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England & Arsenal winger Theo Walcott 'doesn't understand the game' - Chris Waddle
Gunner does not have a "football brain", says former Three Lions star...
4 Mar 2010 08:58:00
By Adithya Ananth
Former England winger Chris Waddle believes that Theo Walcott "doesn't understand the game", following the youngster's performance in the 3-1 victory over Egypt at Wembley.
The former Southampton star put in a lacklustre performance and was eventually substituted as Shaun Wright-Phillips' arrival heralded the start of some good play that resulted in Peter Crouch and the Manchester City winger getting their names on the scoresheet.
"People keep saying he's young but Wayne Rooney understood the game at 16, 17," Waddle said on BBC's Radio Five Live.
"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."
Walcott earned a surprise call-up to Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but his recent performances may put him a cut below the likes of Wright-Phillips, David Beckham, and Aaron Lennon.
Waddle believes that unlike the aforementioned players, the young Gunner does not have a pristine "football brain".
"It's all off the cuff," he added.
"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 [to have] 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, '[Cesc] Fabregas has learnt and he's young, [Wayne] 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."
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The former Southampton star put in a lacklustre performance and was eventually substituted as Shaun Wright-Phillips' arrival heralded the start of some good play that resulted in Peter Crouch and the Manchester City winger getting their names on the scoresheet.
"People keep saying he's young but Wayne Rooney understood the game at 16, 17," Waddle said on BBC's Radio Five Live.
"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."
Walcott earned a surprise call-up to Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but his recent performances may put him a cut below the likes of Wright-Phillips, David Beckham, and Aaron Lennon.
Waddle believes that unlike the aforementioned players, the young Gunner does not have a pristine "football brain".
"It's all off the cuff," he added.
"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 [to have] 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, '[Cesc] Fabregas has learnt and he's young, [Wayne] 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."
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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