Baggio Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Suppose anything is possible, but I'll be mighty shocked if they were to ever form a good partnership. Owen has always been best with a striker partner who will do the bulk of the work in general play, allowing Owen to contribute sparsely in terms of active build up play and play on the shoulder of the last defender, always threatening to get in behind. He then comes into his element in the box, where he's as good as anyone. Heskey is a good example, he's always getting about doing the bulk of the work. Rooney will be the same when they eventually get a run of games together for England, as Rooney likes to drop deep and link the play. The threat of Owen in behind also gives his striker partner more room to play in. I like Martins, but his play is very erratic and I don't see him being someone we want to build the play through at all. Smith is similar in style to Heskey, gets about and will be very involved. Viduka when fully fit I reckon will gel very well with Owen too, as a bit of space to work in will benefit him immensely. I don't agree with this Shak for a few reasons. First of all Michael Owen has scored goals with whoever he's been partnered with, he got something like 7 goals in 10 games while being partnered with Shearer, he also had the best goals to minutes played ratio while playing in Madrid next to Ronaldo so it's fair to say he can score playing with any type of partner, he's also scored goals in the past while being partnered with Fowler and Anelka. What he does need however is to have pace in the side to make space for him, whether that's coming from the wings or midfield or wherever, having players that can stretch play and pull defenders out of position will give Owen the chance to find space in the box and be a bigger threat for us. Heskey has been a good partner for Owen, mainly because of the amount of time they've played together rather than them being ideally suited for each other, I don't think it's as simple as saying Smith is similar to Heskey so he'll be a good partner too though, especially as their record of playing together for England is hardly glowing. How many times has Owen played up front with Smith for England? That is what you mean, isn't it? 5 times I believe. They may be able to form a good partnership given time but as I've pointed out, Owen is capable of scoring goals next to whoever he plays with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howaythelads Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Gah! I agree witih Shak aswell, just for the record. But what you're outlining there Shak is my idea of the long-term formula. Short-term, Owen and Martins should be tried out against Derby imo. If FS has ideas of pairing Owen with Martins I'd sooner he did it in training or in practice matches rather than when there are 3 points at stake. Should just go with whatever is thought to be your best team, really. For me that is still one from Owen/Martins plus one from Smith/Viduka. Would you agree that, at the moment, the two best performing strikers are Owen and Martins? They haven't been paired together so we don't know whether they'll be good/shit/whatever, but it's worth finding out given how well they're playing and given the opposition's defense. It just brings me back to the team game thing. You can't always pick the players reckoned to be your best players. It's like Gerrard and Lampard being *supposedly* England's best two midfielders yet the team looks crap when they're together. Not that I ever rated Parker, but it was clear for ages that the Parker/Emre partnership was holding us back, the manager stuck with it and we went backwards. Getting the right blend is very important. There was a time when I thought maybe Martins could partner Owen but I'm not sure now to the point I lean toward the thought that they won't be that effective together. Now that we have alternatives in pairing either with Smith or Viduka that's the way I'd go whenever there is a choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Gah! I agree witih Shak aswell, just for the record. But what you're outlining there Shak is my idea of the long-term formula. Short-term, Owen and Martins should be tried out against Derby imo. If FS has ideas of pairing Owen with Martins I'd sooner he did it in training or in practice matches rather than when there are 3 points at stake. Should just go with whatever is thought to be your best team, really. For me that is still one from Owen/Martins plus one from Smith/Viduka. Would you agree that, at the moment, the two best performing strikers are Owen and Martins? They haven't been paired together so we don't know whether they'll be good/shit/whatever, but it's worth finding out given how well they're playing and given the opposition's defense. It just brings me back to the team game thing. You can't always pick the players reckoned to be your best players. It's like Gerrard and Lampard being *supposedly* England's best two midfielders yet the team looks crap when they're together. I knew you were going to say something like that. But Gerrard/Lampard has been tested hundreds of times and never worked. Martins/Owen has been tried two or three times... who are we to write off two quality players like that? Viduka isn't playing well at the moment (Smith doesn't come into the equation i don't think), and would make an excellent impact sub if he was initially benched. I personally think it's in Viduka's best interests that we ease him back into the side anyway... Martins/Owen v Derby ftw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bonk Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I don't really care who plays as long as we win and hopefully build on our Goal Ratio as I think some spaces in the table will be lost or won on the differential. 3-0 to the Toon, Owen with a brace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieDazzler Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen The midfield.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieDazzler Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen The midfield.. What about it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gggg Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Must win game this against a championship team. Even Milner should be able to create something. 4 - 0 win Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Nguyen Van Falk Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen The midfield.. What about it? Milner Geremi Butt N'zogbia Would be more effective. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieDazzler Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen The midfield.. What about it? Milner Geremi Butt N'zogbia Would be more effective. didnt N'zogbia play CM against Juve? We need a creative spark in the center of the park. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliemort Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Reckon this will be the line up gk Harper RB Taylor cb Roz CB Capaca Lb Nzogbia RM Smith CM Geremi CM Faye LM Milner ST Viduka ST Owen sUBS Given,Beye,Butt,Ameobi,Martins 2-0 to us Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSG Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Harper Beye Rozhenal Cacapa Enrique Geremi N'zogbia Butt Milner Viduka Owen The midfield.. What about it? Milner Geremi Butt N'zogbia Would be more effective. didnt N'zogbia play CM against Juve? We need a creative spark in the center of the park. We've scored 5 in 2 away games with Geremi and Butt as CM partnership. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SLK Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Suppose anything is possible, but I'll be mighty shocked if they were to ever form a good partnership. Owen has always been best with a striker partner who will do the bulk of the work in general play, allowing Owen to contribute sparsely in terms of active build up play and play on the shoulder of the last defender, always threatening to get in behind. He then comes into his element in the box, where he's as good as anyone. Heskey is a good example, he's always getting about doing the bulk of the work. Rooney will be the same when they eventually get a run of games together for England, as Rooney likes to drop deep and link the play. The threat of Owen in behind also gives his striker partner more room to play in. I like Martins, but his play is very erratic and I don't see him being someone we want to build the play through at all. Smith is similiar in style to Heskey, gets about and will be very involved. Viduka when fully fit I reckon will gel very well with Owen too, as a bit of space to work in will benefit him immensely. I reckon Owen-Martins partnership might work as I see Martins being the one making the crosses or creating the chances for his strike partner a la Bellamy... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I've had this feeling for the past couple of days that Allardyce may hand Shola his first start in the league this season. I also reckon Owen has a 50% chance of starting tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Newcastle World are saying that Harper keeps his place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
morpeth mag Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I think he'll go: Harper Taylor Roz Capaca Zog Smith Geremi Butt Milner Owen Martins Subs: Viduka shola Beye Faye Given Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sittingontheball Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Martins set up Owen very nicely last time out. The big one is whether he could do it consistently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 This would be a good game to play either Beye or Enrique. Not sure that disrupting a back 4 by playing both is a great idea, you'd have to be very confident in their ability to gel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Anything new about Enrique and Viduka? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross magoo Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Well i'm rather confident about this one. We'll win 3-1. Owen(2) and Geremi. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 If all fit i would go with Given Beye Cacapa Rozenhal Enrique Milner Faye Geremi N'Zogbia Owen Martins He wont though it will be same vs Wigan in my opinion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Anything new about Enrique and Viduka? Chronicle says both hav late fitness tests but both could play Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Anything new about Enrique and Viduka? Chronicle says both hav late fitness tests but both could play Ok, thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSG Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Just about to set off. Looking forward to it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Anything new about Enrique and Viduka? Chronicle says both hav late fitness tests but both could play Ok, thanks! Anything about Enrique? he is injured to with a slight hamstring problem.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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