For the second time in succession, Fabio Capello has left a fully-fit Michael Owen out of his England squad. I didn't agree with it first time and I don't agree with it now.
I just don't understand why Owen is not included. He has been the only player to continue to shine at Newcastle, and has scored five goals in six league games this season. Fitness could have been used as an excuse last time, but certainly not this time.
Looking at the four who were named in Capello's England squad, Owen deserves to be in there. Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, and Peter Crouch all also deserve to be in there—which leaves Emile Heskey.
Now I've always been a big fan of Heskey, since his Leicester days. He gives the team a different threat up-front with his strength. But Heskey hasn't been on great from for Wigan, yet alone England.
If you are only going to take four strikers, I'd have Michael Owen over Emile Heskey any day of the week. They play extremely well together, but in a choice between the two, there is only one winner.
Just look at their England records. I know that those goals are in the past, but we can learn a lot about the future if we look into the past.
Michael Owen has 40 goals in 89 England games, making him one of the greatest England goalscorers of all time. Emile Heskey, on the other hand, only has five goals in 48 England caps.
Owen scores a lot of goals, Heskey does not. I know that Heskey does a lot of other things, but I don't think you need them for games against the likes of Kazakhstan, who players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will be able to pull apart with ease.
England are perfectly capable of hitting at least seven past Kazakhstan, and I expect them to at Wembley. But to do that you need a goalscorer, and the best England have available to them at the moment is Michael Owen, followed by Peter Crouch.
I would play those two up front, with Wayne Rooney just behind them, then Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Theo Walcott in midfield with three at the back of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, and Ashley Cole, with David James in goal.
It is an attacking line-up full of pace, which I don't think Kazakhstan would be able to deal with.
If Joe Cole was in the squad I would have him in instead of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Yet neither him or Owen are in, for various reasons.
I just hope Don Fabio proves me wrong again.
So what do you think the England line-up should be against Kazakhstan? If you think Owen or Cole or anyone else should be in there, include them!
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about 1 month ago
Owen can still deliver the goods...Infact, he is the best finisher among all the England strikers at present...Really surprised he wasnt picked! Joe Cole over Wright-Phillips anyday!
I would still prefer 4-4-2 formation for England!
from about 1 month ago
I would opt for a 4-4-2 normally, but against Kazakhstan I want to see England go and attack them and just see how many they can score, not easing off!
about 1 month ago
Its personal and could end up costing Cappelo his job.
about 1 month ago
I don't know why the whole fuss, there are dozens upon dozens of other english players who aren't in the team let's get over it. As long as England win then Capello's descision is vindicated. Even if they lose it would be silly to blame Owen's ommision, he isn't exaclty lighting up Newcastle at the moment with his goalscoring touch is he.
about 1 month ago
I'd agree with Brandon above me.. Owen is one of many player over-looked by Capello, so why all the fuss? Ashley Young keeps getting ommitted when he's probably the best winger in the country at the moment and he warrants a place in the squad much more than Owen does. His teammate Agbonlahor is in great form for Villa too and he isnt picked either.
Lets get over it people.....
about 1 month ago
England did pretty damn well without Owen last time out didn’t they? Defoe has been playing better than him recently as well as scoring more goals so retains his place. If this sends out a message to all players that big names will be dropped then I think that’s a good thing, just a shame for Michael Owen. But while results remain good he is being proved right.
So you expect England to win by at least seven? Surely this is part of the problem, ridiculously high expectations. I’d love England to win by this amount but if people expect this then they are only ever going to be disappointed.
Khazahstan lost 3-0 in Zagreb so why should we expect to beat them by 7?
They also lost 3-0 away in Portgual last qualifiers and narrowly lost 2-1 in the home game so clearly their standard isn’t that bad.
about 1 month ago
I am going to the game on Saturday and am certainly not expecting England to win by more than 3 goals.
Kazakhstan are not great by any stretch of the imagination, but there are NO easy games in World Cup Qualifiers, and England will have to play well to earn the right to win.
If we score early then we should win comfortably, as we will relax and hopefully they might fold given their recent poor form, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if its 0-0 at half time as they will be well organised and technically proficient.
As for Michael Owen, in my opinion, and presumably in Mr Capello's, Owen has not proved his fitness. This is a player who averages about 20 games a season in his career, so a run of 8 games without injury is not enough.
If Owen is still fit and scoring in February, having played 30+ games and scored 15+ goals, then I would expect him to be in the squad, but until then, Capello is right to be cautious.
We shouldn't bring Owen back at the earliest opportunity because it just makes us more reliant upon him, and you cannot rely in someone with his injury record.
And as Matt said, we did ok without him last time out didn't we?
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