Should Owen Be Dropped Instead Of Crouch?

[SharpshooterTom]

I suspect now that when Rooney is fit he will undoubtedly start shortly, and there's a suggestion he may start even as early as Sweden in 5 days time. But he should he be dropped for? Owen or Crouch?

I say we should stick with Crouch and drop Owen. Spain dropped Raul and it worked a gem. I reckon Rooney/Crouch might work, and since we've qualified why not try it against Sweden?

I know this sounds silly, but consider now that Peter Crouch has scored 6 goals in his last 9 games for England. While Owen, even though he's our top scorer, he's looking out of shape.

Crouch is now even favourite for England's top scorer (5/2), Owen's dropped to 3rd (4/1), which must say something about what the bookies think the partnership might be!

What do you lot reckon?

[sinner78]

This is where sven blundered in picking walcott .
We shouldve had defoe in there as another option.
But ultimately we should be looking to pair owen and rooney.
crouch as a starter is sh1te .he is better as a freak super sub.

[owen&gerrard237]

yes maybe owen is out of shape at the moment but he's not going to get any better if stupid idiot sven keeps taking him off! i'd have owen over crouch anyday! he's a top scorer. owen's lacking sharpness at the moment. but he's improving each game and he'll keep getting better and better! crouch hasn't suffered any injury this season!

[Colm]

Owen is our top goalscorer so i say we keep him on. He'll score sooner rather than later.

[owen&gerrard237]

so crouch can go and sit on the bench!

['Strobaby]

I don't think Rooney's going to stay on the whole 90 next match anyways. Maybe start him and Owen, because they work well enough together. And then pull off Rooney and put on Crouch. Owen needs minutes on the pitch if he's going to do anything this WC (and he has to because I fear for an England wholly dependent on Rooney, Crouch and Nappy Rash for forward goals).

[sendorange]

Owen looked better in the first half, even though it was a poor team performance. He held the ball up well a few times and showed some movement.

Him and Rooney should start against Sweden, get some match practise in and see if they click.

[sinner78]

Owen looked better in the first half, even though it was a poor team performance. He held the ball up well a few times and showed some movement.

Him and Rooney should start against Sweden, get some match practise in and see if they click.

Shame he didnt stick it out in madrid.
he wouldnt be in this mess had he stayed.
playing under souness was a disaster.
souness could coach the talent out of anybody.

[ppls_gr8one]

IMO, Owen and Rooney upfront would create more speed and imagination. Crouch seems to slow plays down. Time is all Owen needs to regain match fitness and confidence, and how much confidence is he gonna get if Sven keeps pulling him off? I have faith that Owen will explode soon in the world cup if he is up front with Rooney.

['Strobaby]

Shame he didnt stick it out in madrid.
he wouldnt be in this mess had he stayed.
playing under souness was a disaster.
souness could coach the talent out of anybody.He might not have been on the plane if he had. Sven was making all sorts of "if you don't get minutes, I won't pick you" comments that panicked Owen. And considering he was up against the Brazilian mafia for minutes (he couldn't have know Luxa would have gotten tossed), he took the "safe" route to guaranteed minutes (my how that backfired). He hasn't lost his talent. He's lost his fitness, it'll come back if he gets enough minutes.

[Stud83]

Crouch is something permanent - he won't get better, and he won't get worse. Owen will eventually get better as will Rooney, that's why both of them should play.

['Strobaby]

Crouch is now even favourite for England's top scorer (5/2), Owen's dropped to 3rd (4/1).Considering when he starts, he stays on the whole match, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he'd get the most goals.

[leg_breaker]

Crouch is on from and scoring, Owen isn't. Owen used to have speed and finishing, he doesn't have either. At the minute he doesn't offer anything over Crouch other than reputation. And ask the Brazilians how much they like Ronaldo playing based on reputation.

Crouch is also invaluable at defending set pieces.

['Strobaby]

Owen's not going to find his form unless he gets minutes. England can't afford to have two strikers glued to the bench. He's going to have to get his fitness, and Sweden would be a good opportunity to get him minutes (and also to run out Theo for a few minutes, just to see what he can conjure up). England can't go to the final match with Owen still dying in the second half, and Theo still glued to the bench, and expect to walk away victors.

[three lions]

Owen and Rooney pair up well together. They read each other well.. They are the 2 best forwards that play for England... Crouch is good for a late goal as a sub... Definately, Owen and Rooney..

[Agent Red]

Absolutey Crouch and Owen to start against Sweden with Rooney to replace the weakest link at half time. Owen had little hope of finding space in T&T's crowded half but apart from the header he did well.