Hero Or Zero #7 - Michael Owen
- Thread starter Red Astaire
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There's never been such a symbolic sporting moment of a child becoming an adult than when he snapped his hamstring at Elland Road. Up to that point he was just a kid who thought he was invulnerable. After that point he was such a coiled up ball of neuroses he might as well have been followed everywhere by a funereal gong. He wasn't a player in his own eyes after that, he was just someone waiting for the next injury to happen. But for someone with his PR skills to have blown it so badly with his old fans remains bewilderingly improbable.
He's a hero but never a Kop legend.
Unbelievable goal scorer who kept us in striking distance of the top for a period almost single handed. That FA cup was incredible and I'll never forget watching it with three Arsenal supporters. I think he tried to be too clever in 2004 and then got screwed himself. However, his conduct afterwards was terrible. He wasn't wanted by Rafa but then went on to play for the Mancs as though it was an honour and has seemingly never hinted that he appreciated his time with us.
I agree with whoever it was said he enjoyed playing for England more than us.
Unbelievable goal scorer who kept us in striking distance of the top for a period almost single handed. That FA cup was incredible and I'll never forget watching it with three Arsenal supporters. I think he tried to be too clever in 2004 and then got screwed himself. However, his conduct afterwards was terrible. He wasn't wanted by Rafa but then went on to play for the Mancs as though it was an honour and has seemingly never hinted that he appreciated his time with us.
I agree with whoever it was said he enjoyed playing for England more than us.
I never resented his England attitude. Gerrard loves it as much as he did. He just got the attention so much earlier it rattled fans who only cared about the club. But he was just a kid who was suddenly playing in a World Cup, no wonder he said it was great every time the London hacks asked if he loved it. What astonished me was how perverse he seemed when he went to the mancs, he seemed to deliberately sneer at his old club and its fans. I met him and his family a few times when he was still a player for us and he couldn't have seemed a more 'Steve Heighway' sort of LFC player - perfectly schooled in how to behave. That was why it was so alarming how he later acted.
I never resented his love for England, Macca. Like almost everyone else I loved his '98 World Cup and that goal has, of course, become iconic.
What I disliked was the way he later put England far ahead of Liverpool. I think it was the '04 Euro's that made me hate his passion for England. He ran, stretched, chased and drove himself in a manner that I hadn't seen him do for Liverpool in three seasons. I wanted him to do well for England but I was offended by the way he played within himself for us - seemingly trying to protect himself for the England games.
I do have sympathy for our treatment of him physically - we gave him terrible advice on his hamstring issues and it curtailed his development, eventually ruining his career. Looking at it objectively it would have been in his interests to remain in Spain where the warmer weather helped him avoid injuries. Again, though, he was driven by his England ambition even at the expense of his career.
What I disliked was the way he later put England far ahead of Liverpool. I think it was the '04 Euro's that made me hate his passion for England. He ran, stretched, chased and drove himself in a manner that I hadn't seen him do for Liverpool in three seasons. I wanted him to do well for England but I was offended by the way he played within himself for us - seemingly trying to protect himself for the England games.
I do have sympathy for our treatment of him physically - we gave him terrible advice on his hamstring issues and it curtailed his development, eventually ruining his career. Looking at it objectively it would have been in his interests to remain in Spain where the warmer weather helped him avoid injuries. Again, though, he was driven by his England ambition even at the expense of his career.
Hero or Zero? Is this a fucking joke.
One of the best players to ever play for us, and quite easily was more valuable to us than Robbie Fowler for example.
Won trophies, carried us through the shite years, did it when it counted, but that's all ignored cos he wanted to go to a bigger club who actually competed for things, and is dull on TV.
Get a fucking grip.
One of the best players to ever play for us, and quite easily was more valuable to us than Robbie Fowler for example.
Won trophies, carried us through the shite years, did it when it counted, but that's all ignored cos he wanted to go to a bigger club who actually competed for things, and is dull on TV.
Get a fucking grip.
He was scarily good before his hamstrings went... very career and money minded.... the way he left was bitter but probably understandable from his point of view... we didnt look like we were going anywhere good did we, either way Real madrid is a huge draw.
Whatever we feel about how he left and what happened subsequently without doubt as a club we had the best of his playing years and he had a phenomenal record for us, in the last 20 years we have never been the best side in the league but we have on occasion had the most exciting player and Owen was certainly exciting as a young player.
In terms of him as a footballer at his peak a definite hero... personality wise....loyalty wise.... no.
Whatever we feel about how he left and what happened subsequently without doubt as a club we had the best of his playing years and he had a phenomenal record for us, in the last 20 years we have never been the best side in the league but we have on occasion had the most exciting player and Owen was certainly exciting as a young player.
In terms of him as a footballer at his peak a definite hero... personality wise....loyalty wise.... no.
He was scarily good before his hamstrings went... very career and money minded.... the way he left was bitter but probably understandable from his point of view... we didnt look like we were going anywhere good did we, either way Real madrid is a huge draw.
Whatever we feel about how he left and what happened subsequently without doubt as a club we had the best of his playing years and he had a phenomenal record for us, in the last 20 years we have never been the best side in the league but we have on occasion had the most exciting player and Owen was certainly exciting as a young player.
In terms of him as a footballer at his peak a definite hero... personality wise....loyalty wise.... no.
Whatever we feel about how he left and what happened subsequently without doubt as a club we had the best of his playing years and he had a phenomenal record for us, in the last 20 years we have never been the best side in the league but we have on occasion had the most exciting player and Owen was certainly exciting as a young player.
In terms of him as a footballer at his peak a definite hero... personality wise....loyalty wise.... no.
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