Personally, I'm ready for Sven to shake things up and stick Owen on the bench for the game against Croatia. I'd gone on more about it but I'd rather find out what and why everyone agrees or disagrees.
bytheway, agree. He is not England's best, but should still start IMO as he has been included in all the plans and it is a bit late to start chopping and changing now.
He has certainly been outshone by Rooney, but unless you're going to go to a one-striker system, I don't think you have another option up top. Who would you put in his place? Vassell? Heskey? Plus, Owen created the first goal against Switzerland; he hasn't been entirely useless.
Owen did setup Rooney's first goal. I think he has a pretty good partnership with Beckham. Rooney's runs may not be as effective without Owen on the field since Owen has great speed and the defenders do have to keep an eye on him the whole game. He can open up the field with his positioning. England doesnt really have a big name international striker, esp not Mr Heskey...
Yes Definitely start owen. Despite his recent lack of form he still has class. Defenders will still need to keep a cafeful watch on him. If hes playing poorly he can always be replaced by Vassel who IMO has impressed so far.
Owen should start simply because there is no one as good to replace him other than Rooney, and Rooney is already a starter these days. I think he is probably very well marked, too. He looked threatening in one play during the France game, that's it.
Would have been a much more interesting call if Sven had left that useless lump Heskey at home and taken somebody like De Foe, or even beattie for that matter. Still, he hasn't, and Owen has to get the nod - we need him to come good in the later rounds (fingers crossed) and benching him now won't do him any good.
I agree. With Owen seemingly off form we are really lacking on players who can run with the ball and take players on. However, as bringing either of those two into the team isn't an option (unless we can get in touch with the villans from scooby doo cartoons and ask whoever makes those super-realistic masks to make some emile heskey ones) then I think we should persevere with Owen.