Transfer Rumour Theo Walcott

[trueblue10]

I thought the word coming out of Arsenal is that he's on his way mate, it's just a question of where?. You have to think we have at least as much chance as Southampton if they're our main competition.

Personally I chose the cheese option on this, mainly because of his injury record over the years. He's certainly better and more experienced than what we have here at the moment, but there are also question marks over his shelf life and of course will have little sell on value.

His name was touted in the summer and my view then was that we should be doing better. But I suppose it's an indication of how much our stock has fallen since the start of the season, and how much fans expectations have lowered, that 2/3 of people on here would now be happy with this acquisition.

With the return of Bolasie and the addition of Walcott, the side is much better equipped to play the counter, so I can see why Allerdyce is keen on him. They will both also be important players when playing away from home generally. We massively missed Bolasie last season in this regard.

However, Allardyce also needs to come up with a system of playing against lesser teams who come to Goodison and park the bus. Dare I say parking the bus ourselves is NOT the answer, without upsetting the SA fan club. Personally I would play a high line with Keane and Holgate in the middle of a back 4. Play Rooney in midfield and find room for Vlasic or Lookman or both. Maybe even try 2 up front.

Oh, and do something at left back please. We won't function properly as a football team when Martina is still there. If Baines return is not imminent then something needs to be done.

Good post.

A high back line of Holgate and Keane is what we should be aiming for.

Coleman ( hopefully back to his best) and a new LB bombing forward supporting Walcott and Bolasie or Lookman/Vlasic. Not as we are doing now, asking our wingers to cover our LB all the time.

We do have the players here to play the type of football we all crave, its just playing them in their correct position we are not so good at.

And yes, left back is a big problem for us at the moment, but i have mentioned this once or twice elsewhere.

 

[Timak]

Jermaine Defoe

Not pace reliant. Game was penalty box finishing.

 

[GraemeS1980]

Same as i was saying the other day mate, depends what metrics you are using to determine a players peak age, so many variables that a single study with set parameters and a small time frame can't possibly produce a definitive answer.

Will give you examples why, do they take into account how long the player has been playing/training at the top level - number of games - miles on his clock etc?
Do they take into account age cross indexed with injury histories to show how a player whose not suffered with any significant injury will tend to age much better?
Do they take into account how professional the player is, for example Ronaldo current one compared to Brazilian Rondaldo?

The person you quoted said about players relying on pace as their main attribute and he can't think of any who was still at his peak post 30.

Can give one straight away, Vardy is 31 - still absolutely as fast as he ever was.

Won't argue that pace declines with age - only have to check sprinters and world records for that obvious fact, but will throw out another stat to balance that, longer distance runners tend to become better as they age, similar parallels can be said about footballers, Giggs who he stated etc - his best season for United was when he was 30, and arguably his greatest ever game was then too against Juventus, Similarly Ronaldo has become a slower BUT better player at 30 than he was at 25 (his supposed peak age).

It's far too wide a subject to give a definitive answer on

Sensible post mate, I believe every player has to be individually assessed, it’s like a car you could have two identical cars same age but with different mileage on the clock it might not mean the one with higher mileage is better it depends on how it’s been looked after. This could be said for footballers Giggs looked after himself and went on and on and was still quality

 

[dannyboy]

Fair shout but:

3 seasons before turning 30 (27-29 years old) 106 games and 53 goals
3 seasons (30-32) 78 games and 26 goals

The decline happened albeit from a very high starting point.

It's not a fair shout because one of the players we're talking about is Robben and the other is Theo Walcott. You can't compare one of the best players in the modern era with someone who spends his time sitting on the bench.

 

[bluestevon]

Sensible post mate, I believe every player has to be individually assessed, it’s like a car you could have two identical cars same age but with different mileage on the clock it might not mean the one with higher mileage is better it depends on how it’s been looked after. This could be said for footballers Giggs looked after himself and went on and on and was still quality

Gareth Barry - looked after himself, stayed free from injury and despite an insane number of games he was still quality well into his 30's

same can be said on a lesser level about Milner - be surprised if he's not still playing well into his mid 30's at a solid level as well.

Gary Speed was anothe rexample who had both those things and was playing well into his mid/late 30's at a very good level still.

You combine the top end talent with that dedication AND stay clear of injury then you end up with a Ronaldo, Giggs etc

 

[MACCA75]

Not pace reliant. Game was penalty box finishing.

In the top ten ever in the Prem for goals outside the box.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Hope that’s the plan he can tide us over while we wait for the youngsters to mature.

Only way I see us breaking the 6/7th ceiling is having Lookman, holgate, Kenny, Davies, dowell, vlasic, bangimine, Pickford, Calvert-Lewin possibly joe Williams & Callum Connolly all at the club when they are aged 23/24.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Good post.

A high back line of Holgate and Keane is what we should be aiming for.

Coleman ( hopefully back to his best) and a new LB bombing forward supporting Walcott and Bolasie or Lookman/Vlasic. Not as we are doing now, asking our wingers to cover our LB all the time.

We do have the players here to play the type of football we all crave, its just playing them in their correct position we are not so good at.

And yes, left back is a big problem for us at the moment, but i have mentioned this once or twice elsewhere.

Nope, Holgate is one of the slowest defenders in the prem, you don't play a high line with him as centre back.

 

[Caolam]

Personally I think Walcott is a good buy for us at the moment, he is not the type of player a premiership winning side is going to buy but he has been in the top four for years. He can help lift us from also rans to challenging for Europe. I am also encouraged that Fat Sam is looking a forwards.
If it is a choice between Walcott and the defenders we need then I would take the defenders but there is no reason we can't have both.

 

[streeky]

Club still trying to make statement signings. save yourself some money grow a pair and play one of the most exciting young players in the premiere league, A Lookman.

 

[EnglishRoundabout]

Nope, Holgate is one of the slowest defenders in the prem, you don't play a high line with him as centre back.

Holgate slow? Definitely not slow. He’s naturally athletic. Looks a fine prospect to me.

 

[Zatara]

You realise that you need some ‘older’ experienced players in a team don’t you?

David Silva is 32, Kompany 31, Fernandinho 32. Aguero 29, Otamendi 29. Etc.

Key players in possibly the best Prem side ever.

Which of those players is reliant on pace?

Silva is a playmaker...they can last ages.
Kompany hardly plays as hes always crocked
Fernandinho is a defensive midfielder...can last ages
Aguero was usurped by a 20 year old
Otamendi is a centre back...can last ages.

Were referring to a winger who relies on pace and is injury prone.

 

[Zatara]

Nope, Holgate is one of the slowest defenders in the prem, you don't play a high line with him as centre back.

In a thread where 60%+ of posters want to waste money on Theo Walcott.

This is the strangest post.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Players don’t suddenly become snails the day they hit 30. Real life isn’t like FIFA ffs. Justin Gatlin is 35 and he beat the much younger Usain Bolt in the 100m last year.

Have his legs gone?

 

[Professor Toffee]

Players don’t suddenly become snails the day they hit 30. Real life isn’t like FIFA ffs. Justin Gatlin is 35 and he beat the much younger Usain Bolt in the 100m last year.

Have his legs gone?

Maybe He has roids on his side