Speaking as Newcastle fans we are getting a little concerned there has been no statement from Michael Owen on what his future plans are for his Newcastle United career. We’d certainly like to hear that he plans to stay at Newcastle.
Here’s why we are concerned.
There are various reports in the news today linking Owen with a move away from Newcastle - one report links him with going back to Liverpool in the summer.
Rafael Benetiz will have plenty of money in the summer from the new American owners and he can afford to take a chance on Owen - who has been injury prone throughout his career.
Certainly one thing that upsets the Newcastle faithful is that when you buy a player for ₤17M (and we bid this much as a strategy to take Liverpool out of the transfer reckoning - so we knowingly overpaid for his services) why then put a clause in the player’s contract saying he could leave for ₤9M - which we believe is the figure Liverpool were bidding in August, 2007.
Liverpool’s American Owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Anfield
Another reason Newcastle are getting concerned is that it’s obvious that Steve McClaren would like Michael to play him in the England side in the qualifying game with Estonia on June 6th - and that news has reportedly upset the Newcastle Chairman, Freddy Shepherd
There’s does appear to be some conflict here since there have also been reports in the last couple of days - that Shepherd was OK with this.
Well there’s surely one thing we don’t want - and that’s for Owen to be injured again playing for England - that would truly be disastrous for both player and club.
There are couple of reasons why Michael may be staying mum (suggested by one of our readers Kein this morning):
- When Michael has had something positive to say, he is quoted immediately in the press - and doesn’t hold back.
The silence may mean he is either thinking about moving to another club (Manchester United or Liverpool or somewhere else) or has already decided to do it - Freddy Shepherd’s angry comments to the media may mean he knows something we don’t.
Why would Freddy get upset at Owen if he wants to stay or hasn’t expressed any desire to leave?
It’s also not clear how many of the big teams will want him - since he has been very injury prone throughout his career - and his wages are sky high.
Michael Own on Crutches last Summer
As Newcastle fans we agree with Chairman Shepherd - and think Michael should show some loyalty considering all the investment the club have put in him.
One last point - we have paid Michael about ₤9M in wages since he joined us in August, 2005 - when 25000 fans welcomed him - and made news around the world - even here in America.
The club would also lose ₤8M in the transfer fee in a short two years - and therefore₤17M in total.
Michael - after Sunday’s game with Watford - will have played 13 games for Newcastle - and scored 7 goals - assuming he doesn’t score on Sunday.
That would have cost Newcastle ₤1.3M per game and ₤2.43M for each goal - and that just about says it all.
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22 responses so far ↓
1 Pete // May 11, 2007 at 11:08
We paid pounds not dollars.
2 Toon Exile // May 11, 2007 at 11:36
Freddy isn’t that quiet about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWx5RK1G9c0
3 Thomas // May 11, 2007 at 11:37
Not to be an arse but, it’s actually £ and not $ which makes the matter FAR worse in fact, two times worse. He is obviously planning his exit and if he does it would be the most disgusting thing any footballer has done since the hand of god in my book.(unless we get £17mill for him.)
4 Michael // May 11, 2007 at 11:39
My suggestion is to let him Go for the 9M, cut our losses. IT was reported Newcastle are looking at Bent Drom Cahrlton the moment they were relagated, why is this when we have Martins adn Owen and Amiobi back? I think it is because we anticipate Owen Leaving. I am a newcastle fan but I do not want to go through this anymore. Having to worry about whether he will stay or go. This will make Freddy Shephard realize what a fool he is. I am only surprised he had did not realise this sooner. Why did we not go for someone Like Ruud VanNistelrooy, less injury Prone, can show loyalty to a club and best of All is the best in the world and has been for the past 7 years.
5 W // May 11, 2007 at 11:42
He’s not injury prone in the way Dyer is injury prone, any club would take him for 9mil. That surely makes Martins an expensive buy doesn’t it. Again, whether it’s man yoo or liverpool Michael must have taken a just a second to decide whether to leak out the terms of his contract. On to new greener pastures closer to home. There’s nothing in Newcastle for him. Well what we can do is, break him down again, so he’ll never play again. Pick a training match, hire me to make tackle myself. C’mon howay the lads!
Let us not be fooled he’d stay purely because of guilt.
6 W // May 11, 2007 at 11:44
If the club is going to lose 8 mil, make him lose his ankle. I’m calling on Karma. Namaste.
7 R // May 11, 2007 at 11:57
Look on youtube.com, look up freddie sheppard, there is a video of him in his car in jesmond saying he would “walk owen back to liverpool for £9m” I think he is on his way and don’t care if he doesn’t want to play for us he should go
8 Michael // May 11, 2007 at 12:04
All you haters. Just let him Go. True he leaked out the terms of his contract to get this attention hoping someone will swoop him, his reticence suggests he wants to go.This is Typical Newcastle this off season:
1. Appoint Well Overated Sam Allerdyce because he is cheaper.
2. Bring Rossi from Man yoo in exchange for Owen because we do not want to sell him without getting something in return.
3. Sign Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink in desperation
4. Resign lee Bowyer.
that is typical Newcastle
9 W // May 11, 2007 at 12:15
There you go from the man himself Michael has just appeared on nufcblog. I’ve been trying to get what Freddy said on the video about owen’s agent since last night. I can’t figure it out. Nice to see him wide awake and having a laugh for a change.
10 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:22
Thomas - I know - will change it to pounds - only have $ sign over here.
11 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:23
Michael - we want Newcastle to be successful - we don’t want any of the typical Newcastle in the future - believe me.
12 Michael // May 11, 2007 at 12:27
I agree I too would be happy if we were just regularly challenging for a Champions league Place. Arsenal and Liverpool my deem thier seasons poor but We would love to be there.
I hope we Do well. I really do.
13 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:30
Thomas - I agree with you completely - couldn’t have said it better.
14 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:31
Michael - I’m far too optimistic - but believe Allardyce can do it - hope springs eternal - upwatd and onward……..again.
15 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:32
Michael - we don’t hate Michael - but probably will if he leaves in the summer.
16 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 12:34
We will not hold onto Owen if he really wants to go - we only want players who are proud to wear the shirt - if Michael isn’t then we should get rid of him - and the sooner the better.
Hopefully when Sam comes in next week - he’ll bring it quickly to a head.
17 Michael // May 11, 2007 at 14:39
Agreed. IF he wants to go which his silence suggests, then go. Better for the club. It would be NEwcatles worst business since the likes of Patrick Kulivert came to town. In fact the Kulivert saga was better.
18 Barry Bethel // May 11, 2007 at 14:46
Newcastle didn’t pay the widely reported £17m for Owen. The deal cancelled out vast tracts of the previous Woodgate deal. It was effectively wooden dollars. Madrid were never going to pay in full for the crock they got in Woodgate and the easiest way to settle the dispute was to use Owen. It is no surprise that Owen, who didn’t want to come in the first place, is now looking at his exit strategy. He will not be here come the start of the new season so it would be wise for the matter to come to a head now, and allow us to bring in some much needed quality up front - while unloading Owen, Ameobi, Sibierski, Solano, Carr, Bramble and especially the waste of space that is Kieron Dyer. I would rather see players like Nugent, Arteta, Nolan, Barry and Distin arrive at the club with a work ethic to replace the poseurs and prima donnas that currently shame the stripes.
19 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 17:57
If you look on YouTube at the Freddy Shepherd piece today - excuse Shepherd’s use of the “F” word - but he says a couple of times that Owen is a good lad - he’s annoyed at his agents - not at MIchael.
The agents want Michael to move on - so they can make some money.
20 Ed Harrison // May 11, 2007 at 18:00
Barry - good points - think it will be exciting in the summer for us - move out the deadwood and bring in players who seem available - Distin is free - so expect Allardyce to go for him - we don’t have to spend millions all the time for players.
Sam made some excellent player deals at Bolton - and it would be good if he could make 2 or 3 for Newcastle in the summer..
21 Neil // May 12, 2007 at 0:18
How depressing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
22 Newcastle United are hurting, and it’s their own fault | SoccerLens // May 14, 2007 at 9:50
[...] Owen’s silence on his Newcastle future is troubling. [...]
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