ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

AJ to break his duck?

If AJ is to break his duck this season, he needs to take a leaf out of Michael Owen's book. I'm not convinced that Owen's super strike for England last Saturday had anything planned about it. He basically miscontrolled the pass which sat up nicely for him, but then, in true striker's fashion, he reacted to the situation that presented itself and lashed it in.

AJ needs to do likewise. Instead of delaying his shot and thinking too much about the possibilities, he needs to trust his instincts. A belter against United would do for me.
Ray Robinson, Warrington Posted 10/09/2007 at 23:01:24

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Steve L
1 Posted 11/09/2007 at 08:02:00

A belter and a clean sheet?

Peter Singer
2 Posted 11/09/2007 at 08:13:40

True but you need confidence to do that. However Israel’s defebse is hardly even Wigan, the ball would’ve been swept away in a normal Premier League encounter.

What about Owen’s greatest chance, carved out solely by AJ which he missed blatantly?

Ray
3 Posted 11/09/2007 at 08:54:01

I honestly dont know what all the worry is for..AJ does alot of work outside the box and I am sure he will start scoring soon and Im convinced he will be into double figures again come the end of the season,he gets so many chances so sooner or later he is going to have a purple patch where he wont stop scoring like last season.

Mark Wynne
4 Posted 11/09/2007 at 08:57:46

Exactly Peter. Three guys standing around admiring the pitch would make anyone look good as they shot at goal.

I think Owen’s always been overrated. Since that goal in 98 against Argentina he’s done sod all except live off that reputation. For Owen to score against the stronger European teams, he needs todo more than miss the easy chances. At least with AJ, he works his arse off for the team and gets defenders worried. The only people Owen worries are the Newcastle physios.

Mark Hill
5 Posted 11/09/2007 at 09:05:28

The problem for AJ, is the tactics Mr Moyes employs. We employ to very defensive midfielders in our squad leaving Arteta and A.N. Other to create chances. This means the chances we do create are few and far between, can you remember when we scored lots of goals, even in the cup..?? AJ does more than enough to justify his place in the team, his work rate is possibly second to none. He is key to the way we play....Even Lineker would struggle to score like he did for us in the 80’s or Sharpie for that matter. He does scare the shite out of defenders though and cause a lot of problems for them, in that he is never static! Which is great for us!

Peter Singer
6 Posted 11/09/2007 at 09:35:12

He also wins a lot of throw-ins around the opposition box. Defenders rather put the ball out in touch than risk losing it with AJ in the vicinity. If only we’d be more effective in these situations. I mean, it’s no rocket science, throw-in scenarios can be practiced.

Richard Parker
7 Posted 11/09/2007 at 09:35:38

Don’t agree with you Mark, Owen is a great goalscorer, if perhaps not a great footballer.

Like Shearer before him, not a pretty player to watch, but his goalscoring ability is what sets him apart from the vast majority of top flight players.

I think the fact that he has scored more competitive goals for England than any other player says it all really.

AJ is a decent striker, he’ll get goals. He’s already had a telling contribution in a few games this season, off the top of my head, for Yakubu’s goal and big Vic’s goal.

Hopefully once AJ and Yakubu strike up a decent understanding, we’ll see a good return from both of them

Seamus Murphy
8 Posted 11/09/2007 at 10:23:32

Nail on head Richard

Sean Lawrence
9 Posted 11/09/2007 at 12:21:07

Muuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Owen is Cak, AJ is quality I love EFC!

Mark Stone
10 Posted 11/09/2007 at 12:20:43

Mark Wynne - Owen has 38 goals in 84 games at international level, and 118 in 216 games for the shite isn’t too bad! Even at Newcastle where he’s had a torrd time with injury’s and such like he’s scored 8 goals in 17 games. Cracking stats for someone who has been doing nothing for the last 9 years!

Allan Hobbs
11 Posted 11/09/2007 at 12:26:42

Micheal Owen is a pretty average player skill-wise, and I’ve been his biggest critic over the years, but somehow he doews manage to be in the right place at the right time to put the ball in the net - usually off his shin, heel, arse etc. Thing is, his scoring record stands up with the best of them wherever he’s played, whether it be club or International level. AJ is a cracking player and does great work for us, just because he hasn’t scored in 5 games doesn’t mean shit. He’ll come good I assure you, and him & the Yak will be great together for us this season. You watch at the weekend, I guarantee you we’ll give Utd a hell of a good game. Win, lose or draw.

My prediction (which is terribly biased) 2-1 to the mighty blues!

Gavin Harris
12 Posted 11/09/2007 at 13:34:34

You can say all you want about his work rate and his skill but the bottom line is that he is a striker and what do strikers have to do?? SCORE. He gets chances but MISSES them time and time again. Owen DOESN’T. Simple as.

Peter Singer
13 Posted 11/09/2007 at 13:49:31

Gavin Harris, may I remind you that Owen missed an open goal near the end of Saturday’s match?

Allan Hobbs
14 Posted 11/09/2007 at 14:13:52

It wasnt an open goal, a defender slid in and cleared it on my telly?

Dave Roberts
15 Posted 11/09/2007 at 18:02:19

The defender only had a chance to slide in because Owen made a poor choice. The ball needed to be lifted. He had plenty of time. He cocked it up.

Gavin Harris
16 Posted 11/09/2007 at 22:38:25

Peter, I hate to admit it but you cannot argue that johnson is a better striker than owen because he is not. Look at the statistics.

Matt Chandler
17 Posted 11/09/2007 at 23:22:10

I think the difference is. Owen is not constantly chasing shadows, harrying defenders and generally busting a gut to get the ball. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender and expends his energy when he gets chances.

AJ does that much running he?s knackered the time he does get a chance. Plus I personally don?t think he plays the last defender as well as he could. Watching the time he had for England on Saturday proved this point.. it?s almost like he has to come out deep to pick the ball up - no wonder his hold up play has improved.

Roy Coyne
18 Posted 12/09/2007 at 01:46:53

Why are people putting pressure on AJ? His all round game is sound and the goals will come and for those trying to compare him to Owen they are different types and to be blunt lets compare their wages AJ about 50k Owen 104k so is Owen twice as good? I dont think so but he is more clinical.