Tag Archives: Daniel Sturridge

Walcott v Townsend (and Sturridge, Welbeck, Ox & Bale)

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After 6 goals in 2 games, a lot of England fans have been asking the question “Will Walcott get back into the team.” Well, here is some breaking news. Yes he will.

The player currently occupying his position on the right hand side of a front 3 is flavour of the moment Andros Townsend. Some have claimed he is already better than Theo Walcott. Others say that he will become better than Theo Walcott. Both statements are a fallacy and as likely to come true as me getting below 12 stone. Do not believe me? Theo Walcott is currently 24, Andros Townsend 22. So that no one moans (usually from up the road in North London) I have made a fair comparison. What had Theo Walcott achieved up to the season when he was 22 years of age, due to turn 23, in comparison to Andros Townsend:

Walcott-Townsend

There is nothing to show in Andros Townsend past to prove the statement “Andros Townsend will become better than Theo Walcott”. And taking into account that the year after 2011/12 (my cut off year for Theo Walcott), he went on to score 21 goals and get 14 assists, it is also a fallacy that “Andros Townsend is better than Theo Walcott”. Townsend has 14 career goals. Walcott scored 21 in 1 season. I think some people need to learn the definition of the word ‘better’.

For a final note on this, Theo Walcott has had a ‘terrible’ start to the 2013/14 campaign, whilst Andros Townsend has had a brilliant start. Yet they have both scored just the 1 goal in all competitions, whilst Theo leads the assists 2 to 1. Just shows, Theo being useless so far is still better than Townsend’s best season so far.

Expanded this a little more, there are 3 attacking positions up for grabs in the England squad. In the last 2 games, they have been occupied by Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Andros Townsend. Now some are saying that these 3 will be the front 3 for the World Cup, and that all 3 are better than Theo Walcott. Well, lets look at some more stats: England Striker

For the 3 forward positions, there are 5 players in contention (Sorry Manchester United and Manchester City fans, but Ashley Young and James Milner are useless, as for Lennon, if he gets in, Townsend, the future of English football, won’t be there). I have also stuck Gareth Bale in the comparison just to see how the English players compare to the most expensive (and therefore surely the best?) player of all time.

What is obvious from the statistics is Daniel Sturridge is by far the best goalscorer and his lightning form justifies his selection. 17 goals in his last 2 seasons (28 games) is a decent return and whilst he might not be a World Class striker, he is certainly the best England have. As for the wide positions, the one that stands out, obviously, is Theo Walcott. The two statistics a wide forward needs to be judged on his goals and assists. In his career, he is pretty much level with Gareth Bale, and last season they also averaged a similar number. So how much does that make Walcott worth?

It also makes a mockery of people saying he will not get into the side. Last season, Townsend, Welbeck & Chamberlain scored 4 goals and got 9 assists between them. Theo got more than these on his own. Walcott has made the right wing his own at Arsenal, and will be one of the 1st names on the team sheet for England.

The other interesting comparison is between Welbeck, Townsend and Oxlade-Chamberlain. Welbeck currently has the left hand side, but he showed against Poland he is useless. Townsend is left footed, played most of his youth career on the left wing, but he broken through this year playing right wing. And Oxlade-Chamberlain played left wing at the last European Championship for England. It is clear it is between these 3 for the left wing position. So what do the stats say?

Over his career, Welbeck is the more effective, but interestingly, they all averaged around 5 games per goal/assist last campaign. When you consider Walcott averaged 1.3 and Sturridge 1.5, it is clear England’s left wing will be the week side of the attacking trio.

What is also interesting is how poor Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stats are. I have felt since joining Arsenal, his hype does not come through on his stats and 3 goals and 5 assists in his career perhaps highlight this. Although he is just 20 so the youngest of the group. And he has still got more goals and assists then the future of England, Andros Townsend, despite him being 2 years younger (which again makes a mockery of people calling Townsend ‘England’s Future and saying he is better than Theo Walcott).

If England can get the left wing sorted, and with Rooney playing in the hole with 3 ahead of him with pace and finishing ability, England could surprise a lot of people in Brazil. It would be a fairly exciting forward line!

Theo Walcott is nowhere near losing his England spot, least of all to Andros Townsend. And what is clear by the comparison’s is that he is every bit as effective when it comes to playing as a wide forward as Gareth Bale.

Keenos

England a glimpse of Arsenal’s future?

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Tonight at 8pm, England play at home against Montenegro. Whilst International football rarely gets me excited, I am actually looking forward to this game – although I am likely to miss the first half as I am taking advantage of the International break by getting away for the weekend – and the reason for this is we will potentially get a glimpse of Arsenal’s future.

Now I am not talking about the amount of Arsenal in and around the England side. Wilshere, Walcott, Gibbs & Oxlade-Chamberlain could all be on the plane to Brazil (if England make it). I am actually talking about the future make up of Arsenal’s central midfield.

“But only Wilshere will play and he will be next to Gerrard, who is Scouse” I hear you all say. And that is true. It might sound odd that by watching Gerrard & Wilshere together is a glimpse of Arsenal’s midfield of the next 10 years.

Wilshere has often played most of his career in the number 10 role. Further up in the pitch involved around the edge of the area. But I have long believed that his future would be deeper. His technique and long and short passing is exceptional. But so is his aggression, and by playing him too far forward, you lose the aggression. Add in Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere’s future at Arsenal is deeper.

For England, he will play deeper alongside Gerrard with Wayne Rooney ahead, in behind Daniel Sturridge. It will be interesting to see how he gets on and if he can still dominate and influence the game. I am sure he can. Now where does Gerrard fit in?

Well Aaron Ramsey shares a lot of similar traits to Gerrard. Stamina, running, able to drive forward, but a solid individual. I have long felt Gerrard would have been a better player had he performed deeper and dictate play, however his own ego dictated where he played. He was, for a time, bigger then any Liverpool manager, and basically played where he want.

I can see Ramsey playing in a similar role to that of Gerrard in the near future for Arsenal. A little bit deeper, a little bit more disciplined. He would provide a midfield two alongside Jack Wilshere, where their intelligence would mean that they could both defend and attack at will. The would be able to build a relationship and become the best central midfield partnership in world football. And with Mesut Ozil ahead, well the world would be our oyster.

For once, watching an England game might not be worthless.

Keenos

 

5 Strikers Available to Arsenal in January

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With over £40million still available to Arsene Wenger for January transfer, we at SheWore speculate in a 4 part series (Striker, Midfield, Defence, Others) on realistic potential transfers that we might make in January. We start this week with 5 possible strikers that could be available to Arsene Wenger for January.

Luis Suarez – Our number 1 striking option for the summer eventually fell through due to a lack of clarification over his transfer release fee. There is a strong possibility that we could return to Liverpool in January. With Daniel Sturridge having scored 6 goals in 5 games, were he to continue that form, Liverpool may well be willing to entertain a big bid, as they would not require to sign a replacement. This one would require Luis Suarez to play up over the next few months, once more making it clear to world football that he wants out of Liverpool.

Robert Lewandowski – Rumours are that over the summer, he and Bayern Munich cam to an agreement that he will sign on a free transfer next summer. Reports are Borussia Dortmund were happy with this deal, as it meant Lewandoski would not leave to Bayern in the same summer as Mario Gotze. However, nothing has yet been signed, leaving the door open to other clubs to make a bid. Dortmund would still prefer to see Lewandowski go abroad. A move in January would generate a fee for the German club, whilst a summer 2014 move would see him go on a free. It would come down to how much Lewandowski wants to go to Bayern Munich.

Rickie Lambert – A deadline day target whom we enquired about once the Demba Ba deal went dead. Could Arsenal go back in for the English striker in January? He would provide short term cover for Olivier Grioud, before we make a bigger signing next summer. A stumbling block would be a transfer fee. He would be a temporary solution, but Southampton would command northwards of £10million. A big fee, but half a dozen goals in the run in to a title chase could prove priceless.

Fernando Llorente – Having joined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer, he seems to be no longer wanted by the club after the signing of Carlos Tevez. He was clearly signed with the idea of leading The Old Lady’s line, but once Carlos Tevez came on the market and was signed, he has found himself starting just 1 of their first 3 games. If his frustration continues, and with it being a world cup year, he could look to get some game time elsewhere in January. Some reading might say “He can not move club again” however, the FIFA rule is:

“Players may be registered for a maximum of three clubs during the period from 1 July until 30 June of the following year. During this period, the player is only eligible to play in Official Matches for two clubs.”

In the 2013/14 season, he has only been registered with, and played for, one club – Juventus. Whether he would leave the bench of Juventus for the bench of Arsenal is another story…

Christian Benteke – Having turned down bids from Tottenham, Aston Villa agreed a new 4 year deal with the Belgium international after the big man withdrew his transfer request. A backtrack like this is only usually seen by David Cameron , an Aston Villa fan. You have to think that the signing of a new deal included a transfer release clause. Were Arsenal to meet this clause, Aston Villa would have little choice but to let their top marksman leave. I would speculate that this clause would be around the £30million mark. A lot of money for someone who is not considered as ‘top draw.’ However, for £30million you are getting a 22 year old who has 23 Premier League goals in a little more then a season. He would not need to settle, and would soon repay that fee if he scored crucial goals in a title run in.

Next week: 5 Midfielders Available for January

Keenos