Michael Owen - A decade of memories

Ten years ago English football enjoyed something special. Special moments come around reasonably regularly in football, the great moments come around less frequently. However, if you're prepared to stick with the game and go through the consistently disappointing you will be rewarded with a memory - be it an unexpected win, an eye-opening goal or a visionary pass. In 1998 however, it was the emergence of Michael Owen.

Owen came to notoriety on the international stage at the World Cup hosted in France. He travelled with England as a supposed squad player but it wasn't until after his introduction that Glenn Hoddle's side started to look anything other than ordinary. Sadly, a decade later, we look upon the latest England squad with more than a tinge of nostalgic sadness.

It may be too early to start talking about 'what might have been' and to write the playing obituary of Owen would be madness after the Indian summer of David Beckham's career. But, Fabio Capello has laid down a marker now. His team are starting to show a semblance of shape, a plan. A plan that looks like it doesn't contain the man who is 10 goals short of becoming England's all time leading goalscorer before he's 30 years old.

Owen has been unfortunate. His career has been blighted by injury, particularly where the national team are concerned. His departure from the 2006 World Cup, a sad forlorn figure crawling desperately from the side of the pitch said it all. England had no chance without him. Sven put all his eggs in the Owen & Beckham basket and once they were broken we were finished.

Owen was the figurehead, the man who got the goals, particularly the important ones - the ones that really mattered against Argentina, Brazil and Portugal. He was once, for a period, England's one and only and judging by his club form at times the national team was his one and only too. A risk too far for Fabio it seems, unwilling to even hold a basket of them - eggs are far too fragile for the Italian. His recipe doesn't contain them.

I personally remember that goal vividly. The second round match against the old enemy, Argentina had started like a whirlwind and England were giving as good as they got. Owen epitomised the eager optimism of the nation at that time as he danced through an unusually forgiving series of Argentinian non-tackles, seizing upon an accurately driven Beckham through ball and then singularly reverse-shooting the ball into the opposing corner of the net.

That goal started an England career that looked destined to never-end. The reality was different though. Despite further unforgettable goals in big games - the opener against Brazil in Japan 2002 and a toe-past Ricardo in the European Championship two years later, Owen finds himself needing to start again. Reputation counts for nothing nowadays.

A series of ill-judged moves at club level wont have helped Owen. Maybe he had no choice, maybe he sought such financial security he felt it necessary, but the moves - firstly to Real Madrid following Beckham, then the return to England at Newcastle have seen his stock plummet. It's no secret that Owen is available - his delay over signing a new contract at the disaster ridden club make this apparent. However the big four aren't making a move for him.

The modern day managers, in the era of inter-changeable teams and high work rate have no need for a goal poacher it would appear. How sad that the day has come, mainly for the likes of Owen but partly for the game. A game that the past would not recognise.

By and large, a footballer can now play in various positions around the pitch and often need to be flexible enough to change mid-game. Even Alan Shearer played on the wing before he retired from International football - Owen (despite a foray into midfield briefly under Kevin Keegan) doesn't offer such flexibility. Being an expert, a genius in his own right is, it would seem, to his detriment.

Playing in a struggling team can harm a players national aspirations. He isn't the first player from a bottom three club not to gain a place when it is warranted (debatable). He wont be the last either. Goals have come for him this year, but they have also come for Rooney (the new golden boy), Defoe (still with so much to prove) and Crouch (the improbable with such a good record statistically he warrants his place without question). Heskey is a different kettle of fish altogether - the link man, who Owen himself could barely do without - why should it be any different for Rooney?

England were stunning in Zagreb and no-one deserves to be dropped, but there will be a viewer on Saturday who, with every passing England game will muse ever more so over what will be, what might be and what might've been. Michael Owen was once a certainty to overtake Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record for England, now that is merely a possibility. Soon he will be an outside bet as England may well go from strength to strength without him.

Managers of the national team have long understood the fans thirst for nostalgia, favourites have rarely been dropped from notoriety without some recourse. Taylor and McClaren learnt this the hard way, Eriksson and Venables backed their high profile men unwaveringly. Capello has no time for sentiment. Winning football matches is his regime and ten years on the unthinkable is emerging - England will take to the field and leave out a talisman. Michael Owen, a decade of memories, a lot of convincing left to do.

Written by Rod Brazier

Rod just e-mailed in a piece because he was interested in having his work published. If you are an aspiring writer then by all means get in touch with me via the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of the page and I'll be happy to give you any feedback on your work and possibly put in live on the TalkFootball Blog.