NON POKER: Svengland's nightmare

[ifm]

lol, the scottish media?

[MonkeyDonkey]

I'm scottish and IMHO Owen is definitely world class. He has scored goals in every league, in every competition for both club and country and to take last season when he was third choice at Madrid is absurd.

For a start, Raul has been a shadow of his former self the past two seasons and was only really being picked on past performances (top goal scored in Champs league, darling of the Real Madrid fans). How many goals has he scored the past two seasons?

Ok, Ronaldo kept Owen out the team too but he too is world class and a regular goal scorer. I don't thnk Owen was given a proper look in at Real Madrid last season and wasn't really wanted this season even though he is probably better than those signed by Madrid to replace him (at least at present). I believe Owen was only brought in because at £8M he represented an absolute steal.

With another five years left (at least) in international terms, Owen will probably go on to become Englands top scorer and I think most of us would agree that anywhere round the 50 goals mark for your country is most assuredly 'world class'.

The other players you can argue about all you like....

Oh, and personally I think the English FA should appoint Berti Vogts as your next manager.....honestly, you lot think you've had it bad....

P.S. Ok, Miller not world class, but maybe the most improved and in-form striker in European Internation football at present???

[Ironside]

what makes any player world class IMHO it means if there was a match between 2 teams of the top players in the world at present they would be in one side or the other including subs

owen in the past would have made that game and in the future he will proberly again but currently due mainly to his bench warming skills of last season he would not

so IMHO he isnt world class

beckham is getting close to his sold by date

of the rest of the english mob terry lampard and gerard are the only 3 i would class as certs for the team and a maybe case for ferdinand with some regaining of form
rooneys temperment would IMHO rule him out he has alot of growing up to do

[The Baron]

I'm not sure how I define world class to be honest I just do. For example Van Nistlerooy wouldn't make my starting world XI either but I know he's still world class.

[Ironside]

he is class not world class big difference IMHO

[Newportlad]

As a Liverpool fan, i have to say that i dont think Owen is World Class.
International Class yes, but World Class no.  Yes he scores goals, but does not contribute that much otherwise.  I'll certainly be interested to see how good he is at a struggling club like Newcastle.

As for the rest of the England team well:

Robinson: Getting better by every game.  Long term England No1 goalkeeper
G.Neville: Steady, but dependable
A.Cole: Good going forward. Not so sure about him defensively
J.Terry: If he had another yard of pace would be World Class.  Reads the game well.
R.Ferdinand: When he puts his mind to it, he is World Class.
S.Campbell: Injured all the time nowadays!! what's happened to him. Was World Class. Jury out now.
S.Gerrard.  World Class Central Midfielder. Basically won European Cup for Liverpool on his own.
F.Lampard. Last season World Class. Can he reproduce it again?  Not so far.
J.Cole: Square Peg in round hole for Left Midfield.  Best England have unless Downing comes through.
D.Beckham: Still just about World Class. Best crosser/set piece taker in team.  Legs starting to go??
W.Rooney (Shrek) : If he sorts out his temper, then he has the potential to become top England Goalscorer.  Mr Fergusson needs to sort him out sooner rather than later.
S Wright-Phillips: Unfortunate to have Ian Wright as Dad.  Given time, successor to Mr Beckham.

Sven: Best England manager for a long time. Worst thing to do is sack him after losing first competitive qualifier. This is Englands best chance to win World Cup since 66.  The press smell blood though, and it sells newspapers.

Just my two'penneth.    Feel sorry for me. We've got John Toshack as our manager!!

[Ironside]

W.Rooney (Shrek) : If he sorts out his temper, then he has the potential to become top England Goalscorer.  Mr Fergusson needs to sort him out sooner rather than later.

wont happen fergie will more than likely retire at the end of year if he gets any sucess this year
if he doesnt get any sucess i think the new owners will replace him with a new face

[ifm]

As a Liverpool fan, i have to say that i dont think Owen is World Class.
International Class yes, but World Class no.  Yes he scores goals, but does not contribute that much otherwise.  I'll certainly be interested to see how good he is at a struggling club like Newcastle.

hmm a striker that scores goals but doesn't contribute...............interesting statement.........are you scottish?

[Newportlad]

hmm a striker that scores goals but doesn't contribute...............interesting statement.........are you scottish?

I mean when the team aren't playing well (as last night), hes going to struggle.

[ifm]

Well i look at Alan Shearer, all over the pitch, in the corners, crossing, tackling etc.
WHY?
Jeez, he's there to put the ball in the net, simple.
I couldn't care less if Owen touches the ball once in 90 minutes as long as it goes in the goal.............THAT'S HIS JOB.
Should've ignored this thread, deep breathes, deep breathes

[Newportlad]

As i said, Owen: World Class - No; International Class - Yes.

Not saying he's a bad player. Just that there are better strikers that him.

[MonkeyDonkey]

Love these absurd football discussions.

Taking the old saying that 'form is temporary, class is permanent' I would place Owen in the top 5 strikers in the world in the last five years, alongside Ronaldo, Shevchenko, Henry and maybe either Raul or Rivaldo (who may have dropped off the radar the past two years but was phenomenal for a while).

So, whilst he may not make some two team starting World XI (......) he has been up there with the very best consistently.

I say again, if he hangs up his boots with around 50 International goals how many of you will say "och, he was only really international class you know.....".

[MonkeyDonkey]

P.S. I seem to remember Owen singlehandedly winning a certain cup tie for Liverpool against an Arsenal team that was ahead and dominating the match. He doesn't only score when his team are playing well you know....

[Newportlad]

So, you think that Owen is as good if not better that Henry??

Never in a million years, and im a Liverpool supporter.

[dan]

i personally think the 442 and 451 formations dont suit the players england have at their disposal
i think they should play 352. the reason behind my thoughts are- we have possibly 3 of the best centre halves in the world in terry ferdinand and campbell. it is well know that we have a problem on the left side but if you played 3 at the back you could play ashley cole as a wing back and wright phillips on the right this would then give us great width and balance on both flanks. i think the rest of the team then picks itself with beckham, gerrard and lampard in the middle and owen and rooney up front