Comments on: Owen to Manchester United â€“ How Long Will This Go On?

By: Outlaw

Outlaw — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 21:27:15 +0000

This is pissing me off. Shephard is a bastard for putting these clauses on the contracts in the first place. I say we get rid of them if there is nothing much that we can do about them. No point clinging on and seeing what’s around the corner.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:15:48 +0000

BTW – we expect Michael to be impressed with what Sam is doing at the club – and don’t be surprised if Owen loves working with big Sam – many many others have. Ashley’s takeover – and stated intentions for Newcastle cannot hurt either.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:13:50 +0000

RebYell – I don’t really understand Sam’s comment yesterday on Owen. I took it to be positive – but maybe not. If Michael’s staying i just don’t understand why a one line statement wasn’t released to cut off all this stuff written about him. One of his agents could have issued it.

By: RebYell

RebYell — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:40:42 +0000

Didn’t Big Sam also say that the issues with Owen were “all cleared up months ago” and “there’s been no speculation since” — which means Owen has at least been honest with the club officials. Big Sam probably knows the same thing Souness knew and Roeder knew, if Liverpool come in, NUFC will see the back of Owen quicker than any defender ever has! If it’s anyone else, I expect Owen will stay. Why move again, especially if the vibes from Liverpool indicate they may be waiting to see how his knee does.

I agree with Cicero, that Owen is a fairly quiet young man, and doesn’t spend a lot of time refuting crap in the press. It would be uncharacteristic of him to do so now, and I don’t expect it. He’s been honest about his intentions and “commitment” all the way through with Newcastle and the Geordies (even at his unveiling, he never hid his preference for Liverpool) so I think it’s unfair to accuse him of being a liar at this point. He was probably pretty burnt by the mess when he left Liverpool, saying in public he was signing another contract and then meeting up with Benitez to find the new manager wasn’t keen on keeping him. If he’s hedging his bets, it may be to avoid just such an occurrence when he really did “lie” to the fans.

And for the accusations that he could “feign another injury” I’m not sure what was meant, but I don’t think Owen’s been feigning a torn up ligament and a broken metatarsal. He’s probably so sick of injuries he’ll try to play through any niggling things, rather than feign anything.

By: Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:20:12 +0000

Clouded – I’m the one that’s clouded! – it was the Mirror – now to quickly update stuff. I’ve got the Sun on my brain – change it before they sue me

By: StevieA

StevieA — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:50:41 +0000

I am fed up with the speculation surrounding Owen. So unless he signs a new contract without a release fee and pledges his future to the club I would sell him.

I think once Martins sees the kind of signings we are making he will re-sign for us without the release clause.

I would swap Owen for Wes Brown and Alan Smith. Which I think Sam might suggest as both players would be committed and also make a big difference to the squad. They would also bring the wage bill down too a fair bit.

By: Clouded

Clouded — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:53:56 +0000

Correct me if im wrong, but wasnt it the Mirror who reported we signed Alan Smith for Â£3.5M from Man U last week and not the sun?

By: john75

john75 — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:11:24 +0000

As mentioned a lot already today and a lot yesterday, offer them both new contracts. If they don’t want to sign, then get rid of them ASAP, so that we can get replacements in early. Really hope there is truth about Gudjonsen being tracked as well as Edmilson.

By: DZ Adams

DZ Adams — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:54:10 +0000

BSA is no fool,yet the obvious answer to all this speculation is make them renegotiate new contracts or at least make official statements of their intentions before training starts.That way they can either go or hang around in the reserves waiting to be sold while their replacements get on with the job of helping us back into Europe and maybe a little bit of silverware as a bonus.We simply can’t take the chance of dragging this out until a week before deadline date then watching them go citing the old I need champions league football.

By: Soren

Soren — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:17:44 +0000

dougy j raey – Couldn’t agree more on Ameobi, his a good lad and as you say’d he scores goals, even when injured. Again you also spot on with the buy of Duff. Still even when Duff played like shite, Roeder still kept him on the pitch. That must be so umotivated to be watching if you’re N’Zogbia or O’Brian. So dissapointed that O’Brian was never given a chance, because he is a cracking player, and with the prospect of having him on the left, and Milner on the right, we would have a feared crossing wing team. But given that Zogs get a chance this season, does still look promising.
As for this whole farce with getout clauses, I think the worst ting to include in contract for such a talent as Martins. And Â£9m for a guy who cost Â£17m isn’t good business either. But since none of them has said anything, I’d expect them to stay. Don’t want to listen to all that transfer bullocks that is floating around.

By: Julio Laker

Julio Laker — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:56:08 +0000

Did anyone see Ameobi on Cribs? He has got to be the most grounded footballer I have ever come across. Most definitely not part of the bling brigade, if more footballers at NUFC were like Ameobi we’d be making the back pages for the right reasons not the wrong ones. Hoddle was also a big fan of his and tried very hard to take him to Spuds, mind you he also tried to get Phil Neville…..

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:43:24 +0000

I can’t be the only one who is disgusted by Owen’s attitude given the support (and money) he’s received from Newcastle over the last two years. It really is time for him to come out and admit if he is looking to go, because the balance of probability suggests the ‘big four’ are also testing the water and will make late bids. Surely Owen owes it to the club to come clean with his intentions so that Big Sam can get on with his rebuilding job; the very least he owes the club!!

Even if he was to stay I feel he has soured his relationship with the fans to such an extent that he may feel forced to go in January. At this point, with his contract expiring day by day, Newcastle may not even get the 9million which is being touted. If he can’t come clean, then I say find him another team for the good of the club! He could then feign another injury before his visit to St James’.

By: dougy j reay

dougy j reay — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:39:39 +0000

oh, and can i just say – having seen that duffer is out til november, is it just me or was it weirdly the worst piece of business done last summer?
Whilst we all thought 5m was cheap for him, look what we’ve got – a string of lazy, disinterested performances, a p*ssed off and unmotivated zog, and an o’brien (who will probo replace duff at int’l level soon anyway) who has just left.
Good. work. Roeder.
throw in ‘THE CLAUSE’, and the appalling decision to watch Kuyt four hundred times before letting him bugger off to liverpool, and can it be said tat glen was about the worst transfer market manager the world has ever seen?

By: dougy j reay

dougy j reay — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:35:07 +0000

Owen is clearly a toerag, and if there are fans who could boo Scott Parker (something I never agreed with personally and thought undeserved) I wonder how they’ll take to him next season. Maybe for his own good he should bugger off.
Despite what cicero says I think I’d rather have Ameobi up front. Sure he has about eight knees, and makes things look difficult at times but remember, this kid scores goals – even when injured – and more importantly puts in hard graft for the team. He’s been injured and yet played on, never came out to whine about it – despite criticism for his performances – and has shown some promise. Remember, this guy carried our attack for a season in Shearers absence at a young age, cracked in goals in europe with confidence (remember a great one against barca that could have counted for something were it not for dyers teapot defending) and is still young. I remember having a few beers with a guy who works at the FA and apparently Sven (this was while he was still manager) was a huge fan of his. I hear that off the pitch he is a great character and a hard worker, and he was considered a real prospect for England. Let’s be honest, he’s not Ronaldo, but I still think he deserves a bit more praise and support than he gets at times…

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:32:42 +0000

tino: love your first comment…