Michael Owen used to be pretty good.

Young Michael Owen. What a future he had. I remember him scoring his first Liverpool goal on his debut away to Wimbledon at the end of the 1996/97 season. That would be just a taster for what was to come the following season. He finised the season as the Premiership's joint top scorer with 18 goals as well as being voted the PFA Young Player of the Year. However his crowning moment of the season was to come in an England shirt in that year's World Cup in France scoring THAT goal. The memory of an 18 year old Owen racing past the Argentine defence without a care in the world then to finish it off how he did will live long in the memory.

While he may never have managed to reach those heady heights again it can still be said that that the rest of his career up until 3rd July 2009 was a success. 2001 was a particularly special year as he helped Liverpool win their own version of the treble, including scoring two late goals against Arsenal in the FA Cup final, he got that famous hat-trick in Munich, as well as winning the European player of the year. He went on to score in the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and the World Cup in 2006. Fair enough, he did have his injury problems and didn't exactly set the tournaments alight like in 1998, but it was still not a bad return. He also had what some would say were 'difficult' spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle however he did still manage 15 goals in 18 starts in Spain and 26 at Newcastle where his four years were plagued by injury.

Then on the 3rd July 2009 he signed for Manchester United. The mighty Manchester United. Signing for a new club was his chance for a new start. A new page. To put all his past injuries behind him and get back to what he does best, scoring goals. Fabio Capello would be recalling him for England in no time. But signing for current Premier League champions was to prove to be the end of his career. Flash forward a little over two years and Michael Owen's star is well and truly fading and on the way to being out full stop. Some may say it is not his fault as when he has played for United he has always done well. That last minute winner against City, the hat-trick in the Champions League, the Carling Cup final goal, his recent brace against Leeds. 16 goals in 50 substitute appearances is not bad considering most have been off the bench.

Yet it is his fault. He chose to sign for Manchester United. And is still happy sitting there on the bench (if that). Owen has proved he still has it. While he may not be able to command a starting place in the United's and Chelsea's of today, there is still very much a place for him in a team like Everton, or ironically Newcastle. Had he signed for a slightly smaller club he could be still be playing regularly and more importantly scoring regularly. Dare say it, he might still be involved in the England squad and been able to have claimed to have scored in another major tournament.

Michael you are not an old man, you are only 31. There's still a few years in you yet. You might not have as many medals to show for it but you'll be able to look back at your career when you're older with a little more dignity. If you want to save your career, leave now. Or in January at least.

The Regrets of Gary Neville

So Gary Neville has been retired for a good few months now. He's had a lot time to think about things. His career. The highs. The lows. What could have been. What shouldn't have been. One would think that he can't have too many regrets. He had a long and successful career at Manchester United, winning pretty much anything worth winning, and then some. He represented his country 85 times and played in numerous World Cups and European Championships. Ok, he could perhaps have regretted not winning anything with England (Le Tournoi in 1997 doesn't count), but then so has every player to ever don the three lions since Booby Moore et al. Yet the other day he dropped a mother of a bombshell when he exclaimed "There have been times when I've reflected on my international career and just thought: 'Well that was a massive waste of time.'" Clearly he has one huge regret in his career. Doing the one thing that every schoolboy dreams of. Playing for your country.

If England had won Euro 96 it would have been the most perfect tournament in footballing history. The tournament when 'football came home' had everything. Wembley, perfect weather, a well behaved English crowd, Baddiel and Skinner's Three Lions, Shearer was top scorer, Gazza's goal, the 4-1 against Holland, Seaman's save, Psycho's penalty. Gareth Southgate's penalty miss was the only black marker on an amazing few weeks for English football. Sure losing was heartbreaking, but it was an amazing tournament that every fan and player was proud to be a part of. Yet Gary must clearly regret being a part of this tournament? What a waste of time as England didn't win. Now football is usually all about the winning, but sometimes it can be about the memories that don't necessarily arrive out of a win. I can assure you, young Phil Neville would have given his right leg to play at right back in that tournament instead of sitting on the bench, even if it meant they still lost in the semi-final. My earliest football memories were from that tournament and they still remain as some of my finest. Do I consider Euro 96 "a massive waste of time"? No.

Being an England fan can be a painful experience. Going out in every tournament prematurely hurts, and when looking back at the defeats on highlights shows years later, the defeat can still be just as raw. But with every painful defeat, there is always the unforgettable memories to go with it. Michael Owen's wonder goal in 1998, David Beckham's penalty of redemption in 2002, Wayne Rooney's emergence onto the scene in 2004. Ok, not much can be said for the years 2000 and 2006, but you get my drift. Supporting England is hard, but is it a waste of time? No. The same surely applies for playing. Judging from Neville's attitude towards his country, when Steve McClaren failed to guide England to Euro 2008 and destroyed a nation's hopes for another two years, he was probably over the moon. An extra-long holiday!

Many a player with a talent less of Gary Neville's, not to mention many a fan, can only dream of representing their country 85 times. Yet to Neville he figures he could of been doing something far more useful in these 7650 minutes (plus injury-time, extra-time and penalties). Life is too short for regrets mate. Plus you won Le Tournoi. So what you talking about?

So Theo Walcott has an autobiography...

So Theo Walcott is the latest in the long line of footballers to release an autobiography. The latest in the long line of young footballers should I add. The latest in the long line of young footballers who's career have barely started and would be better off waiting until the end of their career before deciding to release the first part of their memoirs. And even then there may still not be much to tell. Do the names Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard ring any bells? We'll let Mr. Beckham off as his life has actually turned out to be pretty interesting.

Theo has decided to label his story Theo: Growing Up Fast. He is currently 22 years of age and is an important player for both Arsenal and England. In the current climate of football it would be fair to say there are many footballers of a similar age whom are both key fixtures for club and country. He is not alone. In the world of football he is not especially growing up too fast. If he was the age of 12 then he may have more of a case. Yes he did make the 2006 World Cup squad at the age of 17, but as events unfolded it was clear he there purely as Sven's mascot. What else was he there for except to hold David Beckham's hand and hit balls at Paul Robinson? He certainly wasn't there to play for England as Sven went on to prove.

The blurb of the book reads as follows: "The amazing story, in his own words, of the meteoric rise to fame of one of England's most exciting young footballers". Sounds more like an over the top Hollywood trailer for something along the lines of that dodgy film Goal! He is/was one of England's most exciting young footballers. Does that mean people want to hear his story? As good as Jack Wilshere is turning out to be do people want to hear his story? As much promise as Phil Jones is showing do people want to spend money and consume time by reading his new book? A resounding no. To all questions.

What could possibly feature in Theo's book that a) would be honestly exciting, and b) we would not know already? I have not read the book, nor plan to, but I have a feeling it goes something along the lines of was born, went to school, had my first kiss, discovered I was good at football, played for Southampton, got signed by Arsenal, etc, etc, etc. Surely the only people that can be excused for buying such drivel are kids. As a child, I was guilty myself for reading David Beckham's first installment (first?!), so would like to avoid any situation where as I may be referred to as a 'hypocrite'. Anyone who considers themselves an adult must surely be shot for reading this.

The thing that these footballers don't get is that we hear all the 'interesting' bits in the papers. In Theo's case, it was the revelations about his England boss, Fabio Capello. He refers to his regime as "stiff and starchy", and recounts a time in training where Mr. Capello threatened to "kill" him for cutting inside from the wing. This was was written in all the papers, and fair enough to Theo it is actually pretty interesting, but we know we can read such events in all the serialisations, without having to spend the money it costs for the hardback, nor waste a whole holidays worth of a read just for a few half interesting things. Asides from obviously hoping to make a load of money, it seems these players are just revealing the few things that they are too scared to do in an interview, whilst dressing it up in the dross of their school life and such other mediocre happenings. I hope the Capello dressing down was worth it Theo. I doubt it was for anyone who manged to finish the book.

The Opening Titles.

Friday 9th September. The opening day of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The alarm was set for 8.30 am (which if you're asking is rather early in my book), for the beginning of the opening ceremony. But before you start to pass judgement on me let me please explain that I hadn't broken the usual pattern of my body clock just to hear the usual customary spiel spieled off the lips of the head of state, about how this was going to be the best World Cup yet. I can assure you I hadn't awoken to see the awful cocktail of dancers, silver boats and Maori warriors either. The only opening ceremony I can imagine that was worth getting up for was the 1994 'soccer' World Cup in the States and Diana Ross's penalty miss. But of course this was learnt only with that wonderful thing called hindsight. No the reason i awoke with such eager anticipation was to see and hear ITV's new opening titles...

Television's opening titles of major sporting competitions have the power to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and make you feel like you are gearing up to watch the most important game that has ever taken place in history of sport, when the reality is it's the rainy 3rd round FA cup replay between Stoke and Bolton. On the other hand they also have the power (or lack of) to leave the feeling of an anti-climax. You're supposed to be gearing up to watch the World Cup final, but instead it now feels like you're just tuning into a really dull and uninspiring game. Between Stoke and Bolton. Only because you have nothing better to do.

ITV hit the nail on the head with their opening titles for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68zHzcpyRkM

Vusi Mahlasela's anti-apartheid song, When You Come Back, bubbles along very nicely before reaching it's anthemic fiesta of a climax. Your feet start itching to dance and by the end you want to rejoice in jubilation. With Messrs Maradona, Johan Cruyff and, er, Roger Milla working their magic alongside it, the feeling that a truly special World Cup is upon us. One that is going to feature a carnival of goals, skills and just general magic. The fact that it was probably one of if not the most boring World Cups ever is besides the point.

And ITV definitely managed to deliver big time this year too. Gustav Holst's hero-inspiring epic Haxted kicks in, accompanied by a montage of legendary World Cup moments from memories gone by. Seeing Johnny Wilkinson kick his World Cup winning drop kick of 2003, or watching Francois Pienaar and Nelson Mandela celebrate the 1995 victory, and thus helping to unify the Rainbow nation, whilst being accompanied by Holst's momentous, behemoth of a classic makes you want to jump around your front room like you have just scored the match winning try. The fact that ITV are simply just playing the official song of the tournament like they do every year should be discarded. Also the fact that it is not Holst's original Haxted, but infact actually little-known Kiwi, Hayley Westenra, singing World in Union and hence murdering the original with lines such as "as we climb to reach our destiny, a new age has begun". If you can forget all that, it's actually quite good. And worth getting up at half eight for...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id-biRhgiVw

Club vs. Country

The club versus country debate is an old one that has time and time again managed to rear its head into football conversations in pubs throughout the country. Obviously there is the side to it that is more relevant to today’s game, that being the actual tug of war between both the club and the country’s respected managers. Both arguing over who has more say over the actual players and whom both throw their dummy out when they don’t get their own way. Heaven forbid what happens when a player gets injured ruling them out of either teams next fixture. However this tired debate is for another day. I’m talking about the ties of allegiance not with the managers or the players, but with that of the fans.

From my experiences from talking with friends and many other fellow football fans, it seems the majority, if not all, would always put their club first. It’s who they identify with, the team they support week in, week out, through thick and thin. Why would they care more about a team who can sometimes have to wait up to four months for their next game? Which even then it may only be a meaningless, boring friendly. Where as with their club, come april time, they may have a new fixture to look forward to every three or four days.

However there are the minority, myself included, who would always put their country first. From what I have heard, a lot of the England team’s away support is often made up of fans of smaller league clubs. Supporting a team like Grimsby, means for that supporter there is very little chance they’ll ever get to travel abroad, visiting some of Europe’s finest cities, whilst cheering on their team. Yet following England gives them this opportunity they have always dreamt of.

I personally am a Gooner, yet throughout my life I always went against most Premiership fans and chose country over club. That’s not to say my love for my club wasn’t great, it’s just that the thought of England ever winning a World Cup and potentially uniting the whole country, sparking off celebrations not seen since 1966 always overrode my desperation to see Arsenal winning a trophy, even the mighty Champions League. This led me to a period of attending England’s every home game, from when they plied their trade at Old Trafford to their return to Wembley. I used to get so excited at the most boring, meaningless friendlies, that mostly everyone else believed to be a complete waste of time. I even braved it all the way to snowy Austria for a dire friendly. Going into the 2010 World Cup I had never been so confident that England would triumph this time. I had said the same at every previous tournament I could remember, but this time was different. I actually believed it.

What happened next doesn’t need to be explained as everyone knows the shocking events that followed. After all these years of believing in them and sticking up for them whenever the club versus country debate ever arose, I now felt hurt and betrayed. England could never play another game again as far as I was concerned. And I have to admit I had never looked forward to a new Premiership campaign as much as I did this one. I needed it to get over the pain.

Ask me now who I would pick between club and country and without any hesitations I would say club. I casually watched England’s poor performance against the mighty Montenegro the other day in a pub with a few friends and I can proudly say I look back with far greater fondness over our recurring pub banter rather than that game that was on in the background. You’ll have to do a lot better England if you want this chap back on your side next time that old debate crops up.