What now for Walcott?

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Learning to shoot and beating a man is different too

But they go hand in hand and it's what makes a top 10 prem striker
You have to work yourself the space to get your shot off as it were...Walcott's goals often come from a through ball where he only has the keeper to beat, rarely is he able to score from a position with defenders in front of him...which is why...Arsene has been getting him to learn that skill from the right hand side. Every striker you mentioned in your previous post from Holt to Defoe, know how to work a defender to create space for the shot. Walcott has been getting there, but just can't do it consistently...once he does am sure he'll be ready to play up front.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

If it's Walcott then it must be because he's Durham's been reading GW. It's not been in the papers or anything.

[Power n Glory]

But they go hand in hand and it's what makes a top 10 prem striker
You have to work yourself the space to get your shot off as it were...Walcott's goals often come from a through ball where he only has the keeper to beat, rarely is he able to score from a position with defenders in front of him...which is why...Arsene has been getting him to learn that skill from the right hand side. Every striker you mentioned in your previous post from Holt to Defoe, know how to work a defender to create space for the shot. Walcott has been getting there, but just can't do it consistently...once he does am sure he'll be ready to play up front.

The Chelsea goals. Working the ball to get space for a shot and beating the man are very different. Giroud and such strikers don't need to fully beat a man to a shot off. Sometimes all it takes is a touch forward and bang.

None of those strikers would be able to beat a left back consistently.

[Power n Glory]

Wenger says anything to protect his players even the disloyal ones. It's not really about the money for Walcott himself but it sure is for those representing him...don't pretend any differently...it's their job to make the most money possible, often at the player's expense.
Not heard any booing, and if there has been then that's just plain silly, from silly people.
Yes, pretty sure there were lots of reports stating walcott's party wouldn't sit down for talks until they'd seen we'd qualified for CL...then it was a difference on salary and now it's about playing upfront. It's not outrage to be honest - just cynicism. If he signs I will be more than happy as I rate him and think we can get more out of him, but the whole situation is rather stinky if you ask me, and it's very unlikely he'll sign before Jan with the way it's gone so far.

Isn't it his dad that represents him?

[IBK]

My tuppence worth?

If Wenger - who sees Theo every day in training - thought he would work effectively in our current system, then he would be playing him. Nothing to do with the contract situation.

It's all about what the player is worth. The club don't think he's worth more to us than £75K pw - and I would tend to agree. If another team want's to pick him up for more than that next year because he's on a Bosman that's their issue. There may be some takers, and if clubs won't pay that for him now either because they don't think he's worth more than we are offering or because they are confident he won't sign with us at the price we want - that's life. It doesn't mean that we should pay more than our own valuation.

I feel a bit sorry for Theo, because he is a striker not a winger - and I can sympathise with him not being able to play in his favoured position. But its no reason for us to play him there if it doesn't suit our system. He has been with us for a long time, and times change. That having been said, I have no doubt that his agent/PR team - having seen how RVC ballsed it up - are being a lot more careful with positioning their client - hence today's reported comments.

To think there are not financial issues mixed up with a desire to play in a favoured position is naive. To want us to pay over the odds for a player who is not worth £100Kpw to us is stupid.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Isn't it his dad that represents him?

It was initially, but I think they now have an agent/lawyer too.
To be honest, pay Walcott 100K/pw, give him a go upfront but explain to him that if the team needs him to play on the right, due to injuries or others being off form, then he has to play there. He's actually very good at covering the RB...I think he'd be wasted up front to be honest. There's nothing stopping him cutting inside, going central and taking the shot. He needs to be more greedy in a way. he needs to think like a striker...he's not selfish enough...so he needs to learn that to an extent.

[Cripps_orig]

he's not selfish enough...so he needs to learn that to an extent.

Have you seen who his manager is?

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Have you seen who his manager is?

Yeah, but by being selfish, I mean knowing when to shoot, not just shooting for the sake of it. Henry got it down to a 't'.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

My tuppence worth?

If Wenger - who sees Theo every day in training - thought he would work effectively in our current system, then he would be playing him. Nothing to do with the contract situation.

It's all about what the player is worth. The club don't think he's worth more to us than £75K pw - and I would tend to agree. If another team want's to pick him up for more than that next year because he's on a Bosman that's their issue. There may be some takers, and if clubs won't pay that for him now either because they don't think he's worth more than we are offering or because they are confident he won't sign with us at the price we want - that's life. It doesn't mean that we should pay more than our own valuation.

I feel a bit sorry for Theo, because he is a striker not a winger - and I can sympathise with him not being able to play in his favoured position. But its no reason for us to play him there if it doesn't suit our system. He has been with us for a long time, and times change. That having been said, I have no doubt that his agent/PR team - having seen how RVC ballsed it up - are being a lot more careful with positioning their client - hence today's reported comments.

To think there are not financial issues mixed up with a desire to play in a favoured position is naive. To want us to pay over the odds for a player who is not worth £100Kpw to us is stupid.

totally spot on.

[Cripps_orig]

Yeah, but by being selfish, I mean knowing when to shoot, not just shooting for the sake of it. Henry got it down to a 't'.

I agree with that. Twas against Soton when he should have shot instead of looking for Giroud who did f all to make space and receive the pass and the chance was gone. Fortunately we were 4-1 up and Theo scored later on with a decent finish with his left foot.

Should have had 2 though