Kyle Walker - One of the world's best right backs?

I still feel like Kyle can be so much better than he is, sometimes his decision making at the end, I just wish he backed his ability more because he has everything to be world class but often slowed the play down yesterday. It's infuriating because he's already so good but could be so much more.

Pointing to Walker's good performances over the past couple of games for England as proof that he's one of the best full backs around is to misunderstand the nature of the criticism of him. I don't think many people would deny that he is capable of being excellent - he's obviously got everything he needs physically, a great work ethic both getting forward and (more importantly) getting back, he links up intelligently with whoever is in front of him and is generally a solid defender, probably more than casual observers give him credit for.

His 'upside' is not the issue - his final ball could be better of course, but at his best he's a very, very good player. The problem is, even at 26 with the best part of a decade playing at the highest level, he hasn't completely eradicated those random brainfarts from his game. Yes, he's been superb in the past two games - but would anyone who has watched him play over the course of his career be surprised if he switched off momentarily and cost us a goal that knocked us out?

To give him credit, he has improved immeasurably over the past year or so in that regard, playing consistently well for us all season and now cementing his place in the England squad. But one of the best in the world? Not for me. Even without the concentration problems which are still an occasional issue, I don't think he's at the level of Alves (second highest assist rate in La Liga over the past five years or so, incredible for a right back even if he plays high up the pitch), Juanfran, Lichtsteiner or Lahm. In truth there is a bit of a dearth of top full backs at the moment for some reason - five years ago there would be much more competition. For what it's worth - say it quietly - I think Bellerin will be one of the best right backs in the world in a few years, hopefully back at Barca rather than down the road.

This sort of discussion is always a bit awkward because 'one of the best in the world' is such a vague, undefined notion - is it a case of being one of the best five in the world? Best ten? Or is it more about looking at the player and wondering if he could play for one of the top sides in the world? I'd tend towards the latter, and can't help but think that, good as he is, Walker would be a weak link at Barca, Madrid or Bayern.

Not the world but definitely the Premier League

The guy has an incredible engine. For me he still lacks quality with his final ball into the box. If he had that he would be incredible. Still 10/10 for effort.

I think his end product is improving.

He often cuts inside and plays very dangerous one-twos and carries the ball into very dangerous positions. He also often has to hold the ball up while the attackers jostle for a position in a packed defence. Sometimes he goes outside and crosses from the touch line, and sometimes he passes it in from a deep no.8 position. He does all these things pretty well in my opinion, with greater variety and effect than many dedicated wingers, and he always has to be alert to his defensive responsibility.

His presence and attacking threat limits the opposition's freedom of movement. He's a very important player and he always works his bollocks off, end to end, start to finish.

He does a better job at all of this than almost any other full back in the country regardless of nationality. I'd prefer him to Juanfran, personally, and he's a world class full back.

Im getting carried away here!

I wouldn't say that. To me he is an average Player tbh. He is very suspect defensively, and his end product in the attack is lacking way too often. The good thing about him is that he draws the attention of 1 or 2 defender towards him with his pace so our creative midfielders have more space to Play the ball.

He is playing extremely well, cut out a lot of the defensive errors/attempts to keep possession in his own third, and has improved his crossing. Really pleased for him, as he was extremely nice when I met him and I think he also has a good mentality on the field (strong but not arrogant).

I think he has been England's best player at the tournament so far.

Led's Zeppelin said:

If consistency were the measure you could rule out almost every Barcelona and Real Madrid player couldn't you?

Which teams have a better right back? Who would you swap him for if you could?

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Juanfran, Lahm, Azpilicueta, Dani Alves. Then there are a few others that I would say he is on par with. Juanfran is superb

Sandro30 said:

Juanfran, Lahm, Azpilicueta, Dani Alves. Then there are a few others that I would say he is on par with. Juanfran is superb

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I agree Juanfran is superb.

I would like to see him in the premiership, in theory, but not in practice because he'd probably be playing against us.

Dani Alves is the best attacking player in that group but he's not a world-class defender is he?

I haven't seen Lahm recently. Is he as good as ever?

Lahm is a ridiculous freak of nature and will still be excellent in 700 years time, calmly dictating play against a team of 50ft tall ultra-robots from Neptune.

Laughable to be honest.

Not that title that Walker (and Rose) are being given, but the Spurs fans who laugh at that, and then critisise about mistakes in him, or end product not good enough.

To me, both Rose and Walker are un-bloody-believable wing backs. Both at the very top of their game, putting in a ridiculous amount of effort in every game they play. We have in our clubs two of the best wing backs around (and I'll say around the world). Neither may not be the best, but they are right up alongisde some of the best wing backs in the game today.

Most clubs around would be celebrating, we seem to want more out of them.

Couldn't be more proud that these two are both at our club, puts us in a blood great position not only as an advert of how players develop at our club, but also players coming to play with players that are right up there with the worlds best.

They have booth been fantastic this season, and even better in the Euro's.

The future is good lads, very good - enjoy it!

youngyids said:

I wouldn't say that. To me he is an average Player tbh. He is very suspect defensively, and his end product in the attack is lacking way too often. The good thing about him is that he draws the attention of 1 or 2 defender towards him with his pace so our creative midfielders have more space to Play the ball.

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Such an average player that he has been named 1st choice right back for England? I would say he has everything to one day be the best right back in the world. He is probably the most athletic right back, with the best engine and to say he can't defend is just a joke. Where he does have flaws is in his decision making on the ball. If he could improve that he could be the best in the world.

Look down our previous list of RB's and you will find many average players.

Think he proved it last season, proving it now in a major tournament and I think he'll do it again in the Champions league.

We all know he's short comings and the frustration he can cause but he's the best English rb and top 10 in Europe for me


Danny rose - top 5 in Europe

Loads to like in Kyle, not perfect, or great enough to be pinched by the big budget clubs, but plenty of attributes all the same.

Technique and decision making let him down sometimes as we know, but he can lead lightning breakaways and when composed can tee up smarter players like sturridge who will give him an option when he doesnt fancy a more difficult to execute cross.

Physicality, battling qualities as well as his pace make him a key choice for spurs and now england. Keep it up kyle my son!

yido_number1 said:

Such an average player that he has been named 1st choice right back for England? I would say he has everything to one day be the best right back in the world. He is probably the most athletic right back, with the best engine and to say he can't defend is just a joke. Where he does have flaws is in his decision making on the ball. If he could improve that he could be the best in the world.

Look down our previous list of RB's and you will find many average players.

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Dunno man, I just don't rate him that much tbh. Probably because I still have nightmares from 2 years ago when he knew he could fuck up as much as he wanted as his only competition was Naughton. Kinda like Rose, who has developed really well in the last 2 years. Walker is yet to pro me though.

And yes, I know how much of an unpopular opinion this is.

It's always eye opening to hear what fans of other teams think of our players. They don't have the type of disproportionate opinions that come with watching them every week. The same thing often happens the other way round, deifying players of other teams because you don't see all the average/shit/ineffective games they have, and the weaknesses in their games (Sanchez, Ozil...)

I think he's overrated offensively and underrated defensively, by others. He can be an absolute monster defensively. If his crossing keeps improving, he'll make good on how promising he looked initially. Was really impressed with the one he hit on the fly from the byline against Wales. For me he just needs to be a bit more fluent in attack; he tend to belt along the touchline, then stop and start rolling his foot over the ball while everyone regroups. Maybe faith in his crossing will help that. Would also like to see him shoot more.

It's a shame he's got pencil shavings for brains but I value his industriousness and general attitude, along with Rose's, far more than lazy, egotistical twats like Assou-Ekotto, who got worshipped for pathologically criticising everything except himself in the guise of 'rare honesty', while he was strolling about, marking at a distance of twenty yards, and laughing about giving penalties away. Players who are only playing for themselves. I always found his sullen criticism of the French, amusingly French.

Is Rio publicising another hilarious series of Punked? I'll look forward to it like a Stoke v West Brom game.

He's good but he still makes quite a few bone head mistakes at terrible times and still offers next to nothing going forward. Best in the world? Hahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha no.

Has anyone actually read the article?

FBs has always been Poch's best position. He created Clyne, Shaw and although Walker and Rose were PL full backs before, he's taken them on 5 levels.