Second, Capello's decision not to pick Owen hardly looks like the wrong decision, even with hindsight.
Owen was not rubbish all year & Newcaslt did have a slight period where they where playing some good football.
Kindly use this ling to follow what i'm saying
Yes, so i got it right now Owen was not picked for the WCQ vs Andorra/Croatia because Capello was saying if im correct. Given ENG situation ATT (still not knowing that the best team is), many where surprised at that decision. But in some way Capello was vindicated since the season had just started & Owen had done much with in Newcastle opening fixtures vs United, Arsenal & Bolton.
Come the next qualifier vs Kazakstan/Belarus on mid Oct. Owen was out injured
The the friendly vs Germany on novemeber 19 when Rooney was out injured. Owen & Newcastle was having a very decent run - in 12 games, lost 3, won 5, draw 4. Most notably you can say keeping chelsea to a 0-0. Owen should have been picked then.
Its clear you haven't been paying keen enough attention to Owen then...
I was not suggesting Owen should play as a target man. I was saying Owen if picked would be back-up to Rooney. The likes of Bent, C Cole or Crouch would be the back-up target man to Heskey.
What??? If a coach doesn't rate you for some reason even when you are performing that has a HUGE impact, on his selection.
Aragones didn't rate Raul any longer going into Euro 2008 & wasn't picked. Even now i'd say he he still deserves to be in the international squad as back-up to Torres/Villa.
Sven for some odd reaosn didn't rate McManaman & didn't pick him for WC 02. Sinclair was picked & although did well, that was crazy from Sven.
Domenech didn't pick Guily for WC 06 & luckily for France Zidance was magical & Ribery came of age. So that crazy selection was masked.
Since the Croatia game, given how fantastic Rooney has been - their has been no reason to pick Owen.
But when he was scoring, when the magpies had a little decent run going. His excuses was of a coach who doesn't rate him.
All i'm saying is come the WC if Rooney was to go down (god forbid), even if Owen is pretty much a goal-poacher these days - fact is at internationa level he will find the net. Defoe wont nor the target men.
Nonsense Middlesbrough where worst than Newcastle most of the time, they didn't even have a decent run at any point of the season. Use that same site & tell me how much goals Downing scored.
Capello consistently picked Downing because well its pretty clear, he is a left-footer he probably impresses in training. No way should he have kept Young out of the team or even Matt Taylor - if as it seemed he wanted a natural left-footed player in the squad.
Already explained this above...