More points to follow for Theo Walcott after Blackpool hat-trick
The timing of a transfer can make all the difference to a fantasy manager’s season, especially when it comes to signing the current talk of the terraces.
Jumping on a bandwagon too late or investing in a flash-in-the-pan after one freak performance will mean valuable points missed and a wasted foray into the transfer market.
However, at Fantasy League we think the time is right to take a risk, especially this early in the campaign, on one of the English game game’s most frustrating performers, Theo Walcott.
The Arsenal flyer bagged a sensational hat-trick in a one-man demolition job against Blackpool last weekend and could be about to enjoy a breakthrough season at the Emirates.
Now 21, Walcott came to prominence as a 17-year-old when he was a surprise name in Sven Goran Eriksson’s World Cup squad and has struggled to live up to expectation ever since.
The former Southampton striker has shown glimpses of his talent for Arsenal, including a memorable dazzling run in the Champions League, and struck a famous triple against Croatia in England colours.
A series of shoulder injuries over the past two years seemed to have curtailed his development, but his recent performances suggest he’s ready to take his game to the next level.
He has already equalled his goals haul from last season when he netted 17 Fantasy League points after collecting four assists, while he only scored 10 points in 2008/09.
The hat-tricks against Blackpool and Croatia were surprisingly similar, with Walcott, who is priced at £4.1m on the Classic Player List, cutting in from his position on the right to get shots in on goal.
And this is what he should do more of, he must play to his strengths and use his pace and composure in front of goal, rather than worry about criticism from the likes of Alan Hansen and Chris Waddle.
Sometimes it looks as though Walcott is trying too hard to fit in with the Arsenal passing game when he should be using his speed to run at defenders, in the same way that his rival for the England berth Aaron Lennon now does at North London rivals Tottenham.
Lennon suffered a crisis of confidence at White Hart Lane before Harry Redknapp told him to simply get to the by-line and if Walcott follows the same advice, and continues to stay behind in training to work on his crosses, he could become a regular contributor for club and country, starting with Blackburn on Saturday.