(L) Michael Owen out (ACL), (R)Theo Walcott, ex-Southampton, now Gunner
“Bring him on, Sven, you have nothing to lose.”
Bad, bad injury to Michael Owen. An ACL rupture that will require anything from 6-8 months to properly rehab. It has been a nightmare for Owen, who just recoverd from a metatarsal fracture, and was struggling in the World Cup. Alan Shearer knows a thing or two about how knee injuries can cut your career short. Right now, Newcastle must be on panic mode wondering if Owen will recover in time for the long EPL season ahead.
Newcastle started the EPL season disastrously with some disgusting clunkers that left some Geordies wondering if they would be relegated. Graeme Souness was fired midway, and under caretaker coach, Glenn Roeder pulled through and finished the season solidly in the middle of the table. Alan Shearer retired. Michael Owen was supposed to give the much maligned Newcastle attack the teeth that they lacked but he lost most of the season to his foot injury. Just when things seemed to be turning around Owen goes down with this new injury. Newcastle can’t be too happy with the news that Chelsea is bringing in more firepower in Sheva and Arsenal with Tomas Rosicky.
This just means that Sven will have to go with Walcott. Rooney hustled in the game against Sweden but he was off with his passes and connections. And if it is Crouch then his noggin becomes a magnet, and England becomes all too predictable.
Klinsi made this bold move to bring David Odonkor, another uncapped player and a speed machine and it paid off in the match against Poland. Sven has to bring another option who Becks and Joe Cole can give the ball to. Gerrard and Lampard are great but they are not the best distributors of the ball, preferring to go for their shots. In fact, it is hard to say on a consistent basis, who the holding midfielder is in the English squad.