Soccer Fitness

The move of Michael Owen from Newcastle United to Manchester last Summer was unexpected and surprising, mainly due to Michael’s injury prone history.

Alex Ferguson’s decisions left many experts and fans scratching their heads. With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, most people expected that a current soccer great would appear in Manchester United soccer apparel to replace him. however, United got Luis Valencia from Wigan and Michael Owen. A player who, for the past 5 years has had injury problem after injury problem as well as inconsistent fitness and form. The fact that he is a former Liverpool player only adds insult to injury. Their were a few unhappy faces from Manchester United fans when the transfer was announced.

When the details of the deal became known along with Ferguson’s intentions for Owen, it became clear that once again, the shrewd Scot had been canny. Michael Owen is intended to be used from the bench and is on a pay as you play deal at Manchester United. He would not be expected to bear the lone striking responsibilities, instead he would just assist when needed.

Only managing to play in a few games as a late substitute it was not the start the Michael Owen would have wanted. However his role in the team seemed apparent when he was called in on the Manchester United derby game against Manchester City scoring the last minute winning goal. The last minute goal even brought up talks of a spot in the England team, and everyone expected Michael Owen to gain a more prominent spot in the United team.

Things however have not worked out that way for Owen. A further two goals since has brought his tally to four this season in eighteen games and while Owen is at pains to point out that the statistics do not tell the whole story (the majority of his appearances have been as a substitute), Doubt is starting to spread on Alex Fergusons decision to transfer Michael Owen and how long he has left in the team.

Owen’s chances of regaining a place in the England team are getting slimmer by the day it seems. Fabio Capello’s need for players to be fit and playing consistently makes Owen’s chances very low.Owen has not managed to be do either of these over the last few years. However it should be known that Capello doesn’t seem to apply this rule to all of England’s strikers, Emile Heskey seems certain to make the squad regardless of consistence and performance of Aston Villa.

Owen’s last minute goal against Manchester City has defiantly been the highpoint of Alex Ferguson’s experiment. It is hard to see that Sir Alex will want it to continue much beyond the current season unless the England striker can find form and goals in greater abundance and force his way into the managers reckoning, much in the way youngster Darron Gibson is doing. The question remains whether Owen has the ability and fitness to earn a spot in next years team, however it seems likely that Sir Alex’s gamble, in the long run, may not pay off.