St Mike piece in the Mirror

[Gav]

Never Thought I'd say this but a very good Brian Reade piece in the mirror about St Mike

 

 

 

IF ENGLAND fans were made to realise one thing this week, it's that without the genius that shines from the boot of their young, clean-cut No.10 they have no chance of becoming champions.That it is now more than three years since England last won a game when he was missing from the starting line-up.That there is simply no cover for this match-winning talisman. That without his eye for an opening, nerves of steel, and uncanny timing, we are screwed.So let us pray that Michael Owen is fit for Portugal next summer. Because as we discovered once again with his absence against Denmark, he is football's Jonny Wilkinson.Not that you'd know it. In the build-up to today's World Cup Final, the highest honour paid to Wilkinson is that he is rugby's David Beckham. With Beckham himself giving the tribute legs with some well-timed interviews.Once again Owen has to live in the extremely large shadow cast by Goldenballs' publicity machine. But he must be getting used to it by now.It was he, not Beckham, who two years ago became the first Englishman playing for an English club since Bobby Charlton in 1966 to be named European Footballer of the Year. At only 21.

At 18 Owen may have set the world alight with the wonder goal against Argentina in 1998, but the game has gone down as the night the red-carded Beckham became a man.He may have scored the goals, including that stunning hat-trick against Germany, which took them to the last World Cup, but qualification has been put down solely to Beckham's last-minute free-kick against Greece.In Japan it was Owen who terrified the Argentine defence and won the match-winning penalty only to have the ball taken from him by his glory-seeking captain.It seems no matter what Owen achieves he will always play Gareth Gates to Beckham's Robbie Williams. Even when he shaves his head and grows stubble. But it's not merely at national level that Owen is taken for granted. Many Liverpool fans, like those now demanding he be sold because he has yet to re-sign his contract, have failed to give him due respect.

A few old quotes are cobbled together by a kids' magazine to make it look like he's off, and despite having 18 months of his contract to run some morons call him a traitor.This is a man who has given their cause undying loyalty since he was 11 and has yet to speak about leaving. At 23 he has already scored 148 goals in a team that's got nowhere near the title, broken Ian Rush's European goalscoring record, Roger Hunt's England goals record, and had an FA Cup Final named after him.

Yet the Kop has never given Owen the kind of vocal adoration lavished on every striker since Ian St John. His name is trotted out quietly and begrudgingly whenever he scores while a woefully under-performing Robbie Fowler got a full-blown oratorio for his every touch. As does Igor Biscan. Maybe it's because they always sensed he was a clean-cut lad from Chester, born to be a world superstar, so not wholly owned by them.

Maybe they just didn't want to get hurt by the divorce.Well maybe they, like countless others, have got him wrong. For what it's worth my instincts and soundings tell me he will still be at Anfield next season because he loves the place and he is happy with his lot.He was miserable last season but has warmed to the change of style, likes working with attack-minded midfielders like Harry Kewell, and is excited at the prospect of Djibril Cisse partnering him up front.He'll sign a contract with a get-out clause that would guarantee the club his full market value if he ever moves abroad. He is too decent a man to do a Bosman on a club he loves. And he is too much of a family man to want to uproot if Liverpool were giving him professional satisfaction by challenging Europe's elite.

Owen is a driven perfectionist who wants the highest honours in the game. If it is apparent that Liverpool can't give him them, he will go elsewhere. He won't leave Anfield, as Graeme Souness, Kevin Keegan and Ian Rush did, for more money, but for fulfilment.The ball is in Liverpool's hands. Build a team worthy of his talent that can compete with world-class opposition and he will stay. Don't and he will go. As too will Steven Gerrard. Amid all the jubilation over his new contract it's been overlooked that he has only signed for three years, so in 18 months' time the club will be back to square one.

And if I'm wrong, if Liverpool fail to make the Champions League again, and the beckonings from Spain become too much for Owen, then good luck to the lad.

Go there, set the place on fire, and show this country that you, not Goldenballs, are the Jonny Wilkinson of your sport.

[johnb]

Oh dear...

[thechap]

I think the message this fellow is saying is spot on. I say shame on all those who have slagged Owen off, especially when he has not indicated that he won't sign. The fact the he hasn't indicated that he WILL sign is not something we should be worried about yet. He is a nice bloke who would, I'm sure, have told LFC by now if he had any intention of leaving. And let's be honest, he could be forgiven for thinking that he still has some time to wait before he wins the league under GH.

[Nunavut Patrick]

Pele, who usually gets it all wrong, was right about Owen when at France 98 he said he was the best he had seen and will be the greatest. Given the right support and style he will be. He has saved our ass sooooo many times, soooo many times. I really feel he will be like a great artist or musician- only really missed and appreciated when he's gone. Michael Owen, if he stays, will without any doubt, be our greatest player ever. Better than Kenny, Keegan, Hunt, Rush, Fowler, better than even Stig and his mate!!! I truly believe ten years from now it will be 22 and 6. If he stays.

[Bamo]

NP - 4 titles and 2 European Cups in 10 years - that wont be good enough for a lot of posters here!!

 

Think everyone needs to calm down on the St Mike bit. He is making good sounds now but why should he come out and commit and then end up looking a prick if the deal cant be done.

 

He is already a legend - the fact we have to share him with the Engerland mob should not detract from his being our legend and long may it contine

[Hermes]

The club are to blame for not insisting that his contract is sorted before the January transfer window closes. If he decides to leave that could cost them £10m.

 

"Better than Kenny"? I can't remember 2 Kenny's playing for us, who was the other one?

[Nunavut Patrick]

There was Dalglish and then the South Park Kenny but he was killed before he ever got the chance to become a legend- something about explosive diahreah