Liverpool FC Forum

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:53 pm

Stmichael...

That run carried on into the next season and went upto 27 from 24 games at one point.

Something Henry and RvN have never matched over a period as long as that.

by **JBG** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:09 pm

stu_the_red wrote:
Michael Owen has had a torrid time for the past 2 years,and I don't think he will ever return to the player he was.If he thought he was putting himself in the shop window this summer before commiting to a new contract,then the plan has back-fired so far.

He scored 19 goals last season in a side that was playing poorly with no creative midfielders in the side. He also missed three months of the season through injuries which is bound to have an effect on form and confidence.

He scored 28 the season before last for the second time in his career.

He's had two really poor seasons by his own standards and has managed 47 goals in 92 games (5 games as a sub) and you people aren't willing to cut the guy some slack?

Some people just don't have a clue.

Any striker who averages 1 goal every 2 games has a superb strike record. Owen has a superb record and has been nowhere near his best for two years. If you lot can't see that i suggest you get your eyes tested.

I wouldn't mind if this was the first time he'd been wrote off and had it said that he wasn't the player he once was. But it isn't... its the 4th or 5th.... EVERYTIME without fail he's proved his idiotic critics wrong. Then next time he finds form all you fickle know nothings will be saying how you backed him all along. Then he'll go through another bad patch and you'll say you knew he'd lost it after last time and get more people on your bandwagon.

I agree he's been really poor in this tournement so far, but the fact is he's been poor BY HIS STANDARDS, he's got two direct assists... and if you have the common sense to look at all of Englands goals against croatia you see he's involved in every single one in a very positive manner.

You would also have noticed, had you been watching... the space he is creating for Rooney. He's pushing opposition defences back to the edge of there own box which is allowing Rooney to drop off and play his game, the reason Owen isn't able to come deep is Rooney isn't playing on the defenders shoulders when Owen wants to come deep, which allows the defence to push up the field and puts pressure on Englands side. Owen is making the right runs, the same as always but the service isn't good enough.

Some people are just so fickle and stupid, i really don't see how you lot can't learn from your mistakes.

I'm not saying that Owen has suddenly become a bad player Stu, but it is clear that he has lost some of his lighting pace and the guy doesn't have the same 6 yard box predatory skills as RVN or Moirentes.

What I am saying is Baros is beginning to show at this tournament that he is growing into an international class striker and on form, I would go with Baros ahead of Owen. With the emergence of Baros, the prospect of Owen leaving does not scare me as much as it used to.

So Stu, am I fickle or stupid for saying that?

I agree 100% with what you have said about Owen, Rooney and England and that is very well spotted. I actually had a debate with someone in another thread defending Owen's Engaldn performances.

While he hasn't looked sharp in front of goal SGE is playing him very far forward, causing the opposition's centre halves to drop very deep. This allows loads of room for Rooney in the hole and he is getting loads of touches on the ball, as witnessed in the Croatia match. However, the Portuguese have a 5 man midfield and I think Costinha will close the space between his centre halves and midfield and I doubt that Rooney will see as much of the ball as he did against Croatia and Switzerland.

by **Santa** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:15 pm

True...Owen has lost some of his lightning pace
True...he has been in aweful form (by his own high standard)
But...one goal against Portugal tomorrow and he might just carry England all the way. :;):

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:20 pm

I'm not saying that Owen has suddenly become a bad player Stu, but it is clear that he has lost some of his lighting pace and the guy doesn't have the same 6 yard box predatory skills as RVN or Moirentes.

What I am saying is Baros is beginning to show at this tournament that he is growing into an international class striker and on form, I would go with Baros ahead of Owen. With the emergence of Baros, the prospect of Owen leaving does not scare me as much as it used to.

So Stu, am I fickle or stupid for saying that?

I agree 100% with what you have said about Owen, Rooney and England and that is very well spotted. I actually had a debate with someone in another thread defending Owen's Engaldn performances.

While he hasn't looked sharp in front of goal SGE is playing him very far forward, causing the opposition's centre halves to drop very deep. This allows loads of room for Rooney in the hole and he is getting loads of touches on the ball, as witnessed in the Croatia match. However, the Portuguese have a 5 man midfield and I think Costinha will close the space between his centre halves and midfield and I doubt that Rooney will see as much of the ball as he did against Croatia and Switzerland.

Portugal will win the match if England play the same as the last two games.

Scholes isn't a winger, Rooney drops off alot and this will leave Cole exposed and Owen icsolated and Portugal do not push right up when defending either so there is a real danger they could tactically be stronger.

There is a chance England could out number Portugal in the centre of the pitch however if the portuguese play down there right hand side then England could be in for a hard 90 minutes.

And yes it does make you fickle saying you'd play Baros ahead of Owen. Owen is in a different class altogether to Milan. Completely different. Baros is developing into an excellent player but he's got a long way to go before he's at Owen's level. Owen needs a goal... once he gets a few the confidence will be restored and he'll hit form again. When Owens on form there is no-one better. Baros is a damn good player, one i like alot, however he's not as good as some people are making out.

As for this loss of pace lark... i'm sorry but i don't agree with this. He's not as quick as when he was 18, but he's still lightening quick, when your confidence is low and you aren't on form everything in your game suffers, finishing, pace, strength, skill.... it all suffers.

by **JBG** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:02 pm

Owen has said himself a few weeks ago that his hamstring injuries have taken their toll and his hamstring is not as strong as it once was, thereby losing some of his lightning pace.

I'm no sport's physiologist but a lot of power involved in sprinting comes from the hamstrings (as well as yer ******) and if a player repeatedly tears or pulls his harmstrings the muscle fibres build up scar tissue becoming less flexible, thus slowing a player down.

by **banana** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:27 pm

Thought this topic was about Baros. Seems that all topics on this forum turns into "what is wrong about Owen" topics. If there was nothing wrong as some people like to say, we would not need to discuss this at all. Something is very wrong and I have been saying this for quite some time. Owen was a good player in the years 1998-2001. Now he has lost his pace and his killer instinct. I say let him go. Gerrard is the one we need to keep. If Baros, Cisse and Pongolle play for us next season we do not need Owen. Liverpool will maybe get £ 5 million for him, but I do not think there will be many clubs wanting his services. He has been playing too bad lately. I do not care about Owen, he does not make it for me. He is poor technically, has lost his pace, is weak in the air, has little flair and play with little or no determination. Right now there are hundreds of strikers better than him, and a lot cheaper too.

by **JBG** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:54 pm

Strong stuff banana.

Baros again shone tonight against Germany, and is now one of the stars of the tournament.

The guy has 19 goals for Checkie.....phenomenal for his age.

by **Legend #9** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 10:03 pm

Baros was always one of my favourite players even before he came to liverpool as i saw him play for Czech's under-19's, and i must say that he once again proved that with decent service to him he can be one of the best finishers. I don't know why this thread was even started as Baros is clearly a class player

by **84-1083280474** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 10:56 pm

I think this post is a load of tosh,

Baros scores regulary for the Cheqs on international level, so to say he aint world class is ******. In fact, even as I speak, he scored tonight and dumped the Germans out!
Houllier needed shooting last season for keeping BAros on the bench and keeping useless heskey as first choice.

I even think baros is better than OWen, he has more to his game etc, more driven, and more direct.
Id play Baros and Cisse up front next year , and leave Owen on the bench. It might wake him up a bit.

by **JBG** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:29 am

TheHustler wrote:Houllier needed shooting last season for keeping BAros on the bench and keeping useless heskey as first choice.

Baros was injured for most of last season, remember?

We has great when he returned, but he hit the wall after 6 or 7 games and Houllier was probably right to protect him and rest him in the last few matches.

by **The Manhattan Project** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:03 am

I hope Baros plays as well for Liverpool next season as he does for the Czech Republic.

by **Santa** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:49 am

TheHustler wrote:Baros scores regulary for the Cheqs on international level, so to say he aint world class is ******. In fact, even as I speak, he scored tonight and dumped the Germans out!
Houllier needed shooting last season for keeping BAros on the bench and keeping useless heskey as first choice.

I even think baros is better than OWen, he has more to his game etc, more driven, and more direct.
Id play Baros and Cisse up front next year , and leave Owen on the bench. It might wake him up a bit.

Houllier under-utilised Baros last season. He was sharper than Owen after they both came back from injuries. I remember some forumers were asking why he was not played more often.
Even with the tactics employed by Houllier and the serious lack of quality service to him, he is still above average in our very mediocre season.
With seriously good service upfront, I can see both Owen & Baros scoring regularly. They are both very very good strikers. We have a lot to look forward to next season :;):

by **begintoend** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:35 am

Baros proved his strength in the confrontation against 2 Germans. He has good link up play with his striker and midfield. Just keeps on improving.
Whenever he scores, it made me so darn proud amoungst my mates, cos he is lfc player.
Baros deserves the chance next season.

by **Dalglish** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:45 am

LFC might find themselves in a position where they HAVE to play Baros if Owen gets injured or Cisse makes a poor start. I think Baros hasn't had the rub of the green at liverpool and all too often becoming the easier choice to drop when his performances haven't deserved a dropping.

In Euro 2004 he has shown his ability to play off a big man up front in Koller. His performances when given the opprotunity to play as he has for the Czech's have been exceptional and in Baros we have a quality replacement for Owen should he decide to leave

I realsie he isn't maybe the finished article in terms of marksmanship but he has other aspects of his game such as support play and the ability to take defenders on that Owen can sometimes lack .....

Liverpool FC Forum

Do you rate baros - Think b4 u answer

Do you rate baros - Think b4 u answer

Who is online