Peter Barnes reckons he could improve Theo Walcott’s game and get the England international on all fronts.
Barnes, who played as a left winger for the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Leeds, believes Walcott still has a lot of work to do in order to reach his full potential, but would tell the 24-year-old to stick to what he knows best.
Quoted in the Daily Star Sunday, the 56-year-old former England international said:
‘I hear Theo wants to be a striker and his idol was Thierry Henry. Well forget it. He is never going to be Thierry Henry.
‘If I was Roy Hodgson I would say to Theo, ‘Play on the right wing and have one thing in your mind – drop past the full-back, get your crosses in or cut inside and shoot’. End of. That’s his job.
‘He’s got blistering pace and if he cuts inside he will get penalties because he’s quick. I’d only need five minutes with him to make him a better player.’
He added:
‘I would be saying, ‘You’re a right winger son – not a centre forward. Play right wing – play to your strengths’.’
After watching Walcott’s performance against Sunderland yesterday, I can honestly say that he should stick to what he knows best. He does not have the composure or finishing ability to become a striker for Arsenal, or England for that matter. I’m not just basing my decision on yesterday’s game; Theo, in my opinion of course, just doesn’t have what it takes to lead the front-line and should concentrate on improving his game as a winger.
Although Barnes may come across a little cocky through his comments about Walcott’s game, it’s hard to disagree with him.
5 mins to change walcott’s game,he is a joker…theo is a wing wizard,pace is his strength,he has improved his finishin’ ability,he is becomin’ clinical,he had a bad game against sunderland does not make him less quality….walcott doesn’t have the skills & strength to play centrally,he is easily brushed aside..walcott needs to up his game he blows hot & cold…he should be enterin’ his peak by now but can’t just find that consistent performance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Barnes_(footballer)
shame you didn’t spend 5 minutes with yourself peter…..you was hardly prolific!!!!
John barnes or wateva shld go f**k himself….instead of talking ’bout how walcott shld b more consistent, he opens his a** and says shit…..has he eva seen walcott ‘cut inside and shoot’ ?…wat a dumbass….if he wants a bale he shld f**k a monkey and continue from dere….JST 1 BAD GAME AND DIS BULLSHIT!!!!!mayb he needs som1 or somtin to remind him wat walcott cld do with his ability and style of play and i tink i knw wat wll do…he shld go watch d destruction of newcastle (7-3) at d emirates last season….wat a very stupid article
Who is this Barnes character? I fully concur with j!
For Walcott see England v Croatia 2008 his defining moment.
Walcot you just need composure you can and will score from any angle just do what hendry did lift you head before you shoot and place your shot where the keeper cant reach even aubamayang does that at dortmund.believe and you will be a super striker we believe in you COMPOSURE GO WALCOT GO GUNNER
Your picture shows you are looking down.you need to look where you want to place your shot then guide it with your eyes you need to have quick estimate speed angles then realese your shot you can do it belief my son.you are almost there.
All Walcot needs to do to score from a one on one position on the wing is two things. First, when the keep is rushing towards him all he has to do is chip the ball high up above the keeper towards the goal like Lionel Messi does for Barcelona. Secondly, when the keeper is at his post waiting for a shot, all Walcot has to do is shoot a ground shot and diagonally to the far post and the keeper will stand no chance of saving it. If Walcot doesn’t do this, Ozil’s passes will expose him as a wasteful player and his confidence will drop when the fans starts getting on his neck.
i love theo but all he needs to do is develop his striker’s instinct in front of goal. after one or two touches, u will instinctively know where the ball is, this will afford you the chance to look up at the keeper and the goal post for a perfectly placed shot. you re almost there theo.
“I’d only need five minutes with him to make him a better player”
I agree with Peter Burn. I saw full match againt sunderland Walcott could have score 3 easy goals.
He can`t even lift the ball over the goal keep to score the goal. He just kick the streight to the goal keeper with his eyes shut.
Walcott when are you going to learn something different your fast running do you no good you need to learn to control the ball you nut.
He want to become next Henry forget it. Because Henry didn`t waste time doing wrong things he was doing right things to become better Henry.
I am 100% Arsenal Fan your mistakes cost us points. LEARN FROM NO9 PLODSKI He far better player then you as Striker because he make no mistakes.
Ronaldo is a winger even was once a winger yet they still get goals….Theo is a very gud winger just need a little touch on striking sense