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
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