Nov 20 2008
Theo Walcott Out For Three Months
photo: wonker
Arsene Wenger is understandably upset about the way international fixtures coincide with the Premiership season. Especially now that Theo Walcott has dislocated his shoulder in England training, and had to have surgery, and will now be out of action for three months. So because of a pointless friendly, that Walcott really didn’t need to be a part of, Arsene Wenger loses one of his star players for three months.
An already struggling Arsenal loses a player that was desperately needed for their attack for three months.
And to think Capello was complaining about the many players that haven’t reported to England duty because of injury. Like Rooney, Ferdinand, Gerrard or Lampard. What exactly are they supposed to do? Risk an injury like the one that now plagues Walcott, for a friendly? Seriously?
It’s a friendly. Who cares.
I’m all for more England matches, and I do enjoy watching at least the first half of a friendly, because the match is relatively competitive for 45 minutes. And then the tempo switches to what a friendly really is, a test for you to sure up your squad. Why is Capello risking his World Cup chances for a trial match, when he already knows who is best for the squad. Does he really need to see Rooney again for England and not Manchester United, to realize he’s the best man to start up front? Or did he need to risk Walcott the way he did, to reassure himself that Walcott’s pace is a vital weapon?
Something needs to be done, because I, just as many Premier League managers, am tired of seeing so many players come back bruised and injured from their international campaigns, leaving them out of club football for long periods of time.
