Michael Owen : Masterstroke!

[TrimTheKing]

Wow, having not checked any news today I have just been on SKY after watching the tennis and we (Man United) have signed Michael Owen on a 2 year deal! :shock:

I have been hoping we would do this for about 5 years but never materialised, and I know he has had his downs with injury over the last 4 years at Newcastle but I believe his contract is highly incentivised around performances and goals meaning we won't be paying a fortune in wages if he's on the bench.

People will obviously say he is second choice after losing 2 big players and missing out on 2 more, but I seriously think this could be a fantastic piece of business for United. When fit he will score bagfulls of goals with all the chances we create for strikers. Might even get that lazy sh!tbag Berbatov to get his @rse in gear

Can't wait to see him in the red shirt next season!

 

[user 5053]

Yes, fascinating and read Jim Whites blog on yahoo. Its a touch of the Brian Cough who was able to take players thought long past their best and turn them into world beaters. It is similar to the purchase of Teddy Sherringham who was superb short term buy. Owen is quite injury prone and will be interesting to see if he can get fit especially with the world cup coming up. Will be a fascinating season with all those northwest and midland derbies.

 

[wizer]

yes yes and Hulk Hogan will be joining them in the summer smackfest...

oh sorry I'm getting my soap opera's mixed up.... :lol:

 

[TrimTheKing]

Shut it you!

You only have to look at a football and your back would give out!

 

[Karl]

Might even get that lazy sh!tbag Berbatov to get his @rse in gear

Now he is one of the worst signings United have made in recent years, IMO. Along with Veron.

It'll be interesting to see how Owen does at Man U. I am surprised that Liverpool didn't try to do something similair though.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Jake]

I am surprised you (Mancs) are all so pleased. Owen and Rooney - the strikeforce of toothless England past. Maybe I'll eat my words, but if that's the alternative to Benzema, well, erm, your masters may need that Ronaldo money for themselves.

Doesn't seem the solution you need, but I'm sure ol rednose has bigger targets if the cash is there.

 

[OPJ]

It will be interesting to see how this move works out... I don't like it when people say Owen is past his best - he's only 29, isn't he?! :shock: He's suffered a dip in his career and several long term injuries since his move to Newcastle - but, honestly, how many players have moved to St.James' Park in recent years and seen their career move in the right direction...! :? :wink: They must be cursed or something. Maybe it's down to poor training facilities...

I'm disappointed Tevez won't be getting a permanent deal, as much as I can understand why the deal hasn't and will not happen... Did I see recently that he's on his way to Man City??? :shock:

Antonio Valencia was, what, £16m? That still leaves a big chunk of the Ronaldo cash, should Fergie decide he needs to spend it. 8)

I don't normally read newspapers but couldn't help taking a look inside The Mirror today (mum buys it) when I saw the Owen story in the back. Elsewhere, I read that Milan will move to sign Peter Crouch if they fail to land Luis Fabiano - I haven't laughed so much in ages!!! Oh, and Chelsea have signed Middlesbrough's reserve 'keeper (Ross Turnbull?) - why, I couldn't possible imagine!

 

[TrimTheKing]

I am surprised you (Mancs) are all so pleased. Owen and Rooney - the strikeforce of toothless England past. Maybe I'll eat my words, but if that's the alternative to Benzema, well, erm, your masters may need that Ronaldo money for themselves.

Doesn't seem the solution you need, but I'm sure ol rednose has bigger targets if the cash is there.

You might be right Jake, but let's see at the end of the season. Given a full run at a season, and in a team that creates as many chances as we do I would back him to get 20+ goals.

I'm sure he has bigger targets in mind but who's available?

People also forget that Ronaldo has been with us since summer 2002, and only started playing really well in the last 2 seasons. Valencia looks like a good buy, maybe not for a couple of years but he has all Ronaldo's best attributes (free kicks aside) without the negative connotations (going down quicker than a tuppeny whore). One for 2 seasons from now IMHO.

Regarding the money, the Glazers' debt has gone up by over £100m since they bought us, I have no doubt at all that this is the reason they let him go. Half for you Fergie, half to the bailiffs!

 

[BradNaylor]

I reckon it's an inspired move by Taggart.

Owen is still only 29 - he should be in his prime. If he'd stayed at Liverpool he probably would be; unfortunately a silly move to Spain and a ridiculous one to Newcastle coupled with a few unrelated injuries seem to have reduced his appitite for the game. Being paid £100k a week to sit on my ar$e would probably have that effect on me too!

Who better than Ferguson to help him get his hunger back? Now is his chance actually to win some medals and have something to show for his career other than a load of dosh and some YouTube clips of goals.

If he'd gone to Hull I think he'd have just faded into obscurity over the next couple of years. At United he's got the chance of a glorious swansong. I suspect hell grab it with both hands.

Its a bit like when Teddy Sheringham came. Everyone thought that he was past it and that Fergie needed his bumps felt...

Cheers
Brad

 

[Chippyjoe]

Difference with Sheringham was,he was a lot better at keeping his fitness than Owen is.

You Man U fans have got to accept that the Ferguson dynasty is now going to start slipping over the coming years,but hey ho dont worry as there is a new dynasty about to start on the other side of the city

Mark

ps. said TIC

 

[Jake]

We'll see. He's lost his speed, and did so a long while ago. That was the basis of his game when he burst out. Maybe he'll have an Indian summer - the service should help, better than Newcastle at least.

 

[Doctor]

Owens gambling influence on other players has always caused enormous problems its a rumour that apparantly one player lost a years wages to owen on the turn of a card, the said player left the club soon after.
Wayne rooney lost a lot of money to owen during the world cup, I'm not convinced he will help the dressing room moral.

 

[motownmartin]

Wouldn't call it a masterstroke, maybe a bit of a gamble, after all he is 29 and injury prone, but could be a Ole Gunnar Solksjear supersub type player, providing he gets fit.

Then you never know what will happen, look at Heskey, he got back in the England team.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Wouldn't call it a masterstroke, maybe a bit of a gamble, after all he is 29 and injury prone, but could be a Ole Gunnar Solksjear supersub type player, providing he gets fit.

Then you never know what will happen, look at Heskey, he got back in the England team.

I know what people are saying about injury prone, but in 4 years he's had 3 major injuries, the knee at the Euro's was the big one, then Newcastle rushed him back to early and he picked up a recurrence, then a couple of hamstrings. Prior to that he'd hardly had anything.

I think he will be a great signing, and forget his pace, he isn't as quick as he used to be but he's still faster than 90% of the defenders, and it's his finishing that matters, and that is still fantastic.

I may well be wrong, but I'm going to reserve judgement until he's had a full tilt at a season. Here's hoping...

 

[+steve+]

Never mind Michael Owen, the WOLVES are back where they belong!!
Be afraid, be very afraid.......

I'll get me coat :lol: :lol:

 

[BradNaylor]

Never mind Michael Owen, the WOLVES are back where they belong!!

Nah, that'll be in the following season!

:lol:

Brad

 

[phil p]

I think I speak for most Newcastle fans and say good riddance.

Owen, fit or not fit, was never happy at Newcastle, never looked happy even though he was on a hundred grand + a week, like all footballers these days it's all about money, don't believe them when they rant on about it "being a challenge" and all the other bull**it.

Owen only ever went to Newcastle for the cash nowt else, he hapily took the cash when thinking the club was beneath him.

I think half the time he was throwing sickies as he didn't want to play, not that I'm hiding the fact that Newcastle were terrible and deserved to go down, however you you would have thought the likes of Owen would have rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in and went down fighting.

Unfortunatley, I think he will get goals for Man U.

 

[Woodmagnet]

Never mind Michael Owen, the WOLVES are back where they belong!!
Be afraid, be very afraid.......

I'll get me coat :lol: :lol:

Well done to "big Mick" for getting them there. Just
hope he get's the money to buy players to keep
them up, when he was at Sunderland the "then"
board as per usual never got their hands deep
enough in their pockets. :roll:

 

[DonkeyPong]

Wouldn't call it a masterstroke, maybe a bit of a gamble, after all he is 29 and injury prone, but could be a Ole Gunnar Solksjear supersub type player, providing he gets fit.

Then you never know what will happen, look at Heskey, he got back in the England team.

Exactly, Ole went down as a legend in United history. I really think that Owen could recreate this 'supersub' stardom. And of course, getting one over on Liverpool would be great! It is a gamble, but what a gamble if it pays off!

 

[Chippyjoe]

Wouldn't call it a masterstroke, maybe a bit of a gamble, after all he is 29 and injury prone, but could be a Ole Gunnar Solksjear supersub type player, providing he gets fit.

Then you never know what will happen, look at Heskey, he got back in the England team.

Exactly, Ole went down as a legend in United history. I really think that Owen could recreate this 'supersub' stardom. And of course, getting one over on Liverpool would be great! It is a gamble, but what a gamble if it pays off!

Oh dear!!! :shock: