If I can swallow my pride over Walcott, then anyone can
Theo Walcott: A player who has changed my opinion dramatically in recent months
18 months ago, if someone had asked me my opinion on Theo Walcott, I would have been at the front of the queue to tell anyone who would listen a long list of deficiencies in his game. It pained me to watch him play.
Yet now, having spent the previous 18 months in denial at the player’s improved performances, it finally seems time to admit it – Theo Walcott has developed into a very dangerous football player.
18 months ago I felt justified in my criticisms of Walcott, in the main being that he would consistently run down blind alleys, he had no final ball and above all his touch was far too inconsistent for a Premier League player.
Yet now, it seems that Walcott has improved those aspects of his game no end. In big games he has performed well more often than not, scoring and creating goals as well as seemingly developing a much more sure touch.
Walcott’s improvement was clearly not overnight, it was a gradual one and even a month ago despite the evidence I was still firmly questioning Theo’s role at Arsenal and for England. It was then I realised it was time to say enough is enough and accept his improvement.
Walcott is far from the finished article, he himself will admit that and it is likely he will always frustrate me, with my natural inclination being towards quietly efficient players. The Frank Lampard’s of this world you may say. Offer me a player who will score half a dozen 30 yarders a year or a player who will score 10 tap ins and I will take the fox in the box every day of the week.
However, the transformation of my opinion on Theo Walcott got me thinking, while not wishing to stereotype, football supporters are a notoriously stubborn breed. In my experience, those who are passionate and talk about football do not express their opinions lightly. Indeed, once an opinion has been expressed you’ll be hard pushed to see a change in that person’s opinion.
‘He’s poor going forward and he’s poor defensively, what is he doing?’, ‘He’s an awful referee’ and ‘Tactically, he doesn’t have a clue’ are just the sort of criticism we hear of players, referees and managers on a weekly basis.
The harsh reality of football is the unforgiving nature of supporters. One mistake is more than enough to wipe out 10 good acts.
A striker who scores week in week out will still be slated for missing a tap in. A referee who performs consistently well all season will have his reputation tarnished for one mistake in a big game. A manager who has shown loyalty in transforming an entire club will be slated following a downturn in his clubs form, for a recent example just look at the recent criticism of Mick McCarthy at Wolves.
Michael Carrick is another player at the top level who springs to mind when considering what some might see as undue criticism. At various points in his time at Manchester United Carrick has faced criticism from journalists and fans alike, with the argument often that he has not regularly contributed significantly to the side, indeed went the whole of last season without scoring.
Yet, in his 5 seasons at Old Trafford the club have won 4 league titles, a Champions League and a league cup. Carrick has played in over 40 games in every one of those seasons. Surely such criticism is unjust? Football is a team game and if Sir Alex Ferguson feels justified in selecting Carrick, with United winning games, surely that must be good enough.
Football fans will always have opinions, it’s what the game is based on. While some players are idolised, others must face the wrath of the fans, it is natural.
In the same way, football fans are stubborn, although every so often swallowing our pride is something we have to do, if I can with Walcott, anyone can.
Do you agree with my comments on the stubbornness of football fans? Comment and follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries
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this is music to my ears
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Sorry all i want to say is Theo has improved hes gone from making me want to punch myself to just plain old making me want to punch my dog. He has not improved he runs around like a headles chicken when he gets the ball hes more likley to lose it than do something with it and hes shots litterally look like a 90 year old lady has just taken a shot.
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Nice article I liked your points about football fans at the end. I too am a slightly reformed Walcott critic. I think he is playing well at the moment and showing signs of development. I’m reserving my judgement slightly , there have been a few false dawns in Theo’s career so far. But if he can maintain this form then a lot of people will have to reassess there opinions.
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Only true fans can swallow their pride, props to you mate
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@ Nonono, if you Theo makes you want to punch your dog, I hope it rips your small M&m sized balls off. If you took your head out of alan hansen’s arse and based your opinion on objectively assessing theo’s performances over the last year, you’d be all the wiser for it. Spouting the regurgitated yack that passes for insight that’s regulary re-fried by Mug of the day and shite sports, and talkshite doesn’t make you an expert, it makes you sound like a cnut.
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Just 1 good game against chelsea make you change your mind? Walcott would still be headless in the next 9 games.
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Toks Omonubi Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 12:10 am
From your comment I can see that you judge a good player only by the goals he scores. Walcott has been well improved for a while now if you actually watch the games.
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Ryo Oxlade-Chamberlain Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 3:36 am
We’re in the CL this year because of Walcott’s goals home and away. He often steps up for the big games as his piledriver at the near post against Chelsea confirms, not to mention he tore Cole a new one all game. People bag him because he’s not the greatest technically, he doesn’t have to be. One smart pass can put the boy through, clean through as no one can stay with him and he’ll most prob. score.
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Finally someone can actually saying it like it is instead of clinging unto preconceptions and lazy journalists. After Alex Song, Theo has actually been our most improved player of late.
But like with Mike Ashley, people just ignore the good and wait for his next slip up to jump on the criticism bandwagon.
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What a rubbish article. Does anyone actually slate Walcott anymore? Not really, not since Hansen’s beat-down on the MOTD sofa.
He’s 21, he’ll get better, the thing to remember with him is his age, he’s got years ahead of him. He’s likely to always be a flawed player, but good at what he does which isn’t so bad i guess.
Little tip by the way – never start an article with numbers….it just looks amateurish and messy. It’s like starting an article or sentnece with the word ‘And’ it just doesn’t look right.
Arsenal fans love a puff piece.
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Toks Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 9:54 am
You need to get out of your bubble mate. Either that or you’re just a critic merchant.
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dangerous football player? you must be kidding right.
Improved – yes (even a bit) but no way he is a dangerous football player. He is one of the overrated football player ever!
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