Michael Owen its all about England

Michael Owen it's all about England


Michael Owen scores a goal hallelujah,
Michael Owen scores a goal hallelujah,
Michael Owen scores a goal hallelujah.

And so the song went, his song, the song created by the adoring Kop for one of their heroes. The problem is Michael is not one of our heroes and he isn't adored and to be truthful he never really was, and that is really strange.

Why is he not loved? Why is he not a hero? Why did he get a bad reception when he returned to Anfield, with Newcastle never mind Man United? Why oh why oh why?

It's now just on a week since he announced his retirement in a fashion akin to that of a Prime Minister, not a bench warming Premiership squad member. Then again is it just a case of the BBC looking after their own? Michael has spent more time in the MOTD studio than on the pitch at his current club Stoke. The BBC poured it on thick, Messrs Lineker and Walker tweeted and prepared themselves for the inevitable Football Focus feature and a place as a pundit for as long as he wants it.

And the catalyst for my thoughts, yes that piece on Football Focus, where to be fair to Dan Walker he asked the question on all our lips, why aren't you loved by Liverpool fans?

Michael had lost me far before the question was asked, as he came across as conceited and arrogant, a fine combination! Michael is all about ........ that's right Michael and that is why he lost the love that the Kop had for him when he broke into the team in 1997 at the young and tender age of 17. We all knew about him even before he broke in the first team he had won  Liverpool the FA Youth Cup almost single handedly and on a never to be forgotten night at Anfield he tore West Ham apart and the team included both Lampard and Ferdinand who were already playing in the Premiership.

Michael Owen was a great talent, and as per his Football Focus interview he knew it, as with all great superstars you have to believe in your own ability but being slightly humble is a likable trait and Michael is not.

Still that doesn't answer the question of why I no longer love him, oops just let it out the bag I absolutely loved Michael Owen the teenage sensation. He gave me some of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime following the Reds but still I can't love him I just can't. A hatrick at Newcastle on a day when he was just unplayable, the two goals that sunk Arsenal in Cardiff on a day where we had no right to win. I don't hate him, I am just indifferent to him and all he stands for now. The money, the horses, the seeming lack of interest in playing, choosing Stoke seemed more about the commute than any intention to play his part.

In life there are defining moments and for Michael and his relationship with us it was the World Cup in 1998 when he scored that wonder goal against Argentina. At that exact moment in time he became England's Michel Owen, not Liverpool's but England's and that is where it all went wrong. Not immediately but the press over a period of time built the vision of England's Michael Owen and Liverpool were seen as vehicle to keep him fit in between internationals. But Michael couldn't keep fit, his hamstrings have hamstrung his career.

I once met the great Ray Stubbs, yes he was great a top fella, oh and Mark Lawrenson too. It was about midnight in a swanky bar in Southport, how I came to be in a swanky bar I can't tell you but it was the end of a  long day. Liverpool had played Spurs at Anfield and Michael Owen had got injured again. Ray Stubbs showed a genuine interest in the fact that we had been the match and not put off by the greeting of "alright Stubbsy lad do you want a bevvy" but Lawro was getting Champagne at the bar so he politely declined. He asked what we though of the match and then without thinking said "pity about Owen wasn't, it dont know if he will be fit for England". That was it I took off and started educating Mr Stubbs that Owen played for us, we paid his wages and what about him being fit for us, well as you already know it was all about England. Ray made his excuses and joined Lawro at the bar laughing at me, in a nice way, and he still said bye when he was leaving, see a top fella.

You have to feel sorry for a man whose body has just let him down, Michael is not unique in that there is the perfect example of former team mate Robbie Fowler. But Michael Owen is not Robbie Fowler!

Both young and unbelievable talented, both scored bucketfuls of goals for Liverpool, one adored and one disliked. Robbie is adored because it was all about Liverpool and he showed it (remember the Dockers?), Michael? well he just didn't. Robbie came back, Michael didn't. That's just the way it is, Michael had the opportunity to come back from Real Madrid but Liverpool wouldn't pay Madrid double what they sold him for only a year earlier. Micahel only had to sit tight, but he couldn't. Why? he wanted to go to the World Cup at the end of the year, oh yes its that England thing again.

Michael hasn't been a proper footballer for years, a very rich man he chose to play for United, and yes that rankles with Liverpool fans as does his ongoing love affair with Alex Ferguson. If football is so important why did he go and sit on a bench when he could walk in to most teams in the country. In his interview Michael said he wanted to go out at the top and not when it was too late, he was honest with himself he couldn't do it anymore. Realistically he hasn't been able to do it since a shocking injury at the World Cup in 2006, which he now admits he shouldn't have gone to, ahh yes that England thing again.

Keith

If you have enjoyed my observations check out my book, a lifetime of following the Reds, its all in there at
www.wehaddreamsandsongstosing.co.uk

Gizza Job

"Gizza job ...... I can do that ..... Gizza job". The immortal words of Yosser Hughes are uttered daily on the streets of Britain,  well there are jobs a plenty, they may be made up jobs but they are jobs and they are not a Government back to work scheme.

Here is a great example, who fancies this?

• European travel (approx 12 trips per year)
• Five star hotels
• All expenses paid
• Excellent salary and benefits
• Free Uniform 
• No responsibility at all
• No need to make well informed and correct decisions
• It is acceptable to turn a blind eye to any wrongdoing
• Must be able to turn a deaf ear as there may be unhappy customers
• Ideally suited to someone with no football experience

Please apply in writing with your CV and an 'appropriate cash donation' to UEFA, Nyon, Switzerland.

The job? Champions League 5th official.

We promise you anonymity no one will ever know who you are, well with exception of Neil Lennon in Glasgow who is still asking what one of our colleagues did in his teams recent match where he has been heard to question his eyesight and parenthood.

Here we go again!

Here we go again!

It's been a while to say the least.

The last time I was wrote for anyone was nearly 4 years ago. I was putting the finishing touches to my hugely (to me at least) successful book 'We had dreams and songs to sing' and Liverpool were ready to knock Fergie off his perch, things were looking up.

So what happened? Why so long to write? Why now?

All in good time please be patient with me.

The book went well and has sold over 3000 copies with amazing feedback from around the world, the story has touched so many people in so many ways. Educating many people about Hillsborough, and finally after 23 years my recollections have been proved to be true and allowing people who were there to actually allow themselves to tell their own loved ones how it made or still makes them feel. A cathartic experience for reader and writer alike. Many people have spoken glowingly about how the book brought back their own years of memories and that gives me a wonderful feeling every time. The book has now sold in over 30 countries and e mails from across the globe are always greatly appreciated.

The Reds? Well they were destined for the Premiership and Rafa released the reigns and we were dreaming of the Premiership. In a glorious 3 week period we won at the Bernabeu (too late to make the book), stuffed Real Madrid at Anfield and then tore United apart at Old Trafford, what could go wrong? Liverpool just missed out on the title, just 4 points behind United but 3 ahead of Chelsea, 23 ahead of Everton and with Man City a massive 36 points behind. Yes just 4 years ago, but it seems like 40 years.

What went wrong? Money! The money was promised but it didn't exist and we ended up with the wrong owners and literally minutes away from administration, what had become of us! Well lets say its a long way back and over the next 20 years or so I am sure I will try to make sense of it.

Why so long to write?

I have been having a life. Following the book being published my beautiful daughter Izzy was born and between raising two young children and working and a year of work exams. I have also been trying to sell a bedroom full of books to a world full of Liverpudlians. The bedroom full of books is down to the last box and that job is done, all the hard hours treading the streets outside the Kop has been well worth it.

But the world has moved so far in the world of writing about football. From a time when the Hooligan Genre was the trend to a time when the world knowing your story is now at everybody's fingertips. The internet, your own website, blogging and twitter have changed the face of writing and I have to hold my hand up I have been too busy to see it and react. But now here I sit a published author with great feedback in his back pocket worried about what you my readers think now. There is so much good writing out there will mine stand up? well you can decide.

Why now?

Simply I have things I want to say, some of it will be about Liverpool, Brendan Rogers, how the internet acts the fan of today, Premiership greed, Harry Redknapp will get a mention, incompetence within the football industry, 5th officials blah, blah, blah or more like blog, blog, blog!

You can rest assured it will all be about footy!

YNWA

Keith

If you haven't read the book yet find out more at
www.wehaddreamsandsongstosing.co.uk

The book can be purchased as an e book at all good providers.