Which Michael Owen would you prefer

[Ombudsam]

The 17 year old or the 26 year old. I'd go for the 17year old. While he turned into a really good player I though a) he was going to go on to be even better and b) he was better back then

[Guz]

Neither. The 21/22 year old

[Guest Cameron]

The 17 year old was the most talented and most wanted youngster in world football. He had the potential to be one of he greats...and now he's at Newcastle. I don't think his ability warrants any better to be honest, he is nowhere near as good as he once was for us.

[Sion]

I wouldn't have Owen back at Liverpool now, not because he's a traitor or anything like that, but because I personally think he peaked @ around 22. Too injury prone and has lost a lot of his pace which his game relies on.

[Guz]

The 17 year old was the most talented and most wanted youngster in world football. He had the potential to be one of he greats...and now he's at Newcastle. I don't think his ability warrants any better to be honest, he is nowhere near as good as he once was for us.

 

He will still be one of the greats. He'll finish up somewhere around 300+ goals in his career whether he's at the barcodes or not and very high up in england's all time list

 

The 17yr old may have been the most hyped but relied on his pace all the time and that's what got him his goals. He was one dimensional but got away with it because that one dimension was brilliant. Between the treble, finishing 2nd and then the season after when we finished 5th - owen was one of the best goalscorers in europe and he had lost a lot of his teenage pace by then aswell and his movement and poacher's instinct got better and better.

 

The problem with owen's career (apart from the obvious) was that he was hyped upto become a Pele or Maradona in his first 1-2 years. Just because he was hyped up that much doesnt mean he was going to be that great. By the time everyone realised he's "just" an excellent player rather than one of the world's best, everyone assumed that he's just crap. Too much black and white in football. Media hype can be damn powerful

[Swagger]

The 17yr old may have been the most hyped but relied on his pace all the time and that's what got him his goals. He was one dimensional but got away with it because that one dimension was brilliant. Between the treble, finishing 2nd and then the season after when we finished 5th - owen was one of the best goalscorers in europe and he had lost a lot of his teenage pace by then aswell and his movement and poacher's instinct got better and better.

 

What he said.

[jimmylibel]

Michael Owen circa the second half of 2002/2003. He was absolutely brilliant then. Unstoppable at times.

 

The 17 year old Owen didn't have the same composure.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

the 2001 version. Everything seemed to come together for that year. He could run with the ball at players, always kept posession, scored right, left and with his head (loved how he outjumped silvestre to score against the mancs) and was just ruthlessly clinical in front of goal.

[fred milne]

the 2001 version. Everything seemed to come together for that year. He could run with the ball at players, always kept posession, scored right, left and with his head (loved how he outjumped silvestre to score against the mancs) and was just ruthlessly clinical in front of goal.

I'd go along with that. Something like 41 goals in 47 games, wasn't it. At times he was unplayable.

[Mike]

17 year old.

before his hamstring went at leeds he was the quickest footballer ive ever seen.

jaw droppingly fast.

after France 98 thought he'd go on to be the hottest player in the world.

[Rahul]

The 17 year old was the most talented and most wanted youngster in world football. He had the potential to be one of he greats...and now he's at Newcastle.

Karma.

[Ombudsam]

The problem with owen's career (apart from the obvious) was that he was hyped upto become a Pele or Maradona in his first 1-2 years. Just because he was hyped up that much doesnt mean he was going to be that great.

 

No. I watched him. He was awesome

 

the 2001 version. Everything seemed to come together for that year. He could run with the ball at players, always kept posession, scored right, left and with his head (loved how he outjumped silvestre to score against the mancs) and was just ruthlessly clinical in front of goal.

 

Yes. That's why that's not an option. It's not really a debate.

[Guz]

No. I watched him. He was awesome

 

I'm not doubting that but he was hyped upto become one of the greatest players the world has ever ever seen or something. He didn't live upto that ok, but that doesn't mean he's s****. Not suggesting you specifically implied that because you haven't!

[Woodsyla]

Michael Owen circa the second half of 2002/2003. He was absolutely brilliant then. Unstoppable at times.

 

The 17 year old Owen didn't have the same composure.

 

Was that the season before the season before he left, when he single handedly disposed of West Ham whilst the crowd chanted for Fowler. He was one man forward line that season and some of his performances were exceptional. Every time he went wide left he'd cut inside beat a man and put a ball into the danger area.

[12twelve]

It was the 01/02 season. Robbie has just had his big row with Thommo and the crowd wasn't happy about him not being named in the squad despite Heskey's injury, hence the chanting. Mind you he did not single handedly disposed of West Ham, scored a good goal though.

[Woodsyla]

It was the 01/02 season. Robbie has just had his big row with Thommo and the crowd wasn't happy about him not being named in the squad despite Heskey's injury, hence the chanting. Mind you he did not single handedly disposed of West Ham, scored a good goal though.

 

TWO goals IIRC and was outstanding

[Rimbeux]

 

The problem with owen's career (apart from the obvious) was that he was hyped upto become a Pele or Maradona in his first 1-2 years. Just because he was hyped up that much doesnt mean he was going to be that great. By the time everyone realised he's "just" an excellent player rather than one of the world's best, everyone assumed that he's just crap. Too much black and white in football. Media hype can be damn powerful

 

 

I don't think he was found out, or similar, I just think he declined for whatever reasons people want to lay down, he stopped running with the ball and taking people on, took a lot away from his threat, and made him a player that completely relies on service.

[Ombudsam]

I don't think he was found out, or similar, I just think he declined for whatever reasons people want to lay down, he stopped running with the ball and taking people on, took a lot away from his threat, and made him a player that completely relies on service.

 

that's the one. it was that sniper who shot him at leeds