What is stalling Theo??

[Niall_Quinn]

No he never used to start there for Holland either. He used to start on the right of a 4-3-3 for Holland under Van Basten.

RVP has always played behind the striker for us. He had one brief season where he played down the left but he never started there. We had Pires and Reyes in the squad when we were playing 4-4-2. Hleb and Diaby probably got more games down the left when we were playing 4-5-1.

The point being...

Wenger converted RvC to a natural striker when there was nobody else suitable to fill that role. Now we have the fewest striking options available in years and Theo, claiming he wants to be a striker, is sitting the season out. It makes no sense at all. This is his biggest opportunity to get what he claims he wants. The way he's behaving you'd almost think it was really just about the money.

[Kano]

No he never used to start there for Holland either. He used to start on the right of a 4-3-3 for Holland under Van Basten.

RVP has always played behind the striker for us. He had one brief season where he played down the left but he never started there. We had Pires and Reyes in the squad when we were playing 4-4-2. Hleb and Diaby probably got more games down the left when we were playing 4-5-1.

"He can play on the left side of midfield, as a creative player behind the main strikers or as a target man." wenger

just look for van persie left wing and you'll find a million references

i remember just as clearly myself

as nq says, he was converted from a wide player into a second striker and THEN a striker that could do it by himself - the latter when he was 28. theo can try about 'late development' or knuckle down and get on with. you don't get preference until you earn it.

last comment because this doesn't matter too much

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I think Walcott is being left out is because Wenger feels although we would benefit in the short-term by having Walcott score a few goals for us, it will be another big psychological blow and we'd have to start again when he leaves in January. So Wenger thinks we should try to build some momentum and see if Giroud or Podolski or whoever can start finding the net regularly and then we might be on the up for the second half of the season with a settled squad. I don't necessarily agree with it but that's the only way I think it makes sense.

You know it makes sense Rodney you know it makes sense

[Kano]

I've got to question where you're coming from on this. Haven't we just seen a host of promising youth players chopped from the squad? Didn't they fail. Surely, Theo has to look at that and take it into consideration. Even the fans are questioning Wenger's judgement on players signed and his tactical choices. I'd say it says a lot more about Wenger's ability, which has come under intense scrutiny over the past year or so.

you work with someone for 7 years, they play you most weeks and help develop your career - so there has to be trust there. the jokers that got chopped never got the same attention, protection and focus little Feo has for years and if he can't see that then he's an idiot.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think Wenger would have no reason not to play Walcott as a central striker if Walcott genuinely is capable of being a prolific goalscorer for a top team. Say Theo signs a new contract - if we stand to benefit from Walcott playing as a striker then I'm sure Wenger would play him in that position.

At the moment, I think Walcott isn't being given a chance. There can be no footballing reasons why a seemingly in-form goalscorer is left out for a team that have struggled to score. Add to that the fact that Gervinho is now injured. So the reason I think Walcott is being left out is because Wenger feels although we would benefit in the short-term by having Walcott score a few goals for us, it will be another big psychological blow and we'd have to start again when he leaves in January. So Wenger thinks we should try to build some momentum and see if Giroud or Podolski or whoever can start finding the net regularly and then we might be on the up for the second half of the season with a settled squad.

I don't necessarily agree with it but that's the only way I think it makes sense.

And maybe because he's finally figured these players out having been fucked over one too many times. He's human, it must kill him to watch that **** RvC running to the lame and forgetful Utd fans to be worshipped. Henry, gone. Fabregas, gone. RvC, gone. Theo's not even in the same class so why elevate him? Just keep the ungrateful, greedy twat on the bench. And that's the real difference, there's no captaincy being rolled out for Theo Walcott. No team being built around him. He's not and never has been a central figure because he's never delivered at the very top level, never put himself on the same platform as the genuine stars of the game.

If anything Theo has clambered on Wenger's back to get to where he is today. A free invite into the England squad, blew it. The adoration of the fans and a thousand and one changes to impress, blew it. Now the guy is sitting there demanding a reward for his mediocrity and insisting he decides where he plays rather than the manager. Who would put up with that from a Theo Walcott after the real players have already stabbed you in the back?

[Power n Glory]

"He can play on the left side of midfield, as a creative player behind the main strikers or as a target man." wenger

just look for van persie left wing and you'll find a million references

i remember just as clearly myself

as nq says, he was converted from a wide player into a second striker and THEN a striker that could do it by himself - the latter when he was 28. theo can try about 'late development' or knuckle down and get on with. you don't get preference until you earn it.

last comment because this doesn't matter too much

He was a winger before he joined us but was played in the Bergkamp role when he joined and numerous comparisons were made to Bergkamp. RVP wasn't a winger for Arsenal. For Feynoord he was a winger but not for us and in early days when coming on off the bench, he'd in and around the box, playing the Bergkamp role and never hugging the touchline like a winger.

[Power n Glory]

you work with someone for 7 years, they play you most weeks and help develop your career - so there has to be trust there. the jokers that got chopped never got the same attention, protection and focus little Feo has for years and if he can't see that then he's an idiot.

Do you trust Wenger's judgment to get us back winning things after watching us for 7 years?

[Syn]

And maybe because he's finally figured these players out having been fucked over one too many times. He's human, it must kill him to watch that **** RvC running to the lame and forgetful Utd fans to be worshipped. Henry, gone. Fabregas, gone. RvC, gone. Theo's not even in the same class so why elevate him? Just keep the ungrateful, greedy twat on the bench. And that's the real difference, there's no captaincy being rolled out for Theo Walcott. No team being built around him. He's not and never has been a central figure because he's never delivered at the very top level, never put himself on the same platform as the genuine stars of the game.

If anything Theo has clambered on Wenger's back to get to where he is today. A free invite into the England squad, blew it. The adoration of the fans and a thousand and one changes to impress, blew it. Now the guy is sitting there demanding a reward for his mediocrity and insisting he decides where he plays rather than the manager. Who would put up with that from a Theo Walcott after the real players have already stabbed you in the back?

Be that as it may, Wenger has lost his right to credibly take a stand. His chance was this summer and he blew it. I hope it hurts him every time RVP scores. He deserves it for being a sell-out himself. He has no right to complain about greed in football because he is figurehead for the biggest corporate raping in football right now.

More to the point though, I agree that Theo hasn't proven anything. And I agree he isn't 'worth' being our highest paid player. But we don't know the salaries being offered to judge either way. What we do know is that Walcott is 23. He is now at the age where players start to produce good performances consistently. He was a kid before. We had little right to expect much more. Same with Ramsey now...don't expect more. Right now he's getting his head down and on the limited occasions he has played, he is doing his job. My point is not that we should cry over Walcott leaving but that he can't really be 'punished' for anything football-related. For wanting more money than he's worth, perhaps, but again, we don't know the specifics to judge.

[Niall_Quinn]

Be that as it may, Wenger has lost his right to credibly take a stand. His chance was this summer and he blew it. I hope it hurts him every time RVP scores. He deserves it for being a sell-out himself. He has no right to complain about greed in football because he is figurehead for the biggest corporate raping in football right now.

More to the point though, I agree that Theo hasn't proven anything. And I agree he isn't 'worth' being our highest paid player. But we don't know the salaries being offered to judge either way. What we do know is that Walcott is 23. He is now at the age where players start to produce good performances consistently. He was a kid before. We had little right to expect much more. Same with Ramsey now...don't expect more. Right now he's getting his head down and on the limited occasions he has played, he is doing his job. My point is not that we should cry over Walcott leaving but that he can't really be 'punished' for anything football-related. For wanting more money than he's worth, perhaps, but again, we don't know the specifics to judge.

I'm not excusing Wenger and I also wonder why it has taken him so long to figure out what these players are all about. He seems naive in the extreme in this respect. Theo's playing for his next contract, isn't he? And it's not with us. Seen it before, RvC gave the master class. Won't have escaped Theo's notice.

[Power n Glory]

Be that as it may, Wenger has lost his right to credibly take a stand. His chance was this summer and he blew it. I hope it hurts him every time RVP scores. He deserves it for being a sell-out himself. He has no right to complain about greed in football because he is figurehead for the biggest corporate raping in football right now.

More to the point though, I agree that Theo hasn't proven anything. And I agree he isn't 'worth' being our highest paid player. But we don't know the salaries being offered to judge either way. What we do know is that Walcott is 23. He is now at the age where players start to produce good performances consistently. He was a kid before. We had little right to expect much more. Same with Ramsey now...don't expect more. Right now he's getting his head down and on the limited occasions he has played, he is doing his job. My point is not that we should cry over Walcott leaving but that he can't really be 'punished' for anything football-related. For wanting more money than he's worth, perhaps, but again, we don't know the specifics to judge.

This is where it gets a bit childish and contradictions crop up. Wenger is no victim and he's been the spokesperson the the long con for years now. He's not getting fucked over by anyone. As for the Board, they have a history of lying and misleading fans so I don't trust them when it comes to contract talks because we have lost too many players because of this nonsense.

And I don't get why people would argue for Theo to sign a contract and then double back and say he's 'shit anyway' if he doesn't sign.