Let’s face it, one man who has been disappointing for us in the last 5 games has been our captain and highest paid player, Michael Owen.
Michael Owen – must produce quickly – if we are survive
Michael can score goals, and that’s why he’s on around £110K/week wages at Newcastle, but now is the time when we need our stars like Michael to step up to the plate and produce the goods, before it gets too late.
Owen has not scored since January 10th, and that means he has failed to score in the his last 8 games, and he must start to put the ball in the back of the net soon.
The good news is once goalscorers like Michael come off a barren run, they will score a number of goals, so we have to hope that Michael can get some goals in our final 5 games of the season.
And Alan Shearer is bringing out all his man-management skills this week as he tries to cajole his players to produce the goods for the Tyneside club, but whether he will be successful – we just don’t know.
Alan said some good words about Michael recently, that he would always score goals, and there’s no doubt Alan has been a fan of Michael’s, ever since he partnered the then 18 year old Liverpool whiz-kid in the World Cup in 1998 in France.
Michael said yesterday:
“It’s nice when people say nice things about you, but regardless, I will wake up in the morning and know where I stand in terms of my performances, my standing in the game, the goals I will score given the opportunities and everything else.
“I have been around a long time now and everyone knows if I get chances, then I will score goals. Stats are there and people will say eight games and all that. But one of the games, I came off after two minutes, I did my ankle, the next one, I came on for 10 minutes coming back.”
“You can straight away narrow it down to five or six games before you even start. You go on a good scoring run and everyone will twist them into your favor as well.” “I am a bit long in the tooth for all that rubbish, but it’s certainly a game that I could do with finding the goalscoring touch.”
“I have always said if I am given the chances, then I am totally confident I will put them away.” “A few of the teams around us have got tough games and we have got a home game against a team that are in the bottom half as well, so it is a massive game.”
“We have to win it and if we do win and we are only a point behind, then I would really fancy our chances.”
Those are good words from Michael and we know the lad is strong mentally, just like his mentor Alan Shearer – but it would be just terrific if both Martins and Owen, and even Mark Viduka can start getting the side some goals on Monday night – a good win could definitely be the start of something big.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
inselaffe
Apr 25, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Comment #1great.
thanks for that…
:-/
dougnufc
Apr 25, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Comment #2I don’t blame Owen for not scoring. He wants us to stay up as much as we do. But without any creativity and service, he won’t be able to do anything other than getting frustrated and coming deep to get in the game.
Shanghaitoon
Apr 25, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Comment #3Words, words, words, blah, blah, blah…
I wish these “players” would stop talking and start doing what they’re paid ridiculous amounts of cash to do… Score goals, play well and keep us up…
I’m so fed up with all this talk…
Toon Graeme
Apr 25, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Comment #4Doug – that has been one of our biggest problems this season possession, passing and supply and our shots on goal has been rubbish!!
Shanghaitoon – its true it stinks of familiarity all the press releases this last few days.
But now its a case of they have to walk the walk. Anything less than 3 points is not acceptable.
The fat lady aint singing yet – shes warming up but not singing!
PaceOba
Apr 25, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Comment #5Too much talking. We not paid your salary 110k/week for your nice word!
Craigg
Apr 25, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Comment #6I dont blame Owen one bit.
I was watching the 05-06 season review last night and despite more injuries he scored 7 goals in 10 matches, The main reasons were Quality from set pieces, Through balls and crosses.
Midfield from 05-06:
Solano
Dyer
Emre
N’Zogbia
Bowyer
Parker
Milner
Midfield from 08-09:
Butt
Nolan
Gutierrez
Duff
Guthrie
Smith
Barton
R Taylor
Spot the difference??
Craigg
Apr 25, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Comment #7P.S
Milner was out on loan as was Butt before anyone corrects me and we also had Faye and Luque but the less said about them the better but my point was that with strikers like Shearer, Owen and believe it or not Shola who had a good season if you give them the service they will score the goals to fire you up the league.
The most annoying thing about this season is for the first time in years i’m actually quite content with our defenders Bassong and Steven Taylor could be a good partnership for the next decade and both will be quality international defenders, Beye is absoultely faultless, Enrique is much improved, Edgar is dependable and Coloccini will IMO adapt to the premier league next season and show his talent.
We still have a lot of quality up front with Owen, Viduka and Martins on their days amongst the best in the world, Carroll and Ranger looking like potential stars and even Lovenkrands impressing.
Goalkeeper wise we have a reliable and loyal No1 in Steve Harper as well as two talented youngsters in Krul and Forster who again could compete for years for the shirt like Harper did with Given.
If and when we stay up hopefully we can add that quality creative spark in midfield IMO nab a Johnson apiece from Boro and City, Also a good holding midfielder to replace Butt long term (Veloso who wants to leave Sporting) and another striker to replace Viduka
(Maybe Cisse in the mackems dont sign him)
another left back and were laughing.
But first of all we have to stay up and to do so we need to beat Portsmouth, Boro and Fulham.
spiderpig
Apr 25, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Comment #8viduka is the key to owen scoring goals.and martins.the midfield just have to hit viduka and its game on
Tom_Toon
Apr 25, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Comment #9/