What now for Walcott?

[Maestro]

we really don't have a natural top quality front man, the weakest position in our current set IMHO especially with The Pod seemingly more comfortable coming in from the left. Giroud is yet to score and find form, Gervinho is ...well Gervinho

In light of this I don't think Theo could do a lot worse up front, in fact I think he'll score a lot of goals in this team especially playing in front of Carzola in tandem with Podolski. He may not be pretty to look at ala Thierry on the ball but I think he will finish his share of goals. If Gervinho and Giroud can be given a crack at it, then I think it's fair to try Theo and see what happens ..now rather than later.

I am not Walcott's biggest fan by any means, but I just think this might work

[Dennis Bendtner]

It's simplistic, but I really think if Wenger thought much of Walcott as a central attacker, he'd have done it by now. The opportunity was been there many seasons back when Wenger last tried two central strikers, but Wenger didn't take it. This 4-6-0 with Gervinho central has transpired, and clearly Wenger sees something in Gervinho to trust him there over Walcott. He's been at Arsenal six years and what I've heard is the odd throwaway from Wenger about his future being through the middle, but most comments comparing him to Wiltord or Freddie Ljungberg. In the other top teams, he would have the same role as a supporting attacker from wide (chelsea, Man City). Ultimately what you would say is, he's probably maxed out as a supporting attacker (solid goal return but inconsistent displays are probably the limit), Wenger doesn't see any point in paying big for that limit and wants him out. He could go to a lower team and get right on the big man little man get it in the mixer thing. Go and join Crouchie at Stoke. Not at Arsenal.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Ach, you need to consider who it is that are slagging him off.

You make a good point and i never take anything Ollie or Charlie say seriously cos they dont know what they are talking about usually but its a slow day and im bored.

WTF you on about show me where i slagged him off today.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I can't believe Charlie said that.

Can't believe i said that without even typing it.

[Syn]

we really don't have a natural top quality front man, the weakest position in our current set IMHO especially with The Pod seemingly more comfortable coming in from the left. Giroud is yet to score and find form, Gervinho is ...well Gervinho

In light of this I don't think Theo could do a lot worse up front, in fact I think he'll score a lot of goals in this team especially playing in front of Carzola in tandem with Podolski. He may not be pretty to look at ala Thierry on the ball but I think he will finish his share of goals. If Gervinho and Giroud can be given a crack at it, then I think it's fair to try Theo and see what happens ..now rather than later.

I am not Walcott's biggest fan by any means, but I just think this might work

He'd get goals. I think Theo, anywhere, will get goals. I have little doubt about that because he is a good finisher. Probably on the Podolski level.

But fans (not you specifically, just 'us') are too simplistic with our solutions. We defend reasonably well against Man City and we didn't win, therefore we need more goals, therefore we need a better finisher, therefore Theo should play. It's the forwards job to score goals, it's the defenders/GK's job to keep clean sheets, and that's all there is to it. That's not how it works. In reality the only stat that matters it how many the team score and how many they concede. I don't like Gervinho. At all. But he offers more on the defensive side and, particularly, with retaining the ball...so he's a better player in terms of keeping the opposition out. In starting Walcott there is no guarantee we could've kept Man City down to the one even if Theo is then putting the ball in the back of the net from Ramsey's chance.

In terms of central forwards, I see Theo and Gerv equally frustrating as 'no.9' prospects but both on opposite ends in terms of their weaknesses. What's more frustrating is that there are probably affordable players that can offer the good bits of Theo along with the good bits of Gerv.

[Cripps_orig]

WTF you on about show me where i slagged him off today.

Never said it had to be today

[Olivier's xmas twist]

He'd get goals. I think Theo, anywhere, will get goals. I have little doubt about that because he is a good finisher. Probably on the Podolski level.

But fans (not you specifically, just 'us') are too simplistic with our solutions. We defend reasonably well against Man City and we didn't win, therefore we need more goals, therefore we need a better finisher, therefore Theo should play. It's the forwards job to score goals, it's the defenders/GK's job to keep clean sheets, and that's all there is to it. That's not how it works. In reality the only stat that matters it how many the team score and how many they concede. I don't like Gervinho. At all. But he offers more on the defensive side and, particularly, with retaining the ball...so he's a better player in terms of keeping the opposition out. In starting Walcott there is no guarantee we could've kept Man City down to the one even if Theo is then putting the ball in the back of the net from Ramsey's chance.

In terms of central forwards, I see Theo and Gerv equally frustrating as 'no.9' prospects but both on opposite ends in terms of their weaknesses. What's more frustrating is that there are probably affordable players that can offer the good bits of Theo along with the good bits of Gerv.

Top post as usual Syn.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Ach, you need to consider who it is that are slagging him off.

remind me what you said about jenkinson ever since we signed him?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

remind me what you said about jenkinson ever since we signed him?

One rule for one and all that, it seems.

[Cripps_orig]

remind me what you said about jenkinson ever since we signed him?

Said he was shit last season which he was

And that hes been decent this season which he has

Dont see anything with what WW has said