WC: Theo Walcott

[rexallllsc]

Why was he brought into the England squad?

[Desnudo]

Because Sven decided the sturdy Michael Owen couldn't possibly get hurt so England didn't need another proven striker.

[Critch]

Jermaine Defoe must be having a good laugh to himself as he sits and watches the games on tv.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Because Sven decided the sturdy Michael Owen couldn't possibly get hurt so England didn't need another proven striker.

[Miller Time]

I've heard some naive England fans saying "They are saving him (Walcott) for the knockout rounds".

Would it have really killed SGE to take a Defoe or Andy Johnson over a DM like Hargreaves or Carrick with the injuries that his strikers were facing at the time?

[ISiddiqui]

If Lampard puts in more 'stellar' performances Hargreaves and Carrick may become more valuable than you think.

Or, if Sven goes to a 4-5-1 at any point, they could be pretty valuable.

[Katon]

Carrick isn't really a DM - he plays from deep, certainly, but he can't tackle at all. He's more like Andrea Pirlo than Makelele (part of why I keep arguing that swapping him in for Lampard won't help Gerrard significantly). He and Hargreaves, who sadly really is our best defensive midfielder, are different enough from the rest of the squad that they're probably worth having around. The real luxury is Jermaine Jenas - he doesn't do anything Lampard, Gerrard, and Cole (when playing in the middle) don't do much, much better.

[ISiddiqui]

Jenas is there so Brit fans have some to rhyme with 'penis' in their chants.

[Desnudo]

Is there any scenario where Walcott enters the game and England's lead is less than 3?

[Vinatieri for Prez]

If you ever were going to play Walcott, it was when Owen went out. Why pick him if you aren't going to play him? Oh, right, it was Sven (who never actually saw the guy play in person before picking him for the team).

[vyshka]

but, but Wenger said to pick him!

[moriarty]

Defoe was a bench warmer for most of the EPL season, so Sven was hesitant to pick him up. Bent would have been the more likely choice given that he was the leading scorer in the EPL but didn't look particularly good in the friendlies.

I think Sven went with Walcott b/c of his speed. He probably envisioned him as a late substitute who could pressure a tired defense. Having said that, if anything he should have come in during the Sweeden game. As it is, it'd be tough on the youngster to bring him in during the knockout round.

England still has Crouch/Rooney up front. If something should happen to one of those two it's likely they'll play with Gerrard behind the other striker as they did in some friendlies prior to the WC.

[PraetorianX]

Taking Walcott was a joke...but Sven didn't care because he's gonna be gone anyway. Should never have taken the kid, especially having never seen him play. Oh well, prolly Dein and Wenger getting their way.

[PraetorianX]

Originally Posted by moriarty

Defoe was a bench warmer for most of the EPL season, so Sven was hesitant to pick him up. Bent would have been the more likely choice given that he was the leading scorer in the EPL but didn't look particularly good in the friendlies.

I think Sven went with Walcott b/c of his speed. He probably envisioned him as a late substitute who could pressure a tired defense. Having said that, if anything he should have come in during the Sweeden game. As it is, it'd be tough on the youngster to bring him in during the knockout round.

England still has Crouch/Rooney up front. If something should happen to one of those two it's likely they'll play with Gerrard behind the other striker as they did in some friendlies prior to the WC.

If he wants that though he already had it with Lennon so there was no need for Walcott, especially when the top two strikers are coming off injuries.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by PraetorianX

If he wants that though he already had it with Lennon so there was no need for Walcott, especially when the top two strikers are coming off injuries.

I'm not a big follower of Lennon, but he's predominately a midfielder right? Not necessarily a striker or even goalscorer. Fast though, I'll give you.

[daedalus]

Wynalda is a retard in general but he's actually right about blaming Arena.

[vyshka]

I agree with Wynalda about Arena. What the hell is he doing running a 4-5-1 when he needs a win? Beasely was useless and Donovan wasn't much better. Donovan should get dumped until he agrees to play in a real league (that is if anyone will want him at this point). Overall the US team was severely lacking in even basic footballing skills. I think that pk was a bad call, but even without the pk they still needed to score again.

[rexallllsc]

Originally Posted by vyshka

I agree with Wynalda about Arena. What the hell is he doing running a 4-5-1 when he needs a win? Beasely was useless and Donovan wasn't much better. Donovan should get dumped until he agrees to play in a real league (that is if anyone will want him at this point). Overall the US team was severely lacking in even basic footballing skills. I think that pk was a bad call, but even without the pk they still needed to score again.

No one worth a damn would want him after what he pulled in Germany combined with his form @ the WC.

[Desnudo]

A much better "risk" player to bring by a country would have been Rossi by the US. It's clear now that they really lack a creative force. Johnson has the potential, but Arena apparently doesn't think much of him. Donovan isn't "it" and doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to ever be "it." Should have brought Rossi and stuck him behind Johnson and McBride.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

A much better "risk" player to bring by a country would have been Rossi by the US.

If Rossi wanted to. He can play for Italy or the US due to dual citizenship. He has his mind on the Italian national team. It seems the US is his 'backup' plan.

[PraetorianX]

Originally Posted by moriarty

I'm not a big follower of Lennon, but he's predominately a midfielder right? Not necessarily a striker or even goalscorer. Fast though, I'll give you.

You don't have to be a striker to have game changing ability. For instance, against Sweden, I'm certain Lennon would have ran circles around Erik Edman (Swedish LB) and caused all sorts of havoc. He's extremely dangerous but needs games in order to get better. He's made a lot of progress at Spurs this year, a lot. The player he is now is lightyears ahead of the player he was when he came on against Chelsea early in the season (and caused a fair few problems for them). It's not as if Walcott has every been especially prolific as far as goal scoring goes. And Lennon has the advantage of having a season of Premiership experience where he made a number of good full backs look absolute pants. I really think the boy has the potentially to be very very good in a few years if he stick with Spurs and doesn't choose to go down the path of SWP and rot away in Chelsea reserves. Though I think he'll be a better player than SWP will ever be.


I'd love to see Rossi playing for the US...but he seems intent on playing for Italy. Though unless he makes a move to Italy that may be hard. The Italians don't like to pick players not playing in Italy for whatever reason.

And as for Beasley...am I the only one that thinks he's made two steps backwards after going to PSV? Seemed a better player before his move.

But I definately think Donovan needs to go to Europe if he's ever to be able to reach even half his potential.

[tanglewood]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Jenas is there so Brit fans have some to rhyme with 'penis' in their chants.

It's a shame they don't rhyme then.

Jen-us - peen-iss

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by PraetorianX

You don't have to be a striker to have game changing ability. For instance, against Sweden, I'm certain Lennon would have ran circles around Erik Edman (Swedish LB) and caused all sorts of havoc. He's extremely dangerous but needs games in order to get better. He's made a lot of progress at Spurs this year, a lot. The player he is now is lightyears ahead of the player he was when he came on against Chelsea early in the season (and caused a fair few problems for them). It's not as if Walcott has every been especially prolific as far as goal scoring goes.

Yeah, but England's problem right now is they need a striker. I wouldn't mind seeing Lennon on the right side in place of Becks, but the reason Walcott comes under such fire is b/c England is short of fit strikers right now.

And as for Beasley...am I the only one that thinks he's made two steps backwards after going to PSV? Seemed a better player before his move.

Nah, he's played well for the USA even after going to PSV. Just for some reason this year he's been awful. I really don't think it has much to do with PSV, but more with his attitude (and possibly injuries).

But I definately think Donovan needs to go to Europe if he's ever to be able to reach even half his potential.

Unfortunately that will never happen. I don't see Donovan going overseas again. He gets homesick and really likes being a "star" in the US as opposed to a role player overseas.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by tanglewood

It's a shame they don't rhyme then.

Jen-us - peen-iss

You can make them rhyme, dammit. Where is your innovative spark? And besides, I have heard it pronounced as Jeen-us a few times by commentators in England.

[Marc Vaughan]

Its a well guarded secret that Walcott was included in the England squad by Svein as part of a dare ...

[Critch]

Agent Sven is working undercover to destroy England's World Cup bid.

[DanGarion]

The only Walcott that should be discussed here is Jennifer Walcott.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

If Rossi wanted to. He can play for Italy or the US due to dual citizenship. He has his mind on the Italian national team. It seems the US is his 'backup' plan.

Yes, but surely they could have sounded him out? Considering that the entire Italian national team plays in Italy, his chances of playing for them unless he moves are very small.

It's a small thing overall, but it would have been a nice option to have when Donovan was continually turning the ball over and flubbing free kicks. Never mind capping him for the future.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Yes, but surely they could have sounded him out? Considering that the entire Italian national team plays in Italy, his chances of playing for them unless he moves are very small.

It's a small thing overall, but it would have been a nice option to have when Donovan was continually turning the ball over and flubbing free kicks. Never mind capping him for the future.

I'm sure they sounded him out. He's been adamant about playing for the Italian National Team from the get-go.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Yes, but surely they could have sounded him out? Considering that the entire Italian national team plays in Italy, his chances of playing for them unless he moves are very small.

It's a small thing overall, but it would have been a nice option to have when Donovan was continually turning the ball over and flubbing free kicks. Never mind capping him for the future.

I believe they have sounded him out, but it seems Rossi is set on the Italian squad (at least for now). He played U-17 for the Italians, but since he's at ManU now, who knows if he'll get a call up from the Azzuri. Then again rumor is that Rossi wants to parlay the ManU experience he'll shortly get into a Serie A transfer... which would help with the Azzuri call up.

[Desnudo]

Bastard. Although if I had the choice, I'd probably shoot for Italy too. I'm sure he's probably not to excited about playing for the US right now.

[MikeVick7]

Originally Posted by vyshka

I agree with Wynalda about Arena. What the hell is he doing running a 4-5-1 when he needs a win? Beasely was useless and Donovan wasn't much better. Donovan should get dumped until he agrees to play in a real league (that is if anyone will want him at this point). Overall the US team was severely lacking in even basic footballing skills. I think that pk was a bad call, but even without the pk they still needed to score again.

I totally agree with this. Yeah the pk was crap. And yes Ghana was probably playing more defensive because of the one goal lead. But man, if you couldn't even score a 2nd goal against that team, then you don't deserve to bitch about the pk.

[rexallllsc]

It's nice that the commentators were pulling no punches, unlike the crap we have to hear for every other sport.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Bastard. Although if I had the choice, I'd probably shoot for Italy too. I'm sure he's probably not to excited about playing for the US right now.

And, of course, the fact is that Rossi does have the potential to one day start for Italy. Whether it is realized is another story (after all, Jovan Kirovski was in the ManU reserves and was thought to be the 'next big thing', though I think Rossi is far better now than Kirovski ever was).