Don't send Owen to the World Cup
Posted by DavidM in England, Michael Owen, World Cup | 7 April 2006
Michael Owen is a natural goalscorer and has an excellent pedigree, but he shouldn't be included in the squad for Germany 2006.
This season he has only played 10 games and has been injured since New year's Eve. He isn't expected to be back until the last game of the season for Newcastle - giving him only a solitary competitive match before the tournament. That's not enough.
The problem is, who else do you take? Rooney is a no-brainer. Apart from his goals his broader play is excellent and he's on top of his game this season.
England need a goal poacher, not a Crouch or Heskey who gives supporting play to the front man. Below are the goals scored per game this season for other English players in the premiership (thanks to Football Anorak):
- 0.55 goals per game - Bobby Zamora, West Ham
- 0.53 goals per game - Darren Bent, Charlton
- 0.46 goals per game - Marlon Harewood, West Ham
- 0.45 goals per game - Andy(rew) Cole, Man City
- 0.44 goals per game - Jermaine Defoe, Tottenham
- 0.42 goals per game - James Beattie, Everton
- 0.40 goals per game - Robbie Fowler, Liverpool (based only on 5 Liverpool games though)
- 0.28 goals per game - Jason Roberts, Wign
- 0.24 goals per game - Kevin Phillips, Aston Villa
- 0.23 goals per game - Darius Vassell, Man City
- 0.17 goals per game - Kevin Davies, Bolton
- 0.15 goals per game - Emile Heskey, Birmingham
Darren Bent is pretty likely to be in the squad and deservedly so. But Zamora and Harewood have hardly been discussed yet are two of our most prolific strikers.
While we would all have our own favourites and Heskeys amongst this list, it isn't exactly inspiring is it?
Maybe Owen, even injured, is our best bet.
Cheers
David
