Michael Owen failed to score against Tottenham on Monday night although he did have a good opportunity in the first half when he forced a great save from stand-in goalkeeper Cerny. However, Sam Allardyce believes Michael couldn’t have been happier at the final whistle.
His strike partner on the night Obafemi Martins, scored his fifth goal of the season as he took a half chance when he beat Michael Dawson to a high through ball from Jose Enrique. Oba had the ball in the net and completed his trademark somersault, before the Spurs’ defense could react.
Michael Owen – no goals on Monday night but one good effort
Cacapa and James Milner also scored very good goals in a well-earned win by the Magpies. It was the impressive Cacapa’s first goal ever for the Tyneside club, and Milner’s first goal of the season.
Sam Allardyce talked to the Shields Gazette today. We feel the Gazette is getting better and better at reporting Newcastle stories with their impressive correspondent Miles Starforth.
Sam told the Gazette this morning:
“It was a good contribution from Oba,” “And Michael probably had one chance when Geremi put him through and the goalie made a great save.â€
“Michael won’t be disappointed, because we won again and we scored three goals.â€
“Every player who is playing on the field is happy when you’ve won.†“If you’re a goalscorer and you haven’t got one, but your team’s still won, it’s better than you scoring and the team not winning.â€
“We’re delighted with the contribution of all the players.”
The game was the first time that Owen has started up front alongside Martins, but it was really forced on Big Sam becasue of injuries to Ameobi and Viduka, and Smith was suspended. But the two of them worked hard together and certainly together did a good job.
However, Allardyce believes Owen plays best alongside a big man and we think if Viduka is fit he’ll start along side one of them on Saturday. If not we think Sam will start Smith up front – who played very well indeed against Everton in our previous game. Which one of Oba or Michael starts the game doesn’t really matter, because the other one will get a chance to make a difference sometime during the game. And it seems to us, that’s all players at Newcastle really want to do this season.
Comments welcome.
40 comments so far
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:14 PM
Comment #1I QUESTION THE COMMITMENT OF MICKY TO NEWCASTLE UNITED, he is never so lively in the pitch or doesn wanna run around the ball much..maybe it’s his game but as a striker you ve gotta chase balls down.. if you look at the work rate between oba and little micky ‘ there’s a whole lotta difference to find.. he is home sick.. he wants to be at liverpool.. he would hav jumped at the chance to play for the big four. obivously they opted out considering his injury chances.. maybe it’s a bit harsh but the guy is showing no enthusiam.
Alex Brett
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:24 PM
Comment #2He doesnt chase balls as it has never been his game, you need to preserve energy in games, watch him next time for England he wont chase balls Rooney will.
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:29 PM
Comment #3wont be suprised if he’s substituted again against reading ,
Donno
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Comment #4What a load of rubbish ‘indian toon’. You’re just the sort of so called supporter that really annoys me. How many times does he have to say he likes it up here and that he is commited to the cause for you to listen? Not only that, but his performances for the team have been very good. He adds a lot to the front line with his movement of the ball as well as his contribution to the buildup play that is easily overlooked if you don’t have a footballing brain. How’s about getting behind him and supporting him and stop questioning him?
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:49 PM
Comment #5@ dunno.. it’s not that am totally against him. he’s seems to enjoy playin for england rather than nufc. that really pisses me off. we are payin his wages not the FA.
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Comment #6@ dunno k sir, maybe i was too harsh on little micky.. my apologies.
Bill f
Oct 25, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Comment #7As I said yesterday, I would put money on him scoring 20 goals for us. And for Oba and Owen to get fourty between them in all comps.
Rob kirton
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Comment #8I don’t think that Owen has ever had a great affinity for Liverpool. He held them to ransom for two seasons by not signing a new contract,forcing them to sell on the cheap. They didn’t make any effort to buy him when he returned form Spain. When Owen does leave Newcastle, I suspect it will be to Everton. A bit like when Shearer came home to Newcastle.
In the mean time, let’s keep him fit and focussed on scoring goals for Newcastle United.
Man U are getting their two small and mobile forwards to work together, in Rooney and Tevez. A combination I would thought never work. Whether or not we can get Owen and Martins to play a similar game is another matter. Michael owen has adapted his game over the last few seasons to being “johnny on the spot”, this coupled with Martins inability to often make a pass makes the combination to be an unlikely one. Stranger things have happened.
If not, each is just going to have to be used to being rotated or brought on as an impact player.
JohnST
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Comment #9Michael Owen is a good player, if he can recover half of his form before his injuries, he will be an asset to Newcastle and England.
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Comment #10It would be nice to see some raw passion from Owen. For the wages he is on he should be the one doing the back flips when he scores. I want to see him kissing the badge after a goal and also bigging up Newcastle in the press.
I remember him doing all those things at Liverpool. Is it too much to ask for 100K a week?
Even if he doesnt like Newcastle as much as Liverpool he should still act as if he does.
At the end of the day I dont care anyway. Lets face it was his pace that made him a world class player back in the day, and with that gone hes having to rely upon positional skills alone. Because lets face it he hasnt got the skills to beat a man like Milner or Duff for example. As a youngster it was his high pace dribbling ability that took him past players.
I cant see him renewing his contract before the summer by which point his release clause will be activated by a top 4 club looking for a bargain squad player.
Problem is with Micheal he thinks hes bigger than the club although he would never be stupid enough to be caught saying it in the press.
yemozone
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Comment #11why do u have to take side with owen everytime when he is not that committed to the club.
yemozone
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Comment #12complaetely agree with u magpie neil
nightfall
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Comment #13i still think we should sell owen…he lost his pace, he’s weak…he lost every fight for the ball against spurs…
he’s good…against crapy teams, but he can’t do shit against quality defenders… and with his injury record and putting england first…we don’t need that…and we don’t need to fight every week about owen…will he go, will he stay, etc… he’s ok, but with all this crap around him…f(*&(ck that…i say just sell him…
ToonKing
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #14There is no release clause in Owen’s contract anymore, and he doesn’t need pace the pass the defenders, he has better positioning than most of the CB and can easily just jog to the right position and tap them in. See Wigan, Everton.
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:37 PM
Comment #15lets peace out guys.. let time decide, not the one for the future as we all agree, big sam must already know this and planning for a replacement. because clearly oba is the fans favourite and selling him would start a riot. so oba’s for the future. should start scouting for owen’s replacement at the end of the season.
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Comment #16What are you talking about ToonKing???
Set him straight Ed.
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #17Im referring to the contract comment not his positioning ability.
Rob kirton
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Comment #18Magpie Neil: Owen HAD a release clause in his contract. Past tense. It is no longer valid. He has now two years to run and no get out. The club bhave confrimed as much. Whether or not that is a good thing has to be proven. So if you want to really know why he has had a face like a wet Wednesday for the last few weeks….
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Comment #19The release clause stopped at the end of the summer transfer window. The clause will become active again next summer. If this is not the case please provide me a link to an article that says otherwise. Cheers 😉
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Comment #20the clause will not become active again. it expired at the last day of the transfer window. thanks to our freddie.
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Comment #21here’s the link.. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=473110&&cc=4716
cheers.
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Comment #22Then why did I hear talk of him leaving for 5 – 6 million next summer?
So many inaccurate reports about these days.
Dont know what to believe!
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 2:58 PM
Comment #23Allardyce said: ‘I’d like to see him fit for the next 20 games on the trot or more and then enter into a new contract.
so sam knows how vulnerable he is and would sell him to get something in bargain. although a loss is loss. although would love if he proves me wrong..
Rob kirton
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Comment #24Magpie Neil: Can’t find article at mo. Chris Mort was quite widely reported in the last couple of weeks by BBC that Owen no longer has a release clause. The previous stories about release clauses which you (and I) had latched suggesting an opt out each year were not true. Either that or the club have bought him off…
This article came later but backs the no get out story. It also puts the boot on the other foot with respect to future contract negotiations
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7048336.stm
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Comment #25Cheers for the link indian toon!
At least we will be able to reclaim some of the cash we spent on him if he decides to leave next summer.
steve
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Comment #26I wish everyone would stop moaning about Owen – if he scores 20 goals this season (which I think he can) then thats more than enough commitment for me
he’s never chased balls or made his own goals with the odd exception all of his goals come inside the box.
I dunno, we win a few home games and all of a sudden people are saying we dont need Owen – lets get this straight once and for all – WE NEED MICHAEL OWEN
if he can stay fit he almost guarantees goals, if he dont kiss the badge and do somersaults then so what!
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Comment #27cant believe being millionaires and having such a lotta money these guys didnt take a pay cut when out being injured for so many months. the plural sense if for luque and owen. and it’s been 2 years since micky’s came into nufc and today he’s like a new signing.. after the millions we ve paid as his wages let alone his buy from the galacticos..
indian toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Comment #28deep inside my heart i really do want little micky to do well. but the man is showing no signs of enthusiam. loves to be substituted. know what i mean..
hadrian
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Comment #29if micheal comes at the expanse of oba … no ty !
if he is to stay and knuckle down tho, this long ball thing is a waste of 17mill .
thats my problem with micheal , he plays well when the squad plays well .
owens not a pick the game up by the scruff of the neck kind of guy .
i keep banging on about martins , but the lad did great last year and i can already see what sam is trying to add to his game .
martins now used to prem football , and that was never more obvious than him kicking seven colours of shite out of the defence in the last games he’s played ,
he seemed taken aback last year with how physical it could be , not he’s probably the most physical player out there , with nothing on his mind other than putting the ball away .
Magpie Neil
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Comment #30Steve – Yes at the moment we need Micheal. But if Sam want to play a big man little man combo then I say Martins deserves his 1st team place above lack luster Micheal.
Next summer we should replace Micheal with someone who plays more than 10 games a season. I dont care what his goal scoring record is when he is fit. If hes not available then he aint gonna be scoring goals.
But until the summer months I will try and be a little more supportive!
Lets hope he bangs in 20 goals and proves me wrong!
Tom_Toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Comment #31like to see a big man to go with martins if BSA is insistent on that maybe a Kuranyi figure.
Cockney Magpie
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Comment #32people need to stop expecting so much from Owen he is a goal scorer and thats all, his role is to score goals and he does that brilliantlly so he hasnt scored in the last couple of games, so what! he will b our top scorer at the end of the season and we all know it, people just have to stop expecting more than goals from him because that is not michael owen! just let the man do his job!!!!
ToonKing
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Comment #33Jesus people, honestly u make me sick, can’t everybody be happy for a change and enjoy the good run were having. bloody hell, i honestly have no clue where this animosity towards Owen is coming from. The guy was fooking’ INJURED for gods sake, what could he have done about that. It’s not like he pulled a Berbatov and wouldn’t wanna stand up from the bench.
He’s release clause is gone, he’s playing regularly now and scoring goals. He himself stated several times that he is happy, he loves it in Newcastle and so does he’s family. Watch the documentary A Year in the life of Michael Owen- he clearly states there that he’s committed to the Toon and would love nothing more than to win some silverware with the club.
jesus, you getting on he’s back cause he’s not doing a somersault ???????? what will happen when next time Oba will tear he’s ACL during one of he’s jumps ???? will you then get on he’s back for DOING somersaults ??!!!!
I watched Owen since he was 18 and he never chases the ball you can’t call that lack of commitment. And as for loosing he’s pace, there are a million players out there who can tun like hell are they as good as Owen, NO!! Owen is a complete player, he can do everything, he can pass,he can cross, he can head, he can most certainly shoot, he’s movement is perfect.Oba can run like a rabid rabbit , is he as good as Owen??? NO!! And as much as i love Oba he will never be as good as Owen is or was, he cant can’t pass, can’t cross, can’t head and most certainly can’t position himself like Owen. He’s strong point are he’s speed, strength and he’s tremendous shoot but he misses waaaaay too many chances, even against the Spurs he was lucky to score.
@hadrian : you say Owen is not a “pick the game up by the scruff of the neck kind of guy”. That is pure nonsense my friend, even if he doesn’t touches the ball for 80 minutes he can pop a goal from nowhere at any time, neither of our striker can do that.
@Idian toon: your just plain daft.
So please show some respect and love to one of the worlds greatest strikers and be happy to have such a tremendous player in our squad.
ToonKing
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Comment #34jesus that’s my longest post ever, i need a smoke ……………
steve
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Comment #35@toonking – I think I’ll join you and I don’t even smoke!!
Tom_Toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Comment #36depends what you are smoking, if its what i like i may join you.
ToonKing
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Comment #37Tom_Tom watch it mate, there are kids here………. 😉 😉
Tom_Toon
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Comment #38Aye, kids these days probably from the ages of 8 know what im on about 🙂
steve
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Comment #39anyway its pretty obvious why Owen doesn’t do a somersault or kiss his shirt when he scores – he’s bound to do his ACL’s in doing somersaults and he’ll prob put his back out or pull his shoulder if he kisses the shirt and as for putting his shirt over his head……………………….
Bill f
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Comment #40That comment about Rooney being a small player, He looks like a brick sh*thouse to me. I aint a manure fan but I would like him in our team if Sam had of been manager at time we might have got him.