Would you put Michael Owen in the next England squad?

True. But Walcott had not shown he could cut it yet at international level until the Croatia match. He got criticised by many after the Andorra match.

Before WC2006 most England fans loved Lampard and criticised the selection of Hargreaves. A year later the situation was completely reversed.

As for Owen, he has been scoring but has not really hit top form yet. If he does and is still excluded then things will look more bleak for him. Crouch, Defoe and Rooney have all been in good form recently and scoring so their inclusion is not really controversial. Heskey has different characteristics to Owen in that he does not score himself but enables other to do so.

Obviously the Press will write off Owen playing for England again but players do return after missing out on squads. Examples of this are Barry, SWP and Heskey. It's up to Defoe to finally make a good claim for himself in the England side. If he does not provide a threat then his position will be closely scrutinised.

 

half of the pub i was in was still ripping into walcott about 20 minutes in to the croatia game. to be fair i did s************ to myself when he kicked the ball into his own foot and fell over.

 

My answer to the question is still an unqualified YES.

 

My only problem with that statement from Capello is the question of how Defoe, in turn, deserves the inclusion...They are both scoring goals for club, and Owen has a knack for scoring for England....Defoe, doesn't..

 

I don't fully buy Capello's comment concerning Owen. I think there is something bigger looming as to why he has not included him. The last time around, Capello stated his fitness was the concern.. Now, all of the sudden, "it's not just about scoring goals"....

 

A lock means undroppable.

If you think opinions of players should do a 180 after each match then fair enough. I disagree.

Of course if Theo gave an interview you did not like before the match you would endorse him being dropped.

There are footballing reasons for retaining the same side as the Croatia match. There are also valid reasons for bringing back those who were only missing through injury. Or trying out certain fringe players.

 

I have just described it in another thread.

 

My only problem is that if Capello really believes what he says then it should apply to everyone, notably Lampard. All too often for England he has used a goal to mask a poor game of doing little. Sadly the fans bought it. If Capello really believes what he said then Lampard needs to pull his finger out each and every game. He was okay against Croatia but not better than his peers have been in previous games.

 

Of late but crucially years too late.

 

Let's try to veer the thread back on topic please, we have all taken it off a bit.. Thanks

 

I just can't see how Defoe is justified and Owen is not. Really that simple. I'm not an England fan, I'm not a fan of Owen, but the guy still is amongst the goals on an absolute rubbish team.

 

Even when England are winning and top of the group, the manager still gets criticised left, right and centre. It really is the impossible job.

 

An impossible job.

I take it you had ITV4 on last night.

"REFEREE REFEREE. LINESMAN. REFEREE."

 

'twas ever thus.

I'll admit to being very uneasy about Gerrard and Lampard in the same line-up, let alone together in central midfield, but after masterminding the stuffing of Croatia, I think Capello deserves the benefit of doubt. The potential abuse from the armchairs, however, were the gamble fail, is too hideous to contemplate and he knows it.

 

England win 5-1 and people are still moaning/booing.

As for Owen, why break a winning formula?

 

i'd be worried if people were actually booing the team, but they weren't. they were booing ashley cole, which is fine by me.

 

Yes.