Emile back in England squad

[andyinswinton]

I very obviously meant it's "obvious" why he's been called in the squad given the current circumstances.

Yeah I know. I read back what I wrote and realised it sounded sarcastic when it wasn't intended that way.

I know it is obvious. He is in there because he offers something different to the other choices. I'd have just named him in the original squad instead of waiting 48 hours to do it.

[Shaggy]

Yeah I know. I read back what I wrote and realised it sounded sarcastic when it wasn't intended that way.

I know it is obvious. He is in there because he offers something different to the other choices. I'd have just named him in the original squad instead of waiting 48 hours to do it.

[dww]

What a weird, confused post.

Didn't you see him against Man United at Anfield in the Houllier era? Bayern Munich in the Super Cup? Chelsea away in the 'Cheyrou' game. I could go on, but I can't be arsed.

Top, top defenders in opposition and Heskey was unplayable.

Also worthy of note is his game for Wigan vs chelsea last season. Looked an absolute beast. Best performance of any striker in the PL last season in my book.

He has been good in a run of about 10 games at this point (split between this season and last) which is very unlike him. I would have him there before any of the other strikers possibly bar Owen who are available for the next game.

Partly this is down to our paucity of options but I also think sometimes a player adds mentally to his game as he gets older. Heskey seems to some extent to have done that. He will never fulfill his original potential now but he could be a very useful option for any team if he keeps his head right.

[Dhav]

Right, I've not read this thread because I'll be ****ed if I'm going to read 62 posts on Emile Heskey (although knowing you lot the thread has probably descended into a conversation about Thai ladyboys by now), so I don't know if this point has been made. But in my view the selection of Heskey says more about Michael Owen than anyone else.

Heskey has done well of late, but whether as an individual player he is international class or worthy of a call-up is debatable. The selection though does show one thing - it's how much Owen needs a partner to do all the donkey work for him. Heskey's goal scoring record is poor granted, but how much of that is due to the role he has been asked to play when partnering Owen? How many times have we seen him drop deep drawing defenders towards him creating space for Owen to exploit, hold the ball up and getting knock-ons for Owen to latch on to? Under Houllier the whole shape, style, ethos of the team was built around trying to get Owen in on goal. That's why we were so one dimensional and played almost exclusively a counter-attacking game. Owen is good at what he does, an excellent finisher, but in my view he is extremely limited. He is a one-dimensional player. He needs space to run into, and so needs a foil who will create that space for him. He relies on a certain type of service - he is not the type particularly to sniff out a chance or create one for himself a la Torres or Fowler. It's why the only successful strike partnership he's ever had has been lop-sided with him getting the majority of the goals. And it's part of the reason why I've always said it would be a backward step for us to re-sign him.

Personally I don't think Owen is the future, irrespective of his injury doubts, and so neither is Heskey. Heskey has only been brought in as a foil for owen, it's not becasue anyone has any faith in him particularly to get goals at international level. Kind of feel sorry for him, he's got a thankless task.

[Shaggy]

Also worthy of note is his game for Wigan vs chelsea last season. Looked an absolute beast. Best performance of any striker in the PL last season in my book.

He has been good in a run of about 10 games at this point (split between this season and last) which is very unlike him. I would have him there before any of the other strikers possibly bar Owen who are available for the next game.

Partly this is down to our paucity of options but I also think sometimes a player adds mentally to his game as he gets older. Heskey seems to some extent to have done that. He will never fulfill his original potential now but he could be a very useful option for any team if he keeps his head right.

[Joe King]

Alan Mullery (sp) is talking out of his arse when talking about Heskey on SSN. I think Heskey gives Owen that bit of protection and defenders are scared **** of him. He may have a poor record but theres no doubt the guy works with Owen, 30 Games 19 Goals together. His game as a striker isn't about goals but is about brute force. He is better for England than Defoe (who can't get a game for Spurs) Johnson (haha) Nugent (HAHAHAHAHAH) Smith (that dirty **** isn't even a striker anymore)

[JPK]

Again...



Er, yes he does and I gave you examples of times he has outplayed/destroyed top defenders - examples you appear to have just ignored and responded with the rather evasive "every player has good days".

Bizarre.

You seem to have a blind and irrational hatred of any vaguely unconventional/big/tall strikers. You seem to want every striker to be silky, Romario-esque geniuses.

To quote an irritating advert, it doesn't work like that.

No Shaggy I just like class players.You know I am not Crouch's biggest fan but he is alot better player than Heskey.Even though Dean Ashton is just back from injury I would have him there before Heskey.
He is a good target man,has an eye for a pass and would do a better job.
Anyway it's International football and Emile will have decent players around him if he plays,so he cant really do too much wrong.It will be tight and he could easily get a tap in or a header.Best of luck to him

[dww]

No Shaggy I just like class players.You know I am not Crouch's biggest fan but he is alot better player than Heskey.Even though Dean Ashton is just back from injury I would have him there before Heskey.
He is a good target man,has an eye for a pass and would do a better job.
Anyway it's International football and Emile will have decent players around him if he plays,so he cant really do too much wrong.It will be tight and he could easily get a tap in or a header.Best of luck to him

Have you seen Ashton this season? Looked completely off the pace from the little I have seen. He is a very good player but he needs to get back to fitness before he is even considered in my eyes.

[Shaggy]

Yeah...Ashton's a good (if slightly overrated) player, but his start on Saturday was his first and ONLY start since we played them in the FA Cup final...!!!

Absolutely no chance is he even under consideration at the moment.

[JPK]

Yeah...Ashton's a good (if slightly overrated) player, but his start on Saturday was his first and ONLY start since we played them in the FA Cup final...!!!

Absolutely no chance is he even under consideration at the moment.

Has he played more minutes than Owen this season?
I like Ashton myself.He had a good game in that final.
When he starts scoring the Hammers will do alright.

[Shaggy]

Has he played more minutes than Owen this season?
I like Ashton myself.He had a good game in that final.
When he starts scoring the Hammers will do alright.

No, Owen's played more minutes than Ashton this season. He's also scored a couple, whereas Ashton, as Dave said, looks way off the pace.

I like him too. Great finisher, good touch, good brain. I just think he's a bit overrated by a lot of folk and would be out of place at a top four club.

[JPK]

No, Owen's played more minutes than Ashton this season. He's also scored a couple, whereas Ashton, as Dave said, looks way off the pace.

I like him too. Great finisher, good touch, good brain. I just think he's a bit overrated by a lot of folk and would be out of place at a top four club.

If he had pace he would'nt.They said the same about Crouchie and look at him now

[Shaggy]

If he had pace he would'nt.They said the same about Crouchie and look at him now

Knew you'd mention Crouch.

Yeah but Ashton doesn't have any pace. I don't think he's as good as Crouch either. Crouch has proved he can score goals prolifically in the Champions League and internationally - Ashton hasn't and I don't think he'd be quite up to it if and when he's given the opportunity.

[JPK]

Knew you'd mention Crouch.

Yeah but Ashton doesn't have any pace. I don't think he's as good as Crouch either. Crouch has proved he can score goals prolifically in the Champions League and internationally - Ashton hasn't and I don't think he'd be quite up to it if and when he's given the opportunity.

Fair point.Just to clarify one thing,i'm not totally against Crouch.He does things that are pure class and I applaud but as likable as he is,he gets to me sometimes.I remember important chances he has missed in the past and thought if that was a top class striker he would have bust the net.
We have him now-Fernando Torres

[kop-al-74]

Heskey...........Hit or miss?

Come on guys,Emile has been slated all day today ever since he was anounced in the England squad.Everyone has had a pop at him.

Does he deserve it?Is he really that bad a footballer that sport phone ins are all debating on what he brings to the table and even,if he is even a premiership footballer!

We as fans proberbly know the most about him as a footballer than most.He wasn't that bad,was he?

Your thoughts,please.