Do we really need someone like Owen?

[Andy @ Allerton]

When our game is coming together and we start knocking in the amazing amount of chances we get nearly every game - I'm not sure we need to change things around that much.

 

A lot was made of our inability to score - but the vital fact is not how many you score - but how many more than the opposition you score.

 

In most games we have rafts of chances sitting there begging to be knocked in - so it's not the gameplay nor the approach - it's just a bit of 'bad luck' in front of goal - and once people start scoring - that usually gives them the confidence to progress.

 

I already think (Barring a Right Winger) that we are pretty close - and would someone like Owen at £12M really be a wise decision?

 

Also - look at the youth setup at the club that Benitez has started moving forward - I haven't had time to see the reserves or the youth sides - but my mate who goes to them all says they are starting to really look this business (And yes, I know we've had plenty of players from the youth setups already in the squad - Carra, Gerrard, Fowler, Warnock to name but a few..) - but once we start getting a few of these lads into the side - things are going to look very very rosy indeed.

[Mike]

yes, we need someone like owen

[Guest Kuzco]

Yes.

 

Just because we scored against s**** like fulham,birmingham and neverton doesn't mean we don't need to bring in new strikers.

Edited March 27, 2006 by Kuzco

[Keita]

Yes, 4 wins dont make a season

[anny road]

part of it has been down to bad luck, but also somepoor finishing and not getting into the right positions

 

And anyway/....simple fact is that two of the strikers will more likely be off in the summer so I am sure he will line up someone of Owens calible if not Owen himself

[Benitez]

the last few games haven't changed the fact we need a striker, Owen or whoever it may be.

 

We are looking pretty good - our goalie, our defence, our midfield, Crouchy working very well, but there is still areas that need a fair bit of improving. And the biggest one for the summer as far as I'm concered is getting a goal scorer in.

[G Richards]

I think we need a first choice strike partnership to come in and Cisse/Mori to depart. Crouch to be used as an alternate option (not necessarily first choice) and Robbie to come in now and again and offer a goal threat.

[beejay]

Cisse is obviously a goner but it's far less certain that any of the other strikers will be unloaded (even Pongolle & Mellor). Despite what the fans think, Rafa clearly rates Morientes and the player is still insisting he will stay. The emphasis on getting Fowler fit for next season surely means he will be given a new contract and Crouch has done more than enough to justify his position.

 

As for Owen - it's interesting that we are now denying any interest in Defoe. Owen & Defoe are far too similar in style to expect us to buy both and if Defoe is out of the reckoning could it be that it is because Newcastle are now definitely out of Europe next year (after the FA Cup defeat and losing against us ) so the escape clause can be triggered for £12m?

[psl]

We do need Owen, or someone similar. We've suffered in so many games this year from a failure to put the ball in the net. We'd be much higher in the table (Charlton, United, Birmingham etc), World Club Champions and probably preparing for a European Cup quarter final against Benfica if we were more clinical in front of goal.

[magneto]

Yes, 4 wins dont make a season

 

If you're Everton it does.

[Andythered]

We dont need an expensive player who is out injured for large periods of time year on year.

[McBain]

If you're Everton it does.

 

It certainly makes a dvd

[jimmylibel]

the game would have been that good they would have let both of us through

I like him. Could he fit into the way we play is the only concern.

 

I agree with george lees that we lack a bit of fantasy up front though. Say we go out and get a Kuyt and Owen we still haven't got anyone who can do what Henry, shevchenko, rooney... can. We might be a bit functional.

 

You can't programme for individual genius - being functional is what made Rafa's Valencia great.

[Ombudsam]

You can't programme for individual genius - being functional is what made Rafa's Valencia great.

 

they had aimar and vicente even

[fred milne]

I agree with george lees that we lack a bit of fantasy up front though. Say we go out and get a Kuyt and Owen we still haven't got anyone who can do what Henry, shevchenko, rooney... can.

I think we need cover/competition for Crouch as target man.

 

After that, I wonder if Rafa might prefer someone who can "play between the lines" to an Owen-type. A refined version of Garcia, if you like.

[realtarragona]

Do you really think if he insisted on coming here and nowhere else, he wouldn't be here now?

 

It was a big risk though. I don't blame him myself considering it is World Cup year. And it wasn't that long ago that people were saying Defoe should start with Rooney.

[Ombudsam]

I think we need cover/competition for Crouch as target man.

 

After that, I wonder if Rafa might prefer someone who can "play between the lines" to an Owen-type. A refined version of Garcia, if you like.

 

The question as always is who? I'm strugling to think of anyone in this league we could get. Shifting Malbranque from right to centre possibly. Pongolle probably isn't good enough neither is benayoun although i like him. Shame Le Tallec turned shyte and nando sent over his twin. D'Allesandro was a player and a half when he was 17 but that was a long time ago.

 

Abroad? Riquelme? He may get monstored over here.

 

We could easily batter our way through the prem with Owen and Kuyt imo but who knows what rafa wants, apart from Duncan Oldham obviously.

[psl]

The question as always is who? I'm strugling to think of anyone in this league we could get. Shifting Malbranque from right to centre possibly. Pongolle probably isn't good enough neither is benayoun although i like him. Shame Le Tallec turned shyte and nando sent over his twin. D'Allesandro was a player and a half when he was 17 but that was a long time ago.

 

Abroad? Riquelme? He may get monstored over here.

 

We could easily batter our way through the prem with Owen and Kuyt imo but who knows what rafa wants, apart from Duncan Oldham obviously.

 

Rafa wants Duncan Oldham?

[jimmylibel]

they had aimar and vicente even

 

For Vicente read Kewell or our new right mid.

 

I'll give you Aimar, but he only played about half the games - didn't stop them scoring mind you.

 

And hate to point out the obvious but neither of which is actually a forward. We were talking about strikers we'd sign.

 

Abroad? Riquelme? He may get monstored over here.

 

 

 

I think Riquelme would be well able to handle things over here. If we had unlimited pots of money I'd definitely go for him this summer (along with 2 strikers, a very good rm and rm cover). Think he'd fit perfectly into our team and we'd then have lots and lots of possibilities.

 

But he'd very much be a luxury signing obviously.

[Guest Assassin]

yes, we need someone like owen

 

Yes we need someone but not someone like Owen, we need somebody more like Robbie or Shearer in their prime, we need a proven striker not a forward. At 30 years old I still think Robbie could do a good job for us over the next couple of years.

[harpoon]

think we need some more strikers in the reserves/youth level who are up-and-coming. We got some amazing talent in defence and midfield, and...Calliste?

 

Would love to see a goal getter or two come up from the ressies a la Fowler/Owen.

 

Until then, I think we need someone as well, but not necessarily Owen's style per se. Would love to see Kuyt, Villa or Bent in the side.

[fred milne]

Yes we need someone but not someone like Owen, we need somebody more like Robbie or Shearer in their prime, we need a proven striker not a forward.

I don't follow that. Owen isn't a proven striker?

Edited March 28, 2006 by fred milne

[Guest Anders Honoré]

sounds like Assasin thinks that Owen is more of a link player...

[David Hodgson]

For Vicente read Kewell or our new right mid.

 

I'll give you Aimar, but he only played about half the games - didn't stop them scoring mind you.

 

And hate to point out the obvious but neither of which is actually a forward. We were talking about strikers we'd sign.

I think Riquelme would be well able to handle things over here. If we had unlimited pots of money I'd definitely go for him this summer (along with 2 strikers, a very good rm and rm cover). Think he'd fit perfectly into our team and we'd then have lots and lots of possibilities.

 

But he'd very much be a luxury signing obviously.

 

 

I know for a fact that Rafa has Riquelem as a seriosu priority for this summer, but expects to face competition from Man utd for his signature.

[Ombudsam]

How do you know that? Has your mate Molby been hugging people again?

 

sounds like Assasin thinks that Owen is more of a link player...

 

I read that late last night but just assumed I was tired.