We’re not sure that Manchester City were ever serious about wanting to buy Michael Owen in January.
Michael Owen – started only 21 games in 28 months at Newcastle
But we now see the big story today is that Manchester City are not interested in taking Michael to Eastlands in January.
We think for one thing, Michael still has a lot of proving to do at Newcastle, that he is indeed worth the vast wages we are paying him. In his almost two and a half seasons at Newcastle United (28 months) he has appeared in just 25 games (21 starts) and scored 10 goals. And we have paid around £13M in wages during that time not to mention the £17M transfer fee.
Has Michael been worth it so far? Absolutely not.
That’s not at all to say he will not come back during the last 18 months of his contract, and play a lot more games and a score a lot more goals for us. We very much hope he does just that. But up to this point it’s been a very bad deal for Newcastle United, based purely on the facts.
Big Sam apparently has admitted to the Evening Chronicle this week that he has been in touch with City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson to find out his intentions regarding Michael Owen. Apparently Sam wanted to understand whether he should be looking for a replacement for Michael, so that tells us he was prepared to let Owen go, if City made a good offer.
Apparently Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has stopped any move for Owen because of Michael’s injury problems over the last two years. That’s a good business decision, and unless Michael starts to play a lot more games and score a lot more goals for Newcastle, we do not expect to be able to get much for him when his contract runs out in eighteen months.
What do you think? Let us know – comments welcome.
40 comments so far
Bosck
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Comment #1sorry to be pedantic but we wouldnt get any money for him when his contract runs out in 18 months however well he is playing, would have to sell him before that to get any money! 😉
Callum
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:22 PM
Comment #2Get rid of him, his wages mess up our wage structure, we have a replacement in Martins who’s much more reliable and will get more composure with age 🙂
Tom_Toon
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:31 PM
Comment #3To be fair the Fa have paid pretty much all his wages bar 1-2 mil or so, 10 mil for woorld cup and 1-2 mil for this new debarkle, sell him asap, he wasnt our current owners purchase so it wont concern him to much, none of this crap about bsa playing him because he is our mos prized asset like bsa said at the beiginning of the season.
the longshanks
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Comment #4I have this horrible feeling that if/when we sell him he will start banging in the goals and be fit again.He still has a bit of time on his contract and needs to come back scoring especially with oba headin off.If we sold him we would have a hugh wage taken off our wage bill and could go look for a new target someone like huntalaar,gudjohson or klose.
Aswell, all this talk of him not being given a new contract because of his injury.Would he really want to stay with newcastle and if he had been fit these last two seasons would he have already left when he had the clauses in his contract? Bottom line i think the reason he is still here is because of injuries and nobody wants to touch him with a barge pole!
I know that if he gets back to his best like at liverpool and real madrid we will def be in with a chance for europe this year,where we belong!
scott 9
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Comment #5hell start producing soon as long as he has no more serios injuries
JP from The Rock of Gibraltar!
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:16 PM
Comment #6If we sell him we have to make sure we grab a great finisher in front of goal like Owen, but without his injury problems.
Klose would be good but has little pace.
Anelka may be good but sulks all the time and the dull lad would sadden the dressing room.
I would go for Darren Bent or Yakubu. But what really puzzles me is..why in the hell didn’t we go for Saviola when Barcelona would sell him next to nothing!!?? That guy is amazing and now he’s at Real Madrid!
We need a finisher..strong, fast, and NOT injury prone.
iain
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Comment #7i think capello could be a blesing in disguise for nufc as england manager.
as imo he wont even bother with owen, hes not the kind of manager to sit around waiting and wondering if owen will be fit. wouldnt surprise me if hes dropped him from the squad simply on the basis hes unreliable and he rather have a fit option in the squad for tournaments then be gamblig on owens fitness.
owen will then have to put us first make sure he is fit and play a good run of games for us.
Stamford Toon
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:23 PM
Comment #8Sorry Callum cannot agree with you. Martins is only more reliable in terms of fitness, that is to date. Had Michael been playing in the last couple of games when the team were creating chances he would have scored more than Martins. Martins is too often out of position, too often his first touch is no good. We needed Owen the poacher to put away a few of the missed chances. Lets see what happens when Owen is playing and Martins is away in Africa. The only hope for Marins is to have a good CF coach……..?Shearer?
the longshanks
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:23 PM
Comment #9i wouldnt mind that Kenwin Jones chap off sunderland,the mans a workhorse and is playing for a rubbish team. 🙂
Hadrian
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:28 PM
Comment #10cappelo will demand good form from owen if he wants to play for england , that should mean owen’s desperate for goals this season .
i think he’ll have a good run these next two years .
the longshanks
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Comment #11Yeah but he shouldnt need cappelos demand to get goals,he should just score them.We have a hugh demand for a natural finisher on form,since shearer left and owen hasnt done that.
Tom_Toon
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:52 PM
Comment #12struggle through and he how he does till the summer thne buy, we need some creativity even though we have emre who is more than capable but not being given a fair chance, we need to get more accurate balls in the box and spend on a goo right winger aka behrami, also good cover for beye when at anc then milner can play on the right.
Eamonn
Dec 13, 2007 at 6:58 PM
Comment #13Owen has been incredibly unlucky with major injuries since signing for us. I can’t understand all this stick he’s taking from some fans for wanting to play for his country. Also I’ve no doubt he’ll start knocking them in again when he gets quality service. Owen is a total professional and I believe he will repay his transfer fee with interest if he gets a run in the team and we are playing to his strengths.
PS ED: You need to have a word with Google ads as THIS is loading over here… any takers… don’t think so!!! 🙂
“Sunderland v Aston Villa
Pacakages from Cork & Dublin to the Stadium of Light “
ripleyiii
Dec 13, 2007 at 7:33 PM
Comment #14Keep Owen, let’s get him healthy, sign him up again for another 3 years and see if he settles in. He should improve with what the entire team is craving – stability over the long term.
Toon Al
Dec 13, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Comment #15to add to tom_toon’s comment about his wages paid by comp, his merch sales will have made us back a fair bit n all, but still needs to justify himself, i like the lad n want him to do well again. i think in al honesty his heart is in the right place, he does work when he plays hes always runnin back up field to help out the midfield. if he didnt get injured against tottenham 1st year n he played a lot people would be revelling in our 17mil bargain of the best goal poacher, i know thats all what if and maybes but in perspective, he cant say “i dont want my wages” and we cant expect him to knock a couple a game in when he cant get descent runs in the side.
i really hope he gets back on track with us
Bill f
Dec 13, 2007 at 8:56 PM
Comment #16The nature of Owens injuries are such that I would put money on him having recurrent problems. I wouldnt worry too much about him coming back to haunt us, unless it was the odd games he was able to play for any new owners.
Possibly worth trying a swap deal with Liverpool for Crouch. (oh and a pig just flew past my window)
Callum
Dec 13, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Comment #17Stamford toon – You said it when you said IF Owen had been playing – thats the problem with Owen – he never plays so it’s hard to score goals when you’re not fit 😉 This is why Martins is better to keep for NUFC 🙂
Leo
Dec 13, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Comment #18we need to concentrate on building a team, not the hopes that one player will come along and score all of our goals, ala the past with alan shearer, owen just isnt that person
Ausgeordie
Dec 13, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Comment #19Martins has scored in almost game he has played 90 mins in this season. I think that alone makes him a worthy striker. I dont think Owen has ambitions with the club. He wants to get fit and bang in a goal or two but I dont think he sees him getting to Europe with us.
Nobby's dad
Dec 13, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Comment #20Anyone see the Rangers v Lyon game last night – Karim Benzema, the Lyon striker, was superb and only 19!! His second goal was top class (unfortunately he’s being watched by the best clubs in Europe – so that counts us out).
Shaz
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Comment #21Owen will leave on a bosman. i can’t wait.It will serve Newcastle right for practically forcing him out of a return to anfield in 2005.
Mike
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:10 AM
Comment #22How can you say he’s not worth it? He’s been INJURED!!!!
If he played all the games over the last 3 seasons and only had 10 goals well then i’d agree…but you can’t knock him because he can’t play!
Michael Owen is still a world class player and he proved that in his games with Newcastle and for England in the end of summer and fall!
I find with Owen you either like him or hate him…
Reb
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:37 AM
Comment #23I can’t say Owen’s been “worth it” — his injury problems make that a hard case to make. However, his 10 goals in 21 starts is a good ratio, nearly 1 in 2, which is as good as he ever managed for any other club I believe. When he gets fit again (hopefully next week) I think he’ll be scoring again — the entire squad had an ugly streak there his last several matches, I can’t blame any of the strikers for a lack of scoring. Personally, I refuse to write off a player who’s been written off three or four times already by various people and always come up trumps in the end.
And for those hoping Cappello will drop Owen from the England squad…why would he? Who would replace Owen? Who has been more consistent for England — hell, Owen’s scored 4 goals in the shambolic past qualifying campaign, how many players had more than that? Only Peter Crouch, with 5. Whilst it may be pathetic, Owen — who played in only four matches of the 12 in the campaign — was the second highest scorer of the campaign. He’s still lethal, when fit, and England has an extreme lack of serious options upfront at the moment. There is some good news, in that Owen has no serious upcoming England matches and will have a full summer off for the first time since he was fourteen. The rest could only do him good, one would think.
I like Owen, rate him quite highly as a player and as a “public figure” so to speak, and hope he can become a proper legend at NUFC. Honestly, I think if he gets fit and continues to average 1 goal in 2 starts, he’ll be loved by the fans — which will hopefully be an inducement to stay beyond his current contract. I think Michael Owen is the sort of player (a FIT Owen, that is) that Newcastle need to retain if they want to make a serious bid for European football over the next few seasons.
I guess it all comes down to someone’s relative confidence in Owen’s ability to finally get fit. I’ve not seen too many Toon fans arguing that a fully fit Owen should be sold/wouldn’t be a great benefit to the club.
Len
Dec 14, 2007 at 3:45 AM
Comment #24On the plus side Lil Mickey is a good goal poacher, a strong icon for the club (sells shirts) and is a good professional. On the down side he has a long term injury problem which is getting worse not better (I have read opinion this goes back to doing too much physical work at Lilleshall), seems more interersted inEnglna and his tables than us, and he is an old fashioned type of forward. Modern forwards are big and mobile and expected to work hard for 90 minutes like Drogba. One of the reasons I think he got so few offers when he left Real is that clubs no longer want the type of player who hangs around the six yard box all game sniffing for a chance, however good they maybe. Basically hes a very expensive impact sub.
Shane Coghlan
Dec 14, 2007 at 5:45 AM
Comment #25buzz off Owen 😛
subz
Dec 14, 2007 at 8:16 AM
Comment #26JP from the rock!!! You really do spout some crap!!! Do you ever watch football?? Daren Bent a good finisher, I think not my friend!!
James
Dec 14, 2007 at 8:52 AM
Comment #27I’m sick of other Newcastle supporters giving Owen a bad time. The lad is desperate to play and score goals for us. His family is settled in the area, and he said his kids love the school they go to, and he doesn’t want to move them again.
If Martins had half the finishing skills of Owen we would have beat Blackburn, Arsenal, and thumped Birmingham.
Owen looks unhappy on the pitch because he is frustrated at not getting the service. Under Sam we simply don’t play to Owen’s strengths. Strikers like him thrive off service and when they don’t get it, it does their head in. Especially Michael because he wants to score goals for us all the time.
Let’s start getting the ball into the box for him, and watch us shoot up the table.
aaron d
Dec 14, 2007 at 9:43 AM
Comment #28ed – any details on the game against hartepool last night, all i know is Duff played 90 minutes and scored, and the scored was 4-1 to us.
Bill F
Dec 14, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Comment #29James I think most of us would like to see him on the pitch first.
I beleive we are just as frustrated as you claim he is (probably is as it happens) but for what he cost (and is costing) we could have had two more equally good strikers actually playing.
If you had a business and he was one of your employees would you have kept him on, or at least kept him on on full pay!!!
Nobby's dad
Dec 14, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Comment #30Shaz……what the hell are you on about?Newcastle ‘practically forcing Owen out of a return to Liverpool’.
The main reason he didn’t return was because Rafa DIDN’T WANT HIM!! Madrid wanted 17m who ever came up with that fee got the player.
STEPHEN14
Dec 14, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Comment #31Get rid of him he’s never been interested in playing for the toon he only wanted to line his pockets even more so he can but more horses, send him off to man city and let them pay his wages while he sits in the treatment room. We should go for Adriano from inter, he wants to leave and they want to sell. We could get him at a knock down price and if he and oba clicked we’d have one of the best strike forces in the league espeically with smithy and viduka as back up.
Stamford Toon
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Comment #32I agree with James. Had Owen been on the field he would have made up for the failings of Martin and been in the right place at the right time, not wandering around the field looking lost like Martins. Nor only that had he gor the ball and not been able to score he would have laid it off for others unlike Martins who has to try and beat 3/4 players before doing anything…. that is if he is able to control the ball. The service that was given to the forwards in the last 3 games would have been perfect for Owen and we would have won.
Dragoner
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Comment #33we could never get benzema, he would never come to us when teams like real madrid are interested. same with all the other strikers people keep naming. We need to stop looking at these ‘already good’ stikers and start looking for potential. we have to be patient
Bill F
Dec 14, 2007 at 1:56 PM
Comment #34Jeez I really am getting exasperated with the what if brigade.
If Owen had been fit and playing throughout his time with us we would probably be in the top four now, the same last year, with us in the Champions league.
We would have won the FA cup and the League cup. England would be in the Euro cup.
But he hasn’t and we ain’t and this is what is pi**ng everyone off. He might be the nicest hard working player at the Toon but he isn’t playing or doing the biz.
If he ever does start playing and scoring sh*tloads of goals we will jumping for joy and buying his shirts but till that happens he is only an expensive ornament gathering dust.
Sorry but I am firmly in the Alan Sugar frame for action.
Pop
Dec 14, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #35Bring Jerome from Birmingham, he is amazing center forward…He is what we looking for, a target man, cheap, powerful and great technique ….same model as drogba…Another striker should be Defoe…I think we can buy him in a cheap price and a same type of striker like Owen
Tom_Toon
Dec 14, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Comment #36shut up with this english tosh the only player we should be looking at that is english for our strikers problems is crocuh and you can get better than him abroad for cheaper.
Leo
Dec 14, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Comment #37james i am going to repeat something i have said lately. it is a team, we dont have a one man squad, owen is not the be all and end all, and like bill i am sick with the people who are saying the what if’s.
build a team- not michael owen’s bank balance
Reb
Dec 14, 2007 at 4:51 PM
Comment #38NUFC isn’t paying Owen’s wages, so stop going on about that. In fact, Owen has probably cost the club a lot less in wages than other players because the FA keep paying his salary (10 mil in damages the year he was out which is double his yearly salary, plus his wages these five weeks due to injury for England comes to about 500,000 = 10.5 mil total compensation). The truth is Owen cost the club a big transfer fee and not much in wages thus far on the aggregate, so to speak.
Rich
Dec 14, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Comment #39i dont swear on this blog.
but Ed, can you just F!ck off with these sort of articles?
seriously, they do no good at all.
‘has Owen been worth it not at all’ etc…etc.. like you are paying for him out of your own pocket.
Owens injuries are unfortunate but you forget how he has played for us when he has been fit, and how many goals hes scored in his limited appearances for us.
I suppose you would be happier with Ameobi turning out for us every week Ed? is that what you want? why dont you just apply for a job at Sky SPorts and spout this viscous propaganda in th national media rather than a suppoerters forum.
i think you would be happier in an Arsenal shirt sometimes Ed.
Shaz
Dec 15, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Comment #40Rafa did want Owen back in 2005. stop telling the story the way you want.i remember Rafa saying that he tried until the last moment to sign Owen but Real Madrid refused to budge on the price, hence Owen had to got to Newcastle or rot in the reserves.Owen said the exact same things at the press conference when he was unvieled.I hope he does leave if only because he gets no service from your rubbish midfield at Newcastle and don’t say otherwise.