Much debate has raged between up all over the past year, with regards to having a Newcastle supporting manager/ player etc at our club. My thoughts are well documented on this and I dare bet our cousins up the road would hardly welcome a did hard Mackem into their hearts, as manager or player, if the roles were reversed. However, it is the very vocal uproar emerging from the Anfield faithful over the past 48 hours regarding the potential signing of one of their very own ex heroes that has caught my eye this morning. Apparently, because he has played for Man Utd, Michael Owen is now a leper amongst the Liverpool fans, even though this same lad broke every record known as a Liverpool player in his prime. On a talk sport poll this morning, a majority would rather have Fowler back than Owen? So, it would seem this is not just a NE phenomena? Can a manager, player ever really be accepted by a clubs fans, if they have declared their support of a local rival, or have gone from hero to zero by signing for those rivals?
If the player or manager is successful, then I'm sure the majority of fans would be happy. It's when things go tits up that the problems start.
Disliked Bruce because he was a crap manager. Liked Stokoe because he was a good manager. Both Geordies, and Stokoe didn't blame the fans for a bad result or two.
Let's face it, the fans of any club would be seriously knobbed off if they saw a £35M striker loaned out for the season to be replaced by an over-the-hill mercenary git of a former player whose injury record is terrible.
Get your drift kidda but if Suarez was knackered tomorrow, they have a foreign 21 year old, EPL novice to fall back on, who looks way off the pace. If fletcher was crocked and we only had Ji to cover for the next 3 or 4 months, how many of you would be happy to see Owen come here?
Would rather use Saha, ji, Campbell or wickham cest. I don't like Owen, he doesn't like us and I don't think he has anything left to offer given his injury record and lack of match practice in the last few years.
I wasn't trying to say that kidda. I was trying to draw parallels with a Liverpool scenario. If Ji was our only option was what I meant, as this Boroni lad is for them.
Understood mate. I'm just glad we don't and won't have to rely on Owen in any way like that - would definitely be dark days! Liverpool fans would have every right to be upset if he went there.
For me the fact he played for Man Utd is secondary to the fact he: a) is a crock b) is not very good even when fit c) ran his contract down deliberately when he was here last so we got forced into selling him for £8m when he was one of europe's best strikers d) there was always a feeling that club football was just a hindrance to him fiddling with his horses and playing for England As for your question whether they can ever be accepted by fans if they are open about who they supported? Jamie Carragher was an Everton fan when he was younger, and he actually left the Liverpool academy to join Everton's academy when he was about 13/14 but he came back and went on to be a legend. Its not really an issue if someone is playing well or talented.
Gone to Stoke on a one year deal. I wonder what basis that's on? Heard somewhere he was after ridiculous wages, but can't back that up.
