England Legend Doubts Vardy's Ability


Former England striker Michael Owen has doubted Jamie Vardy's goal scoring ability after claiming Leicester's struggling forward doesn't strike him 'as a natural finisher'.

Vardy was a shining light in the Foxes' Premier League title triumph last term, netting an incredible 24 goals as they clinched an historic crown.

But the goals have dried up for the 29-year-old this season and he has now gone 11 games without scoring after firing a blank in their goalless draw at Copenhagen.

And Owen, who is seventh on the all-time Premier League top goalscorers list, has admitted he isn't convinced by the former non-League forward.

Speaking before the match - where Vardy failed to score - the BT Sport pundit said: 'Even when he was scoring loads of goals last season he wasn't convincing me as a natural finisher.

'But then again Alan Shearer used a lot of brute force and power. He was a different type – not everyone finishes the same way.

'Look at Ozil from last night [his goal against Ludogorets]. He was so cool, calm and collected but others go for pure power.'

Vardy's sensational goals tally last season, where he also scored in 11 straight games to break a Premier League record, helped Leicester to a memorable league title.

Owen suggested, however, that the striker was fortunate with some of his goals and he isn't getting as much luck this season.

'Vardy does contribute to the team with his running into the channels and his closing down. But he's in the team to score goals and we've seen a contrast from last season.

'He's the type of centre forward or type of finisher that is very much head down and hit it. He goes for power a lot. He's not necessarily a real cute, classy type of finisher.

'He doesn't once lift his head. He almost hits it through goalkeepers. To be a finisher like that you need a lot of luck – sometimes you'll have it, sometimes you won't.

'This season it's been very different. He goes for power a lot of the time.

'Last year he was having a little bit of luck and would sometimes almost go through goalkeepers.

'When you are a power finisher and go for that over accuracy then you have to accept that sometimes your luck's in and sometimes it's out.'




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