Michael Owen

[swansea jack]

All you have done is highlight that 50% of his goals have come in competitve games. As the man himself said, to score against the big sides, you have to play against the big sides, and the vast majority of England's games are against inferior opposition, on paper at least.

Er, not really but stats can be interpreted / manipulated to the nth degree i.e 50% of his goals have come in friendlies... and there's a reason he hasn't played and / or scored against the better teams.

Although, out of the current top 50 FIFA rankings (assuming that there has been no movement as can't be arsed to Snowball-stat your ass ) and noting that some of these appearances are as a sub, he's played and scored against the following 'big sides':

Spain (twice)
Brazil
Portugal
Germany (twice)
France
Argentina
Croatia (twice) 1 GOAL
Greece 2 FRIENDLY GOALS
Russia
USA
Uruguay 1 FRIENDLY GOAL
Ukraine 1 GOAL
Paraguay
Slovakia
Colombia
Sweden

Not the worst of records but not really anything to shout about either. 10 games (appearances) against top 10 sides and only one goal.

[swansea jack]

...and how many goals has Heskey scored for England?

Look at our WC group, its perfect for the likes of Crouch to score against, should we be struggling to get goals

I haven't mentioned anything about Heskey but I note your point. Agree that variety is needed, just unconvinced that Crouch is the man. He isn't a strong enough front man and should be scoring more goals with his head. England won't be winning the World Cup if you're in the predicament of bringing Crouch on hoping to score goals late on in the group stages.

[Victor Meldrew]

I think this debate highlights why IMHO we are really a long way from being 3rd favourites for the competition.
We hardly have a keeper worth considering.
Our full-backs aren't great defensively.
We have one sound and generally fit centre-back.
We have some decent midfielders
We don't have much up front.
Heskey,Crouch and Cole are all a bit lumbering
Defoe is o.k playing at home against the likes of Wigan but is still physically lightweight against good defenders.
Rooney is probably our best option but is not only badly disciplined in behaviour but also he is ill-disciplined positionally and too often wants to play full-back or wherever the ball has gone.
Owen has been streets ahead of any of them but he needs to play regularly to keep the sharpness that has made him so good.

There really is nobody else as we have become a nation of midfield players and I would probably take a chance on Owen than take extra midfielders who will never get a game.

[Wide and Wonderful]

I think this debate highlights why IMHO we are really a long way from being 3rd favourites for the competition.
We hardly have a keeper worth considering.
Our full-backs aren't great defensively.
We have one sound and generally fit centre-back.
We have some decent midfielders
We don't have much up front.
Heskey,Crouch and Cole are all a bit lumbering
Defoe is o.k playing at home against the likes of Wigan but is still physically lightweight against good defenders.
Rooney is probably our best option but is not only badly disciplined in behaviour but also he is ill-disciplined positionally and too often wants to play full-back or wherever the ball has gone.
Owen has been streets ahead of any of them but he needs to play regularly to keep the sharpness that has made him so good.

There really is nobody else as we have become a nation of midfield players and I would probably take a chance on Owen than take extra midfielders who will never get a game.

The difference this time round is that where before we could only rely on having a handful of top quality players coupled with a squad list of also rans, I think we have a squad of very capable players that could replace our leading eleven - a problem that has plagued us in the past. (Lose one or more of Rooney, J Cole, Beckham, G Neville or Owen we could only replace them with the likes of Mills, Vassell, Downing etc)

Whilst Crouch, C Cole etc may not be up to the level of Rooney and Owen, they are very good cover should we get any injuries.

The same is true for most of the positions in our squad - lose James, we have Green as backup, Lose Lampard - we have carrick, barry, Lose Terry or Ferdinand we have Upson and so on and so on.

Whilst we obviously want our strongest eleven to start, past tournaments have shown us that our key players won't always be fit (Brooking and Keegan, Robson and more recently Beckham, Owen and Rooney) This time round we have a good squad and adequate cover in all positions.

I think we are well equipped to reach at least the semi finals, with a good squad and a very good manager.

[Archie's penalty]

I'd take Dean Ashton.

[Wimb]

Fair enough. I must confess I do have an irrational dislike of Walcott. Despite his althleticism and pace, I still think he lacks a certain je ne c'est quoi. He doesn't particular excite me and seems a little lightweight - a bit powder puff. Istill don't think he's ready for regular competitive international football.

Just my opinion, like.

The run he made at Anfield in the CL 2 years ago is reason enough to take him

[rhroyal]

I can't stand criticisms of Crouch, saying he only scores against lesser teams. How many "big" sides have England played with Crouch in the side? You can only score against what's in front of you, and he does this. He also scores in competitive matches, valuable whoever you're playing against.

As for Owen, IF he is fit and scoring he has to go. Capello never completely closes the door - just look at Beckham at Madrid. Owen got a hat trick against a very good Wolfsburg side in midweek. He still has class, class is permanent. He just needs to have an injury free season and feature regularly for Man Utd, from the bench at least. If he does this he will get goals, and consequently should go.

Heskey.....every manager who he's ever played for rates him highly and values him. That counts for more than what you or I think (I wouldn't take him, but look at Capello's record. Are you going to argue?) He will go.

Defoe - in form, best season of his life.

Walcott - Lots of potential and a quality player in form. He should go if fit as he can also play on the wing.

Rooney - The best we have. Has to go.

At least one of those players will miss out. I think there is a shoot out between Owen and Defoe. All I will say is that if we get a late chance in one of the knock out stages to send us through - I want Owen on the end of it. It's not my decision though.

[Victor Meldrew]

Did any of those strikers score today?