This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
If you hadn’t realised Theo Walcott had turned 30 on 16 March earlier this year, you would understandably be forgiven. The winger feels like he has been in the Premier League for ever, such was the early rise in his career.
The Southampton academy product was seen as the next big thing when he was named in England’s World Cup squad in 2006 as a fresh-faced teenager, but the 5 foot 9 man has arguably been the victim of too much hype and expectation.
The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…
To all intents and purposes, he has enjoyed a pretty impressive career in English football’s top-flight – after all, he has 73 goals and 54 assists in 327 games in the competition. But having made the decision to join Everton in the summer of 2018, there may have been concerns his career is on the decline.
His start to the current campaign has been less than auspicious, failing to score or assist at all. But his performance against West Ham on Saturday afternoon delivered a timely reminder to the Toffees that he still has plenty to offer. Lining up on the right-hand side of Everton’s attack, Walcott looked a constant threat with his pace in behind, and incisive movement.
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His finishing was slightly erratic (he had seven total shots on goal without scoring), but almost set the house on fire when his thundering volley cannoned off the cross-bar in the second-half. Whilst he went luckless in terms of finding the back of the net, he always showed a willingness to create for others – registering an assist and providing two key passes.
If Silva persists with Alex Iwobi and Bernard in his side – both silky smooth players but not blessed with a searing amount of pace – then Walcott can provide them with a truly unique attacking outlet. The Toffees can play on the counter-attack more, and give their more creative players the chance to play balls in behind the opposition defence for the ex-Gunner to run on to.
Walcott was once rather cruelly criticised for not having a “football brain”. He may not have scored against the Hammers at the weekend, but he certainly showed he has the intelligence and quality to still be a key part of a Premier League side.