Michael Owen: Still England’s No.1 Striker?
One thing i sometimes hear from friends and other football fans is that Michael Owen is ‘past it’ and has lost his pace from when he was younger. Although to some degree this might be logical given his long term injuries and his lack of match practice, the stats do not agree, especially at international level.
He is by far and away England’s current playing highest goalscorer, 4th in the all-time lists with 36 goals in 80 games, a very good record at International level. He is also still only 27 which means he will probably go on and break the record. He is the only England player to have scored in four major international tournaments; World Cup 98′, Euro 2000, World Cup 2002, and Euro 2004. This could’ve been extended had he not got injured against Sweden.
One other stat which is most improtant however is his goals in competitive games for England, matches in qualifiers and major tournaments. He holds the joint record with Gary Lineker on 22. This is particularly important now as it is clear that there have been a distinct lack of goals for England in the reign of Steve McClaren. England have scored 9 goals in 6 competitive games, though it must be remembered that 8 of these were in the 2 games against Andorra. There have been no goals against Macedonia (home), Israel (away) and Croatia (away).
Owen is still only 27 years old with several years of football at the top level in him. Although he has been injured for a long time, with games and training he could solve England’s goal problem, more so than the arrival of David Beckham. He has a proven track record and should be given time to recover from his injury.
Even though many will say Wayne Rooney now leads the frontline, he is more of a creative player, not an out and out goalscorer such as Owen. His 12 goals in nearly 40 appearances clealry show this, not to mention his disciplianry record, which is it must be said is improving at club level. He is still only young and has many years to develop.
Owen’s performance against Brazil was solid and workmanlike given the lack of chances created for him and his lack of fitness. He held the ball up well compared to Alan Smith who was seemingly dominated by Naldo all game and Owen should start against Estonia on Wednesday.
Our options up front are bare to say the least; Crouch has a good scoring record but his presence encourages the long ball game which does not work to England’s advantage. Defoe has not played well for Tottenham or England for a good year and is out of form. Bent is rarely in squads and he needs to prove he is international standard, he isn’t someone who should be brought in for the crucial must win qualifying games against croatia and Russia.
Even if he has lost his pace, Owen still has a knack of finding space and making incisive runs in behind opposing defences. Until the return of Dean Ashton which is seemingly a long way off, he is clearly the best man for getting the goals England need.
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Owen hasn`t scored a goal in 18 months and was in terrible form when his injury occured at the world cup anyway if you remember! Smith has scored one goal in one year.They are both totally off their game right now and have no right to be on the pitch representing England.On the other hand,Crouch and Defoe have scored close to 40 goals between them this season and are both sharp and match fit.The fact that a “defender” John Terry scored the only goal against Brasil and that Smith and Owen did next to nothing in front of goal tells all.Regardless of what Owen could do in the “past” if Mac doesn`t start with Crouch and Defoe he has to be mentally retarded!
You can’t prove someone’s not over the hill by quoting their all-times stats - there’s just not correlation between what you’re trying to prove and the evidence you supply.
Is Michael Owen England’s best striker at the moment? It’s difficult to say because he hasn’t had long to get back into the groove since his injury. He still might be, but it’s only from process of elimination. Rooney has yet to prove himself on the national level and Crouch goes missing in the big games.
Yup i think Owen is d best striker England have at d moment.He makes great runs and has a nack o gettin into good positions.He is a clean striker of the ball an he is a great finisher.Now that an in form Becham is back in the English squad if Both Owen an Becham pair up (Becham’s crosses and Owens finishing) they can form a match winnig combo.:-)
For a long time i have been against Owen playing for England. It angers me at the fact he is selected for every squad (when fit or half fit) just because he has scored a few goals against Argentina and Germany.
The truth is Owen should never of been at the World Cup when he got his injury, as he had spent 95% of the previous season getting over another injury. The same thing has happened again. I can’t believe he is in the squad for the Brazil and Estonia matches. He isn’t even half ready for it.
He offers England nothing. Fair play, he has scored alot of goals for England but whats to say another striker wouldn’t be able to match it if they were constantly selected however dire their form has been??? The fact that players such as Owen get selected on wo they are and not what they do is a disgrace. The sooner McClaren drops him until he proves he can actually do something on a football pitch, the better…
I wouldn’t discard Owen so quickly - remember that he’s spent two years out of competitive football, and before that he spent an year at Madrid on the bench.
3 years without proper, regular football is tough on a player.
He’ll need another year minimum to get back into the groove of things. He still has the brains to be better than everyone else in the striking squad apart from perhaps Rooney, so it’s just a question of letting him get his fitness and rhythm back.
yeah smith’s scored 1 goal in a year….. he’s been out with a broken leg? jesus some people expect players to perform miricles.
They should play Rooney with Owen/Crouch. Defoe is out of form. Of Owen and Crouch, whoever doesnt start should be on the bench atleast. If England wants to win, one important thing to do is allow Gerrard to play on his natural position even if it means kicking out Lampard………….
Players can lose form, but never ability. Remember Owen is only 27 so he has time to get back to his best. I think ppl shouldnt be too harsh on him. This fella needs only one bloody chance and its in the net! ok he’s not gonna run past 3 defenders for the next year or so but he still can offer a lot to the England team.
Well Dave 28, after your comments on 4th June I think you should come clean and eat your words!! You obviously have not got a clue about football and are one of those idiots who thinks he can talk a good game but actually knows nothing about football!! GO MICHAEL OWEN…prove all those idiots who doubted your ability!!!