour inadvertently.

Besides they had 5 minutes of air time to fill cos Liverpool weren’t playing till Monday so what else were they gonna talk about.

True.

[o2ba_gooner]

Let's hope Hansen has egg on his face at the end of the season because Theo has helped Arsenal to win significant silverware and in the process been voted PFA young player of the year.

I've been as disenchanted with Theo's inconsistency as everyone else, but give the kid his due, he's not sulked or moaned, and on Saturday he let his football do the talking. I sincerely hope that Saturday was the really turning of that corner for him, because if it was we are in for some fun times this season and in the future.

[northbankbren]

Think Wrighty was spot on about the theo/hansen saga.

We all know he isnt the finished article and needs to improve, but i think he has a very promising future.

[AJAAFC]

Hansen honours:
Partick Thistle
Scottish First Division: 1
1975–76
Liverpool
FA Charity Shield: 6
1977–78*, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1986–87*, 1989–90
European Cup: 3
1977–78, 1980–81, 1983–84
League Championship: 8
1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
League Cup: 3
1980–81, 1982-83, 1983-4
FA Cup: 2
1985–86, 1988–89

Theo honours:
Nothing!!!

I think that entitles Hansen to his opinion whether you like it or not. If Theo reaches even one-fifth of the above then he would have had a nice little career. For the record I don't think he'll achieve even one-tenth of the above.

I really do wish this forum would contain sensible non-biased debate. There is a big difference between support and just blindly spouting rubbish because you are behind one cause!!!

[QuartzGooner]

Many negative outlooks on this thread, but a few of us believed in the kid.

Not gloating, just think it shows how much shoulder injuries, two operations, consequential smaller injuries and then a loss of confidence can affect a player who when fit and played in the right way is not bad at all.

[AJAAFC]

He hasn't done anything yet but things are certainly looking up in last 8 days...

[USMartin]

My points were though:

1 - He is not so much "Out of position" as a player whom falls between two positions, as it currently stands he seems to be neither an orthodox winger, nor an orthodox striker.

Think you're describing Thierry Henry more than Theo really. At least henry when he arrived. Wenger put him back in his more natural position - the rest is history. Not that adjective. I think Theo is a natural forward precisely because he is not the brilliant mental footballer Henry was. He is stiill struggling with decision making, even now, when he has to decide whether to try and finish himself or to play another man in to finish..

2 - I did not say he definitely will or should be a central striker, but that it is quite possible he will end up as one further along in his career.

Again Theo is more like Michael Owen or even yesterday Ian Wright - in that he is a finisher and not a creator. And he is very conmfident in his finishing now. That power volley just over the bar was something you would expect from Ian Wright in his pomp. Wright could finish from all over the pitch\. Theo seems to feel he can right now.

The problem is when you isolate wide away from finishing opportunities not only are creating less chances for your finisher or finishers but but a very confident player in Walcott has fewer chances.

It basically comes down to this - let Theo be Thoe - stop hoping he'll actually replace Theirry Henry because he won't. Let him do what he does best and you might have a very neat little player, because he's doing what he does best quite well. Its just about all he does actually. but if you can live with that you've got a 15-20 goal scoreer on your hands for now and maybe he can add morre to his game with time.

We agree that Walcott's best pattern of play is to cut inside, and subsequently he should continue to do that if possible in addition to simply running down the wing.

Agreeed for now but I'd rather see him more central or even some 4-4-2 pairing he and VanPersie. They have a terrific understanding in the way Cesc and Arshavin do.

[QuartzGooner]

USMartin:

I have never said I regard Theo as an Henry clone.

My early thoughts on Theo were that he has aspects of both Ian Wright and Samuel Eto'o in his game.

I think your Michael Owen comparision is good too.

[USMartin]

USMartin:

I have never said I regard Theo as an Henry clone.

My early thoughts on Theo were that he has aspects of both Ian Wright and Samuel Eto'o in his game.

I think your Michael Owen comparision is good too.

I wasn't referring you but to our Manager and nmany supporters. My apologies for not being clearer on that. I thought the fact that they gave Theo the 14 shirt wouild have made that clear. But as I say my mistake for not being clearer.

I have mentioned Owen as far back as tow years ago, but that shit from well outside the box was much more Wright than Owen for me. Remember one of the first live games here, Wright bagged one like that against Coventry City I believe. I'm not sure ( damn you memory)

[tel]

Many negative outlooks on this thread, but a few of us believed in the kid.

Not gloating, just think it shows how much shoulder injuries, two operations, consequential smaller injuries and then a loss of confidence can affect a player who when fit and played in the right way is not bad at all.

He's had 2 good games in a week, when he's had 20 good games then maybe I will get excited about him. Yes, he's done more in 2 games than in the previous 2 years and I really hope it continues.