Tony Cascarino has claimed that Arsenal let down Theo Walcott by failing to coach him ‘properly’.
The winger is currently impressing back at former club Southampton in the Premier League, having fallen down the pecking order at Everton following their signing of James Rodriguez this summer.
While the 31 year-old hasn’t score a goal since returning, he has played his part in his club’s impressive start to the season with two assists, and his performances have come into the spotlight.
Former Chelsea star Cascarino has admitted that he has always been a keen admirer of the former England international, and that he has been let down by his previous managers.
“I have always been a fan of Walcott,” Cascarino told Talksport (via HampshireLive).
“But I have always felt he has never been coached properly because he was such a young player who left Southampton to go to Arsenal. He joined a fantastic squad of players at Arsenal.
“He sort of found his way. At moments he had one season he had 20 plus goals and it looked like he wanted to play a centre-forward role instead of being a wide player.
“Honestly, I think he’s one player who hasn’t been coached enough about numerous positions to play in and progression in a player because Theo’s got everything.
“He’s technically good and he has got incredible speed. I think if you worked with Theo about the tactical side and I think he’s an intelligent young man.
“I think one of the biggest things that happened at Arsenal with [Arsene] Wenger was Theo. I didn’t think Theo was a player that improved like he should have.”
Walcott had a number of eye-catching performances at Arsenal, although the standouts were usually against weaker opposition in midweek in my memory, while he spent an unwarranted time sidelined with injuries.
I wouldn’t say that he was mismanaged, but he most definitely didn’t reach his full potential, but I would blame that on his injury record, and not on Arsenal.
Do you think Arsenal could have gotten more from Walcott? should we have tried him our centrally?
Patrick
He was brought young and given time on pitch allowing to progress..
He was doing good, adding up goals from his wing, doing damage.
Then the injuries came way to often as this Center Forward position he got really angry about because scoring so much and desire to do so even more.
Think his spirit went on negative path;, logically had him underperformed.
If you get on pitch mad .to play. same in training;,not playing with his joyful, natural passion, shows on pitch….
It is not easy for a kid he was then,, to shift to superstar status. He was a highly rated kid!
Actually think Prof protected him well and was there in tuff times, giving him chances and his trust always, extending his deal while injured.
That dude must shut up, we have real and current issue; we are 2 points away from 15th spot with ferocious upcoming fixtures; without a coach!
Our pb is major and no players can fix it; we have a great squad Ro fight for titles!; but no coach of Arsenal standard; an assistant coach 8 month ago!
I think Walcott under Fergie would have been a great player. He always played immature football and was never coached how to use his tools to the best effect. Saying that his assist and goalscoring record for a wide player was very good. With improved decision making and guidance, i believe he could have been far better. Wasted talent for me.
I truly believe the massive mistake made with Walcott was keeping here him after his first ever contract with us.
I could easily see he lacked fight and determination, big time and I saw that after a mere handful of games.
Unless you can coach fight, character and detemination into a player who lacks it, then I see no point discussing coaching further. He waS always too nice, too polite(not that I advocate being impolite) but you need an obvious steely ambition to succeed as a great player.
I ALWAYS DID AND STILL DO, CONSIDER HIM ONE OF LIFES COASTERS, CONTENT WIITH HIS COMFY LOT, LACKING GRIT AND CHARACTER TO MAKE THE VERY UTMOST OF HIS TALENTS.
Nobody can possibly know what his potential is/was, certainly not someone who never played with him, trained with him every day, saw how his injuries and recovery affected him and how he viewed his own performances versus his perceived abilities.
One can only look back at a player who, from the age of eleven has been involved with the PL clubs of Southampton, The Arsenal and Everton.
Over 15 years, he has played 371 PL games to date and has 88 England caps at U16, U17, U19, U21, B and 47 full England caps.
His nett worth is reported to be worth nigh on £23,000,000 and is currently on a reported salary of £5,300,000 a year and he is valued at £18,500,000 in the current market.
Now I’m not knowledgeable enough to know if he has reached, or will ever reach, the potential that Tony Cascarino seems to think he has – but Theo could/should just direct those who think he hasn’t been a success in life, to the facts above…all the rest is just opinion and, meanwhile, Theo is currently playing for a team that lies just two points off the top spot.
One doesn’t achieve all the above, without being mentally strong, having talent, working hard and having the character to be successful for over fifteen years .
Well done Theo, a model professional who has achieved more than the “normal” person could ever dream of, just by using his god given talents.
SETTLING FOR LESS THAN YOU CAN BE IS THE MARK OF SOMEONE WHO LACKS AMBITION, EVEN THOUGH he is immensely more talented than all us fans on here.
To be a true comparison KEN, I ALWAYS SAY YOU NEED TO COMPARE YOURSELF WITH YOURSELF ONLY. WHAT YOU ARE NOW TO WHAT YOU COULD HAVE ACHIEVED WITH BETTER WORK ETHIC OR AMBITION.
This philosophy of mine explains many of our long term differences on here, as you clearly don’t share it. BEING SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU ARE, IS LAZY IMO. The only ones I exclude from that philosophy are older folk who are well past their achievement peak, mentally and physically. Look at what Joe Biden has just achieved at almost 78, as evidence of making the most of your abilities!
“Walcott had a number of eye-catching performances at Arsenal, although the standouts were usually against weaker opposition in midweek in my memory.”
This writer is completely ignorant of Walcott’s Arsenal record and should take a back seat. This is Walcott vs the big teams:
Club Games Goals Assists
Spurs 16 7 5
Chelsea 17 6 3
City 13 5 0
Leicester 8 5 0
Man U 12 3 2
Liv’pool 13 2 2
Total 79 28 12
27% of Walcott’s 108 Arsenal goals were against recent top 4 regulars or EPL champions. If anything, Walcott is a big game player and mostly came alive in the big games (scored his first Arsenal goal against chelsea in a cup final. Also scored the first goal in the 2015 FA cup final win).
Scoring 108 goals in 398 games playing primarily as a Winger and with his injury history is no mean feat.
Source for the stats: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/theo-walcott/bilanzdetails/spieler/33713/gegner/631
NEITHER WAS IT WORTH CONSTANT NEW CONTRACTS AT MORE MONEY EACH TIME AND NOT FIT FOR LARGE CHUNKS OF HIS CAREER HERE . A modest achievement only at the level our club demands.
Whilst I can’t in anyway dispute the facts and figures he never quite reached that high spot for me
Nice bloke all the same
SueP, this is the point though – he never reached the high spot that you (and others) thought he could/should have reached – you set the bar for him based on your personal assessment.
Nothing wrong with that, of course, but none of us knew/know what he could/should achieve…especially not Tony Cacarino, who was never involved in any way with the player when he was at The Arsenal or the England set up.
Just like those on here who say he didn’t give of his best…how on earth do they know what his best is/was?
I certainly don’t know and would never presume that I did – but he should be proud of what he has achieved, that to me is what is important, not some know it all who consistently tries to pull our club apart.
It all boils down to what the player himself sees during his career, only he can judge his life as a professional footballer and, as you say, a nice bloke…who has never let fame and fortune change him – a model professional in all he does.
Thanks for your insight Ken
I’m not anti as you appreciate but I’m always hampered by my recall of his call up to England for the World Cup. It sort of sits there as a reminder of a talent that didn’t quite reach the highest level for long enough in my mind
SueP, wasn’t that the most ridiculous thing Ericsson ever did as well?
How to put one on a pedestal, only to knock him :her down in such a public and humiliating way.
He never seemed to get that out of his head in my opinion.
👍
TH14 – TW14, just love your facts and figures, as they give a real perspective on his career to date and, along with what I set out, of a successful player.
There is no need to get personal and try to belittle someone who has been a success just because they didn’t reach the expectations another person feels they deem appropriate.