Bale had ended Maicon's career before last season, he was just given the space to shine with Modric and VDV gone.

Walcott doesn't have the ball control, strength, shooting, tackling, or set piece ability to begin to compare with Bale. He's quick and can finish.. I reckon he'll score 10-15 this season.

"Bale had ended Maicon's career before last season, he was just given the space to shine with Modric and VDV gone."

One game where he ripped apart Maicon? So what? He was still incredibly inconsistent.

Thing is no one would've guessed Bale would reach the heights he did.

"Walcott doesn't have the ball control, strength, shooting, tackling, or set piece ability to begin to compare with Bale. "

Did you even read the article? Walcott's ball control and general play has improved by large margins. Clearly haven't watched him.

Thing is no one would've guessed Bale would reach the heights he did.

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Inconsistency is the mark of any winger, but Bale was already one of the best in the world before he moved into the centre.. where he progressed from one of the best wingers to players.. ony those that hadn't watched him would be surprised.

I am surprised at the fee he's commanding - we obviously are very reluctant sellers and they've made an offer no club can refuse.

I understand he's improved but he's still nowhere near Bale, large margins or no I'm insulted by the comparison.

"but Bale was already one of the best in the world before he moved into the centre"

No he wasn't. Stop talking nonsense. He was just a good player.
He reached the brackets of world class level this season.

Regardless, it seems you really do struggle with reading. Where in the article have I claimed or stated he was anywhere near Bale?

It's not out of the equation that Walcott has a similar season to what Bale had last year.

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It is. He's miles off

*similar-'Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical.'

If you read the article no one referred to ability. Bale is obviously far ahead. Rather I was talking about the efficiency. Something which Walcott already is.
Don't see what's so outrageous about that.

Walcott is efficiency?

To have a similar season you would have to have similar ability.. unless you're suggesting Theo is going to fluke a series of 30 yard match winning goals.

In which case your suggestions are outrageous, yes.

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Townsend is turning into quite a player.. an England cap or two should make him worth about 175m next summer

This Bale's Foot character is obviously a simpleton.

Walcott can excel Bale's figures statistically but Bale is a better player and a different type of player. Walcott is a lot more subtle and has become a very efficient goal threat with good supporting creativity behind him. Bale is far more individualistic: a product of his freakish athleticism. All that said, Suarez and Mata were still my favourite players last season. And I don't rate Bale nearly as highly as plenty do. Those that see him as part of some great trinity of the greatest footballers with Messi and Ronaldo are clueless numbskulls. He couldn't lace their boots.

I watch a player like Reus every week and don't see how Bale is any better than he is. Those long range screamers since New Year have sure created a monster that is more myth than reality.

"Those that see him as part of some great trinity of the greatest footballers with Messi and Ronaldo are clueless numbskulls. He couldn't lace their boots."

I actually think Walcott won't achieve as many goals and assists as he did last year.

His best run of form came when the whole "sign da ting" thing was happening, after that he seemed to quieten down a bit.

I like Theo, think he's a very good option to have, but he's far to inconsistent for me.

Should we get Di Maria, who is miles ahead of Theo in terms of ability, I think Theo and Pod should be fighting it out for the other wide spot.

"His best run of form came when the whole "sign da ting" thing was happening, after that he seemed to quieten down a bit."

Maybe because he was playing as a striker then and is now back out wide.

He's much better out wide for me. Pretty awful through the middle, apart from when he's given acres of space by the opposition defence.

He's pretty awful through the middle? But you just said that was when he was playing his best football

Walcott doesn't have a footballing brain. He will never excel Bale, if anything Walnutt should be using the Bale situation to his advantage and as motivation to improve himself tenfold.

Wont ever happen though. Doubt he will get much better than he currently is.

No, you said that.

He didn't play that whole 2/3 months of contract speculation through the middle. He played about a month there if I remember correctly, and performances were a mixed bag, but for me he definitely suited out wide more.

That's not to say he should never play through the middle, similar to Podolski, it's a role that takes a lot of time to learn and adapt to the different way of playing.

You said that his best form was when there was all this 'sign da ting' garbage. He was playing striker during that period so yes you did say it. Don't try to get out of that hole you are digging

Here you go with your classic debating style again.

By sign da ting, I meant the whole contract speculation, starting towards the end of November when the rumours of signing for Liverpool started to surface and what not.

From then to mid January when he signed a new deal, he did not play as a central striker that whole time.

Classic debating style

You said his best form was during the 'sign da ting' garbage. Fact.

That 'sign da ting' garbage started after the Bradford game. Fact.

Walcott played as a striker every single game from Bradford up to the Chelsea match when he was moved out wide again after signing a new contract. Fact.

There is nothing to debate, all of those are facts Just because you have no clue what you are talking about..."oh oh, what I actually meant."

You've embarrassed yourself here

I don't get embarrassed on a faceless football forum.

By sign da ting, I meant contract/transfer speculation. I apologise if this was misleading, I wasn't referring to that song/rap thing.

I think Walcott has reached his potential. He always had a good finish but struggles with dribbling, although his pace makes up for that a bit. He's a very, very good player and effective too, but I can't see those weaknesses disappearing.

Walcott has improved a little - but not a lot.

His finishing is now decent and he's a little bit stronger - but his control of the ball when running with it is still very poor - he doesn't have a trick and his crossing is very inconsistent.

The worse thing of all is that when the going gets tough (e.g. against Villa) he gets worse and then hides...

No chance he will play like Bale this season - I don't see much improvement from here - he might get slightly quicker