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.
Thank u Barnes, u are 100% accurate on ur sayings He (walcott) does not in any way have the potential of being a Centre forward. Tell him let him get it into his skull ” U Are a Right Winger”
i think walcot is best playin on d wing dan as a central forwrd cos he s got d talent wit his pace
Walcott is no striker the whole world knows that BUT not Walcott!
Walcot should concentrate on the wing and forget the role of striker.
I agree totally with Peter Barnes that Walcot should be as a right winger because of his pace in giving out assists as well as opportunity to cut in to strike at the goalmouths. His moves are straight forward and not too calm to find a better angle to strike like his game against Sunderland.
I am absolutely agree with this guy Walcott is not a front man but a right winger and if he insists he may pay for his mistakes he should concentrate to become good winger and good finisher he had about 4 opportunity to scores but he failed I am not to say that because I am disappointed of him shit happeneds but he should at least scored one en real striker will use its opportunity even there is not as many as he had.
Rubbish. Theo has demonstrated his finishing ability last season, one bad game does not change that. If anything, he is more suited to the central role due to being more efficient in front of goal than providing and he is no slouch in that regard, check his stats please!
As for Peter Barnes, I can honestly say that I have never heard of the guy and I have had football in my life every single day for the past 20+ years.
As for his ‘insight’…, its about as simplistic as a five year old with his crayons.
Wingers that he speaks of are outdated, obsolete and a relic of a bygone age. A winger that ‘beats his man and gets crosses in’ would last five mins in today’s multi faceted world of football. The days of specialist positions are becoming more and more rare. A player in Theo’s position is required to be technically proficient, to work the lines, to be an inside forward, to move and utilise the space of the pitch, to track back, score goals and provide assists. To be an all round player. An 80’s winger would not be able to survive in the position or in our team.
Peter Barnes is simply an idiot, with zero authority on what makes a good player. His views are antiquated and his manner is rather pathetic. In the 5mins he talks of he would simply embarrass himself. Theo Walcott has achieved more in one third of his career than this Barnes chap ever did across his entire career. He would do well to remember that the next time he opens his mouth and embarrasses himself.
Theo had one bad game, that doesn’t change the drastic progress he made last season and will continue to make this year too. Ozil will liberate Theo in ways not yet seen. His pace and finishing ability will be exploited by the genius of Ozil and I predict a very profitable understanding between the two.
Arsenal blogs should be about defending our own players and not giving credence to nobodies with nothing but negative nonsense to spout.
Well said.
walcot is just like a raw talent that needs time to attain its potentials.thinking of playing central role for now should be out of place.thierry henry wonder goals came from the wings so he should forget that central role cause right now arsenal needs a natural positimal striker and not a make-shift striker.
I agree with j.
Total rubbish, Theo can certainly finish. As he demonstrated last season. What is that Barnes guy on? 5 minutes? So he thinks in 5 minutes he can provide more insight than Wenger has throughout Theo’s time with the club? You don’t have to be a genius to realise that is simply bollocks.
He should get back in his box, and as j said, stop embarrassing yourself. As well as those who agree with him.
The game is situational and there are situations where Theo is suited to play centrally. For the most part, I agree his best strengths are playing on the wing because of how he fits into the current team structure but there are others who can play on the wing (Oxlaide-Chamberlain and Ryo) and allow Theo to play centrally if we wanted all out pace across the line in attack.
When I think of Barnes’ one-dimensional description of a winger I think of Aaron Lennon. That should say enough right there.