Owen’s fighting back

Friday, 30/10/2009

Once the golden boy of English football with a reputation as one of the world’s finest young players, Michael Owen’s standing within the Premier League has taken a nosedive in recent years.
Owen remains one of the finest finishers in England. His record at Liverpool stands up against some of the club’s finest and his time at Real Madrid was a lot more successful then people give him credit for. The spell at Newcastle was largely unsuccessful but few players have the left the Magpies with an enhanced CV in recent years.
When’s he’s in the box, the ball always seems to find its way to him, whether he’s marked or unmarked. This is not Michael’s magnetism or luck, its instinct, intelligence, speed of thought and sharpness of movement. He can sniff out gilt-edged chances.
After his arrival at Manchester United many writers appeared eager for Michael to fail. During the Radio 5 commentary of Man United v Barnsley, former Chelsea and Celtic midfielder Craig Burley attempted to get in the box seat on the Owen criticism bandwagon.
He was pretty much in mid-critique of Owen’s performance, lack of composure and finishing ability when MO picked up the ball, nut-meged Darren Moore and curled the ball into the bottom right-corner. Burley’s reaction: “Well, he’s just shut me up, but I still don’t think he’s playing that well.”
Owen later commented on the match ratings he’s been given so far this season, saying he’s had a lot of 3 and 4’s in some of his better games and 7 and 8’s when he’s not done as well and scored a goal. Strikers will always be judged on goals.
So far his United career has been limited but his three goals have shown glimpses of his true class.
Fabio Capello is clearly unsure about Owen’s ability to perform in an England shirt. The England manager knows exactly what Owen can produce, but needs to see it more often.
He’s certainly on Capello’s radar and you sense he wants Owen to come good and force his way into the squad. You sense that most England fans - maybe with the exception of some on Merseyside and Tyneside - want this too.
Michael Owen proved Craig Burley wrong, hopefully he’ll continue to prove his critics wrong and torment defenders and Capello too.

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