Walker..

[danielneeds]

The fact is in three out of the last four games we have scored goals directly from his attacking play. He is becoming a massive weapon for us offensively, something that Corluka will never offer.

Yes, we can all see that he needs to improve defensively, and he will cost us some goals this year, but the pros far outweigh the cons at the moment.

He will only get better and better too.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

The fact is in three out of the last four games we have scored goals directly from his attacking play. He is becoming a massive weapon for us offensively, something that Corluka will never offer.

Yes, we can all see that he needs to improve defensively, and he will cost us some goals this year, but the pros far outweigh the cons at the moment.

He will only get better and better too.

Yes for sure. And it kind of goes against all of those who said he and Lennon couldn't play together (because Lennon and Glen Johnson couldn't). Now they have played a few games together and obviously trained together it would seem obvious that they can play together pretty well. Lennon was actually making some good runs coming off the wing and there was often a tonne of space for Walker to bomb into. Then Lennon was tracking back excellently and helping with the defensive side too.

Although Walker has his defensive issues I actually thought he did OK yesterday. He stood Zamora up a couple of times and dealt reasonably well with Riise coming from deep. He got caught out a couple of times and he needs to keep working hard in training on his positioning and his reaction to attacking moves from the opposition (he seems to often get caught flat-footed). If he does that then he can become a very decent full back.

 

[Davo99]

How anyone can rate Corluka is beyond me. He has absolutely no acceleration and he's only a second away from an almighty fuck up at all times.

 

[C0YS]

What makes you a better judge than Redknapp ? I thought you didn't agree with this principle ?

Only, until Hutton told Redknapp where to get off when he tried to blame him for Dawson's incompetence at Fulham last year, Hutton was first being chosen by Redknapp over Corluka. Strange given he's so useless ?

I think you missed the point that Hutton was incometent in that game as well. I think both of them got a beating from Redknapp, only one argued back.

 

[mike_l]

How anyone can rate Corluka is beyond me. He has absolutely no acceleration and he's only a second away from an almighty fuck up at all times.

Because he isn't being rated as a car and because that isn't true.

 

[hoodlum]

I think you missed the point that Hutton was incometent in that game as well. I think both of them got a beating from Redknapp, only one argued back.

I still can't believe Hutton is gone. It's surreal

 

[C0YS]

Because he isn't being rated as a car and because that isn't true.

Could of picked two colours which don't burn your eyes out mate :up:!

The rest is for you B_C

It is clear that Redknapp likes his attacking right backs, Hutton is doing piss poorly for Villa (considering their fans want him replaced for a youngster who is promising but unproven at this level, or a CB who has not cut the mustard in the PL at his prefered position) for a reason.

The truth is attacking right backs are a defensive tool as much as a offensive one. If the winger gets pushed back then you prevent them from attacking from that flank.

Walker has been generally very good, and less error prone then Hutton was, and still is. The problem is that he has a poor positional sense, but this comes with time, he is only 21 to put this in context at 21 Hutton was not good enough to stake a regular place in the Rangers side and had yet to be called up for Scotland. While BAE had only just broke into the Lens team. He is a kid for his possition. Glen Johnson had yet to play more then 20 games in a season. He is a kid, but yet again B_C is so quick to judge him.

For example I am not convinced that Livermore is up to the grade, but I am looking forward to him proving me wrong, I actively want him to do well for us. Same goes with GDS and Falcao. I thought BAE was a walking disaster when he first joined, now I think he is the best left back in the PL, not once did I wait to nail him in the coffin after every bad game. No I didn't because I suported him, because I am a suporter and that is my role. You on the other hand, pick players to vent your fustrations at. Probably because they fit a mould that you dont like.

For example fast English players must be techinically poor and lack a football brain. Even when Lennon playes brilliantly when drifting inside, in a role which requires football inteligence, and a possition you can't simply beat players for pace. I could go on into certain styles of defending, holding midfield players and loads more, while on the other side BC has a bias for Box to Box players, inverted wingers and generally hard working or percived "technical" players, whatever "technical" even means, for that is a defenition every football fan has a different meaning for.

Every player has different roles and if they are effective, which players like Dawson, Lennon, Defoe and Walker all are who cares if Dawson isn't a calm and composed ball playing CB, and Lennon isn't a inside forward who drifts around the pitch with an air of unpredictability. Or that Defoe isn't this instinctive finisher who drops deep and creates play as well as finishing it off (although he is the joint leader in the assists table). And Walker isn't this fulback with a brilliant first touch, defensive mastermind and with a killer cross on him. Who cares they do their job, they play in their way and are good at it. Sure give them stick for not doing what they are good at effectivly but don't crusify them for what they are not. If Defoe was about getting on the ball and coming from deep he would be inneffective. If Walker stopped going forward he would be ineffective. If Dawson didn't throw himself at every ball he would be... guess what, ineffectove. On their day these players are brilliant at what they do, and when they do it well it helps us win.

BC in the rating thread, you rated Lennon a 4, despite being involved in two of the goals. I am sorry he might of done fuck all game (and actually he did quite a bit, including in defence) but that its self warrents more then a 4.

You rated Walker a 5, despite him practically creating the first goal, and him actually causing a lot of problems, he was far from great at the back, but it must be noted that most of Fulhams succesfull attacks came through the centre and Duff was very quite all game.

Then you quite bizzarly say that Jol took off the danger men and put on a striker... Which is odd, unless you believe Ruiz is a striker..... Which he isn't, he is a VdV, in other words a supplier....

Your ratings are bias, using own personal ingrained pet hates and beliefs, your discussion on Walker is bias, having come to the conclusion he was rubbish before the season even started. You show no support for large sections on the players, and look forward every week to having the opportunity to knock them down. I am getting a bit board of this whole affair time and time again of only ever seeing what you want to see, and failing to realize that that is exactly what you are doing. BC you are not the messiah you're a very naughty boy.

 

[Legend10]

For apparently such a bad defender we have conceded only 7 Premiership goals with Walker in the 765 minutes he has been on the pitch this season.

In the 135 minutes he was absent we conceded 8.

 

[adamthfc]

No, he doesn't. Defensively, Corluka's far sounder.

Walker will get there, though. It's pretty clear that Harry's taken a calculated risk on him, knowing there are going to be some hairy defensive moments and trusting that there will be fewer and fewer of these as the lad learns from experience.

And whilst he's had these hairy defensive moments, how many have actually cost us.

Walker and Corluka are both vastly to be preferred to the useless Hutton.

I really dont think corluka is great defensively he often falls asleep his passing can be terrible at times aswell and he offers next to nothing going forward.give me walker all day long

 

[adamthfc]

For apparently such a bad defender we have conceded only 7 Premiership goals with Walker in the 765 minutes he has been on the pitch this season.

In the 135 minutes he was absent we conceded 8.

Corluka on the pitch for all 8 aswell wasnt he?

 

[mike_l]

Corluka on the pitch for all 8 aswell wasnt he?

TBF to him those 8 goals came against the 2 best sides we will play against this season and coincided with us having a midfield like swiss cheese, I doubt Walker playing instead would have made much difference.

I hate the way some fans have to like one an hate the other, why is it so difficult to see the merits that both offer?

 

[Legend10]

TBF to him those 8 goals came against the 2 best sides we will play against this season and coincided with us having a midfield like swiss cheese, I doubt Walker playing instead would have made much difference.

I hate the way some fans have to like one an hate the other, why is it so difficult to see the merits that both offer?

totally agree, my point was that Walker really isn't the defensive liability that some are making him out to be.

He has plenty to learn but what 21 year old doesn't? Plus his forward play more than counterbalances it.

 

[yido_number1]

TBF to him those 8 goals came against the 2 best sides we will play against this season and coincided with us having a midfield like swiss cheese, I doubt Walker playing instead would have made much difference.

I hate the way some fans have to like one an hate the other, why is it so difficult to see the merits that both offer?

Walker played the first half against United ill... Corluka came on second half...

Everyone that has said give him time to develop are completely right. He's doing well so far and needs time to keep progressing. He's helped make two of our goals against away teams with his pace (Blackburn and Fulham) and isnt too bad defensively.

Will be some player in a few years and has a great attitude.

 

[mike_l]

totally agree, my point was that Walker really isn't the defensive liability that some are making him out to be.

He has plenty to learn but what 21 year old doesn't? Plus his forward play more than counterbalances it.

Walker played the first half against United ill... Corluka came on second half...

Everyone that has said give him time to develop are completely right. He's doing well so far and needs time to keep progressing. He's helped make two of our goals against away teams with his pace (Blackburn and Fulham) and isnt too bad defensively.

Will be some player in a few years and has a great attitude.

Yeah, my post isn't intended to be anti-Walker, it's anti-anti-Corluka.

It's a strange myth, I'm sure some just write him of as being useless going forward and a potential liablity in defense because he isn't quick. That's just bullshit, yeah he'll never skin an opposition fullback, nor will he chase down a forward Ledley style, but he contributes to attack and defense through different attributes.

As for the United game, we played better as a team in the first half, then in the second the midfield of Kranjcar and a rookie Livermore tired and began to get overrun. It's a coincidence IMO that Corluka was on the pitch at that point, harsh to blame him and I'd wager the same would have happened had a fully fit Walker been present.

 

[kungfugrip]

His sprint, deft touch past the full back and great cross was a delight to watch. Some players could just about manage one of those. Walker did all three. He's lethal going forward. Still lots to learn but we've got one hell of a player here.

 

[leelee]

I think within 2 seasons he will be the best RB in the world and Barca will be knockin on our door to replace Alves with Walker.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

He played shit yesterday, despite the set up for the first.. He was terrible defensively.

BAE is a model FB. Different class.

 

[coldasice199]

I like Walker. My flatmate is a united fan but comes to WHL with me (I think he supports spurs on the sly...he sings maybe more than me) and he can't believe that some fans arn't sold on Walker.

His speed bails him out sometimes, but he's definatly improved the team. And he's so young.

 

[raf18]

He played shit yesterday, despite the set up for the first.. He was terrible defensively.

BAE is a model FB. Different class.

If you watch the scramble in front of friedel late on, walker was the one throwing his body at everything whilst BAE was stood to the side waiting for a rebound to come out so that he could clear it.

Not knocking BAE, just showing that walker is giving it his best and tucking in when attacks are coming in from the left.

 

[tobi]

I appreciate you Charlie.