So against Boro Owen comes in late as a sub for Martins. Then against Barnsley the opposite. Seeing that Sunday was basically a 4-3-3 line up what's the chances of seeing Martins, Owen, and Viduka as the starting three up front?
Not terribly likely, as Owen doesn't play on the wing and he's not a target forward. You'll continue to see Viduka/Ameobi as one and Martins/Owen as the other striker, with a support forward like Milner/Duff/N'Zogbia as the third forward in the set. Were it me, I'd play the passing game and have them both up there without Viduka, but we don't have the team ability for that right now. There are probably only two teams in the Prem that do (Manyoo and Assnal).
I think that Martins should always start. ATM he is the best out f the 3. Owen will improve over time so I'd say Viduka would get the job ahead of Owen now, but when Owen is fully fit he should be able to slot into that starting line-up
I have never been a huge Shola fan, but I am wondering if Viduka is that much better than him. I think it is good to have Viduka on the team and what he can teach Shola will be invaluable. What I have seen of Viduka's play so far this season hasn't been much better that Shola has been the past few seasons.
i think that viduka has the toughest role on the pitch. he is the target forward and his job is to sit in the box and try to get a touch in. oba/shola are used to run around creating chances for owen/viduka. in the villa match, they had 11 behind the ball on defence. although viduka/owen are expected to score 15-20 each, i think that we ALL have to realise that we now have quality players and that most teams (from about 6th place down) will be afraid of us and will like to sit back. i use for example the goals we have seen so far... n'zog hitting the back of the net from out side the 18 several times and oba running on balls and also hitting from a distance. Most of our goals against "quality" side will come from oba/zog/milner/barton hitting from distance. owen/vidukas job will be to hold the ball inside the 18, and tap the ball in.
Martins will out-score Owen this season in my opinion, Owen is a shadow of his formerself, Oba is the future, Owen is the past. Oba interview about the new season:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcmFpIRI8-Y Oba compilation:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbWwfAh2Wxg
owen will never be the same top player he was after the knee injury. but I think he is still valuble to the squad. Today's game has proven that he still can do things for the squad.