Walcott: England squad farce continues
Posted by DavidM in England, Theo Walcott, World Cup | 10 May 2006
Following the mind-numbing inanity of the manager selection which resulted in the unimaginative appointment of Steve McClaren, and the media frenzy around Rooney's injury, England's preparations for the World Cup now seem to have descended into the realms of the surreal with the call-up of Theo Walcott to the squad.
Don't get me wrong, I think Theo has great talent and is one of our brightest hopes for the future. Plus I'm pleased to see the entire English contingent of the Arsenal squad in the national team, but it's the wrong decision.
Walcott is a very young player who has never played in the Premiership let alone at senior international level and hasn't played a competitive match at all for half a season. How on earth can he be chosen above the likes of Defoe who is match fit, playing well, has proven himself at club level and played internationally before?
No-one seems more surprised by this than Theo.
What makes me question the decision even more, though, is that it's okay to take one risk with the strike-force. But with the injuries to Owen and Rooney, Sven is already taking two big gambles and including Theo adds a third. I know Defoe and Andy Johnson are on the stand-by list, but Defoe should have been in the key squad and Walcott should be stand-by.
As William Hill are reported to have said: "It seems odd that Arsene Wenger seems to rate Theo so highly for England, but isn't prepared to put him in the Arsenal side". They have Walcott as 12/1 to be England's high-scorer in Germany - behind Rooney at 10/1. That must tell you something.
