The reaction to Michael Owen’s match-winning performance against Leeds in their 3-0 Carling Cup victory at Elland Road has, shall we say, gone a touch overboard. The inevitability of the calls for an England recall on the back of a goalscoring display against a deeply average Championship outfit are so far off the mark that it’s embarrassing.
Owen has made his decision to be a bit-part player at a big club as opposed to a regular for a smaller team. He still retains that trademark deft finish, a sprightly turn of pace coupled with the ability to time his runs to perfection. He is still a perfectly serviceable Premier League standard striker who probably has a good few years left in the tank in the top flight.
However, the reaction from the media after his goalscoring exploits against Leeds is quite frankly ridiculous. The Daily Mirror’s Oliver Holt tweeted: “if another manager was in charge, MO would still be in the England squad but Capello has always ignored him. That’s his loss and sadly it’s ours too.”
The equally revered Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph also tweeted: “Capello always dismissive when we badger him about @themichaelowen. Pity. Owen would be a great wild-card for #eng at Euros. #1on1s#pens.”
Setting aside the quite baffling point that two goals against a Championship side suddenly qualifies you for a squad place in arguably the most difficult international tournament going, how can you extol the virtues of a man that’s played just 228 minutes of Premier League football since February 2010.
He has started just 12 games in 25 months. The quality of opposition that he’s played against in that time has hardly been the most competitive. He’s seemingly content to be a part-time footballer trading on past glories.
How could Capello possibly justify playing someone that’s fifth choice for their club over people playing every week for other sides? This dream scenario often concocted in favour of Owen’s inclusion in the England squad is about as likely as me winning a Pulitzer for this article. To put it another way, if he’s tailor-made for this one situation; a one-on-one with the goalkeeper with five minutes left on the clock, with the scores tied, what use is there for him during the rest of the team’s games? Something tells me messrs Holt and Winter need to stop watching those reruns of Space Jam and Escape to Victory, for their misplaced support just isn’t based in anything close to what most would term, ‘reality‘.
Continue Reading on Page 2 ...
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
WATCH EVERTON V LIVERPOOL! 188BET are offering the opportunity of winning a VIP Box Experience for the Merseyside Derby. Please click on the banner below to be in with a BIG chance of winning the massive prize!
–
–
–
Super sub that’s it remember sheringham
At least He’s still a better option for goals than Caroll
The problem with Henderson: I am unsure if he is a man or woman. He is built like a woman, behaves like a woman, runs as if he wears a skirt, waves his hands like a woman and nags his team mates like a woman. He is incredibly lazy and should not be playing in a man’s league.
I am surprised you are smart enough to work a computer.
It’s not difficult to do that – See , even you can do it!
Omg! I was thinking the exact same thing.
Seems to me u struggled against a small club in the championship the other nyt if i remember !
greedy medal player that play very very very little part. shame on you owen!
well how many premier league medals has gerrard won? forget owen living off past glories liverpool are, and have been for a very very long time
Totally agree with this article. Maybe England should pair him with Heskey. Now that would be fun. Like a re-run of a long forgotten B-Movie.
I guess henderson is dating dalglish daughter that’s why he has to use him every week while better players like maxi,kuyt, aquillani (out on loan) meireless (forced out) joe cole(out on loan) are left out. Sucker!
Lol. I think its because he’s British. But why oh why do we have to have a British player with no tactical awareness. I don’t care if the right wing isn’t his natural position. He should still be making improvements every game, but he hasn’t learned at all. Whats the point of having potential if he isn’t going to learn. Pacheco would have done a better job on the wings and he’s not even a winger. But hes Spanish so that’s out of the question.
Change your choice of drug. Its not working.
an average championship team??? No need to take it out on us because he left your average premiership team.
Who gives a FLYIN …. about MO. We should be thinking of our own players not mancs or any other teams.
Writing about M Owen is not worth being on LFC newsnow
I remember when Liverpool weren’t an average team in the top division, I’m that old. Remind when was the last time you won the title?
@pedropig – obviously not a LFC fan mate so remind us again why your reading an LFC article? Do u go around reading all the ‘average teams’ websites? Troll
owens got the skills to play for england, he just cant play league football week in week out for a club thats why hes at man utd he’s scored 9 in 11 starts and strikers enjoy scoring and thats why hes at man u as much as i hate man u its the best place for him he knows hes injury prone, but for england he’s not gonna have to play too many games and the skills are definatley there, if he went to a lower club in the premiership hed end up playin 5 games in a row then being out for months what would be the point in that.
Firstly I’m a Leeds fan came across this article on newsnow. The fact is when Owen was at Newcastle playing every week his goal ratio was poor. No longer a top class strike. Yes he scored twice against us but for the record we have the worst defence in the entire football league. I’d fancy my chances of bagging 2 against those jokers we have at the back.
Owen cannot play for England again for the simple reason that in signing for and then extending his contact at Utd, he all but retired from football.
MO was bought because he shares an interest in horses with AF. Less said the better. Any self respecting striker would not be happy to be in as a has been
As a LFC life long fan, I’ve felt For years Owen hasn’t been interested in playing football, he’s only interested in horse racing. Is he still on a pay as you play contract? Anyone?
On a side note, I agree Henderson has similarities to a female, not impressed with him, he backs off from challenges and like other players at LFC; he’s mentally weak. That’s one point which will be highlighted in the coming months about how LFC lack the mental strength. Mark my words.
Love how the Mancs always defend MO! Wonder how they would react if Giggs suddenly decided to join LFC! No self-respecting footballer would be content to sit on the bench & play 2nd fiddle just to collect a pay cheque. He should concentrate on his horses instead. An aside to Manc fans – remember, no-one stays on top forever…watch this space…how the mighty will fall!