Walcott - prim

It’s weird, some sportsmen/women are absolutely brilliant at what they do, but something about their vibe just doesn’t quite cut it.

This is a condition formerly dubbed “Sally Gunnell Syndrome”, “Tim Henman Syndrome”, for a window in the 1990s it was briefly referred to as “Michael Atherton Syndrome”. And, up until very recently, it was commonly considered to be “Michael Owen Syndrome”.

As syndromes go, it’s not great. It’s now known as “Theo Walcott Syndrome”.

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On the day that love died (thanks Ashley Cole!), here’s Dennis Wilson…

Theo Walcott under the World Cup microscope

[The Telegraph]

Ten players on Capello’s World Cup radar

[The Daily Mail]

Glen Johnson’s feeling a bit better

[The Guardian]

Get the Ryan Giggs look!

[Kickette]

More Premier League stars when they were little!

[Pies]

Mourinho has a good laugh about diving

[Dirty Tackle]

Anyone for Zamora?… Repeat, anyone for Zamora?

With the season hotting up to around Excitement Factor 8, or, at a push, 9, the England team magnifying glass will surely be focusing on names that might yet force themselves into the squad for the World Cup.

It’s not been a great few months for the likes of Glen Johnson, Theo Walcott, Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge, Aaron Lennon and the like. Add the fact that players such as Michael Carrick and Emile Heskey haven’t exactly had the most fruitful seasons either, and all of a sudden there might be a fair few spots up for grabs.

A few names floating around, rumoured to be possible gatecrashers, have included Leighton Baines, Tom Huddlestone, Roger Johnson, and even Bobby Zamora.

But who would YOU like to see forcing their way into the squad come the summer? Let us know with a comment.

Time is running out for Mr Speedy Pants

Sometimes Lady Luck can be a total bitch, just ask Aaron Lennon - he’ll tell you. With a swift jab to the undercrackers, his World Cup dreams could be over just as he was hitting the form of his damn life. Groin problems, hernia operations. He could easily miss that plane.

Begging the question, who should take his place on the right hand side come the summer? Another speedster like Wright-Phillips, Walcott and Young? Or someone with a little bit more of the arch pro about them?

Let us know with a vote and a comment.

Did this young man make the cut? (yes he did)

It’s already been quite a season for youngsters, so coming up with a team of the things was a trickier-than-expected process. The rule was - keeper aside - to only use players who are 20-years-old or younger. That immediately brought the axe down on the likes of Jonny Evans, Seamus Coleman, and Micah Richards. And those unlucky to miss the final cut included Vladimir Weiss David N’Gog, and Danny Welbeck. 

Hence, The Spoiler’s younglings XI ended up looking like this… Leave your thoughts in the form of a comment.

Goalkeeper, Vito Mannone, 21 - Arsenal

Of course, goalkeepers don’t tend to reach their prime until they’re in their late-30s, so Mannone is a foetus in keeping terms. Hence why he makes the team, even though he’s a shade over 20.

Right Back, Rafael da Silva, 19 - Man United

After years of watching Gary Neville pounding up and down the flank like a shire horse, what joy for the Man United faithful to see this zippy Brazilian adding a bit of skill to the right hand side. One with a long future at United, along with his mirror-image, Fabio.

It’ll be all F-this and C-that from now on…

It’s been a long time coming, but you could feel the swell of pride stretching from North London yesterday afternoon, as Arsene Wenger finally let rip with some wonderful, long-awaited, effing and jeffing during a routine press conference.

Usually such a studied, calculated gentleman, the Arsenal boss reacted to an enquiry about Theo Walcott’s chances of making it into Capello’s World Cup squad, with this poetic retort:

“For fuck’s sake the World Cup is in June. Is he on holiday until June 11? You cannot be serious.”

It was a beautiful moment.

Arsenal, of course, will be playing host to Standard Liege this evening, with a win or a draw enough to put them through to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Fact fans might be pleased to know that in their three previous encounters Arsenal have scored thirteen goals, to Standard’s two.

Should be about 4-0, then. 

van Persie, Fabregas and Arshavin > Henry, Pires and Bergkamp?

After Arsenal’s 4-1 Champions League cakewalk against the Eredivisie champions last night, Arsene Wenger was moved to compare his young team to the unbeaten Gunners squad of 03/04:

We’ve never had as many options on the creative side. We still have Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott who are offensive players who are not available.

Denilson, Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky did not start - that is why I was amazed when people said, ‘Buy, buy, buy’. And Carlos Vela as well… I forgot him!

Fair assessment, or another one of Le Prof’s attempts to tack an extra psychological boost onto an impressive performance? Ljungberg, Henry, Pires and Bergkamp had racked up 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions by this time in 03/04 season; while van Persie, Arshavin, Bendtner and Fabregas are already on 24 goals and 23 assists.

In terms of depth, Wenger has a point - as backups go, Eduardo, Rosicky and Nasri are a more desirable trio of reinforcements than Reyes, Wiltord and Kanu were. But does the overall attacking quality of the squad match up?

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Maybe these figures are the reason why Phil Brown is currently clearing his desk
( Guardian )

Fancy doing a bit of lawnwork at the Molineux. Now is your chance
( Dirty Tackle )

Walcott WAG doing what she does best
( Kickette )

And you thought Ashley was bad - meet the Australian owner who is trying to limit his club’s attendance
( Dirty Tackle )

Aloof, arrogant et al - it’s the Daniel Sturridge story
( The Sun )