Is Michael Owen’s England career over?
Happier day for Owen and Capello
When England were playing Andorra and Croatia it was fair enough for Fabio Capello to think that Michael Owen was not fit enough to feature for England given his injury and illness problems. But despite playing six games for Newcastle and scoring five goals since then, he has not done enough to earn a recall to the England squad. Suspicions that the 28-year-old is really not fancied by the England boss appear to be true.
The ultimate kick in the teeth for Owen is that he is left out to the benefit of Emile Heskey, the man who he reportedly lobbied for an England recall on behalf of during Steve McClaren’s reign. Is this the end of Michael Owen’s international career? Or is this Capello’s way of saying get yourself European football and then we can talk?
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I have a problem with this. What business is it of Capello’s what club a player plays for. He has no right whatsoever to dictate to any player what club he plays for. Also is this not the same thing Sven was so strongly criticised by the media for. Yet not a word is being said this time. Surprise surprise double standards or what? If this is what Capello is doing then he should be dismissed imediately
Fabio Capello needs to see Micheal Owen score against elite competition for a team which doesn’t lose everytime they take the pitch. Owen is playing in a tough situation where everyones confidence in winning has been washed away by the liquid of defeat. Capello is also keeping his streak alive of omitting big name players. What this does, is send a message to the players saying “if you don’t play my way…you don’t play” which keeps these pampered professionals ready to work. I know Owen has scored five goals in six games but his mind will be tarnished at the moment because of the Newcastle turmoil. I think it was a shrewd, brilliant move by the Italian master.