Michael Owen (now retired)

[Thumbheed]

He had pace that killed defenders and was a decent finisher. He was very good, for a short period of time.

 

Sadly for him, how long you remain at the highest level, ultimately defines you. Theres plenty of one season wonders, or players who shine for several seasons  but few who last the distance and become true greats of the modern era. The likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Shearer, Terry etc etc did it for over a decade and lead the clubs with heart and desire.

 

Micheal Owen will go down as a talented, mercenary, crock, who shone in a few high profile moments but will never feature in a list of all time greats, certainly not in terms of club football.

 

When referring to Owen, people will say "he was decent", when talking about Shearer, nothing more will need to be said.

 

Absolutely this, Owen was a finisher with lightening pace that scared opposition defenders to death. Once he lost that pace, he lost his edge. He remained a great finisher but never adapted his game after his injuries. Shearer suffered some horrific injuries but always managed to find a way back by changing his game to get the best out his strengths, Owen gave up and wanted to retire. Without the passion, heart and desire of the aforementioned players he had no interest in getting the best out of himself, just coining in on his previous reputation. He doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Shearer.

 

Going to Real Madrid killed his career. They highlighted the limitations to his game which separated him from the upper tier of strikers. Once that became apparent it was no wonder the top teams didnt go for him. He was a very good striker, just a total prick.

[xLiaaamx]

On the pitch he felt like a downgrade from Bellamy to be honest.

 

Shame that one's an absolute fucking weapon aswell.

[The College Dropout]

He had pace that killed defenders and was a decent finisher. He was very good, for a short period of time.

 

Sadly for him, how long you remain at the highest level, ultimately defines you. Theres plenty of one season wonders, or players who shine for several seasons  but few who last the distance and become true greats of the modern era. The likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Shearer, Terry etc etc did it for over a decade and lead the clubs with heart and desire.

 

Micheal Owen will go down as a talented, mercenary, crock, who shone in a few high profile moments but will never feature in a list of all time greats, certainly not in terms of club football.

 

When referring to Owen, people will say "he was decent", when talking about Shearer, nothing more will need to be said.

 

I don't even think that's true.

 

 

Ronaldinho lit the world ablaze for no more than 5 years. But we remember those 5 years fondly. He delighted us.

 

Owen's no Ronaldinho obviously

[The College Dropout]

He goes on like he's been so hard done by, purely cos he turned to shit. Worse players adapted their game to continue being useful.

 

In today's football, he'd be Theo Walcott essentially. Lucky to have played in the era he did.

 

Well that’s just bollocks tbh. Twat of a man though.

 

Referring more to the type of player.

 

Smaller striker with pace, movement and finishing, although Owen was a better dribbler.

 

He played in an era where a lot of clubs used partnerships upfront and these smaller strikers could be better accommodated.

 

Currently most clubs use one striker upfront, who has to have more of an all round game. Theo came through at Southampton as a striker, just as we were going into the era of lone front men and he suffered for it in my opinion. Ended up being shunted out wide because he didn't have enough about him to play upfront by himself, but he isn't technical enough to be a wide man.

 

Theo would have had a much better career as a striker back in the day I reckon.

 

Injuries played a big factor but he also wasn't that good for Owen and Walcott. Rafa ended up preferring Craig Bellamy to Michael Owen, that's how 1 dimensional Owen ended up.

 

The selfish nature of the man reflected in his game.

[rgk_lfc]

I highly doubt the fact that we could not afford the 16 million. We had just won the Champions League, was in our healthiest financial position in ages. Lot of rumors from good sources at that time that Rafa did not fancy him at LFC.

 

He was a great player for us. But at the same time, Houllier set up our attack to go through him. Gerrard, Murphy, all were pretty much instructed to seek him out through quick first time balls and then he could use his pace and finishing. Houllier sold Fowler, had Heskey to do the hard work upfront. We were Michael Owen FC for 3-5 years. But I think the game evolved past his type of striker during that period.

 

If you are to run your entire attack through one player, that player better have Shearer, Henry levels of productivity. As impressive as Owen was, even at his best season he was like 60 % of Shearer and Henry. And elite managers like Rafa, Capello who aspired to compete at the latter stages of Champions league, preferred not to run their attack through one player whose productivity did not quite warrant it. And Owen either did not want to or lacked the ability to evolve his game to the new requirements.

 

I know this is going to sound like sour grapes but in a weird way, as good as he was for us, over-reliance on him hurt us in the 2003-2005 period.

[James]

Some big name players are defined by their whole careers whereas others are more defined by specific moments. I’d put Owen, Rooney and Beckham all in the latter category.

[Mike]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

edit edit: Michael Owen wants to tell you about his horses, and Alan has a bottle of water. Every time he sips it he smacks his lips and goes "Ahhh". No level of violence is allowed.

 

Also, Alan keeps calling you "mate".

[TheHoob]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

[triggs]

Feel like Pards could be quite entertaining in that kind of scenario. Owen is both a cunt and very boring

[James]

Definitely Pards I have a feeling that he would give me some money or buy some prostitutes when we got out.

[Interpolic]

Great question, tough one.

 

Once they heard my accent, Pardew would want to talk endlessly about how he done a good job at newcarsoo and I seriously couldn't be arsed with that, whereas Owen would probably shit himself and avoid the topic entirely, so I'd go with Owen.

[1964]

Does Pards dance, that could be a deal breaker

[LV]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

edit edit: Michael Owen wants to tell you about his horses, and Alan has a bottle of water. Every time he sips it he smacks his lips and goes "Ahhh". No level of violence is allowed.

 

Also, Alan keeps calling you "mate".

 

How long until you are rescued from the elevator?

[Raconteur]

Gotta say the idea of destroying Owen at Monopoly and watching his weasely face screw up until he tips the board over has a certain appeal.

 

"Six! Ah, sorry Mickey, that's Mayfair again. Yep, still got a hotel on it"

[Guest chopey]

Still think his goal against Germany was a fluke

[Decky]

Sickens me that Man Utd took a punt on him and he ended up getting a PL medal. Fucking snake.

[jdckelly]

he was a very one dimensional player at his best with his pace, what I'd really like to know is did he try to adapt his game at all post injury because iirc it certainly didn't look like it and it was one of Shearers greatest achievements that he was able to adapt his game after age and injuries took their toll and keep himself as a very good striker almost to the end.

[Mike]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

edit edit: Michael Owen wants to tell you about his horses, and Alan has a bottle of water. Every time he sips it he smacks his lips and goes "Ahhh". No level of violence is allowed.

 

Also, Alan keeps calling you "mate".

 

How long until you are rescued from the elevator?

 

They keep saying it'll take an hour, but you're going to be in there between 12-18 hours.

[Mike]

Gotta say the idea of destroying Owen at Monopoly and watching his weasely face screw up until he tips the board over has a certain appeal.

 

"Six! Ah, sorry Mickey, that's Mayfair again. Yep, still got a hotel on it"

 

[Mike]

Does Pards dance, that could be a deal breaker

 

The walls of the elevator are essentially mirrors, so he's dancing, checking his teeth and smiling and talking super loud on his phone. 12-18 hours.

 

You're stuck with Owen for five days.

[Mike]

Great question, tough one.

 

Once they heard my accent, Pardew would want to talk endlessly about how he done a good job at newcarsoo and I seriously couldn't be arsed with that, whereas Owen would probably s*** himself and avoid the topic entirely, so I'd go with Owen.

 

Buckled at "newcarsoo". Can fucking hear it.

[Interpolic]

5 days

 

Why?

[Disco]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

edit edit: Michael Owen wants to tell you about his horses, and Alan has a bottle of water. Every time he sips it he smacks his lips and goes "Ahhh". No level of violence is allowed.

 

Also, Alan keeps calling you "mate".

 

And today we learned Tommy interned at Guantanamo.

[Mike]

5 days

 

Why?

 

Five days is the limit of sanity, imo.

 

Sat there on day two looking at photos of his horses. He probably gives them pure human names as well the boring twat. "This is Sheryl. She loves sugar cubes but we don't give her any because candy is for babies."

[LV]

Would you rather be stuck in a cabin with Owen, no power, no internet and the game monopoly, or stuck in an elevator with Alan Pardew after a big night at the casino.

 

edit: You may not murder either one of them, and you cannot kill yourself. You have to endure it.

 

edit edit: Michael Owen wants to tell you about his horses, and Alan has a bottle of water. Every time he sips it he smacks his lips and goes "Ahhh". No level of violence is allowed.

 

Also, Alan keeps calling you "mate".

 

How long until you are rescued from the elevator?

 

They keep saying it'll take an hour, but you're going to be in there between 12-18 hours.

 

Deal breaker. I just couldn’t.

 

Owen in a cabin for me. At least I could walk out the door and scream.