Sometimes i miss St.Mike

[Parm]

Only if Arsenal paid his wages though. Bloody french players have eaten into our pockets enough over the years...

[Charlie_B]

Cisse has never come remotely close to having the goals per chance ratio Owen had at his best. The only Premiership player I ever recall regularly having a better ratio in that respect was Alan Shearer. Owen was a brutally clinical finisher of moves. That's not just the shooting ability, but the movement and awareness too.

Owen regularyly went 9 games without scoring goals. Shearer never did that.

[Red Chilli]

Thoughts?

Pretty indifferent to be honest. Shame he didn't give Rafa a chance to prove himself, he could have a Champions league winners medal in his pocket if he had.

He career has taken a massive downturn since the injury at Leeds and I can't see it going on much longer. He hasn't got a huge club left in him, he'll never win anything at Newcastle and he's going to struggle to break into the England team.
Instead of potentially damaging his knees further, he should hang up his boots and be remembered for the good times.

[Marky]

Strength? First touch? Creativity? None of those were particularly strong.

Agree but one attribute? I don't think so.

[Red Chilli]

Deleted, misread original post.

[Red_Polo]

Owen regularyly went 9 games without scoring goals. Shearer never did that.

So? He still had that great ratio despite the runs where he didn't score. Teams are not supposed to rely on just one person to score all the time - it was that pressure that caused those barren runs to drag on as they did.

I also think people don't appreciate just how much he gave the team with his off the ball running and movement. He made so much space for the midfield it's unbelievable. People can argue all day about whether he was world class but what the hell is and isn't world class?

The bottom line is that Owen was a brilliant player for us. His movement and finishing were/are exceptional, and he has scored goals at very high rate for every team he has played for. That he is a weak person who didn't have the guts to be honest to the fans and has been a complete fool in making his career choices does not alter that.

[Mumsafan]

Owen did really well for us but in all honesty I'm glad he went when he did. I haven't missed him and most of the time now I forget he was even one of ours................or worse..........that he's still a footballer!

[REDSCOUSER]

i have never missed him actually,

[Red Chilli]

OK. Here's another tangent to look at:

Would Owen make a good manager? He has some attributes- experience of the game at the highest level, experience of incredible highs and soul-destroying lows, ruthless selfishness, a good footballing brain, plenty of contacts, respect from players and God knows he's had his fair share of managers

But on the otherhand I often wondered if he had the passion. It's one thing Kenny D says makes Hansen a poor managerial candidate-no passion. But then you look at the 2001 Cup Final and the passion is right there.

He certainly has the work ethic and was a model pro. I don't know, I think he could make a good go of it.

[Mumsafan]

I'm not too sure that he'd be any good at the man management side of things.

[TheRedDragon]

So? He still had that great ratio despite the runs where he didn't score. Teams are not supposed to rely on just one person to score all the time - it was that pressure that caused those barren runs to drag on as they did.

I also think people don't appreciate just how much he gave the team with his off the ball running and movement. He made so much space for the midfield it's unbelievable. People can argue all day about whether he was world class but what the hell is and isn't world class?

The bottom line is that Owen was a brilliant player for us. His movement and finishing were/are exceptional, and he has scored goals at very high rate for every team he has played for. That he is a weak person who didn't have the guts to be honest to the fans and has been a complete fool in making his career choices does not alter that.

Top post there Polo.

Sometimes people are unable to see past the blinkered hatred goggles they have dawned when it comes to Owen.

they seem to think, he left us bla bla bla and he's Crap and always injured.
i would have Owen back over Crouch and Bellamy any day.

Owen has and will prove again just what a good player he is....

Something we are still waiting to see from the other two.,
This is not me having a dig at our players, just me being realistic.

[Morph]

a Kuyt and Owen in his prime partnership would be fantastic.

[andyinswinton]

I would have bitten your hand off to get him back once.....not anymore though. I think we have moved on as a club as so much has happened since he left and in a way it feels like a long time since he played for us.
Also can't help but think the amount of injuries he has had mean he will never be the same player.
That said he was great for us, you can't deny that, and I hope he makes it back to full fitness.

I think that is one of the most sensible things I've ever read on a forum about Michael Owen. It does feel like a long time since he was here. He has never played with Alonso or Garcia and to me, those guys have really bedded in at Anfield.

It was a ****ty way MO dealt with leaving Liverpool but in hindsight we was a club going nowhere with Houllier in charge and to be honest, if I was in the same position maybe I would have done the same.

Michael Owen is an impact player. He could be great on his day without doubt but you couldn't imagine him being around like somebody like Shearer or Rush was into their 30's. His greatest asset which was his pace just wouldn't be there then. So you can see why he tried to get the trophies while he could and at the time, he had a better chance with Madrid than with us.

I still love the irony that he went there to with the CL and we won it instead!

[Kopite_Colin]

The lad still would have scored 15-20 goals a season for us. Only Kuyt will get close to that this season.

We lack a true proven finisher in the prem and he was / is still one of the best.

[Ron_Mexico]

He's the modern version of a model pro - trains and plays hard, but appears mercenary. Whenever he talks about LFC I always get the impression he loved his situation at the club - with all his mates around him, living in his nice Cheshire mansion, playing regularly, winning things etc - rather than actually loving the club itself.

top post, i always felt that way too