FABIO CAPELLO NEEDS THE JOY OF SIX
Michael Owen can still be Fantastic Mr Fox-in-the-box
FABIO CAPELLO revealed he is tormented whether or not to take Michael Owen to the World Cup.
What a strange statement from the England boss who usually sits so convincingly when portrayed as a Brandoesque Godfather figure.
Excuse me, signori. Is this the same Don Fabio who threatens to drop Emile Heskey for showing no respect when using his mobile phone around the dinner table but is worried if he's doing the right thing by still considering Owen?
The very Michael Owen, who wouldn't think twice about using his phone to a place a bet.
If Capello accepts the key to ultimate satisfaction in South Africa is to actually win the World Cup, he needs to loosen up a little and embrace the Joy of Six.
That's as in taking six rather than four strikers to the finals instead of coming up with new complicated positions for the team.
For some reason it has become conventional wisdom that in a 23-man party for a World Cup, England should only take four strikers.
So that would leave three keepers, eight defenders and eight midfielders. What a bottom heavy waste. Rubbish.
It takes seven games to win a World Cup. To do that, a team needs to score goals. And quickly. It makes sense to take more strikers than defenders doesn't it?
Agreed Owen is struggling to find his way again despite his summer move to Manchester United.
And it becomes tiresome when he defends his ability to score goals at will like he used to. Then again 40 goals in 85 internationals for a 29-year-old remains strong currency.
We all know Owen is no longer the great striker he once was.
Yet as Owen proved with that late winner in the Manchester derby, he is still a Fantastic Mr Fox-in-the-box.
So while Capello's reservations about Owen's form and attitude are understandable there are obvious scenarios where he could be the hero.
In a tight game England will still need a proven goalhanger like Owen.
The same could be said of Peter Crouch. So take him too. Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey are Capello's first choices with Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole the established back up. That's four forwards.
England need more options than that. So take Owen and Crouch, and Darren Bent too.
Gareth Southgate and Martin Keown went to Japan in 2002 and carried the bibs for six weeks when more attacking inspiration would have seen us win the tournament.
Similar in 2006. Although then Sven Goran Eriksson cut his frontline options to just four. And once Rooney and Owen suffered injuries, it left Crouch and Theo Walcott, who was not trusted to play.
Capello is a class act. So he knows injuries and suspensions happen in big tournaments. And the hardest players to replace are strikers.
Owen is a must pick ahead of, say, Wayne Bridge.
That is why in the upcoming friendly against Brazil, Capello should give Owen the chance to put the world's best to the sword.
This article has 1 comment
Shepp,
In 2002 we were eliminated by the eventual champions following a gross goalkeeping error and a half fit Beckham jumping over the ball.
The point about Owen is great, he scores against the big teams - as in that match against Brazil. He started half fit in that game as well if I recall correctly, but still managed to mug both of their centre halves to give England a defendable lead.
After he was dragged off, we literally had nothing to throw on except Fowler (who himself was not fit) and Darius Vassell who was put on. It was, therefore, no surprise that we failed to trouble ten men Brazil's keeper.
There isn't much point taking people along to make up the numbers - Steve Bull in 1990..... Fowler ever; Vassell; Walcott etc. were never going to grab the goals at that level aginst top sides.
You can almost guarantee that the Fab plan for Summer will be to get out of the groups then as soon as we play a first tier nation he will play it mega tight for pens in the knock out phase.
So why don't we have a penalty competition against Brazil in Dohar if the game is a draw? After all, friendlies are all about match practice.
P.S. How many of our Champions league clubs field an English forward as first choice?
Point made - talent pool far too shallow.
By Damien. Posted November 1 2009 at 9:55 AM.