Owen set to keep spot kick role From Soccernet.com http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0924/20020924lfcowenpen.html Gerard Houllier today confirmed that Michael Owen will remain the club's first choice penalty taker despite his miss against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. Houllier said: 'If we get a penalty against Basle then Michael will take it if he wants to. It's as simple as that.'
It's "Fire Houllier" backwards (though not technically. "Houllier" should come first). I should explain. Last year on the DC boards, there was so much "Fire Rongen" talk that it was clogging any sort of normal discussion, prompting complaints. So, every time Rongen did something people didn't agree with (such as breathe) some people took to writing it backwards. And no, I don't think GH should be fired... Dave
Well, he's absolutely wrong about this. Michael could be scoring a hat trick in every match this season, and still not be worthy of taking penalties. What in the hell is going on over there? This is ridiculous.
I don't care. After awhile, enough is enough. Even when he was on fire with finishing, he was a crummy penalty taker. For Houllier to not allow much more qualified penalty takers to get us goals when we are having a hard time finishing off matches is just stupid. I don't agree with him on this and I doubt anything will change my mind.
That’s right; it is a motivational technique. I don’t agree with it, though. First, Owen is 6/12 lifetime in the Premiership in PKs—that’s lifetime, including those times when everything he touched from open play flew into the net. As for motivation, I don’t think Michael needs it—last I saw, he was leading the Prem in shots on goal—a total of eighteen through last Saturday’s play Murphy should take the PKs. Wish I could vote twice. .