Kyle 'Robot' Walker?

[ChRiStOpHe]

Villas-Boas has been brilliant since he arrived over the summer. We've looked more balanced, more determined, and more mature. Individually, players like Sandro, Lennon & Defoe have really kicked on. However, one player in particular who seems to have gone backwards is Kyle Walker.

Walker seems to be lacking in the self belief he had last year. A few bad games, a few poor reviews, and before he knows it, half a season has passed & he's still trying to play his way into the form that saw him named Young Player of the Year.

It was my belief that Walker was simply going through a rough patch, as many players in their early 20's will. He's first choice in a top Premier League team, with his every touch & decision scrutinised - there were always going to be periods of lows to go with last seasons highs.

Now, by chance, I did a bit of research on AVB's fallout with Lampard this morning, and came across this article written just after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Napoli (AVB's last game there). There were a few sentences that caught my eye regarding Ashley Cole, which may well be complete bollocks, but read like this:

Lampard and Essien were forthright in their views — but it was Cole who spoke out most strongly.

The England left-back told AVB, ‘I came here to win medals and trophies, but I’m never going to do that with your tactics’.

Cole is also unhappy as he feels ‘like a robot’ with Villas-Boas telling him exactly how to play, rather than giving him freedom.

Could this be why we're seeing a different Kyle Walker? Is he suffering from being asked to play a very specific role? He excelled under some very old school managers including Neil Warnock, Gérard Houllier & Harry Redknapp - is André asking him to remove himself from his natural game to such a degree that it's he's struggling to adapt his game? Or is it simply a case of a young footballer having an inevitable dip in form, as many have before him?

 

[tobi]

Walker has had the freedom in the past but he needs discipline. He is struggling but I don't think its because of what his manager is expecting from him, he just isn't playing well and isn't improving either.

Cole is an established player and its understandable that he would want more responsibility per se. I wouldn't trust Walker with the same responsibility.

 

[alamo]

Or is it simply a case of a young footballer having an inevitable dip in form, as many, man have before him?

I would go for and hope this is the case.

But anyhows, whatever the case I think many others have been making good progress and so overall am satisfied.

Hopefully he will get his mojo back.

Heh, I could almost hear BCs yells of disapproval when SWP turned him yesterday......

 

[marion52]

looks to me like he's been playing with plenty of freedom, certainly in the home games where I've watched him. All over the pitch, getting well forward, taking corners and free kicks, nothing robotic in the way he's been playing imo

 

[Shadydan]

The only difference here is that Ashley Cole is a ****.

 

[idontgetit]

He may want to get forward more often but that has nothing to do with continually letting forwards waltz in behind him every game

 

[specspurs]

Cole is also unhappy as he feels ‘like a robot’ with Villas-Boas telling him exactly how to play, rather than giving him freedom.

Could see why Cole would worry about being a robot. After all a robot probably would have more common sense and morals than him.

As for Walker,hopefully it's just a temporary thing and maybe a bit of tiredness as he's played so many games in the last season and a half.

 

[JimmyG2]

Cole has never been wrong in his life. Cheryl knows.
He contests every decision and is one of the first to confront the referee.
A new young manager coming in to an established team
can't possibly know more than Brain of Britain Ashley Cole.
Welcome to civilisation Andre. Their loss, our gain.

 

[Lufti]

Hm. Maybe this is also an explanation for why BAE isn't being chosen over Naughton. I know he's just come back from a long injury lay off but if this theory about AVB wanting his full backs disciplined is true, then it might go some way to explaining why he prefers Naughton, who doesn't offer much attacking threat, to BAE who basically plays as a left wing back..

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Adapt or die.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Villas-Boas has been brilliant since he arrived over the summer. We've looked more balanced, more determined, and more mature. Individually, players like Sandro, Lennon & Defoe have really kicked on. However, one player in particular who seems to have gone backwards is Kyle Walker.

Walker seems to be lacking in the self belief he had last year. A few bad games, a few poor reviews, and before he knows it, half a season has passed & he's still trying to play his way into the form that saw him named Young Player of the Year.

It was my belief that Walker was simply going through a rough patch, as many players in their early 20's will. He's first choice in a top Premier League team, with his every touch & decision scrutinised - there were always going to be periods of lows to go with last seasons highs.

Now, by chance, I did a bit of research on AVB's fallout with Lampard this morning, and came across this article written just after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Napoli (AVB's last game there). There were a few sentences that caught my eye regarding Ashley Cole, which may well be complete bollocks, but read like this:



Could this be why we're seeing a different Kyle Walker? Is he suffering from being asked to play a very specific role? He excelled under some very old school managers including Neil Warnock, Gérard Houllier & Harry Redknapp - is André asking him to remove himself from his natural game to such a degree that it's he's struggling to adapt his game? Or is it simply a case of a young footballer having an inevitable dip in form, as many have before him?

He didn't always excel under those managers. Warnock said something along the lines of "sometimes he's great, sometimes he has you pulling your hair out". And last year under Redknapp he was massively over hyped/rated and the reality was he suffered from the same weaknesses then that he does now, it's just that it takes some people longer than others to spot them, some getting bedazzled by the bullshit hype that surrounds any English player who can run quick or or kick a ball straight.

If you want go read what a few people were saying last year (his "fantastic" year). Those same observations are now just more widespread.

He has a poor footballing brain. His technique often goes a bit shit when he's put under pressure. I actually think AVB has improved his positional sense a little, but he still gets himself skanked too easily, for a bloke with his pace.

He's basically a less experienced version of Stalteri.

 

[Bobbins]

Fortunately, his deficiencies are those which can be taught, and coached out of him.

His footballing brain is poor and his technique often lets him down - but the first can be taught and the second can be improved via coaching.

I'm convinced he'll come good again - to be fair, the much-reviled Glenn Johnson has been excellent this last year, after having a couple of years of dog-rough form and playing like a fucking retard.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Fortunately, his deficiencies are those which can be taught, and coached out of him.

His footballing brain is poor and his technique often lets him down - but the first can be taught and the second can be improved via coaching.

I'm convinced he'll come good again - to be fair, the much-reviled Glenn Johnson has been excellent this last year, after having a couple of years of dog-rough form and playing like a fucking retard.

That's weird, I have generally stuck up for Johnson, he's a bit suspect defensively but his technique is pretty good and he attackes with skill and purpose, but this year he's been played out of position a lot and I think he's been poor whenever I've seen him.

 

[Bobbins]

That's weird, I have generally stuck up for Johnson, he's a bit suspect defensively but his technique is pretty good and he attackes with skill and purpose, but this year he's been played out of position a lot and I think he's been poor whenever I've seen him.

I should say with Johnson I do mean the last 12 months, maybe slightly more. His performances have really moved up a level, particularly defensively - Walker could learn a lot from him. He's been a bit poorer this season so far but that's Liverpool in general really.

Johnson's certainly a world ahead of where he was around 2009-2010, when he was absolutely awful, both for Liverpool and England.

 

[Mr Pink]

He didn't always excel under those managers. Warnock said something along the lines of "sometimes he's great, sometimes he has you pulling your hair out". And last year under Redknapp he was massively over hyped/rated and the reality was he suffered from the same weaknesses then that he does now, it's just that it takes some people longer than others to spot them, some getting bedazzled by the bullshit hype that surrounds any English player who can run quick or or kick a ball straight.

If you want go read what a few people were saying last year (his "fantastic" year). Those same observations are now just more widespread.

He has a poor footballing brain. His technique often goes a bit shit when he's put under pressure. I actually think AVB has improved his positional sense a little, but he still gets himself skanked too easily, for a bloke with his pace.

He's basically a less experienced version of Stalteri.

BC - I've been extremely critical of him recently, but Jesus Christ that is one hell of a provoctaive statement.

 

[Mr Pink]

Johnson has done well, but he was at fault for United's second today.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

BC - I've been extremely critical of him recently, but Jesus Christ that is one hell of a provoctaive statement.

Sum up Stalteri for me.

 

[Jamturk]

Just a side note, Essien gone and Cole and Lampard on their way out at the end of the season, Abramovich does not forgive or forget.

 

[Mouse!]

If he's loaned to a PL side for the second half of this season, I think Adam Smith will have the RB spot next year. If not then he'll go on loan next year and be our RB the year after. A far better footballer than Kyle Walker IMO. I still wouldn't get rid of walker until we were offered £15m+ though.

 

[Mr Pink]

Sum up Stalteri for me.

pretty average in all honesty, despite a memorable winner away to the Pikey's

Walker has been poor this season, for the most part anyway, but last season he was very good IMO - Stalteri never got near that sort of level.