This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club. AUTHOR: Jamie Carragher In terms of making a first impression, Michael Owen could not have done anything more. Pitched into an FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Anfield, he scored a hat-trick. We had heard his name mentioned around the club as being someone to keep an eye on but it was in that game, in the spring of 1996, I thought Michael was going to be something special. His finishing was deadly, delivered in a calmness you would not expect a 16-year-old to possess. What really sticks in my mind from that night, though, was Michael's tackling. I was known as being someone who was not afraid to put his foot in but Michael made me wince with some of the challenges he made. He was desperate to win and had an incredible mental strength. Within 12 months, we were both in Liverpool's first-team squad and, as we were the youngest in the group, we became friends and room-mates. He scored a brilliant goal on his debut against Wimbledon and became one of the most talked-about footballers of his generation. If you had said back then, just after he had been crowned European Footballer of the Year and scored that goal against Argentina, that he faced the prospect of ending his career sitting on the bench at Stoke, you would have been laughed out of town but, for a couple of a reasons, that is what has happened. The first is injuries. Michael was not the same after he lost the pace that used to blow defenders away, the hamstring injury he sustained against Leeds in April 1999 had an enormous impact, as did the cruciate ligament damage he suffered at the World Cup finals in 2006. But another reason is that the role of the consummate goal poacher, the one in which Michael excelled, has effectively disappeared over the last few years. Teams now play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and neither of those systems suit Michael's qualities. It still annoys me that people forget what a top player he was. Michael had this unshakable belief that he was the best and wasn't bothered about trying to usurp Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore to get into Liverpool's starting line-up. The best strikers are single-minded and I saw at first hand how he was able to put disappointments to one side and bounce back when it really mattered. He used to take knocks in his career but he always came back with an answer. When he was left on the bench for the 2001 League Cup final against Birmingham, he got his place back and ended up scoring the goals that won the FA Cup final against Arsenal and helped Liverpool qualify for the Champions League for the first time. He was, simply, a big-game player. It's why Real Madrid eventually came calling for him. Michael and I were rooming in America during Liverpool's pre-season tour when he told me that Madrid had made him an offer and he was thinking seriously about it. Liverpool had just signed Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros had returned from Euro 2004 as the winner of the Golden Boot. Michael felt the time was right to pursue a fresh challenge. I told him he was making a mistake, that Madrid were a football club rife with politics and he wouldn't play. They had Raul and Ronaldo, who always played, and to be a success at Madrid, you had to be more than just a goalscorer but Michael wouldn't be moved. He thought he was the best and would become a success in Spain. And in difficult circumstances, he did very well. Despite Real Madrid having three managers that season and him getting limited starting opportunities, he scored 16 times in 45 appearances. He may not have won any honours but his reputation was not harmed. When he returned to England 12 months later, he could have come back to Anfield but Liverpool were outbid by Newcastle. Liverpool supporters did not take too kindly to the way he left but I'm a firm believer that time is a healer and I'm sure they would have welcomed him back after his contract at Newcastle had expired. I had heard he was thinking of joining Manchester United but he would have jumped at the opportunity to come back to Liverpool. He would have been happy to be a squad player and was excited at the opportunity to return home. The way he left Liverpool had saddened Michael and he wanted the opportunity to redeem himself. Maybe he should have made this decision a couple of years ago or taken the chance to play in America or the Middle East. Something doesn't seem right about him potentially bringing the curtain down on his career sitting on the bench when Stoke play Southampton. But that won't diminish my memories or opinion of him. He was a supreme goalscorer, capable of glorious moments, and the goal he swept past David Seaman in the Millennium Stadium in that 2001 final provided my finest Liverpool moment until Istanbul. For good reason it will be remembered as the 'Owen Final'. {LINK}
please log in to view this image Liverpool (1996-2004): 297 games, 158 goals Real Madrid (2004-05): 40 games, 14 goals Newcastle (2005-09): 79 games, 30 goals Man Utd (2009-12): 52 games, 17 goals Stoke (2012-13) 7 games, one goal Total (1996-2013) 475 games, 220 goals England (1998-2008): 89 caps, 40 goals
Had he held firm and waited for a move back to Liverpool after Madrid then he'd probably go down as a legend to all Liverpool fans but facts are after going to United he's pretty much ruined his relationships with 90% of Liverpool fans. Can't thank him enough for what he did before but the way he left (£8mil what a joke!) and then what he did afterwards is hard to forgive. Like everyones said, should have gone out on a high as one of Englands greatest and highest scorer, instead he's going out of the game after 4 years of nothingness and sadly won't be missed in the same way Carragher/Gerrard/Giggs will when they retire.
Didi has said that he wanted to come back but Newcastle were willing to pay twice as much. Glad he didnt though with his injury record.
It's a shame how his career turned out. He should have achieved greatness. He was a special player when he first burst onto the scene - 17/18 year old making the impact he did is very rare.
A lot of people predicted his career to go how it did too though. He was very good at that age because he had pace to burn and knew how to finished, a lethal combination. He wasn't the tallest or best with his head, his left foot was okay at times but he was prominently one footed and he wasn't much of a creator for others. He was always going to struggle if he didn't adapt his game as he got older, injuries obviously didn't help either.
A lot of people hated Owen as soon as he left for Madrid... took longer for me. After he moved to Madrid I was annoyed but could see what an opportunity it could appear as to him. I forgave him. When he moved to Newcastle after saying how much he loved Liverpool etc... I was convinced he was full of hot air and was a liar. Going to United is when I really started to despise him... he had his options... yet knowing what he had been and what he was doing was a kick in the teeth... he lost all credibility at that point... he could not be forgiven. Stoke was just par for the course. As many of you know... Stoke is the only team I really dislike. Yes, United, Everton are our rivals but as much as I want to do better than them... I don't actually hate them. Stoke are actively anti-football and Pulis has made cheating his active tactic. Seems fitting someone with as little integrity as Owen ended up at Stoke. Saw rumours of an Owen/Carragher testimonial... stupid rumour since Carra already had one... no one would want to go to an Owen one... having a joint one would be like a terrorist hiding out with civilians to use them as a human shield. Owen could have saved his face and rep if he came back instead of going to Newcastle (also screwing them). He would never again be what he was... but people at Liverpool and elsewhere would respect him more today.
I hadn't heard that, it would be extremely poor to do that IMO. The crowd would be there for Jamie or not there because of Owen, either was it makes for a bad atmosphere!
Gerrez it was mail... mirror one if those less reputable papers... link showed up on my google news aggregator for "Liverpool football" can't find it at the mo but will post link if I find it again.
Bugger... know I saw it somewhere and the comments on the article were unanimously negative... hunted hard for it... can't find now. Best I can find is Twitter @LFCNewsRoom but they only repeat the rumour not give any reference. Needless to say... its such a bad idea it could never happen.
Your entire post is spot but the bit in bold is the best bit - I have the same feelings towards Stoke. Can't stand them.
