It's pretty close like. I thought Carroll was quality, no doubt about it. But each player, both at their best... Owen just edges it for me. Whether either of them 'should have done' or not is another matter; that's for the "Best Value for Money XI" thread.
I wasn't referring to value for money; I was referring to his lack of quality in open play. A striker who simply cannot create or bring others into play should be getting 1 goal for every 2 starts. It's the least you'd expect.
Carroll managed that and far more throughout 2010.