Theo warned as Arsenal scout his replacement + Jack takes another step
October 9, 2012
It’s a good day indeed to be a greedy, dickhead ex-Arsenal player as both Robin Van Persie and Ashley Cole have been let off of their recent transgressions for some reason.
Seriously, if I was Samir Nasri I’d take this opportunity to go shoplifting down my local newsagents. He could make off with three packets of football stickers and a Curly Wurly and I don’t reckon anyone could touch him.
The FA really have demonstrated their iron disciplinary grip yet again. In what other industry could you elbow a colleague in the face (with the evidence caught on camera) or describe all of your bosses as a #bunchoftwats in a public forum and not even get so much as a slap on the wrist? Unbelievable. What’s even less believable is the fact that Cole used a hashtag to insult the FA (who apparently don’t especially disagree with his assessment). A hashtag!? He wasn’t even content with labelling the FA a bunchoftwats to the entire world. He wanted to get it trending too!
Anyway, I can’t sit around getting steamed up about those Judas nobends all day. Because I wouldn’t have any energy left to worry about the next generation. Yes, despite his goalscoring exploits in his limited appearances so far this season, Theo Walcott is still yet to agree to a new deal with Dick Law and his merry contract waving men. I suspect that part of the problem is that in all this time Arsenal don’t seem to have changed their stance particularly when it comes to Theo’s wages. And according to the latest pronouncements from Peter Hill-Wood on the matter they’re not about to:
We have got our general overall wage structure and we are not prepared to break it for anybody. We have made an offer which he didn’t think was acceptable and that is the end of it. We think it is a very reasonable offer.
For the moment his people are still talking to us and we hope it will be resolved. But don’t ask me when, because I haven’t a clue.
It’s getting increasingly hard to imagine how the dispute will be resolved if indeed Theo’s team don’t think the offer is acceptable and we’re not prepared to budge on it. Unless someone on either side is prepared to swallow down some pride this still has all the signs of heading towards a Bosman. Although PHW did hint that the club have taken somewhat more drastic action to solve the stand-off:
I hope that he will eventually come round and sign.
Come round and sign? Now I’m worried that Steve Bould might have knocked him unconscious and locked him in the basement.
It will be a pity if he does not, but the whole issue of pay for footballers has got totally out of hand and they don’t get terribly well advised a lot of the time.
Still, I’m not sure knocking him out was the answer. But maybe that’s why you’re the well paid Chairman and I’m just a lowly blogger.
As if to confirm the club’s suspicions that this may not go our way, various outlets are reporting that Pat Rice has been tasked with the job of scouting Theo’s replacement and he’s taking a serious look at Crystal Palace’s 19 year old wing sensation Wilfried Zaha. I mean, I say ‘wing sensation’ but I’ve probably just been reading too many tabloids and that’s the sort of thing you’re supposed to say it seems. But apparently he’s pretty good. He’s scored four goals in the last two games, two of which came in front of Rice against Burnley on Saturday.
The good news keeps coming as far as the comback trail is concerned. Last night Arsenal U-21s beat their Reading conunterparts 2-0 with Wilshere, Frimpong and the returning Bacary Sagna all playing their part (not to mention Andre Santos and Francis Coquelin in a suspiciously strong Arsenal line-up). Sagna managed an hour and by all accounts played as if he’d never been away. Frimpong completed the full 90 while Jack put in a much livelier performance than last week, lasting 74 minutes this time around.
Apparently he showed some nice touches and a lot of energy in the middle and presumably now he can’t be far from a return to the first team squad. There are no U-21 matches scheduled between now and the end of the international break but it wouldn’t surprise me if there was some sort of behind-closed-doors friendly arranged in a week or so to keep stepping up his comeback. If that happens and he can get 90 minutes under his belt then who’s to say he won’t make the bench for the Norwich match?
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Comments
9 Responses to “Theo warned as Arsenal scout his replacement + Jack takes another step”
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It seems to me that Theo is playing for his wages, it wouldn’t surprise me if Wenger said that we would be willing to pay him a little more if he proved he could do it a little more consistently. Either that or he’s simply looking to up his cache in order to get the best move with the best pay packet in January, I know which I prefer to think and which one I think holds more truth and I’m not convinced they’re the same option.
I think Theo needs a performance related contract. Give him 70,000 a week and a 30,000 goal or assist bonus. Then if he performs well he gets what he wanted and Arsenal wont have to watch him return to mediocrity the second he signs on the dotted line.
van persie was never greedy. i think the club would have done everything financially, within reason, to keep him.
he just got sick of losing. still not an excuse. i think a club, teammates, happiness are more important than winning silverware at the end of it. its a team sport, but players are selfish.
Likewise, Theo is not greedy. You can just tell he’s not that type of guy. But i wouldnt be surprised if Theo was no longer an Arsenal player at the end of the season as i think the club doesnt care too much either way, and we have great prospects like Campbell and Miyaichi that will be great wingers.
I dont think Theo has the potential to become athat great striker we need. But we should give him a shot to find out before pushing him out at least. And i hope he proves me wrong because i think he loves the club and is a good clubman, contract negotiations aside.
@ mark,You r kidding about Van fussy not being greedy right? he got sick of losing ? i think u need to pull your lips outta of his a*se for a minute and think about it .He spent more time in the sick bay ….seven god damn seasons to put it more aptly and he jumps ship at the first signal to Manu of all places am telling u right now if it had not being Manure utd it would have been Man shitty .It was all about those paper with Charles mum printed on it
Theo needs to sack the agent who spent all summer getting him into this mess.
Theo Walcott has for many years been branded useless by sections of Arsenal ‘supporters’. If Arsenal had smashed the wage structure for him and resigned him for ridiculous money, they would of briefed the media/gone on a pride march/got their black bins out/tried to go viral on twitter and/or cut and paste their rabid views on every Arsenal blog going. But it seems now the Club isn’t bending to Theo’s whims – which you would think the haters, sorry the ‘supporters’ would vocally applaud. Nope they are saying that Theo’s very likely departure is the Club’s fault.
See to me, there are sections out there that just like to play the opposites game, the current incumbents are always not good enough, they can do it better. They can manage the clubs finances, contract negotiations, youth development, commercial deals, player injuries, media relations and anything Arsene Wenger does, probably with their eyes closed.
Very entertaining again, MH. What can you say about the FA? Dearie me.
Laughed my head off at your diving calculation scale from yesterday.
@ Goona gal
ha ha, I hear you!
Before the start of the season I listed 6 players that could do the same job Theo does for us on the right. 4 at the club ( Ryo, Afobe, Gnabry, Campbell), 2 outside (Sterling , Zaha). At this point I am more than okay with the idea of selling Walcott, in fact I have moved through all of the stages of loss and the strong remaining feeling is that I just don’t want anyone at the club who doesn’t want to be there, thinks they are better than the club, uses the media for personal gain and shows a lack of respect and appreciation towards the club. I support Arsenal Football Club, I am not one of those people like Beckham’s fans that follow a particular player to whatever club they sign for. I don’t care for the Walcott politicking mars bar interview either where he said he wants to stay and become a club legend – utter crap! As there is no way he would risk getting on the wrong side of the fans or manager with his behavior. I found it insulting and I hope Theo’s successful cameo’s have encouraged potential suitors to follow up previous inquiries with firm bids. It’s time to lock down for a couple of seasons a squad that are happy and know Arsenal FC is the club they want to play for.
For all I know, Theo is probably playing the opposites game I mentioned before! He probably doesn’t think he can develop into a player like Thierry Henry or he would of signed up already, allowed Arsene to work with him and develop him. He’s not passionate about football or Arsenal FC and he knows he doesn’t have the character to practice and develop the necessary skills which takes a lot of time and hard work. He knows right now he is a limited but useful player, but one on the cusp of becoming a squad member rather than an automatic starter (that attracts so many other lucrative deals).
Obviously I could be wrong, I am just putting forward some face saving ideas out there. He has a reputation of being so polite and cordial, so why the cheek? I would love Hodgson to start Theo for England upfront to test the theory of his progression and development. I would much rather it be at England’s expense than Arsenal’s and Carroll isn’t fully fit and neither is Rooney, so why not give Theo a shot.
@ Fungunner – I am all ranted out now!