Theo Walcott: football genius or overrated?

He burst onto the scene against Croatia, and he's burst off of it again against Kazakhstan and Belraus.

Theo Walcott's dismantling of Slaven Bilic's side last month was hailed as the beginning of a new era.

After his shock inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad, the Arsenal winger had been quiet as he tried to find his feet at a big Premier League club. But at 19, his coming of age had apparently arrived in Zagreb with a hat-trick that brought plaudits the world over.

"He must start every game" proclaimed Tony Cascarino, and the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker was not alone.

Fabio Capello listened and picked Walcott in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation against the Kazakhs. It didn't work. Even Walcott admitted he had a poor game with England only recording their flattering 5-1 scoreline once the team shape had been changed and Walcott had been substituted.

Then last night, Walcott was once again a peripheral figure in the white shirt and this time there were no excuses as Capello learned from his mistake and fielded his line-up in a 4-4-2 right from the start.

Is this a good learning curve for the teenager? Should the manager persevere while England are winning and he is gaining experience? Or are competitive World Cup qualifiers not the place to learn your trade?

Should Walcott still be one of the first names on the team-sheet or has he had his chance? Should Shaun Wright-Phillips be given the wide right role instead? Or David Beckham?

Is Theo Walcott a football genius or is he overrated? Leave your comments below.

Comments

[Mandydog]

Serial diver, must be the Van Persie influence. Other than that a cracking little player.

[M]

This debate is ridiculous. Walcott is a teenager, as such it is impossible to judge his abilities in any terms other than potential. How can one be overrated before one has had the opportunity to prove oneself. As I said, this debate is ridiculous.

[Shahaan]

A great talent, but he has a lot to learn. Neither a genius or overrated.

bentley!!!!!!!!!!

[Ted Joho]

I think too much has been expected of him far too soon, it's a miracle he survived that idiot of an English managers decision to take him and leave him on the bench last world cup especially being english and in the current climate of recalcitrant english international footballers. I'm still not convinced there is a manager out there who can build an english international team that can win silverware, i think Capello is a good manager but the england managers job is a poison chalice, there are many reasons why and it's not just a lack of english players getting first team football at the highest level.

[Christian Holst]

The issue surely will be whether Theo is a overrated genius or a genius overrated? Superlatives and a cry of foul which shows up this inert piece of mischief making, surely evidence's a slow day at The Times press room, or a need for rational within the bloggers.

[Ben]

Overrated or genius, he is not. But he has good instinct in movement and he is finally becoming a good learner. At the same time, his stamina over the 90minutes in a game is going to be a factor going forward. As well, we have to accept the fact that he is in a good team, he is not going to be overlooked in favor of wingers among others Aaron Lennon. In the end what is most important is how he develops through the next five years. If that development is going to be upwards and consistent, then Rooney and England should be able to score more goals and win a lot more!

[richard moseley]

Walcott is an oustanding talent that needs to be developed over time. He will have good and bad games in the next vfew years, but he must be supported. Engalnd has a history of talented footballers not fulfilling their potential, and the public and media have been been partly responsible for this. Wayne Rooney has not reached his full potential yet, so let's please be patient with Theo

[Max Roper]

Walcott is brilliant but the media put to much presure on him to do well

[david b]

What a stupid debate/question. He is no where near a genius...a million miles away. That word is used far too easily.
He is a good young player who is very fast.
He relys on his speed, and would probably not be a premeirship player if he lost a yard of pass.
Not the most skillful player even in Arsernals team, never mind the prem.

[Kevin Curtis]

time will tell!

[Eoin]

how can you have 'had your chance' at the age of 19? Of course he's on a learning curve, what 19 year-old isn't???

[David]

What rubbish, this guy is just starting his international career and is only just establishing himself at Arsenal. This isn't a valid question because of this, we don't know how far this kid can go, this is his breakthrough season so lets judge him in a few years time!

[RICHIE]

Good point, Tom. I couldn't believe the question when I read it in the Times yesterday. My guess is, they write any old rubbish hoping to wind people up so they'll respond. They must be really hard up for news. Here's one for them; 'Was Rooney's brace on Saturday a result of the bank bailout plan?'!

[RICHIE]

Futile question again guys. He's only played a few times, so is neither a genius or overrated! All I do know is some were calling for him to be dropped for the Belarus game (inc Chris Waddle), saying that although he scored a hat-trick against Croatia, he didn't do much else! Tell me, what more do you want? This young kid excites me enormously, he's got raw pace that frightens defenders, and that's unusual for an England player. Please lay off him for the time being, it's all way too premature. The guy's a genuine talent for the future, let's not analyse it all too much and screw it up like we always do.

[mennato]

hes no genius but hes also not overated either.hes a very good young player

[Darren]

testing testing 1 2 3

[Tom]

Is this just an attempt by the Times to gauge how many people read their posts on the internet by writing some incessant rubbish and seeing how many people reply??
It can't be a serious attempt at journalism.

[Zonke of Zimbabwe]

Rooney - Perhaps the best English player around at the moment. Has got skills you would expect from my home land of Africa.

Walcott - Necessary the great wingers need PACE. However his footballing mind/wisdom is poor

Young - Better option PACE and great cross

Bentley - Great football mind, arroganst so and so

Wright - Philips - PACE no footballing mind selfish!! He needs to get his mind right

Conclusion - Walcott or Young any day. Bentley - get you head outta your you know where!

[Darren]

Please define genius?!

[Wular]

Isnt Ashley Young a better all round footballer?...perhaps over a 100m he is fractions slower.... but the point is Theo is 75% about pace....surely a genius will retain his genius qualities at 30+....i bet Theo wont be half the player....
(cant believe this term is being attached to a 19 year old who has won nothing or been instrumental in anything truly significant in time)

do englands so called 'key' players play good every game for england...no

[paul standen]

The problem for theo is adapting to the England style. How many times do you see him in an Arsenal shirt chasing the long ball? Arsenal move the ball forward very quickly through their midfield and the linkage between him and sagna or any one of the midfield players removes the need for him to chase. He doesn't compete with defendrs for the long ball, he rund=s at them with hte ball at his feet. I'd like to see him and Wes Brown playing together more often. As yet they have no real understanding of how to work together. Remember Neville and Beckham - there you had a partnership down the right - with Walcott and Brown it's not ther yet. Capello needs to look at getting the best out of his men within the context of the team. The central midfield is coming together. Both left and right sides need more work.

[Pack Rat]

Stupid question. Its a team game. Theo had a blinder against Croatia and England won, so that's good. He was so-so against Belarus and Kazakhstan, but England still won, so that's very good.

The team did well, so everyone who played those games will get more chances, including Theo. We don't need to stick any stupidly extreme label like "genius" or "passenger" on him. Things are going ok for the team, at the moment. I hope we keep it up.

[Kris]

Regarding Alwyn's comment that Walcott was at fault for the Belarus goal, well he did fail to track back properly, but Gerrard was also at fault for leaving Bridge on his own. Neither "winger" did much to help the guy behind, and while Gerrard had an excellent game going forward, he was not much cop when Belarus had the ball. If Walcott had scored Gerrard's goal, this whole discussion would be on whether the Liverpool player is a genius or overrated. It's a moot point. They're both excellent players, and each brings something different to the team. Anyone who saw Walcott against Porto for Arsenal will know England have yet to see the best of him. Yes, he's still a bit raw, but he makes better choices than Lennon, is less wild and goes past more people than Wright-Phillips and has the raw pace to frighten defenders even when he's not playing well. It's that pace that makes him invaluable, since it forces defenders to drop deeper, freeing up space for Rooney and the attacking midfielders behind the fulcrum forward, ie Heskey or Crouch. And he's only 19 - give him a break.