Paul Parker Article

Owen has it all to do

Wed Jul 01 02:02PM

At the ripe old age of 29, it seems odd that a player should still have to prove himself, especially one who has starred for both club and country over the years.

But that is exactly the situation Michael Owen finds himself in after an injury-plagued and ultimately disappointing spell with Newcastle.

He may well have played for two of the world's biggest clubs, scored 40 goals for his country and won the Ballon d'Or, but with his 30^th birthday fast approaching he must feel like he is having to start all over again.

Regularly we hear that Owen is a proven goalscorer. He may well be, but it means nothing if he has shown few signs to justify that label of late.

In football, they say you're only as good as your last game. And Owen regularly failed to prove he can still lay claim to being a top-class striker over the course of the past season.

Of course, a lot of his appearances came off the bench, and there is only so much a player can do in the space of 20 minutes.

He did manage to score a few - eight of them in the league - but much, much more was expected from him.

It was his work ethic that most damaged his reputation - when Newcastle needed him most he more often than not failed to stand up and be counted. For that reason, he now has it all to do once again.

It's all about how much Owen wants it; he has to prove his desire to succeed is still there. The likes of David Moyes, Martin O'Neill, Tony Pulis and Phil Brown expect their players to die for the cause and will not stand for someone who is not willing to give them 110 per cent.

Owen will also have to prove his fitness before he can be taken seriously again. That's why it comes as no surprise to see a pay-as-you-play deal mooted.

Indeed, with one of those arrangements in place, and considering he will move for free, the hiring of Owen appears to be low risk.

And if he proves his doubters wrong by staying fit and rediscovering some of the kind of form that once made him one of the most feared young strikers in the world, he could yet prove a valuable asset.

Out of the four Premier League clubs linked to him - Aston Villa, Everton, Stoke City and Hull City - I think Owen's best chance of turning things around for himself lies at Stoke.

With his pace gone, it's unlikely we'll again see the likes of his goal against Argentina at the World Cup in 1998. Owen's main threat now comes from his finishing instinct in the box.

And considering the Potters are so adept at getting the ball into that area, rather than relying on getting in behind the opposition back line, Owen could well get his career back on track at the most unlikely of places.

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had 2 reread the piece 2 make sure it really DIDNT mention man utd!
From yugiohey on Wed Jul 01 02:37PM
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FOR ONCE CONSIDER HE WRITES GOOD ARTICLES FFS
From kuledx27 on Wed Jul 01 02:48PM
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Paul Parker wear ladies underwear under his clothes............
From larastevenslove on Wed Jul 01 03:27PM
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owen should retire..
From kuide8888 on Wed Jul 01 03:30PM
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Missing paragraph from the end.......When i got to the age Owen is at I knew my place at Man United wasn't guaranteed but i knuckled down and worked hard to keep my place, this is what Owen must do. I used to play for Man United did you know?
From ima_fat_tw on Wed Jul 01 03:33PM
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is going to man u as they do not have striker ,will be back up but fergie feels worth it as youngsters have a year or 2 b4 they are ready. untd to buy attack mid.
From billdrogers on Wed Jul 01 03:36PM
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i bet that killed you not mentioning Fergie
From dave.hartley on Wed Jul 01 03:38PM
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All I want him to know is that, playing good is not all about pride in being an English but giving your best at any giving opportunity. Its sad to hear. I will continue to pray for him because he falling from grace to grass. Thanks Arsenal is involved or mentioned. I will also pray for Obafemi Martins......
From desiresluv20 on Wed Jul 01 03:41PM
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Owen should play in the MLS. He is not good enough to play at the top level anymore. Sometimes faceing reality is tough. At least in the MLS he could be a star again.
From shawnkenndy on Wed Jul 01 03:45PM
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A good acticle for once, well done PP, and no mention of man utd for once that must be a first.
From pushstartautos on Wed Jul 01 03:53PM
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Never had good supply at Newcastle because their midfielder was below average, probably bang them in weekly if at a good club with plenty of quality passes/crosses.
From jmaddocks1975 on Wed Jul 01 03:58PM
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sound article.....and @#$% on
From scottdavisfrance on Wed Jul 01 04:00PM
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for the love of god i hope villa don't buy owen, we've already got one over-rated hasbeen useless knacker in heskey!
From martsssss on Wed Jul 01 04:02PM
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Owen is on of those proves that Madrid is talent killer.
From rocknroll_ceu on Wed Jul 01 04:03PM
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to be fair im sure his goal scoring record last season isnt a worry for other teams i have no doubt with the right surport and a bit confidence he can score goals again.. but trying to justify his monumentaly sized wages against 70 games in 4 seasons what club are going to get any value for him and to be honest he cant want to play in the world cup that much that he would half his wages and bonus to play and probably no be considered anyhow in a struggling hull or stoke team ...no disrespect to either team but as a newcastle fan this is one player you could definatley do without
From smithy12232 on Wed Jul 01 04:09PM
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Owen is a player living off past glories, just like Liverpool
From martinmcneill87 on Wed Jul 01 04:11PM
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Stoke????????????????? Parker, you really are a f*ckwit of the highest order. Please resign and save us the pain of happening upon your incredibly ill informed and stupid articles!
From jez_r2000 on Wed Jul 01 04:12PM
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Owen's best chance isn't at stoke, what u on about u tool.
From postmanpatcan on Wed Jul 01 04:20PM
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has been stoke are welcome to sign him
Stuart Hull and proud of it
From stuart_tsingtao on Wed Jul 01 04:28PM
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for the first time, i think parker has hit the right note. owen current form is no doing him any favours. if i were him i will cut my wages and go down a division to rebuild away from public attention. afterall, he still has about 5 years of good football in him.
From penoka2001 on Wed Jul 01 04:36PM
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My God Parker - the usual cliched rubbish and unsustainable conclusion.
From michelangeloindeed on Wed Jul 01 04:38PM
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I don't understand why Liverpool or any of the top 6 don't buy Owen. He would be an excellent squad player who still has an eye for a goal. He was playing in a very weak team last season and didn't get the service he needed to score alot of goals. I think he could give any of the top 6 a good 3 years service hopefully Liverpool buy him as a back up.
From wardster31 on Wed Jul 01 04:39PM
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bye bye owen, and take yr wages and your helicopter with u. done nothing 4 us except sell a few shirts. owen will never play for england again, this is not me being bitter about his time up here, he simply has picked up too many injuries, has lost his pace and his touch.
From thehumanpiranha on Wed Jul 01 04:43PM
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owen is 29 but seems to play like a 35 year old.
Its clear the money has taken over as his number one priority in his life.
Retire you have become an embarrassment
From norfolk_aprilia on Wed Jul 01 05:05PM
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owen,s is feeding toons cash to his ponys
From nlwarburton on Wed Jul 01 05:10PM
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the only reason i read your articles is because i need a bit of a laugh and theres a "Friends" rerun on. Just reading you rubbish makes me laugh. Go away parker u tool
From mrcrocodilemr01 on Wed Jul 01 05:15PM
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Stoke? Parker you are a moron thats where u would go to end your career.. half decent article up to the stupid conclusion
From lowboy_8inches on Wed Jul 01 05:24PM
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would love him back at Pool. On a free play as you play. Could use as rest for Torres or two strikers to break down mid-low teams. Gerrard works well with him and not expensive (take a pay cut and prove yourself again)
From jimbrenan007 on Wed Jul 01 05:25PM
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Stoke, good call
From douglas_statt on Wed Jul 01 05:31PM
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On the whole, I think you're right. Owen will put the ball in the net if you get it to him in the box, but if you give him the ball 30 yards out now and ask him to do something, he won't deliver. A great finisher, but needs plenty of service and balls from midfield to score his goals. He can't create his own chances.
From akilesh_radhakrishnan on Wed Jul 01 05:32PM
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