Seen a few comments over the past few weeks regarding England's 1st-choice right-back, and I thought he warranted a thread all of his own. From what I've read, the general feeling towards him is one of deep frustration, much like fans' current feelings towards the team (and manager), as a whole, and I'd certainly go along with that. Fantastic at getting forward, but very suspect at defending, particularly when making that one-on-one last-ditch challenge. In that regard, I feel about him just as I did about Benny. Too many times I saw Benny give away stupid fouls in and around the box, and cost us points, but absolutely loved the way he would run up and down the pitch all match, giving vital support to our forwards, and helping us create chances. It's exactly the same way I feel about Walker. We control the game with slick passing and retain possession, Walker really comes into his own, helping to link play and keeping the ball alive. But when we play those teams that break us down and hit hard on the counter, he looks very suspect. Why doesn't AVB have a right-back to play against the teams that break us down and hit hard on the counter? Okay, we'd be far more defensive, but that's the whole bloody point! Surely, AVB and his coaching staff can see the same problems that we can all see? On balance, I love having Walker in the team. For all his failings as an out-and-out defender, he is an exciting player going forward - and God knows we need as much excitement in this team, at the moment, as we can get - and I think he wins us more games than he loses us. I suppose my real criticism is aimed at AVB and his one-dimensional, one-player-fits-all-scenarios mentality, rather than at the player, himself.
Sunday was the best I have seen him play this season, against Man U not to be forgotten, IMHO a MOTM performance for our side Perhaps too often suspect defensively, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and as an added bonus his speed can often get him out of the mire in defensive situations as well as adding to our attacking threat. The de rigeur defensive full back is now an extinct animal, and with age on his side over the next couple of years I can signs of him adding more defensive ability to his natural forward thinking role. In all, he reminds me of *spit* Ashley Cole in that way and if his progression does occur in this manner, who would complain?
Last season was frustrating but I feel he's back on track now. He's formed an excellent partnership with both Lennon and Townsend when they play ahead of him, it was brilliant seeing him and Townsend breaking alongside eachother yesterday and we ran United ragged down that right side. Yeah there are still defensive mistakes but he'll get there with time. The only thing I miss is his switch balls, which I thought were quite effective last season.
Good time to have this debate, after a very good performance from him on Sunday. Go along with much of what you said, although my concern is about positioning, rather than the last ditch tackles. I actually think he does that well, but needs to do them far too often. His pace gets him out of trouble. His last England performance worried me, his passing was woeful, but hopefully that is a blip that he doesn't bring to the lane. Going forward his pace is a huge asset (not fully utilised at the moment) and he seems to be getting better after a poor season last time. I wouldn't worry too much about him - especially if Adam Smith can develop enough to become his understudy. He is likely to be a top right back with a little more defensive coaching.
I don't think he's as bad defensively as made out, there is a problem there, but I think its exacerbated by the high line tactic, it also shows up JV and Daws, but thats a tangent for another thread. If Walker makes up for an initial error with a perfectly executed last ditch tackle thats fine by me, thats good defending to me, i don't care how he does it as long as he does, its not like he gives away pens every other week. No, Kyles a dimwit, not much brain power going on there, so we may aswell resign ourselves to the odd mare from him. He is what he is, a rough diamond, I still think we're lucky to have him though, there's plenty worse.
PROS Outstanding getting forward , exceptional pace , always hard for teams to deal with. AGAINST Poor overall delivery,very poor touch, bad defensive brain. I find him frustrating but I would play him. He looked far better under Harry.
I think he's had a very respectable season so far, but I felt he cost us both goals against United. Took over the set-pieces in that game though, which has been a major problem for us in this campaign, and he did well. His pace compensates for his slightly dodgy positioning, but he does get caught out now and then. Part of that is because he's required to become part of our attack as a formality, as it's not functioning properly right now and Vertonghen's not a proper left-back. I think there's been a notable improvement in his game this time out, but he's not got any real competition for his place and the players around him have been constantly changing. He's had a bunch of different wingers in front of him, a variety of centre-halves next to him and a variety of central midfielders that should be covering for his forward runs. That hasn't helped. More gelling talk, I'm afraid.
Defenders are often at fault when goals are scored it's the nature of their role. The modern defender is expected to be an attacker as well so the chances of errors are multiplied. The rarity of players like Ledley should be more apparant to us now that he has retired but all in all Walker is a great asset to the team.
I love the guy, but I do feel he has some big flaws in his game. For me players like Evra, Cole, Sagna and Ivanovic know when to get forward, and when to stay back, and can be defensively sound as well as score the odd goal getting forwards. Walker gets forward every attack, which whilst being admirable, does leave gaps and isn't always necesary as he isn't enough of a threat to warrent it. His balls in from outside the box (as with pretty much every England player I have seen play on the wing bar Becks and Gerrard) are terrible. And I can only really say his link up play has been that of passing to whomever is in front of him. I've not seen anything to say that he and his partner have an intuitive understanding, or at least the quality to link up succesfully and read each others game. For instance, G nev and Becks had an excellent partnership, Corluca and Lennon also did. I've not seen Walker form an excellent partnership with anyone. He clearly has talent, and I honestly have no idea why he doesn't take all our scoreable free kicks as we have no one else that seems able to score them atm. I think the strongest (in all senses of the word) RB in the league though is Ivanovic. (imagine having to mark him, Terry, Cahil and Lukaku at corners! )
"Defenders are often at fault when goals are scored it's the nature of their role." And their mistakes are easily remembered (as are their outstanding saves) . The mundane 90 min back four play usually gets forgotten (or ignored) . Which is sad as that is most of the day job.
"All of my day job is totally forgettable, and pointless." Sorry to say this, but there is a point to the back four.
Great going forward, quick enough to recover from most errors. Needs to learn before he loses his pace, worried about that, he's not the sharpest arrow in the quiver. But currently wouldn't swap him for any other right back in the prem. Much improved but could do better B+
I want to see less of this please log in to view this image and more of this please log in to view this image
Not sure everyone has seen this, but Adam Smith is back at the club after having his loan terminated early at Derby. Perhaps Walker will finally get some competition for his place.
He's been brought back because they weren't using him, I would imagine he'll be sent to a club that will. Not being able to get a game at Derby doesn't sound like he's ready to push Kyle.
Here's a topic we all seem to be more or less on the same page on, so no need for me to repeat what's already said about his good qualities, except to add that I also think he's been good to very good for us overall. I was very pleasantly surprised how well he did with the free kicks against Man U, and to have the sense to hit a daisy cutter for the first goal was absolutely brilliant. But as far as his flaws go, "bad defensive brain" is unfortunately too accurate too often. It seems to me AVB may have told both Chadli and Townsend "No long range shots. Pass or cross," before the Man U game. They didn't shoot, at any rate, and that took care of a lot of their negative qualities. Maybe Walker should be told, "Don't back pass, ever, or tap the ball back towards a danger area; when in doubt, put your foot through it, preferably away from our goal." That tap back for the first Man U goal could only have been done by a player with bad defensive instincts. No doubt it was a bad touch, but he shouldn't be testing his touch with that ball under any circumstances. Letting it run would have been a much better choice--it was heading away from danger.
