Taylor Swift

I should stay out but, I can't help myself. How many of Martins' starts was he actually playing up front? Who am I? Motty? How many has Owen been up front? Every? Behind Oba though, right? No? Oba was unfortunately on the bench for those games (except in the past 3, which have coincidentally lead to 7 points).

I should stay out but, I can't help myself. How many of Martins' starts was he actually playing up front? Who am I? Motty? How many has Owen been up front? Every?

I should stay out but, I can't help myself. How many of Martins' starts was he actually playing up front?

Humour isn't appreciated here.

Raul makes it 2-1 in the Bernabeu. Quality finish; he's definitely on form. 290 goals for Real. He is one of the world's best finishers Only 17 behind Di Stefano for the all-time goalscoring record for Real Madrid.

Depends on whether Keegan thinks this formation is viable in the long-term. Actually, I'd say quite a bit depends on this

Because you judge a great goalscorer on how many goals they score, you judge a finisher on how clinical they are in front of goal and Owen has never been a clinical finisher, he's a striker with great movement and a good footballing brain which often finds him space to get chances but he misses far more than he scores. If you're looking for players who miss loads of chances you don't need to look much futher than Rooney, Tevez, Torres, it must run into a 100 between them this season. Torres can miss 5 chances a game more often than not. So? There's a distinction between a great striker and a great finisher. You can be a great finisher without being a great striker. The 'finisher' is becoming a rare breed. I'd say Henry is a great finisher, as is van Nistelrooy, and of course Shearer. Owen's not at that level of finishing now even though he's showing himself to be a better all-round striker than many (including me) thought. Edit: I take too long to type. Just read Baggio's post above. I don't even know what you're on about. Did you see the chances Rooney and Ronaldo 'missed' yesterday? Are they shite? No, they're class for getting in those positions in the first place. The discussion is about Owen's ability to finish chances, so naturally the focus is on the number of chances he misses as opposed to the number of chances that he converts. He is class for getting into those positions and I've praised him countless of times for his movement and instincts but that's irrelevant to this debate so I don't know what you are on about. He's not one of the world's best finishers.

Because you judge a great goalscorer on how many goals they score, you judge a finisher on how clinical they are in front of goal and Owen has never been a clinical finisher, he's a striker with great movement and a good footballing brain which often finds him space to get chances but he misses far more than he scores. If you're looking for players who miss loads of chances you don't need to look much futher than Rooney, Tevez, Torres, it must run into a 100 between them this season. Torres can miss 5 chances a game more often than not. So? There's a distinction between a great striker and a great finisher. You can be a great finisher without being a great striker. The 'finisher' is becoming a rare breed. I'd say Henry is a great finisher, as is van Nistelrooy, and of course Shearer. Owen's not at that level of finishing now even though he's showing himself to be a better all-round striker than many (including me) thought. Edit: I take too long to type. Just read Baggio's post above.

I don't like or rate Owen? So is that why I've been a staunch supporter over the past 3 years? Yes, it's cos I hate him. I even wrote an article on the front page called 'The defence of Michael Owen' because I hate him that much. Martins is more integral because we have no pace in the team without him. Without him, there is no space between the front 3 and the midfield for Owen to exploit. Without him, we end up playing and looking like the shit team that we were before the Birmingham game. Is it a coincidence that our team suddenly looked more dynamic the minute Martins was played up front? You decide. I'm not dismissing the change in formation but how helpful is it for Butt, Barton and Geremi that there is some actual movement up front, as opposed to the static shit we saw before that (when Martins wasn't playing)? I don't hate Owen. In fact, I rate him but he's obviously a shadow of his former self. He's not the player we spent £17m on. He's not worth £100k/week. He's not going to suddenly develop into a world-class #10 at 28 years old so all this over-the-top adulation ('one of the best finishers in the world') bothers me. Why can't I have a 'moderate' view on him and not be classified as either a hater or a lover? He's finally started to contribute to the cause after 3 years of pretty much fuck all contribution, and I like the fact that he's willing to change his game for the benefit of the team. I'm pleased that he's scoring again and obviously he's excelling in the new formation. He's a useful player to have on the pitch because of his experience and ability to keep possession, and will probably prove to be useful off the pitch as well. That's it. Is that alright with you? Enough love shown for Mickey?

He's got a bright future ahead of him. I'd hate to see him end up flourishing at another club who gave him a consistent run in his best position.

Owen one of the best finishers in the world? agree he doesn't seem it but goals per game in top divisions over a decade i'd reckon he'd be up there. Was would be a more appropriate term, and I'd agree with it over his career, but he's certainly not that at this moment of time. He's missed a boatload of simple chances recently, and without the blistering pace that got him the easy goals earlier on in his career, he's not the lethal striker that we spent £17m on. He's still a good player, make no mistake, but justifying £17m and 100k/week? One of the best finishers in the world? Come on, no one seriously believes that. coming back from how long out, a player who everyone said needed six weeks after 2 month out to get firing. now he's getting back,THIS is the player we bought. be worried if he's not getting in the right place for the chances. watch and he'll get sharper and the finishing will get better. This is the player we broke our transfer record for? Really? This is the player we're paying £100k/week? The same type of money that players like Fabregas, Gerrard, Drogba and Ronaldo earns? Really? For what it's worth, I think Martins is more important than he is in the formation that we're currently playing so I don't know what that says about Owen and his ability to justify the ridiculous wage he's being paid.

Owen one of the best finishers in the world? He is statistically: 0.49 goals per game. There is only about a dozen players in Europe better than that. Strange you find that funny. He was, Parky. Not is.

Owen one of the best finishers in the world? agree he doesn't seem it but goals per game in top divisions over a decade i'd reckon he'd be up there. Was would be a more appropriate term, and I'd agree with it over his career, but he's certainly not that at this moment of time. He's missed a boatload of simple chances recently, and without the blistering pace that got him the easy goals earlier on in his career, he's not the lethal striker that we spent £17m on. He's still a good player, make no mistake, but justifying £17m and 100k/week? One of the best finishers in the world? Come on, no one seriously believes that.

Owen one of the best finishers in the world?

That's quite an exaggeration, don't you think?

Shut up man. You never know, with us. I'm sure we'll be fine, but theres nothing like absolute confirmation. you're quite the pessimist man

Chill, Decky Shearer - £15m - 206 goals. Owen - £17m - 20 something goals. (can't be arsed to check but maybe it's still in the teens) He'll never end up justifying his transfer fee because of the past 2 injury-filled years and his wages are still too much for a player who's a shadow of the one we signed.

Martins and Geremi are my co-motm. Geremi has had a mini-revival under Keegan; chasing the ball, moving into space, making intelligent runs and passes and getting involved in our attacks. What a change from earlier this season. And Martins, I can't say it enough - he is the key to this formation; without him, it doesn't work imo. Great game and finally he gets a goal that he's deserved for his last three performances.

Didn't have the best 'link-up' game today but his finish was quality. Should have had another as well but the bugger missed it.

This offseason will be oh so exciting.

Ramos is still quality

Fucking fantastic performance. When was the last time we totally battered another team like that? From the moment Butt's shot rolled blissfully into the net until Martins clinically made it 4-1, I think Spurs had a total of 2 shots and barely left their own half. They had a little spell after we made it 3-1 where they had a couple of corners but wow, it was actually quite comfortable on the whole. Mega-brilliant performance. That was fucking entertaining AND a comeback win as well. Away from home as well! Fuck, I still cannot believe that just happened!

Yes it was