Kyle Walker

[braineclipse]

I remember when Dani Alves was slated for his defensive ability. Apart from the beginning of the season just gone he has been the best recovery defender in the world for several years.

What I have come to understand/accept about Walker this year is that, like Alves, it is in his game to be poorly positioned. Such players cannot be expected to be in position at all times, instead they must use their athleticism to a) track back from raids forward and b) to lure the opposition into thinking they can beat them through deliberate 'poor position' before 'recovering' to win the ball.

As with Alves, Walker's physique is certainly up to these tasks, he simply needs to learn a style of defending idiosyncratic to this type of aggressively attacking full-back (very few players fall into this category, with most similar players lacking the physical prerequisites and hence either preferring a wing-back role with more cover structured into the team or as a less attack-minded full-back).

While at Sevilla and even in his first season at Barca he seemed suspect defensively, but by 26/27 he had matured into one of the best players in the world. I'm not saying this will happen for certain with Walker, but with the right coaching he definitely has the potential to become a lethal attacking threat while not exposing us at the back.

When Lennon and Walker were out this season, with Bale playing in the centre/injured we were utter dross due to our lack of width. It seems we are moving to a narrower midfield, or at least one which will require plenty of overlapping from both sides (irrespective of the formation), while Benny is not comfortable hitting the byline, Walker most certainly is. This guy is already a handful for any opposing team, if we give time for him to learn how to make full use of his pace he will cut out the errors and could become one of our key players.

His potential aside, we could not do much better without spending a lot of money. To do so would be pointless on a player of a similar age unless he was ridiculously talented. Even so, we have many other priorities that we could spend such money on including (two) strikers, a central midfielder, a wide-forward and a left-back.

If we could pick up an experienced player to mentor Walker for a couple of million then great, otherwise there is no need to interfere with the development of a promising player (one who, if playing elsewhere, we might all be calling for AVB to sign).

Good post, although I don't think Walker will ever get close to Alves going forward defensively there are some similarities.

One of the few ways we can get top class players is to develop talented youngsters, that will mean some inconsistency as they mature.

 

[Pandy]

Good post, although I don't think Walker will ever get close to Alves going forward defensively there are some similarities.

One of the few ways we can get top class players is to develop talented youngsters, that will mean some inconsistency as they mature.

No, perhaps not, but he is already difficult to deal with, if he continues to improve his decision making in the final third along with his defending, he will be more than good enough for us (i.e. good enough for most CL regulars, which we will hopefully be by then!).

 

[glorygloryeze]

Kyle Walker turned 23 today:-"

 

[Jordinho]

A grown man then, no more of this promising youth stuff. We must now judge him as the finished article in every game.

 

[P.D.]

Needs to work on his crossing, often hits the first man or it goes straight out of play. I appreciate at full pace its hard but even when its rolled to him to hit first time on the overlap he often fluffs up. I think its because he often keeps his head down, needs a bit more awareness of others. Or failing that just aim for around the edge of the 6yd box at pace and more often that not that will be the danger area.

 

[Raziel]

Needs to work on his crossing, often hits the first man or it goes straight out of play. I appreciate at full pace its hard but even when its rolled to him to hit first time on the overlap he often fluffs up. I think its because he often keeps his head down, needs a bit more awareness of others. Or failing that just aim for around the edge of the 6yd box at pace and more often that not that will be the danger area.

All things he can work on, I think he's at that stage where he's got to learn to mix up the "do I take on the defender and go outside" or "do I go for the early cross".

That said, until we have a true striker who finds his ass in the box, and attacks the ball in the air, I reserve "judgment" on the quality of crosses from our wide players. Way too many times I've seen balls crossed into good spaces and nobody was there.

 

[raboner]

Good defenders shouldn't have to make recoveries in the volume that he does each game. Not to mention the number of times he turns the ball over, with ridiculous cross field balls across the defence. I question his intelligence as a footballer, not his physical ability.

Seeing him interviewed doesn't give me great hope that he's player who will grow in intellect either.. Once he loses his pace and can't recover from his mistakes, he will just be another Alan Hutton im afraid..

 

[Pandy]

Good defenders shouldn't have to make recoveries in the volume that he does each game. Not to mention the number of times he turns the ball over, with ridiculous cross field balls across the defence. I question his intelligence as a footballer, not his physical ability.

Seeing him interviewed doesn't give me great hope that he's player who will grow in intellect either.. Once he loses his pace and can't recover from his mistakes, he will just be another Alan Hutton im afraid..

1) It is a part of his game to have to make more recoveries.

2) At least he is trying to retain possession, his decision making will continue to improve. Admittedly the pass against Liverpool was shocking but on the whole he has not been a liability in possession.

3) 'Intelligence' in an interview has no bearing on footballing intelligence.

4) So what, in 7 or 8 years he'll be brick? I think we can hold on to him until then...

In 5 years I am sure Walker will be playing in the Champions League regularly.

 

[Truth]

I'm probably one of Walker's biggest critics - to the extent I don't remember being frustrated with any other Spurs player as much as I am with him. I also didn't think he was good in the season before last. His pace, his definining characteristic, doesn't seem to add anything - purely gets him out of tricky situations, but going forward, offers nothing - he never looks in control of the ball.

There have been players with less ability, but I don't remember any player who consistently shows such poor intelligence and inability to learn.

Saying that, towards the end of the season, his performances were decent. Nothing spectacular, but solid, which is fine and hopefully an indication he's going 'back to basics'. I would still like him to be replaced with a more cultured right back, who may be able to link up with the man ahead of him, but finally, at least some promising signs.

 

[RHULSpur]

I'm probably one of Walker's biggest critics - to the extent I don't remember being frustrated with any other Spurs player as much as I am with him. I also didn't think he was good in the season before last. His pace, his definining characteristic, doesn't seem to add anything - purely gets him out of tricky situations, but going forward, offers nothing - he never looks in control of the ball.

There have been players with less ability, but I don't remember any player who consistently shows such poor intelligence and inability to learn.

Saying that, towards the end of the season, his performances were decent. Nothing spectacular, but solid, which is fine and hopefully an indication he's going 'back to basics'. I would still like him to be replaced with a more cultured right back, who may be able to link up with the man ahead of him, but finally, at least some promising signs.

Corluka? 8-[

 

[NorwegianSpursFan]

With AVB's high line defence I see him as absolutely vital at the moment. No one in our back four comes even close to his pace, and we are vounrable to counters over the top of our defenders, and he's one of the best at scrambling back in a hurry. The thing I like about him is that he's able to completely nullify players on his side when he has a good day, and hopfully as he get's older he'll be more consistent.

 

[Kingdawson]

No one in our back four comes even close to his pace, and we are vounrable to counters over the top of our defenders, and he's one of the best at scrambling back in a hurry. The thing I like about him is that he's able to completely nullify players on his side when he has a good day, and hopfully as he get's older he'll be more consistent.

Just because he has pace it doesn't mean he's vital. In fact he was probably the defender that messed up the high line more than anyone else.

 

[clevelandspur]

With AVB's high line defence I see him as absolutely vital at the moment. No one in our back four comes even close to his pace, and we are vounrable to counters over the top of our defenders, and he's one of the best at scrambling back in a hurry. The thing I like about him is that he's able to completely nullify players on his side when he has a good day, and hopfully as he get's older he'll be more consistent.

this!! I can remember countless occasions where our CB's were beaten by a clever ball and Kyle comes back to mop up or slow the player down. I think his pace works against him because he is so fast you don't realize how much ground he actually covers.

 

[Mumorn]

Good positioning and intelligence is more important for high line than pace. If Walker wasn't playing most people onside he wouldn't have to scramble back and help us out.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

Why do some people never learn on this forum. Who in their right mind would write off a 22 year old full England international who has won PFA Young player of the year who has been inconsistent?! Then the same people end up saying ' I admit I didn't want him here, but am happy I was proved wrong'. Seen it time and time again here....

I am of right mind and I do not rate him. Why? Because he is technically limited and player rarely improve technique greatly after about the age of 18 to 20. What you see is what you get and in Walker's case that isnt much. Many of his mistakes are the result of close pressure that he cannot deal with. He panics and......you get that brain fade on the bi line against Arsenal and that back pass against Liverpool. He is also positionally weak and lack cencentration and yes with time these things can be improved, but not his weak technique. As for his recent form, let's not indulge in hyperbole. He has been okay, but not great.

 

[Pandy]

With the sort of mentality being shown by some people here we would have got rid of players like Assou, Lennon, Huddlestone, Dawson, even Bale (!) long ago - players who were all important last season to some degree. That's excluding players like Kaboul and Boateng, who we actually got rid of. Kaboul had these 'brain fades' in his first stint, yet he was one of the best CBs in the league last year, Boateng has won titles with Milan.

Even the best scouts don't get it right every time, so I don't know how people can say with such certainty that Walker will never be good enough for us. His has the physique and is improving with every game. Right now he isn't brilliant but still we would struggle to do better (especially considering our other needs in the market this summer) so until he hits a plateau in his development it would be an incredible act of hubris to assume a 23 year old full international will never have what it takes to make it in a team currently only good enough for the Europa League.

His technique might not improve markedly, but how he uses the ball and learns to use his stronger attributes will. For example, I think it was for Dempsey's goal against City which Bale crossed from the right with the outside of his left foot, Walker got the ball in a position where earlier in his career/the season he would have had a pointless pot-shot and wasted possession, but instead he played a perfect ball to set up Bale's cross. This exemplifies the improvements to his game this season in terms of decision making, which is key in a player using their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses, even the ones which cannot be improved upon.

 

[punk_is_back`]

Just because a player isn't amongst the best in the league, doesn't mean we have to sell them. In fact if we do buy a better player, we can always keep them on as backup. That is one thing I haven't understood from Fans, wanting to sell players without at least having a replacement in. Or not considering using the player they want to sell as backup.

 

[Nigeyman]

Just because a player isn't amongst the best in the league, doesn't mean we have to sell them. In fact if we do buy a better player, we can always keep them on as backup. That is one thing I haven't understood from Fans, wanting to sell players without at least having a replacement in. Or not considering using the player they want to sell as backup.

Kyle walker can become a decent full back. if he wants to improve (good attitude) he can.

I can never shake off the feeling that he shouldnt be a right back but a rm but ive been cained for that b4 and cant be arsed again.

He makes ridiculous decisions defensivly which he needs to work on
.....not giving away cheap free kicks standing and not sliding in he also lets players go and is poor defending set pieces... all this can be worked on as well as his attacking play.

I think we can improve Walker and I am happy to persevere with him. I think he will be better next season.....more of an asset to spurs than a weakness.

 

[punk_is_back`]

Kyle walker can become a decent full back. if he wants to improve (good attitude) he can.

I can never shake off the feeling that he shouldnt be a right back but a rm but ive been cained for that b4 and cant be arsed again.

He makes ridiculous decisions defensivly which he needs to work on
.....not giving away cheap free kicks standing and not sliding in he also lets players go and is poor defending set pieces... all this can be worked on as well as his attacking play.

I think we can improve Walker and I am happy to persevere with him. I think he will be better next season.....more of an asset to spurs than a weakness.

In fact, I remember when he played his first few games for us it was at CB and he played very well. He lacks the technique to be a RM, and his lack of attacking nous in the final third negates his ability as an attacking FB. At CB he rarely needs to get forward and we can use his strength in the air and pace very well.

 

[superfaisty]

Personally still have high hopes for both Kyles- I have no doubt given time and proper coaching Walker and Naughton can both develop into good full backs for us.

We shouldn't give up on them just yet!