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1 month ago
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The hardest thing a professional footballer can do is admit when their race is run. Gary Neville did so in the toilets at the Hawthorns on New Year’s Day in 2011. He retired a month later. His infamous 71-minute display has become the benchmark for poor performances from over-the-hill players. “He’s had his Neville-at-West-Brom moment,” fans would quip. Kyle Walker has had many of these in recent months, but seemingly not one to convince the defender his career is drawing to a close.
Walker is one of the most decorated right-backs in English football history. The Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League – the 34-year-old has won them all since leaving Tottenham for Manchester City in 2017. Now, there is a real chance he won’t add to his trophy haul.
A key reason behind Walker’s success has been his speed. In his pomp, few could get the better of him owing to his recovery pace. This facet to his game is waning which serves to magnify his defensive flaws and is being exploited by opponents.
Prime examples came in the home games against Fulham and Tottenham. Adama Traoré eased past Walker, and although the Spaniard is no slouch, Walker would have at least held his own during his peak years. Then in the 4-0 loss to Spurs, Timo Werner beat Walker in a foot race late on that culminated in Brennan Johnson’s close-range finish to cap a memorable evening for the travelling support.
Perhaps this was why he didn’t step up with the rest of the City backline for Daniel Muñoz’s fourth-minute opener in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. Wary at being beaten for speed by Eberechi Eze, Walker could only watch on as Muñoz beat the offside trap to latch on to a Will Hughes pass before firing past Stefan Ortega. The arm-raise to appeal to the assistant referee was surely out of hope. Walker was then beaten by Maxence Lacroix at a second-half Hughes corner for Palace’s second.
There have been clear indications of a Walker decline for months, largely stemming from the Euro 2024 final, where Nico Williams scored Spain’s opener from England’s right and Walker failed to cut out Marc Cucurella’s cross for Mikel Oyarzabal’s winner.
A team of City’s calibre shouldn’t be in a position where they are reliant on a player of Walker’s age to feature so frequently, though Pep Guardiola hasn’t been helped by injuries. John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké and Rúben Dias have had periods out and the absences in midfield of Rodri and Mateo Kovacic have meant Rico Lewis has been needed there when the hope was he would feature more prominently at right-back.
City have won two of the nine competitive matches Walker has started this season (22.2%) and nine of the 13 matches (69%) he has not. The WhoScored.com ratings have Walker (6.34) as City’s worst-rated player in the Premier League this season, and make this the worst-rated domestic campaign of his career.
Wingers are finding it easier than ever to get the better of Walker, who is being dribbled past one time per 90 minutes, his highest in a Premier League season. Although that is not a high return, for a side that dominate as City do it is a worry. He is also struggling to get the better of a man when he presses forward, evidenced in that he is completing only 0.2 dribbles per 90, his lowest in a Premier League season.
In January City have a chance to strengthen at right-back and although few big teams use the winter window for notable signings, if the champions want to get their season back on track, they may be forced into the market. Walker has not had his Neville-at-West-Brom moment yet but he surely isn’t far off.
