Michael Owen

[all_funkt_up]

Newcastle are rubbish....

Newcastle United have emerged as dark horses to sign Michael Owen if, as expected, the England striker returns to the Premiership after finding his opportunities severely limited at Real Madrid.

I would be astonished if they signed him...! Newcastle are crap. Crap club, hollow deluded fans and a mad chairman...

[Winrew]

@ Blue.

True enough mind.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Onto another question.

If None of the big clubs in England or around Europe bothered bidding for him what do you think Owen would do?

Do you think he would then take up the chance with Newcastle as its his best option and only option or would he rather stay at Madrid and rot away there?

Big decision for him as its the World Cup next year. Would Sven still pick him if he stayed at Madrid?

[Oddsfellow]

Kiko, i saw some footage earlier of him back in October looking mighty miffed at sitting on the bench so i think he would definetly want a move. Having already turned down Newcastle it doesn't look like he fancies going there, but his choices in England are running out. I think similar to German in that other options in Spain and Italy are not really open to him so he is looking out in the cold with only Newcastle really wanting him.

[ONEDUNME]

I still think he'll end up at Man U













and I still think Newcastle are shit

[zonker84]

Arsenal have been crying out for what I would call a "proper" striker for years. Henry drifts wide and does a lot of good work outside the box, and always ends each season with loads of assists, and goals too of course. Arsenal need someone who is going to just get in the box and score. Owen wouldn't need to do much else because he'd get a lot of chances.

One of the main problems for Arsenal, especially in the Champions League, is that teams (especially on Highbury's small pitch) can afford to have 2 men covering Henry, knowing that there isn't a great deal of goal threat elsewhere, maybe apart from Pires. You put Owen in the team as well, and Arsenal become a lot more threatening and harder to stop I think. Wenger seems to like quick attacking players, so it seems like an ideal move all round. I know Owen probably would prefer to live near his family in the North-West, but I think he could manage living in London if he was playing for Arsenal.

It'll be interesting to see what happens, but I can never see him at Newcastle in a million years, although that would be preferable to him than Everton I'm sure.

[zonker84]

Originally Posted by Kiko

A lot of doubters on Newcastle but when they have their full squad available they are going to be a very decent side in this league.

I have disagree with that, as long as Souness is there, they're going nowhere

Although it depends what you mean by decent. 7th or 8th, possibly. Any higher is unlikely you'd think

[crowie]

Arsenal do need some assistance for Henry. Far too reliant on wide midfield players (Reyes, v Persie, Pires, Ljunberg) to chip in with goals and play as strikers. Ok it worked with Henry but it doesn't work with every winger turned striker.

Its strange that considering Chelsea have been linked with half of Europes fowards that there is no mention of them bringing in an English internationalist who is probably available for about 1/3 of a Didier Drogba. Has Mourinho mentioned that he's not interested? Owen would surely be a decent signing at under £10m and a lot cheaper than say a £60m Shevchenko.

I'm just a bit surprised that none of these two sides are looking at a proven goalscorer for basically a £m or two more than Peter Crouch!!

[Winrew]

Excellent post Crowie.....

£60m Shevchenko. :loon Is he 29 / 30 ? and folk value him at 60 bloody million.. :loon

Makes young Michael seem like a bargain to me.

[all_funkt_up]

I know the price difference between Owen and Shevchenko is massive. Michael mght net you 25 goals, Shevchenko 27 or 28... He is a better player but is he worth 5 times as much? I doubt it.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Another factor for me is that Owen is proven in the EPL. I imagine Shevchenko would handle it but you never know as many other big name players have come and attempted to handle it and failed.

I really am surprised the lack of European sides looking at him. You would think he has been a complete failure at Madrid when this has been far from the case.

[zonker84]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Another factor for me is that Owen is proven in the EPL. I imagine Shevchenko would handle it but you never know as many other big name players have come and attempted to handle it and failed.

I really am surprised the lack of European sides looking at him. You would think he has been a complete failure at Madrid when this has been far from the case.

I completely agree Kiko

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Fuck off - how can you say that?

Shevchenko is a player who has been one of the top in Europe for a few years now and bla bla bla

Nice to see that Zonks

[TheGooner]

Owen - can't sign for Arsenal - he only speaks English (and in a northern accent ) nobody would be able to understand him ... the team pattern'd go to shit ...


Seriously, I think Wenger was after Baptista for the midfield role - that's actually his better spot - but he was pressed up front becuase Sevilla aren't actually much good.

Reyes, Fabregas, Van Persie (if he stays out of jail), Bentley, Lupoli ... the Arsenal have plenty of pacey attacking talent ... even if it is very raw.

Midfield and centreback is where Arsenal need to strengthen ...

-----

United - could be - even 1 up front United look unbalanced.
Who can play it well?
- RvN's used to be great. But his lack of form looks terminal at the moment.
- Smith ... midfield battler might be his forte
- Rooney ... better as the striker in behind.
- Rossi ...... only 18 .. might be the solution in 2 years ...
- Giggs/Ronaldo (stepover) ... both are too peripherial to play lone striker.
- Saha? a ha hahahaha ...

So why not Owen ?

-----

As has been said before - what is wrong with Chelsea?

Drogba, Crespo .. neither will do BIG thinga in the Premiership whereas Owen knocks in 15-20 league goals a season.

I suspect that Abramovich / Mourinho are acting all coy to keep the price down ... 10m (hah!) ... one sign of a Portuguese / Russian accent and it'll be 25m and a few hundred thousand russian oil shares !!


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Everton? They'd be gagging for it surely. Would Owen like to prove something to Liverpool ?

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Newcastle? No big cup. No Michael Owen.
Nuff said.

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Barca?
Just to see the look on the Madridistas face when Owen scores the winner against them.


=================

In the end he could go anywhere that has Champions League and fit ...
But no seems to want him ...
Why ?

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Good points Gooner.

I actually expect a good season from Drogba and Crespo this season. Crespo especially as when he left for Milan, he didn't set the EPL alight, but his goals scored record was pretty good.

Drogba put far too much pressure on himself last season due to his price tag and you could see that by his snapping at shots and how angry he would get. He has gotten a decent pre season behind him and they will both be better players this season.

About Owen - i would love for him to go to Barca and become top goalscorer and win the league. Disgusting really the way he has been treated but unfortunately i can't see this happening.

I doubt he would go to Everton. He is a Liverpool fan through and through is he not??

Interesting point about going to Newcastle. Ok they won't have Champions League football but he needs regular first team football right. And maybe a side like Newcastle would be ideal for him in preparation for the World Cup next year as he wouldn't be knackered come the tournament and should be really fresh compared to players like Lampard, Gerrard etc.

Maybe a loan move will be what he ends up doing.