Waddle unimpressed with Walcott

[Negative]

Waddle unimpressed with Walcott
March 4, 2010
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By Soccernet staff

Former England winger Chris Waddle believes Theo Walcott "doesn't understand the game" and should not be in the international reckoning.
Theo Walcott
GettyImagesTheo Walcott has suffered with injuries this season

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Walcott made a bright start in England's 3-1 win over Egypt on Wednesday, bursting past defenders to create a simple chance for Frank Lampard, but he struggled in the aftermath and was eventually substituted early in the second half after repeatedly running into trouble.

It has been a difficult season for Walcott and, a fortnight before his 21st birthday, many feel he has yet to show any real development since leaving Southampton for Arsenal in 2006 and Waddle, who won 62 caps for his country, has now suggested there is little hope he will fulfil expectations.

"People keep saying he's young but Wayne Rooney understood the game at 16, 17," Waddle said. "I've never seen any difference in Theo Walcott since he was at Southampton and broke into the team at a very young age.

"I've never seen him develop. He just doesn't understand the game for me - where to be running, when to run inside a full-back, (when to) just play a one-two."

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Waddle said: "It's all off the cuff. The ball comes to him and if he gets a good first touch he might be on his way if he shows pace, but he has a plan in his mind before the ball comes to him.

"He's not looking as if to think, 'This is where I want to be, this is where I want to go, and this is what I'm going to do'. It just seems to be all off the cuff.

"People keep saying to me, 'Oh he's young and he'll learn'. I keep thinking, 'Fabregas has learnt and he's young, Rooney has learnt... they all read the game so well'.

"I just don't think he's got a football brain and he's going to have problems. Eventually he could play up front, but would he know where to run? Let's be honest, good defenders would catch him offside every time.

"I just don't know whether he studies the game, learns the game, or what. He's at a great club where they play fantastic football week-in, week-out, and I'm just surprised he's never developed his game."

Waddle admits that he was surprised to see Walcott in the squad ahead of in-form Manchester City winger Adam Johnson and does not feel the hat-trick he scored against Croatia warrants his continued inclusion.

"I'm surprised Walcott was in the squad," Waddle said. "He doesn't play a lot of football, he hasn't done anything. He hasn't done anything for a long time and I think Croatia was a one-off.

"I just think he's got a lot to learn. I've been more impressed by Adam Johnson at Manchester City than Theo Walcott."

Former England boss Graham Taylor agreed with Waddle. "I'm not going to be in any disagreement at all," he said. "I haven't seen the improvement of Theo Walcott in terms of what Chris is saying of reading the game. I just haven't seen it. I just see a problem there."

[shass]

babel has the same has this problem. walcott could turn out the same way.

[Nerik]

And to think that Sven included him in the 2006 squad ahead of the likes of Defoe. He has definitely not lived up to his reputation. To be fair on him he has had injuries and need a good run of games so that one can see how he develops, but at the moment  he is far from the wonderkid they had hyped up a few years ago.

[Rob Jones]

babel has the same has this problem. walcott could turn out the same way.

Yes, I was thinking about Babel when he was describing the limitations in Walcott's game.  Waddle was a really magnificent winger, one of the best around in his prime.  He was really fantastic especially after his move to Marseille (who were one of the biggest forces in Europe back then) where Papin and Abedi Pele and him formed one of the most feared attacks around.  He knows a few things on wing play and he points out to some important aspects in a winger's game.  It is the kind of limitation that has been holding back players like Babel and Pennant (earlier) here.

[zaphod]

- Still have hopes for him but so far there has been nothing but glimpses

[Nerik]

babel has the same has this problem. walcott could turn out the same way.

Yes, I was thinking about Babel when he was describing the limitations in Walcott's game.  Waddle was a really magnificent winger, one of the best around in his prime.  He was really fantastic especially after his move to Marseille (who were one of the biggest forces in Europe back then) where Papin and Abedi Pele and him formed one of the most feared attacks around.  He knows a few things on wing play and he points out to some important aspects in a winger's game.  It is the kind of limitation that has been holding back players like Babel and Pennant (earlier) here.

Fantastic player indeed. To think that England had Barnes-Gazza-Waddle-Beardsley-Lineker-Platt in the midfield and attack. Then of course Graham Taylor started leaving some of them out of the team.......idiot.

[Nosferatu]

Well if there was ever a time to look at players and see where they are on the international stage, it's in friendlies. I'm hearing a lot of negative things about Walcott lately. But I have seen lots of players get into ruts where they look absolutely brutal and so off the mark only to eventually come out of it and look class again. Who knows where Walcott will end up but by the looks of it, he'll need to come good sooner rather than later.

[shass]

i think lennon has shown a greater improvement this season than swp or walcott and may get the nod on the right for the wc.

[Nosferatu]

Didn't see the match last night but apparently SWP was very impressive and made a good call to get into the squad.

[Nerik]

Scored one and was involved in another. Not a big fan of his but he does seem to make an impact for England when he comes off the bench.

[Nosferatu]

Last two matches I have seen now of Arsenal and Walcott has impressed. Definitely made a difference in the Barca match and against Wolves he was a constant source of menace. Some lovely balls in as well which Eduardo fluffed. Seems to be coming good again.

[kopdude]

Too early to tell.  He always seems to be coming good only to go off the boil again.   Let him do well for 15 to 20 games in a row and then you can say he seems to be coming good.

[Nosferatu]

That usually coincides with an injury that puts him out for a while. But this is good to see because of the pressure he has been under and the way he has been written off (already!). It could have ultimately destroyed his confidence. So he seems to have overcome that and fought his way into the reckoning. Yeah it's still early days and it could all go pear shaped for him but could to see young players come through especially when they are written off.

[shass]

Last two matches I have seen now of Arsenal and Walcott has impressed. Definitely made a difference in the Barca match and against Wolves he was a constant source of menace. Some lovely balls in as well which Eduardo fluffed. Seems to be coming good again.

on motd2, werent dixon or keown highlighting how erratic he was?
one good thing, followed by one useless piece of play? over and over in the wolves game...

if he can cut out the shite, then he'll be excellent. Bit like lennon too in that respect.

[Nosferatu]

Watched in on RTE and hit the pub before the analysis came on. I think one of the guys here was saying the same. Just looked as if all the chances being missed were being created because of him. No point in showing the ones he was fluffing I suppose.