Back of the Sunday newspapers again and discussed on the Sunday Supplement on Sky that Stoke, Liverpool and ourselves are linked with signing him. On the face of it, its a not a one I'd say would come off imo, as he is very much NW based and has stables in the midlands so either Stoke or Liverpool would seem a more obvious destination. However, MoN is a very determined individual and by all counts a very persuasive person and if he sees Owen as a good acquisition for his campaign I wouldnt bet against it. It all boils down to 3 things imo. 1) Is Michael Owen fit and ready to play? 2) Is the financial deal good for us? 3) Does he want to play football or manage racehorses? If the answer to all 3 questions is yes, then this is something I'd be only too happy to contemplate. His record of a goal every 2.14 games (221 goals in 473 games) at the very highest level and 40 international goals in 89 games is a phenomenal record and as he will only be 33 in December this year hardly passed it just yet. It all depends on whether he still has the desire and hunger to play football and if he can prove he is fit again to play a part. He would be an excellent alternative coming off the bench and the ultimate 'fox in the box' striker we still lack imo. A pay as you play contract is what I'd be looking at not a full time contract at mega money but I certainly wouldnt dismiss this rumour and it may be the reason we didn't dip back into the transfer market last week. This could prove to be a much better and cost effective deal for us than a permanent transfer of a lesser striker. Any thoughts? Watch this space?
Not now, if for whatever reason Fletcher and Saha weren't on the pitch id rather Campbell, Wickham or Ji were given a chance. Would be a good signing for Stoke as they have a lot of big strikers but no one like Owen
Neither do we mate. Fletcher apart, how many goals have Campbell, Ji and Wickham got between them in the top flight? Owen just about scored more last season as a bit part player for Man Utd than they have combined in their careers? I think its worth thinking about.
I'd happily take him, I reckon he's got a few goals in him still and his wage demands will be reasonable at his age, I watched an interview of him last week where he said his wages at man Utd were a fraction of what he was on at the mags..
Not bothered, Campbell has had a bad injury, I personally think now he is fit he would be more dangerous as a 33 yo Michael Owen who's only motivation for playing for us would be money. Were only going to play 1 up top this season and we have 5 strikers to choose from at the moment. Save the wages for a decent defender in Jan.
On no level, and in no sane mans eyes, can there be any benefit to us to buy a well over the hill mercenary footballer, aged 33, injury prone in the extreme, who would look down on is as a club whilst gratefully taking our money. I'd genuinely rather have Heskey, can I make that any clearer?
I personally think we are still 1 quality defender short. Would have loved Samba but that looks impossible.
Dont think a purchase is the deal here though Mon's and a years pay as you play would be a good one for us. Is he really over the hill and worse than Heskey? He still got 17 in 52 games for Utd as a bit part player and sub, which is more than Heskey has scored in the last 5 years?
In my opinion Owen has not performed at Premiership level for years..His A game was always based on his lightening pace, but with all his injuries, not to mention his age, this is no longer a potent weapon.
Cest, I'd score goals playing for United. This would be a crazy move, and no way will Owen take a pay as you play, knowing he won't play.
There is a very cheap joke here and a great 'Colemanball' but I'm not cracking it. Lol I take what everyone is saying and kind of agree with most of it. I was playing Devils Advocate a bit with this one and I agree with Vegas that we should keep our powder dry for January and look to add a Demba Cisse type of signing in the next window, which ultimately was a signing that pushed the mags into Europe. Owen wouldnt be that kind of signing imo.
You can discount the stables in the midlands theory, he had them while at the skunks so that isn't an issue. Desire? you don't go to ManUtd unless you have desire. Fitness on the other hand? You're right, at 33 he's not exactly over the hill just yet but Owen exploded onto the scene at the age of 17 and has played at the top ever since so he's had a longer career than most footballers get so he's not exactly fresh either. His record speaks for itself but the majority of his golas were score in the early & middle part of his career, when he had explosive pace, that's gone now. Can he still do it? Fergy doesn't think so. At best, a bit part player come bench warmer and we already have a few of those. NO from me on fitness grounds.
You can discount the stables in the midlands theory, he had them while at the skunks so that isn't an issue. Desire? you don't go to ManUtd unless you have desire. Fitness on the other hand? You're right, at 33 he's not exactly over the hill just yet but Owen exploded onto the scene at the age of 17 and has played at the top ever since so he's had a longer career than most footballers get so he's not exactly fresh either. His record speaks for itself but the majority of his golas were score in the early & middle part of his career, when he had explosive pace, that's gone now. Can he still do it? Fergy doesn't think so. At best, a bit part player come bench warmer and we already have a few of those. NO from me on fitness grounds.
no for me. we have two spots up front which, injury permitting, will be fletch and sess. for cover, we have saha, campbell, wickham, ji and noble. i hope that at least two of the young'uns go out on loan (can't lower league clubs start loaning players again in a few weeks?), but we've got plenty of cover.
That's the point though, his wage demands are and will not be reasonable. He is looking for 80 to 100 grand a week. Never thought I would dissagree with Cest but wouldnt touch him with a ten foot barge pole.Anyway the feelin down here is that he will return to Anfield or go to Stoke
We have one forward who has a few question marks over his fitness in Saha, I don't think we can take the risk in having two, given the choice I'd rather have Saha over Owen any day of the week.
