Forget about England, Owen
Tue Nov 03 09:09AM
Early Doors realises it talks about Michael Owen's chances of an England recall a lot. But then, so does Michael Owen.
Even when he's claiming not to talk about it, he's talking about it. Take yesterday's press conference ahead of Manchester United's game against CSKA Moscow.
Rather than blowing off yet another question about England, he took the opportunity to reiterate how little it means to him: "The last squad I was in was a year ago now. It's something other people talk about more than I think about.
"I don't go to bed thinking if I will play for England again."
Here are some more examples of Owen lying back and not thinking of England (in fact, one for each month since the end of last season.
June 2009 (via risible 'come and get me' brochure): "He is the sixth most capped England player and is determined that his performance in the 2009/10 season will earn him a place in Fabio Capello's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad."
July 2009: "I have never given up on England," said Owen. "I have been in every preliminary squad before it is pared down. I have had a letter every time. I know from that the manager is keeping an eye on me."
August 2009: "I've been in the preliminary squad quite a few times so not to make the final squad is always disappointing."
September 2009: "I am passionate as ever about extending my time with England. I'm not past it.''
October 2009: "I will always score goals and I have got the record to show that. I have proven that at World Cups before, but the last thing I want to do is start a campaign and say all the reasons why I could be or should be involved."
When Capello first left Owen out in 2008, it was seen as a statement of intent and a challenge: Nobody gets picked on reputation alone, so score some goals and prove you deserve to be here.
It was widely acknowledged that a fit Owen would start for England, and that as long as he avoided another long injury lay-off he would be back.
But his final months at Newcastle saw him benched by his old mate Alan Shearer as the Toon went down. Then Manchester United offered him an unlikely lifeline and the chance to get fully fit and play for a top team. And he still looks rubbish.
The problem is not that Owen is third choice at United - Emile Heskey is in the same position at Aston Villa and still gets a game - it is how very ordinary he is when he does get a game.
He looks ponderous, hesitant and lacks confidence. Not only has he lost his sharpness; his touch and eye for goal seem to have deserted him as well.
His stoppage-time miss against Blackburn was a case in point. A few years ago, people would have been left open-mouthed by Owen failing to convert that kind of chance, but on Saturday the crowd barely registered.
That last-gasp winner in the Manchester derby is a notable exception to all this, but it looks increasingly like a moment of Macheda-esque inspiration than the sort of predatory finishing expected of a top striker.
Certain great players are able to adapt their game to compensate for a loss of pace (Ryan Giggs, Luis Figo, even Alan Shearer).
Owen still plays in the same way he did when he was fast, looking to dash past the last man and latch on to through balls. But defenders are faster than they were 10 years ago, and Owen is not.
At this point, Capello's exclusion of Owen appears entirely logical, and the idea that he would start in South Africa is risible.
Here is a list of England-registered strikers Early Doors would take to the World Cup ahead of Michael Owen:
Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, James Beattie, Andy Johnson, Carlton Cole, Kevin Davies, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey.
- - -
The birth of a child is a beautiful moment, particularly for compulsive gamblers who can bet on Kai Rooney to play for England at 500/1.
For all the attempts to ridicule the name of Wayne and Coleen's first child (apparently it's a type of dog and a cocoa drink), it's hardly Brooklyn. Or Romeo. Or Cruz.
Early Doors would venture that the Rooneys' biggest crime was the addition of the middle name Wayne.
Not only does it jar somewhat with Kai's Pacific Rim mysticism, naming children after yourself either points to a total lack of imagination or supreme narcissism.
Of course Kai is a bit unusual, but it would be no less weird for a celebrity couple to give their kids a completely mundane name, like Barry or Roger.
At least, at three letters long, it gives Wayne a fighting chance of spelling it correctly.
And if you think it is weird, it doesn't even crack the top 10 most oddly named children of England squad members:
Luna Coco Patricia (Frank Lampard)
Lorenz and Tate (Rio Ferdinand)
Roderick, Pauline, Hector and Fabio (David James - does he also have kids called Kevin, Sven and Steve?)
Sancha Natasha: (Jermaine Jenas)
Jaydon Jean Claude (Wayne Bridge)
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I think it's a bit strong to say it was one of the worst decisions ever, but it's fair to say it was a mistake. You look at Anelka now - he was top scorer in the Premier League last season. It's in the past now, but it was probably something that never went our way." Jamie Carragher on Liverpool's decision not to sign Nicolas Anelka.
FOREIGN VIEW: Three Bulgarian league coaches have resigned following the weekend's fixtures, bringing the total number of managerial casualties to 13 since the season started in August.
Velizar Popov resigned as Cherno More Varna coach after they lost to Pirin Blagoevgrad and Ivan Marinov decided to leave Lokomotiv Plovdiv following their defeat by city rivals Botev.
Sliven's Diyan Petkov was the third coach to quit after his side were held to a 1-1 home draw by Beroe Stara Zagora.
Cherno More, however, refused to accept Popov's resignation and insisted he would stay in charge until the mid-season break starting in December.
COMING UP: Full coverage of every Champions League game this evening, including Manchester United v CSKA Moscow and Atletico Madrid v Chelsea.
last
From jarharnamme on Tue Nov 03 09:11AMKev or FB – I hear Torres needs an op for a hernia/groin, Gerrard needs an op, and ‘the waiter” keeps pushing them to play unfit? That makes no sence! World cup next summer – Torres and Gerrard will need to have had their ops and re-couperated and get back to being match fit – so who’s going to step in and tell Rafa to let them get the treatment they need?
From doobie.doobiedoo on Tue Nov 03 09:11AM@ Doobie, really, who pays their wages? you? the national teams? No. So, shut up and let the man do his job.
From itani_yassine on Tue Nov 03 09:19AMLate again ED!!!
From aimug on Tue Nov 03 09:20AMWhen will the penny drop with Owen?
As good as he once was, he should now forget about England - he's yesterday's news!!!
From mambles on Tue Nov 03 09:20AM2 - I'm thinking maybe in January.... but only if Liverpool spend £50m in the transfer window to get a couple of players to fill their boots while they do re-couperate (great spelling - dunno if its right, but i'm sticking with you on it!)
From danny_saks on Tue Nov 03 09:24AMhey you who has written this article: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, James Beattie, Andy Johnson, Carlton Cole, Kevin Davies, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey. Owen is way better even with one leg than these guys. k. davies? beattie? bent? a. johnson? No way. c. cole and agbonlahor are the same, tall, fast but also weak goal scorers. heskey is absolutely hilarious he scored just 7 goals in 57 games. is that what you call a prolific striker? let`s be serious. Even terry 58/6 will end his carrer with more goals scored for England. And guys everybody except for capello sees that even when it comes to assists others do a better job than husky. who let the dogs out? wooh wooh GO ENGLAND but for gods sake drop these weak forwards
From gazduska on Tue Nov 03 09:31AMitani_yassine - you've lost 6 out of 7 games - do you honestly think playing unfit players is going to help the cause - it's as much in your own best interest as well as the national sides interest! but hey...the potential is to keep playing Torres, bring back Gerrard for 20 mins a game, then see them laid up for months on end instead of weeks for aggrevating beyond repair the existing injury
From doobie.doobiedoo on Tue Nov 03 09:34AM58/6 stats of Terry defender
57/7 stats of husky forward oh yeah he`s a prolific striker. I bet terry will end his england career with more international goals scored.
Related to this list: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, James Beattie, Andy Johnson, Carlton Cole, Kevin Davies, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey. only crouch, defoe have strenght to be called up to england. beattie, davies, johnson, husky? Let`s be serious. Drop these weak forwards. GO ENGLAND!!!From gazduska on Tue Nov 03 09:37AMCan we have a big break??
I mean the Owen topic is chewed and spat out and swallowed again by ED gazillion times now..
I was hoping to get a full article about Kai Wayne Rooney..
Incidentally, in my mother tongue, "Kai" means "what"!!
So i think the name with the middle name may have come as a suggestion from Colleen instead of Shrek..
If you know what i mean..
From rock.bratt on Tue Nov 03 09:41AMArm or leg Rocky??
From doobie.doobiedoo on Tue Nov 03 09:49AM14 - So his name means What Wayne Rooney? Funnily enough exactly what the Liverpool defence were asking the weekend before last...!
From danny_saks on Tue Nov 03 09:54AM#10 - I could beat Carragher for pace after 10 pints the way he is playing at the minute
From who_are_ya_85 on Tue Nov 03 09:56AM17-But as someone said, it was a needless card because all Carra did was stop a Liverpool goalkick!!
From andy_lycett on Tue Nov 03 10:01AM16 - Apparently, it was Colleen's expression at the little creature crawling out of her..
WHAATTT??!! Wayne Rooney?? translated as... Kai Wayne Rooney..
Though it seems inappropriate for a woman who intends to bring to life an army of ogres/descendants of Shrek..From rock.bratt on Tue Nov 03 10:16AMOwen cant win really. If he scores, well its expected from a prem striker and if he misses, well its expected now he's rubbish. Owens not that slow, he's still a good finisher and he is better than some of the strikers ED listed. He also scares the sh it out of Ze Germans. Us English really are a fickle bunch aren't we. Why cant we just be grateful for what he has done in the past and hope he recaptures his form and does well for England again instead of getting on his back
From jay8my on Tue Nov 03 10:16AMnow early doors had sanctioned it am sure micheal will start getting up to dpeed and of course make ED look really really stupid come the end of the season and that plane heading south....well done wayne a colleen..now get back on the pitch wayne....!
From stuartxland on Tue Nov 03 10:22AMOwen will be ready for England duty.
From the_simple_mind on Tue Nov 03 10:27AMRooney & Crouch is England's best option, plain & simple!
From who_are_ya_85 on Tue Nov 03 10:27AM1st !
From rugmeister68 on Tue Nov 03 10:28AMWhat a load of gibberish!!! I saw the full Owen interview and he was repeatedly asked about England, he looked embarrassed to answer...what's he supposed to say? he's starting to look sharper and is getting chances, he scored in carling cup...I think if he stays fit he's gonna get enough goals this season and go to the world cup...lets be honest whether he played for Utd or 'pool if we are up against the Germans or Argies I rather see Owens name than Heskeys
From rugmeister68 on Tue Nov 03 10:32AM28-You got their attributes the wrong way round I think Kev
From andy_lycett on Tue Nov 03 10:33AM25 - Just a typical British reaction to someone that never really fulfilled their potential Jay. After years of pinning failed World Cup hopes on him the press eventually decide he simply wasn't that good anyway and descend into apathy. We all do it to players in our own teams too. Just don't mention Franny Jeffers.
From danny_saks on Tue Nov 03 10:34AMrooney is superstar that's why people have comments about the name of his son.whatever the name is i will respect their choice.im a mother of one boy, i know the feelings of having a child ,its nothing to compare.if i have another son i will choose kai for his name.i wish all the best to rooney and coleen for having a baby boy.
From mariamira14 on Tue Nov 03 10:42AMI'd back him ahead of Heskey and others to score in South Africa, give him a chance to get through the season at Utd, with at least a chance to prove himself. Fabio will not pick him if he's not doing it, but of note for me was the fact that when Utd scored in the last CL game, only one bloke had followed it in to the 6 yard box ahead of all the defenders and if the keeper had missed or spilled it Owen was there on the spot. He's still quality otherwise he would not be at Man U. Its a long trip back from his knee dislocation and you never know, come May next year he might just be up to speed to add to his great England goal tally. Like Becks he still has it in him, support the bloke for gawd's sake
From njc.design on Tue Nov 03 10:43AMOwen will come good, dont doubt it!!!
From cannonsjs on Tue Nov 03 10:46AM39 - Doubt it.
From danny_saks on Tue Nov 03 10:47AMWould it be worse to find out when your older that you were adopted or that your father s.hagged a Granny?
From who_are_ya_85 on Tue Nov 03 10:47AMHere is a list of England-registered strikers Early Doors would take to the World Cup ahead of Michael Owen:
Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, James Beattie, Andy Johnson, Carlton Cole, Kevin Davies, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey.
James beattie??? have a day off! Andy Johnson is as brittle as a jacobs cream cracker as awell and a half fit owen bags more goals than these two!
what a big pile of @#$% this article was!
From longerfellow666 on Tue Nov 03 10:48AMOWEN should be included in the england squad,, he has looked sharp for utd when he gets a chance, he has'nt settled into utds game yet, ENGLANDS strikers dont look so hot and they mainly rely on midfielders to score.
chief scout
From bar9on on Tue Nov 03 10:51AM
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