Is Walker good enough for 1st 11?

[Bobbins]

I will be a very happy fan if our full-backs next year are Corluka and Assou-Ekotto, with Rose (who has really, really surprised me) and Walker as back-ups/Carling Cup/Europa League/competition.

 

[garyhopkins]

I will be a very happy fan if our full-backs next year are Corluka and Assou-Ekotto, with Rose (who has really, really surprised me) and Walker as back-ups/Carling Cup/Europa League/competition.

Whole-heartedly agree. A fully fit Charlie is easily our best right back. Yes, he's not the quickest, but he makes up for it with tactical nous. Benny has improved markedly this season, and Rose has been a revelation so far. Walker is a great attacking threat, and so would be a great alternative to Charlie when required.

Hopefully Kaboul will get more chances in the centre although, if Ledley is fit, that's gonna be difficult.

 

[Nick]

Got to give Walker a chance!

 

[Tottenham_OZpur]

Would like to see him back at Spurs next season, covering for both Corluka and Lennon.

But then again I also wouldn't mind seeing O'Hara back at Spurs and that is unlikely, he was very good against Sunderland and like my old man, I rate him higher than Pienaar.

 

[StartingPrice]

Would like to see him back at Spurs next season, covering for both Corluka and Lennon.

But then again I also wouldn't mind seeing O'Hara back at Spurs and that is unlikely, he was very good against Sunderland and like my old man, I rate him higher than Pienaar.

But unlike Pienaar, as has been said umpteen times on this forum (and elsewhere), Jamie O'Hara has made it 100% clear that he is not prepared to sit on the bench and fight for a place in the side.

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

Wouldn't shed a tear for either of our current full-backs if we're realistic about competing for the top four. If you go through the tapes of the goals we've let in over the past two seasons and assess how many times either Corluka or Assou Ekotto have been at fault either directly through a mistake or indirectly through (mainly in Ekotto's case) being caught out up or infield, I reckon you'd find it to be a high percentage of our goals conceded. Both of them, particularly Benny, are regularly targeted as a weakness by opposition teams. Meanwhile, Charlie is a soft touch in the air, cumbersome and for my money either a bit soft or a bit lazy. They're both decent, but neither would get in Man Utd or Chelsea's teams and if that's where we want to go, shouldn't be anywhere near our first XI either.

 

[felmani26]

Walker seems very much in the mold of an Ashley Cole who likes to foray forward and although he's still a bit defensively naive, this should be rectified with experience.

All in all though, a great prospect at full back - having said that, I remember our last great white hope at right back in Phillip Ifil who seemed destined to big things but it never transpired but I honestly don't see Walker going down that career path.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I know someone who's close to Ifil and coached him at a young level. Ifil, when presented with a new deal by us or the opportunity to move, chose to move to get first team football instead. My mate discouraged this, apparently he had a good chance of succeeding with us if he'd been patient. Shame. Waste of a talent. Makes you wonder how often it happens.

 

[felmani26]

I know someone who's close to Ifil and coached him at a young level. Ifil, when presented with a new deal by us or the opportunity to move, chose to move to get first team football instead. My mate discouraged this, apparently he had a good chance of succeeding with us if he'd been patient. Shame. Waste of a talent. Makes you wonder how often it happens.

He did seem one of our most promising players coming through the youth and IIRC he performed very well against Liverpool for us so for his career to more or less nose dive was unfortunate.

In any case, i'm surprised he didn't at least flourish in the lower leagues so perhaps his attitude was questionable and thought he was better than he actually was.

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

He did seem one of our most promising players coming through the youth and IIRC he performed very well against Liverpool for us so for his career to more or less nose dive was unfortunate.

In any case, i'm surprised he didn't at least flourish in the lower leagues so perhaps his attitude was questionable and thought he was better than he actually was.

I think this is one of the main problems in our two, some would say conflicting, transfer strategies. On one hand we're commmitted to having a large squad of senior players with, in most cases two or three senior and/or international players competing for every position, and on the other we've followed a policy of snapping up the best young talent. Clearly, though, with three senior players in most positions those young players will rarely get a chance through necessity, and it's through necessity that many young players have been thrown in by Premier League teams, gained experience and progressed into regular first-team players. Potential is only that, and it must be realised, but in order to realise it, it must tested. Liverpool's small squad is at the moment leading to a few of their youngsters getting a go, and obviously that's what happened at West Ham when their famed crop of young talent - Lampard, Cole, Ferdinand, Defoe came through. It's hard to see that happening at Spurs because we're rarely short enough of cover for a young player to be thrown in. It's difficult to know what the best approach is, but I sometimes think our youth recruitment and development leads to a dead end for these young players.

 

[Tottenham_OZpur]

But unlike Pienaar, as has been said umpteen times on this forum (and elsewhere), Jamie O'Hara has made it 100% clear that he is not prepared to sit on the bench and fight for a place in the side.

Yep, that's part of the reason why I said unlikely :wink:

It's a pity, but at the same time it's good to see a player not being happy just to collect wages, so I can't really be too critical of him, even if I think he should have shown some more patience.

Then again Niko has been patient enough this season, even took his rare chance and scored a couple late goals. Didn't help him though, thought that would have turned his season around and he would be back in favour again, I don't blame O'Hara for wanting none of that.

 

[dvdhopeful]

From what I have seen of Walker this year, he looks a genuine talent.

If we went into next season with Corluka/Walker and BAE/Rose - would suit me fine. I think the emergence of Walker and Rose mean that two positions which needed strengthening over the summer, LB and RB, are settled for next year.

 

[StartingPrice]

Yep, that's part of the reason why I said unlikely :wink:

It's a pity, but at the same time it's good to see a player not being happy just to collect wages, so I can't really be too critical of him, even if I think he should have shown some more patience.

Then again Niko has been patient enough this season, even took his rare chance and scored a couple late goals. Didn't help him though, thought that would have turned his season around and he would be back in favour again, I don't blame O'Hara for wanting none of that.

Didn't mean to imply I had any problems with his attitude:up:

 

[southgatespur40]

i say if his defending isn't that great and lennon needs a rest, play charlie behind him at rb and walker at rw its worth a shot, he has a very direct approach and has a fairly good final ball

 

[stemark44]

From what I have seen of Walker this year, he looks a genuine talent.

If we went into next season with Corluka/Walker and BAE/Rose - would suit me fine. I think the emergence of Walker and Rose mean that two positions which needed strengthening over the summer, LB and RB, are settled for next year.

The guy will definitely be a starter for us next season maybe not straight away but certainly from January on.
I would be happy with those 4 players plus Bale covering our fullback positions next season.