---
title: "Pundit Reactions: Alex Crook Baffled by Theo Walcott Exclusion"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2021/04/20/pundit-reactions-alex-crook-baffled-by-theo-walcott-exclusion/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "News"
published: "2021-04-20T06:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-04-20T06:00:00Z"
---

# Pundit Reactions: Alex Crook Baffled by Theo Walcott Exclusion

talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook was left baffled by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s decision to exclude Theo Walcott from Southampton’s starting line-up in the Saints’ FA Cup [semi-final defeat,](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56725449)with the ex-Arsenal and on-loan Everton winger confined to the bench.

Walcott is a [three-time FA Cup winner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/theo-walcott/profil/spieler/33713) and also won the Community Shield twice, but Hasenhuttl’s decision not to include Walcott in the starting line-up is not foreign to his preferences.

He has only[started in 55%](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/theo-walcott/profil/spieler/33713) of starting XIs in the league this season, painting a portrait of the winger as more of a rotational option.

With just [two goals and three assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/theo-walcott/profil/spieler/33713)for the Saints in 18 Premier League appearances, he is far from a guaranteed threat – but Southampton’s showing in their 1-0 capitulation to Leicester left a lot to be desired.

Speaking on[talkSPORT’s GameDay podcast,](https://player.fm/series/gameday-football-podcast/a-new-european-super-what) the journalist picked out Walcott’s experience and previous success in cup finals as justifications for why the Saints missed a trick in his absence:

> “He’s their most experienced campaigner when it comes to Wembley, when it comes to the FA Cup. He’s scored in a cup final; I don’t understand why you would leave a player like that if you’re a team like Southampton, why you would not utilise that experience and why you would leave him on the bench.”

### Read Southampton Verdict

It would be all-too-easy to justify Walcott’s inclusion with the benefit of hindsight, but it cannot be ignored that the Saints were impotent and out-foxed by the Foxes at Wembley.

Southampton managed six shots in the entire game compared to Leicester’s 10, but[not a single effort](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56725449) from the Saints was on target – virtually giving Kasper Schmeichel a day off.

In that view, Walcott may have proven to have been a more apt choice.