Comments on: Four Reasons Why Newcastle’s Michael Owen Is Going Nowhere

By: NUFC = best

NUFC = best — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:01:35 +0000

he wont leave he still got to prove his self to the club and if he dosn’t he will have fans on his back all the tim i think he needs us more than we need him though soo we have trid to do our bst to keep him anyway the 9 million clause could drag him away

By: nightfall

nightfall — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:02:04 +0000

if arsene wants him, he can have him..in exchange for theo:)

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:43:51 +0000

Tony – you’re right – that’s what seems to be the clause.

By: Tony_D

Tony_D — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:02:57 +0000

Although the release clause says that his value decreases by 25% per year I was under the impression it was only effective if we didn’t qualify for Europe, so if he stays one more year and we qualify for Europe then the release clause cannot be activated.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:44:27 +0000

we all want Oen to stay and by the sounds of what is said in the media ,only Arsenal may be prepared to take him if Henry goes. Media reports say only arsenal may be interested if Henry goes. why has Owen not come out and said he will be staying. he should have a bit of backbone and loyalty to a club who took him when nobody else wanted him,

By: RebYell

RebYell — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:51:52 +0000

Just a quick reply to the comments that Owen only talked about England the last few weeks — didn’t the articles all say that the F.A. instructed him and/or the press that the questions and answers were only supposed to be about England? I seem to remember a few articles mentioned that Owen had been “gagged” by the F.A. when it came to his club future. And he’s on holiday I believe currently, probably not giving press statements at the moment.

That said, if Liverpool come in for him, I think he’d have a hard time saying no. He’s still good mates with Carragher and Gerrard, and he could live full time at his home in Wales. That would probably be a very attractive opportunity.

If anyone else, even the Big 4 come in for him, I think he’d stay at NUFC. If he’s not going home, why ruin his “St. Michael of the Football” image? (whether that’s warranted or not, he seems to make decent money on his image — more than NUFC pays in wages I believe, per annum). I figure he’ll be on Tyneside at least until the January window. If Benitez still needs a solid top-class striker, and Owen’s fit and playing well (as I expect) — then Owen may leave for LFC at midseason.

NUFC qualify for Europe if he stays, and the clause is negated (as I read the news reports) — so he’d be worth a lot more than 6.75 mil if Bent is being touted for what is it? 18 mil? An Owen who is clearly healthy and on-form would be a much more lucrative sale, or maybe getting to Europe would keep him on Tyneside longer.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:35:13 +0000

First of all, if he wanted to stay he should have come out and said he wanted to stay! Has he done that? No!

Also the fact that Owen is now 27, he is going to take half a season to get fit, and remember we are paying him apparently Â£110k a week! Be a good opportunity to cash in Â£9m, we will have recouped most of Â£17m investment in marketing etc.

We should cash in now, get a younger replacement, less wage, more LOYALTY to the toon!

Ship Owen out ASAP! Bring back Bellamy. He has some passion for the club!

By: Sam Still Seeking New Players for Newcastle United | Soccerlens - Football News Blog

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:27:52 +0000

[...] want proof of his fitness â€“ as Benitez of Liverpool has been quoted as saying. There’s an article on Owen on the Newcastle United [...]

By: Davey G

Davey G — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:08:50 +0000

ANDY T!!
Excellent post………………

By: Hammy

Hammy — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:52:53 +0000

Jinal has a point….the only times I’ve seen Owen on T.V being interviewed, it’s England this and England that……….the toon never gets a mention…..I’m not sure Benitez would take him as a matter of principal…… he does not seem the type to change his mind……….but they are desperate for a goal poacher. Don’t get me wrong MO is a great player….used to hate him playing against NUFC as he usually got a couple of goals.
I’m not sure how this will play out but Big Sam is impressing me more by the day so lets concentrate on who wants to come to SJP……

By: AndyT

AndyT — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:30:11 +0000

Quick reply to the comments on getting a clause in the players contract about him being available to play. First off – How would you feel about your players never challenging for the ball, running as fast as they can, training hard, in fact all of the things that people on here have been demanding from a first team player – because if they pick up a knock or even a long term injury then they will loose out. If you think Newcastle united have been paying Owens wages for the last 10 months then you are wrong. He hasn’t been available to play – that has what has cost us. Every player is insured against injury and it is the insurance company that have been paying his wages. The “refund” Freddy is after from the FA is the specialist treatment which Owen has been sent for. Now had Fredy been shrewd (something I would never accuse him of by the way) he may have sought that before paying for it, or alternatively spoken to MO and said – there’s a chance your release clause could get activated so if you want the tip top treatment you’ll have to splash for it yourself sunshine. My guess is he would have been slated for demotivating a top player etc blah.
Finally a re-itteration of my earlier point. MO has not said he doesn’t want to be at Newcastle – but there are probably some places he would choose over Newcastle. I bet if you asked every player in the squad to state that they would choose Newcastle over an oppertunity to play regularly for one of the top 4 teams you’d be a bit dissapointed. Some people will imediately cite new signing Barton’s attitude – sure but we were competing with West Ham – Do you think he wouldn’t have talked to one of the top 4. The point about the rest of the squad is that they are not good enough to command a starting position for one of the top 4. Owen is a world class striker and is currently a Newcastle player. Apart from the media the biggest imputus I can see for him leaving is the crap he’s taking from the fans.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:37:48 +0000

Jinal – if he’s really like that then now is the time to get rid of him – we’ve heard stuff like that coming from some Liverpool fans – in the past. Platying for himself was very evident during the England games – it was all about England this and England that. Not the player we need at Newcastle – and his silence really is starting to be irritating.

By: Jinal

Jinal — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:54:28 +0000

An interesting viewpoint that I came across on another forum
“Now let’s get one thing straight – I don’t have any respect for Owen at all. Yes he did great things for Liverpool on the Pitch but his heart never seemed to be in it – he only seemed to want to play for England – Nothing has changed there.

He never wanted to go to Newcastle FC he made it crystal clear – he said he would only go to NUFC on loan – can you be much clearer than that? He did not want to sign for you and if this clause for Â£9m is true it only goes to prove that NUFC were extremely desperate to get him.

I’ve got to say I do question the self respect of many (not all) associated with NUFC. They sign a player who disrespected them by saying he did not want to sign a contract with them – he then had a clause put into his contract for only half the fee paid! And yet 27,000 Geordies show up to welcome him! Sorry but you are deluded if you think Owen would leave Liverpool for Real Madrid and then be happy at NUFC. Yes you have a fantastic stadium and great support but you have won nothing for an age.

I also have to say how annoying it is that loyalty only seems to work in one direction in football. If Owen played 2 full season but was poor by all accounts would you all be demanding loyalty? Where is loyalty when a player has a prolonged loss of form? Where was loyalty to Bobby Robson or many before him?

As loyal fans you deserve players that show pride in pulling on the NUFC shirt – players who would die for the NUFC cause – Mr Owen is not that man so if he wants to go let him – you deserve much much better! He should not be compared to great ambassadors such as Alan Shearer – as a player he is probably nearly as good but as a man of integrity and loyalty – he is not fit to lace Shearer’s boots.

Your board forced Owen to join when he clearly did not want to so if you are angry at anyone it should be your board – if true what a ridiculous contract! Sign players who want to play for you – Owen only plays for England and Michael Owen.”

By: The Big P

The Big P — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:34:43 +0000

I agree with tin, a man would not buy a top of the range dvd player to go with his 14inch black and white tv.
Newcastle has been a laughing stock mostly due to the ridiculous players we bring in along with the fees paid. From the brilliant to the useless they all cost large sums of money.
But now that we will be able to give Owen a decent ball on more than one occasion during a 90minute spell, he has an opportunity to do the job he was paid to do.
If he leaves now, i won’t like the guy at all.
When all the talk about Gerrard was going round that he was going to chelsea, it took him some time to put his kneck on the line and commit to shiverpool.
So let’s wait and see.
At the same time I am confident Alleydice will bring in someone who will score goals if we have to replace Owen.

By: TinFinger

TinFinger — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:03:26 +0000

imho the whole owen deal shows just how badly run nufc was

bought owen and alowed the rediculous clause
dint rerplace shearer with a player with any physical presence(viduka),imho owen could have replaced bellamy(touted swap)