Sir Bobby and El Tel criticize Walcott selection

[May261999]

Story (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060601/3/2ldo7.html)

"I wouldn't have picked him," said Robson of Walcott.

"He's totally inexperienced and very young, and I would have rather taken a proven striker who has scored goals in the Premiership, such as Defoe or Bent.

"They have both had decent seasons and I would have trusted them rather than Walcott. It's a risk and brave decision but I hope it's not a foolhardy one."

Ok, playing time aside, how different is Walcott's selection from Bull's in 1990?

[acricketer]

Its easy to say what you would have done, with nothing riding on it. Its an opinion. Let's hope Sven and Theo prove everyone wrong, after all, thats part of the magic of the world cup, outsiders coming from nowhere and marking themselves down in history.

( I quite liked Steve Bull!)

[realGaurab]

I wish when England plays Brazil, Rooney will be substituted in the 60 min by Walcott and then he scores England winner. This will shut everybody up.

[BicOfBorg]

Sir Bobby and El Tel both won NOTHING, too unadventurous maybe?

Suprise is the best form of attack, and Walcott is an unknow entity to our apponents.

[Kan]

Sir Bobby and El Tel both won NOTHING, too unadventurous maybe?

Suprise is the best form of attack, and Walcott is an unknow entity to our apponents.

Sir Bobby is a great manager that has won a fair amount, I think. If you talking about international level then Sven has won pants all as well.

[gunnersfan]

im sick of all this, ' i wouldnt of picked him ' etc, hes been picked, simple as.

[Brigadier]

Sir Bobby and El Tel both won NOTHING, too unadventurous maybe?

Suprise is the best form of attack, and Walcott is an unknow entity to our apponents.


Problem being, is that he's also an unknown entity to us.

Taking uncapped who have display promise having played in the premiership, is a risk, but at least some justification can be made there. Taking a player who has never played at the highest level, and has only ever played 10-15 senior games (if I remember correctly), is the gamble of a man who has nothing to lose.

I wish the kid well, regardless of the fact that he plays for the scum :p , but you do worry that it could hinder his development if he has a bad tournament.

[Kan]

im sick of all this, ' i wouldnt of picked him ' etc, hes been picked, simple as.

I understand gunnersfan, but the media usually ask them for their opinion and they respond with honesty. That is all to it.

[cookie-monster]

Problem being, is that he's also an unknown entity to us.
...Taking a player who has never played at the highest level...is the gamble of a man who has nothing to lose.


Sven got nothing to lose leaves us one big question - having nothing to lose is a good thing or a bad thing?

I’m not sure.
Walcott - nobody knows him and therefore we don't know what he can or can't do. The only thing I know is that it is football and things happen before and England does have some successful history regarding very young football players that is being throwing into the national team.

[Brigadier]

Sven got nothing to lose leaves us one big question - having nothing to lose is a good thing or a bad thing?

I’m not sure.
Walcott - nobody knows him and therefore we don't know what he can or can't do. The only thing I know is that it is football and things happen before and England does have some successful history regarding very young football players that is being throwing into the national team.

We do, yes. But I just feel that if we had 4 fit, on-form strikers, there's no harm in taking the kid. There wouldn't be any pressure on him, and he could learn a lot, regardless of whether he deserves to be there ahead of others.

However, with the situation we find ourselves in (1 crocked striker, 1 striker who hasn't quite gained his sharpness but will most likely do it on the big stage, and 1 striker who can't head accurately towards goal despite his biggest natural asset being his height) I feel it's a bit foolhardy. Considering how the british media has now talked him up, short of scoring a hat-trick in the final he may well be perceived as a failed experiment. Experience does count for a lot, especially on the biggest stage of all, pace just isn't a substitution for that.

[papilogone]

I think they're not wise to follow the media and focus on Walcott. Will it be strange that some ones in the squad of 23 not get used throughout the campaign? remember Ronaldo in 1994, whose dorsal name was 'Ronaldinho'? What if the media had already focused on him like we're doing to Walcott? probably he would've been used - to 'prove something'. Would it have been better for Brasil? you'll never know.
leave him alone. It's not professional to complain at the moment.

[lplover2k]

it's a real gamble to have chosen Walcott... i hope it this choice brings something... though i would have preferred someone like Defoe or Johnson who are fast too...