Theo should hold it right there and win Arsenal title
THREE years ago, I asked Theo Walcott where he wanted to play. “Up front,” was the reply. The problem is that Arsenal’s striker-cumwinger isn’t a specialist in the position.
I would love to have advised him on using the width of the 18-yard box and one or two tricks of the trade that us forwards used – because Theo’s challenge is that he is not very good at holding up the ball.
And that presents him with big problems – because your attacking midfielders lose confidence in you, and from there the whole situation spirals downwards.
For instance, if you are playing with Steven Gerrard and he knocks it into you, he’s going to follow that pass and expect it back.
If it doesn’t come, he’s the one – not you – who has to run 60 yards back into position to win possession again.
It doesn’t take too long before Mr Gerrard is getting narked off with making those runs back towards his own goal, having had nothing to show for it.
Walcott does score goals. Eight in 10 games this season for Arsenal. He clearly knows where the net is. If he could learn to play with his back to goal then the Gunners would have themselves a real threat.
And, I would go so far as to say, it would make them genuine title contenders. HAD to laugh at reports that Fawaz Al-Hasawi, owner of my old club Nottingham Forest, has allegedly been seeking a £1million-a-year salary from any new majority owners if he sells up.
It was claimed that he’s also been looking for bonuses on top of that, matching any earned by the players. He’s called the reports “inaccurate”.
He carries the air of a desperate man, hanging on for the sake of it.
Be realistic in your demands, Mr Al-Hasawi and, for the good of the club, please just go. NEWS that the viewing figures for Premier League football are down by 19 per cent should worry those who view the game as a cash-cow.
Over in America, numbers have plummeted by the same amount.
People are turning their backs on watching live sport on the television.
Over here, it may be something to do with the extortionate cost – it can cost over £100 per month now for Sky and BT if you want your fill of football.
And illegal streaming isn’t helping either – if you can’t pay why not watch it for free?
But most of all, much more of the quality of games such as the one that Liverpool and Manchester United served up the other day and who can blame anyone for not switching off?