England Squad

[Chris]

I think he's awful with the ball which is why I cant see a dramatic improvement ala Lennon. Lennon has always been able to beat people for fun, turn defenders inside out, get to the byline etc, the only time Walcott seems to beat a defender is if he can kick it 20 yards and chase it.

I just dont think he's got much basic football ability. Though typically the only good run he has done come against us.

[Shaggy]

Good shout there, certainly deserves a place.

He has to be in, despite his poor form post-injury he's one of the ones with any ingenuity.

I think he's awful with the ball which is why I cant see a dramatic improvement ala Lennon. Lennon has always been able to beat people for fun, turn defenders inside out, get to the byline etc, the only time Walcott seems to beat a defender is if he can kick it 20 yards and chase it.

I just dont think he's got much basic football ability. Though typically the only good run he has done come against us.

[Reece]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree then but I think you're all exaggerating somewhat and being a bit harsh.

As I said, he hasn't progressed as he should have done, but go back and look at some of the goals he scored for Southampton and tell me he "hasn't got much basic footballing ability".

[Shaggy]

SWP in according to Nick Collins on Sky. Adam Johnson out.

[Broner]

SWP in according to Nick Collins on Sky. Adam Johnson out.

That's just ****ing stupid.

[Chrono]

SWP in according to Nick Collins on Sky. Adam Johnson out.

Got it wrong there in my opinion. Johnson should have been the suprise package although I knew that bum pat was significant.

[Chris]

As I said, he hasn't progressed as he should have done, but go back and look at some of the goals he scored for Southampton and tell me he "hasn't got much basic footballing ability".

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly4wCz6ijdk"]YouTube- Theo walcott goals[/ame]

Hmm, I dont see it. He's a Djibril Cisse at best and I think thats being generous to be honest.

[Chazza]

SWP in according to Nick Collins on Sky. Adam Johnson out.

Thought Johnson could have offered a real threat on either flank

SWP has had a pretty poor season

Suggests that Capellos 'Pick players on form' quote was bollocks, especially with Carrick going aswell.

[Shaggy]

That's just ****ing stupid.

Got it wrong there in my opinion. Johnson should have been the suprise package although I knew that bum pat was significant.

Agreed, seems odd that Johnson - who starts regularly for City ahead of SWP - should be left out in favour of SWP. I just think Johnson would've been that wildcard, the joker in the pack as it were. SWP has shown time and time again that, while he's capable, he's not quite up to it.

[Neil Young]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree then but I think you're all exaggerating somewhat and being a bit harsh.

As I said, he hasn't progressed as he should have done, but go back and look at some of the goals he scored for Southampton and tell me he "hasn't got much basic footballing ability".

Stop trying to sound reasoned and well-informed like dww. You're not fooling anyone.

[Reece]

From Floydp4pno1 on 606: "Baines, Dawson, Parker and Huddlestone are out so it's pretty much done now."

[dww]

He's clearly not **** is he. No need to exaggerate. But he certainly hasn't progressed as much as his early potential suggested he would. He reminds me a lot of Lennon a year or so ago - bags of pace, can beat a player, but his final ball is consistently lacking. If he can improve on that, then he can become a top player in my opinion.

It will be interesting to see if Wenger persists with him out wide next season, or moves him to a central position.

I've said for a while that Walcott and Babel seem to be in similar positions development wise. The difference is that off the pitch Walcott seems a very intelligent and together person who works hard on things. He's not shown it on the pitch though.

I'm surprised he hasn't gone - we need to have a pacey threat down one wing and I'm not convinced that, other than Lennon, any of the other options is much better.

Johnson looks a good player but I'm not seeing the genius some ascribe to him.

[Reece]

Stop trying to sound reasoned and well-informed like dww. You're not fooling anyone.

[Chrono]

No great loss there except perhaps Parker.

[Shaggy]

This whole drip feeding of info via various journos is bizarre. What happened to an official announcement from the FA? I remember 2006 they had a big press conference type thing where they announced the squad in full with some sort of video type thing.