How Far Have We Come?

I blogged yesterday about how Owen and West Ham would be the perfect fit and the response has been interesting. In the "old days", lets say 12 months ago, the idea of signing Owen would have met with universal approbation. Here is the fox in the box we need, a proven goal scorer still with a 50% chance of making it into the World Cup squad. Instead, though not quite met with derision, the idea has received a pretty much comprehensive thumbs down from those cats whose owners have expressed a preference.

Is this an indication of how far we have come? Do we now feel so confident about our management team that we don't feel we need to add Owen's experience? Do we have such trust in Nani that we believe he will unearth a gem, a striker for the here and now and the future, rather than a striker of the yesteryear, maybe now and very unlikely for too much longer into the future?

Or has the injury blight clouded our thinking? Have Ljungberg, Dyer, Beano and Gabbidon frightened us into not taking a risk, no matter what the potential benefits?

If anybody can get him fit, Owen will score goals and those goals will win matches. I see him as the sort of player who can turn a Villa into a top 4 team, who could fire Everton to a European trophy, a player who could transform us from nearly men to the real deal. It is a risk, a huge gamble, but if you want to hit the lottery jackpot, you have to trust to your luck and buy a ticket - leaving the money in the building society will only pay 1%. It is safe but in real terms, your "investment" is losing money. If we don't sign him, a competitor will, and if Owen scores the goals that fire that rival to glory, how sick will we feel?

Tristan or Owen? Given we have Cole and Ashton, I know who I would rather have. Di Michele or Owen? Four goals and a court appearance reportedly booked for October 4 tells me who my money would be on. Owen or Sears? Come on, you cannot be searsious! (Sorry, couldn't resist that pun!) Owen or a Nani spot? Now there is the rub!

So is the rejection of the Owen idea confidence or cowardice? I understand the arguments against but most have sounded a cautionary note rather than reflected the bullish confidence we need if we are to push on to the next level. The team is good but we need a catalyst, a player who would make a statement, a player that makes others sit up and think, "Bloody hell, West Ham, who would have thought it." Savio may be that man next season, that was supposed to be the effect when we bought him. Owen is not the Bellyache that one poster compared him to, Owen is class.

How far have we come and how far do we really want to go? I would buy the lottery ticket personally and if it doesn't win, screw it up and think, well at least I was in the draw. And the bonus ball? Number 10!