Kyle Walker

[Bus-Conductor]

I think you are the only person in world football who thinks Johnson is better than Walker.

Tell me in what way Walker is better than Johnson, apart from the colour of his shirt ?

 

[Mr Pink]

I think you are the only person in world football who thinks Johnson is better than Walker.

This comparison between the two agrees with BC!

http://www.eplindex.com/28038/whos-the-right-fullback-glen-johnson-vs.html

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I can't remember the exact game, it was last season. I have erased the trauma from my head, I believe it's a basic involuntary survival instinct type deal.

Haha! Come on beece, you can't remember the game and didn't see it, you can't make statements like that. I'd love to be able to erase every minute that Naughton has de-valued our shirt from my memory but unfortunately there are too many from this season.

Anyway, lighten up will you, there's a serious thread about bringing Darren Bent back that you need to have a look at.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

This comparison between the two agrees with BC!

http://www.eplindex.com/28038/whos-the-right-fullback-glen-johnson-vs.html

Makes my point even more valid.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Tell me in what way Walker is better than Johnson, apart from the colour of his shirt ?

Because you think he isn't.

Pace/defending/attacking/strength/mentality/hair/bootsize/singing/intelligence/footballbrainism

In the other categories there isn't much in it.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Because you think he isn't.

Pace/defending/attacking/strength/mentality/hair/bootsize/singing/intelligence/footballbrainism

In the other categories there isn't much in it.

Are you L10 in disguise, are you L10.....

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Are you L10 in disguise, are you L10.....

If I was I'd ask you how Alan Hutton was ever our best option at RB? That's including when we had Walker available.

 

[Legend10]

Chelsea's young rb Azpillacueta is better than Walker (and Rafael). Rafael does some hot headed things, but technically he is much better than Walker. If we take our Spurs goggles off we'd probably say Villa's youngster Lowton, Coleman at Everton, Southampton's Clyne are all no worse than Walker either, which is just about every young RB in the league, and there are older ones who are definitely better (Zabaleta, Sagna, Johnson, Rangel, Ivanovic to name a few).

Why aren't we allowed to make an honest assessment of our own players, why must we unrealistically big up a player just because he wears a spurs shirt. It's embarrassing and childish.

Walker has qualities like pace and a good attitude (which of the above don't have a good attitude though ?) but he clearly has deficiencies like poor technique under pressure and an inability to make make decisions under pressure (otherwise known as a footballing brain). Too many people have seen this for it to be some kind of collective imagining, so why lie ? Why try to say he's something he isn't ?

Azpillacueta is a year older than Walker, and thats a long learning time for a FB, Lowton is also a year older and Coleman 2.

Take your anti player glasses off for a moment and tell me why any of these are better than Walker and which you would do a straight swap for? Seamus Coleman for a start is a very poor RB, he's ok further forward, but at RB no, which is why Moyes used him sparingly in that position despite Hibberts long absence, do you think he wouldn't have played Walker there?

Walker is also undoubtedly better than Lowton and Clyne and personally I wouldnt swap Walker for Azpillacueta although i can see why some would.

Of the older ones that you mention, of course Zabaletta is an excellent RB, but when hes got his experience Walker could be every bit as good. if walkers defensive play is dodgy please explain Johnson's? Sagna, do me a favour! Ivanovic yes but he primarily plays as a CB and Rangel I dont see enough of Swansea to comment.

poor technique under pressure, you always say his technique is poor so please explain what is poor, as to me Walker looks a technically competent footballer.

And nobody is bigging up a player because he wears a Spurs shirt, but some people are taking the sensible approach in pointing out that he's not poor, he is young playing in a very difficult position and that his negative attributes are overcome by his positive ones. Thats not childish, it's opinion. It's easy to ramble on saying this player is shit, that player's shit, shit shit shit! Some don't buy into that sort of ranting and take a more considered approach about what players DO and don't bring to the table.

personally I think Kyle had a pretty decent season overall, last season he was very good so at his age I wasn't surprised he didn't hit those levels again. Also Kaboul's absence as the right sided CB won't have helped him. Sure he made mistakes, especially early in the season but post Xmas his form has risen significantly in my view even taking into account the nightmare moment at Anfield, but like it or not those incidents will happen.

I for one am not concerned about Walker being our first choice RB for next season, there are other areas which are for more important to address.

 

[the watson]

I'd also agree that Johnson > Walker, especially last season Johnson actually really started to grow into the Liverpool team. There's really not much into it though, and I think both defenders have rather unfairly been labelled as 'liabilities defensively' based on, well not much really.

As for upgrading Walker? certainly not, I think his pace is crucial into perfecting the high defensive line. A few times towards the end of last season Walker had to sweep in behind the centre backs when strikers beat our offside trap. Naughton is more than adequate cover for Walker too, and hopefully AVB gives him some more opportunities at RB next season to keep the position competitive. Naughton has had some really sweet shots cutting in from LB, and I actually think he offers a little more going forward than Walker.

 

[dagraham]

I think you are the only person in world football who thinks Johnson is better than Walker.

Make that two people. Glen Johnson is far superior going forward than Walker and they both have defensive lapses in concentration. Granted, Johnson is older and more experienced than Walker and with time and coaching he may be able to improve his defending. His forward play however is, i fear, destined to reside in headless chicken mode.

 

[SteveH]

Tell me in what way Walker is better than Johnson, apart from the colour of his shirt ?

He can defend?

Granted, they are both not the sharpest knives in the draw.

EDIT - It must be a full back thing! - the majority acted like they are little mentally challenged. Walker needs to think more and cut out the brain farts like against L'pool

 

[Legend10]

My favourite players:

Hudd, Dawson and Walker...so there.

Mine are these 3 plus:

Defoe, Dempsey, Lennon, Caulker & Friedel.

But did you know that everytime that these 8 players have played they have been total shit?

 

[Mr Pink]

Mine are these 3 plus:

Defoe, Dempsey, Lennon, Caulker & Friedel.

But did you know that everytime that these 8 players have played they have been total shit?

Yes.

 

[ShelfSide18]

If I was I'd ask you how Alan Hutton was ever our best option at RB? That's including when we had Walker available.

Whatever you think of Alan Hutton, his name gave that amazing moment when he had a good game to use phrase, 'Hutton dressed as Lahm'. Magic.

 

[Mr Pink]

Hutton was utter turd. Was never happier when he was sold.

 

[ravo]

LB is the problem not gonna ger better than walker at spurs

This. He may have had a slow start to the season, but was firing on all cylinders by the end. Some players acclimatise to new management quicker than others...

 

[Main Man]

Yeah, and how many games have you seen Adam Smith play that you can write him off so quickly?

Thid Kid was playing for England U19s and U21s when Walker was a nobody at Sheffield United and I bet you had never heard of either. Perhaps it's you who needs the doh!

If you knew anything about our young players you would know that Smith is highly rated by our coaches and is very much considered to be a first team squad player, on the same basis as Carroll (who by the way failed to get into Derby's side when he was there) but look how highly he's rated now!

I was one of the numpties at Carlisle who saw a number of our youngsters a million miles away from our first team.

I have also seen Adam Smith play a number of times on TV for Millwall in which he has not stood out whatsoever, or more often than not not even been selected to start!

As for Walker, he and Naughton had quite a reputation at Sheff Utd before we signed them. Funnily enough, Naughton was deemed the brighter prospect of the two. But in answer to your question, I had definitely heard of Kyle Walker pre-Spurs.

Adam Smith, at 22, has nowhere near the pedigree, experience or success that Walker nor Naughton had at the same age.

If Smith genuinely is "highly rated" by our coaches, this has not been reflected in his appearances for the first team.

Tom Carroll is rated highly because he is a talented footballer, but there are still question marks regarding his physique, fitness and stamina. I don't think any of us see him as the next Jack Wilshire.

I think you need to dampen down your expectations of these youngsters, or look at them with greater realism Knarf44.

Or just open your eyes.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Azpillacueta is a year older than Walker, and thats a long learning time for a FB, Lowton is also a year older and Coleman 2.

Take your anti player glasses off for a moment and tell me why any of these are better than Walker and which you would do a straight swap for? Seamus Coleman for a start is a very poor RB, he's ok further forward, but at RB no, which is why Moyes used him sparingly in that position despite Hibberts long absence, do you think he wouldn't have played Walker there?

Walker is also undoubtedly better than Lowton and Clyne and personally I wouldnt swap Walker for Azpillacueta although i can see why some would.

Of the older ones that you mention, of course Zabaletta is an excellent RB, but when hes got his experience Walker could be every bit as good. if walkers defensive play is dodgy please explain Johnson's? Sagna, do me a favour! Ivanovic yes but he primarily plays as a CB and Rangel I dont see enough of Swansea to comment.

poor technique under pressure, you always say his technique is poor so please explain what is poor, as to me Walker looks a technically competent footballer.

And nobody is bigging up a player because he wears a Spurs shirt, but some people are taking the sensible approach in pointing out that he's not poor, he is young playing in a very difficult position and that his negative attributes are overcome by his positive ones. Thats not childish, it's opinion. It's easy to ramble on saying this player is shit, that player's shit, shit shit shit! Some don't buy into that sort of ranting and take a more considered approach about what players DO and don't bring to the table.

personally I think Kyle had a pretty decent season overall, last season he was very good so at his age I wasn't surprised he didn't hit those levels again. Also Kaboul's absence as the right sided CB won't have helped him. Sure he made mistakes, especially early in the season but post Xmas his form has risen significantly in my view even taking into account the nightmare moment at Anfield, but like it or not those incidents will happen.

I for one am not concerned about Walker being our first choice RB for next season, there are other areas which are for more important to address.

What you have done here is invert the argument. Some people said Walker had the attributes to be "to quality". Some people had the temerity to point out that Walker has strengths and weaknesses (and I didn't see a post that said otherwise) and definitely lacks some qualities to be top class. You responded by saying these were "crap" posts and that he's one of the best young rb's in the league, which is a bit like saying of the 4/5 young right backs he's one of the best, which isn't really saying anything insightful or overtly meaningful is it ?

No one said he's shit, shit, shit. I would argue that those saying he's got strengths and weaknesses and actually pointing out those strengths and weaknesses are far more balanced and accurate than those claiming that others have said things they haven't or claiming that he has qualities which he clearly doesn't.

 

[Nocando]

I wouldn't argue with much of that. I just don't get people calling him top quality or one of the best around etc.

I disagree with the bit about a sound footballing brain being able to be taught though.

Sorry was a quick response (on the loo if the truth be told - not sure if you wanted to know that) but whilst a footballing brain may not be 'taught' as such equally I don't think it always come naturally. There have been many examples of where a player has developed his footballing brain or awareness as they get older / more experienced. In fact none more so than our Ledley.

I know this will seem strange particulary as he is now seen as a legend (and rightly so) but when he first come to light he wasn't the best in terms of his footballing brain and relied initially on his pace (I can cite a few examples of various mix ups with the keeper - through lack of communication and also episodes of lack of concentration ala Gardener).

 

[thinktank]

Johnson is a better RB overall, bar pace.