Joe Kinnear and Newcastle United would like to secure the 28-year-old Michael Owen’s future on Tyneside, but with the club’s ownership in complete limbo, any move to give Michael a new contract right now, doesn’t seem possible.
Michael Owen – Newcastle unable to offer him contract right now
Joe Kinnear is becoming more exasperated with the situation each week and he told the Sunday Sun this morning:
“It’s very important to keep Michael Owen here,” “I’ve told him that, he’s aware of that. The bone of contention regards sitting down and talking about his future.”
“We have to sit down to talk to him about a new contract, if I have the power to do that.” “I can’t do everything, I am just in charge of the shop.”
“I would like to sit down and talk, but we might be sold next week and then things are different.”
Owen showed his worth yesterday for Newcastle, during the last 30 minutes of the game , when he scored one opportunist goal, had a great header just over the cross-bar, and then seemed to miss an absolute sitter – all in a short 30 minutes.
But Michael gets into those scoring positions, where he can sniff out goals, and most other players wouldn’t have taken up those positions at all. But we should still have taken all 3 points yesterday, and to concede a goal to 10 men when you had gone ahead on 87 minutes is just completely inexcusable. It’s so disppointing.
It seems now that if Mike Ashley fails to sell the club by January, he is at least willing to bolster the Newcastle squad during the transfer window, if only to protect his investement.
Comments welcome.
112 comments so far
iffy
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Comment #11st YEAH
Soren
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Comment #2One of the worlds most dangerous strikers. Hope we can keep him, but dark clouds are looming over Newcastle, sadly.
AndrewNUFC
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Comment #3Owen isnt gunna stay here face it-a team like Villa will pick him up easy.
51times
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #4Villa are too far south for Owen, he’s more likely to end up at Everton I think.
Stamford Toon
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Comment #5Why on earth did JK not play Owen from the start giving preference to SA? It is not the first time he has done this. He could and should have brought Owen on much sooner and then we might have won the game. If he wants Owen to stay then he is doing himself no favours by excluding him. Owen will only stay if given a regular first team place.
51times
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Comment #6Stamford Toon – Owen and Martins would never work.
toonoot
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #7Let the little waster go!
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Comment #8To be fair, Shola has contributed a fair bit since he has played and has never turned his back on the fans that jeered him. I for one respect the lad a lot now. I was one of the “Shola the Donkey” fans, and i feel very bad for it now. No doubt when he leaves he will not act a mug like that dopey c**t, Titty Shambles.
toonoot
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Comment #9Him and his bloody “advishers”.
toonoot
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #10Yep. Shola has acted like a true gent throughout. He plays to the best of his abililities. I wasn’t at SJP yesterday but I hear he gave it six-nowt all afternoon.
And he gets less than half the little waster’s wages.
boater
Nov 16, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Comment #1151times… I disagree.. they DO work as a front 2 – they have never had a really good run since Allardyce and his ‘one for the other’ substitutions which pretty much lost him his job.
With players like Guti, Zog and Barton they can get past men and play ‘carpet football’ which will play to the strengths of those two playing off the shoulder.
AndrewNUFC
Nov 16, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Comment #12Fair enough give Shola his credit but its too little too late for me. He has had too many chances under too many managers, in times like this we need Owen on the pitch as much as we can get him on why? Because he is a goal scorer simple.
Ganiyu
Nov 16, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Comment #13Martins and shola partnership is the best but they lack understanding presently
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 16, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Comment #14He needs to stay as far as im concerned. Alot of people here are talking like he can be replaced. Fact of the matter is, we cant replace him. Why? because we cant afford, or attract a striker of his stature or ability to the club at the moment. We get rid of him and we lose all those games he’s scored vital goals in because no one in our squad is as threatening infront of goal as him.
Stamford toon-like 51 says, owen and martins wouldnt work. I’d like to see Martins try the left, he looked excellent for the short time he was there yesterday, stick owen upfront with a target man, that way we can have all 3 on and goals can come from numerous positions. (hopefully).
Hadrian
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Comment #15Imagine if owen didnt have to come deep all the time for the ball aswell !!
in a team with more creativity he will be able to stay on the shoulder of defenders more and get on the end of the thru balls , but he’s hardly ever been able todo that with this squad 🙁
we really miss a quality playmaker in the centre of the park , but then we have been saying that for years now 🙁
the one constant through all this mess is fans opinion, and were having to watch new people put in charge making the same mistakes all over again , a good example is cacapa , there is not one fan who would have picked him over bassong the other week .
Turkish Magpie
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Comment #16i agree with (ross)
Martins, Viduka and Owen were amazing as a strikeforce, for now replace Viduka with Ameobi and we will go far!
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Comment #17We need a DM that can pass and we will be ok. Bassong and Coloccini look good at CB
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #18Turkish mag-i’d even like to see Viduka play again. Obviously i dont want him getting pretty much fit again and pushing ameobi out the team, i dont think that would be fair at all, because as far as i’m concerned, we’ve seen a new shola since kinnear arrived. However, Viduka is an excellent finisher, far better than Ameobi, and holds the ball up excellently. If he’s fit, give him a go at some time or other.
Shot Bru!
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Comment #19Chelsea match
given
beye colo bassong enrique
jonas guthrie butt nzog martins
owen
We need all our pace on the park, apart from butt the midfield 5 all have pace and stamina to defend and play counter attack. Butt’s job is to shield the back 4, while using Jonas and Martins pace to assist Owen and counter the threat from Chelski full backs. Martins is a much better player cutting in from the wings running at defenders and shooting. If Kinnear plays Ameobi and the long ball tactic our midfield will never see the ball and we will be buried alive next week.
AndrewNUFC
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Comment #20Anyone know what is the situation with Barton? I know he had a scan this morning.
The Entertainers
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #21I’ll be honest i just dont know what to think for the best
Owen when fit, is the best English striker in the PL……but the problem is his fitness and we have not had value for money from the guy.
But its not just Owen:
Like love Martins and hes young enough to blossom, but the guy lacks consistancy. (*Note to a particular moron on here thats not racist!)
Viduka, that ship has passed!
Xisco, who knows. But i wouldnt be spending £5-6 million on a future striker!
Shola, has gained a lot of respect recently. But still not fooled.
If money was no object (if only) then Owen, Viduka, Xisco and Shola would all leave and 3 incoming strikers would be on there way!
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #22What has happened to NUFC fans? Can someone please enlighten me. No longer filling the stadium, booing our own players, booing the manager, trying to attack the manager, protesting agains the whole backroom staff, racist and regionalist behaviour. The times of NUFC fans being the best in the league have long gone it would seem.
The Entertainers
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Comment #23Spyro that hurts….. and while quite a general observation, there may unfortunately be some truth in your thought.
Sad times, all around
Nobby'sDad
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Comment #24Wake up…….Owen’s sale is a done deal. Got to be half wits if you don’t think it’s already done!
Ganiyu
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Comment #25The problem is not the strikers but the mid field and defense
Nobby'sDad
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Comment #26Spyro……you been to any games lately?? The first half yesterday was as bad as anything in the past few years. I’m sitting there hating it and it’s only because I’ve bought my season tickets already that I’m there. Sadly I don’t want to keep going and will not renew if nothing changes (as I’ve signed up to do next year). The team were booed bacause they are shocking…I can’t even be bothered to do that. I’m just loosing my interest …3 tickets again this year – I can spend £1500 on better things…and I’m as passionate as the next person. How desperate is this!
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Comment #27Just calling it how i see it. Not trying to offend people on here.
Ganiyu
Nov 16, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #28I dont want kinneaR as manager or alan.steve bruce ericsson or best to worst dennis wise.
Shot Bru!
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Comment #29This is probably my pessimism shining through as a toon fan but what do you reckon the odds are that we sell Owen to Villa in Jan and he comes back to haunt us on the last day of the season and consigns us to relegation.
By the way Spyro some of the abuse you were subjected to last night on this blog was nothing short of disgraceful, however you handled yourself with great dignity.
Sav
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #30JFK can promise nowt to Owen or Given. He could be gone himself before January, although that seems unlikely now as there is no concrete sign of any buyer. So if there’s no sale, will Ashley empower Wise to make signings and sanction sales?
I reckon they’d take 5 million for Owen and 8 million for Shay if they could get it. It makes good business sense to get rid of 2 high earners. The fans can’t stand Ashley anyway so he has nowt to lose selling off top players.
Will Ashley reinvest that and come back to finish the project he started? Probably not. More likely to invest a minimal amount on cheap or loan signings and hope JFK can keep us afloat until May.
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Comment #31I can just about understand the occassional boo’s, but the fact that attendance has dropped because of our current predicament surely shows that there are a fair few glory hunters around. Even in our current state i would love to have the money to buy a season ticket and i am determined to get one once i finish Uni next year.
Also, the fan that tried to confront Kinnear yesteday acted disgracefully, yet across the forums and blogs his actions have been praised by a the majority. What is that about?! That is just not on.
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #32Used to it Shot Bru
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Comment #33We should try and persuade Anichebe to come here from Everton. He can hold up the ball extremely well.
ObaFan2
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Comment #34Attendances have dropped because there are fans around that believe this club is going to the dogs and realised that Ashley has just been there to rip the punters off.
There are plenty of people who bought into the 3 year season tickets who like Nobby’sDad are attending the matches reluctantly purely because they have a ticket. It is not that they don’t love the club it’s because they don’t love the way it’s being run and the way the fans have been abused.
It’s easy to live out of the area keeping SJP at arms length and have such strong views, living in Tyneside there is no escape from SJP.
I like many have spent much time and money on NUFC over many years however not one penny from my pocket will go to SJP until things change.
I notice too that so many regulars have disappeared from this blog, I rarely post but still read here but find it astonishing some rubbish I read from some on here.
Daniel
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #35On an unrelated note, look at our assists. Geremi is 1st, with Ameobi and N’Zogbia tied 2nd. That’s 3 players that the general consensus is shouldn’t be starting (Zog is highly debatable, i’d start him but everyone seems to love Duff).
Spyro
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #36Daniel
i am with you on Zog. The thing about Duff is he makes the right runs and pops up in the right places, but he will then either run head first in to a player, wait too long to make the pass, or make a poor pass. There is very rarely any end product with him. He has also lost a lot of his pace. Zoggy and Bassong should both start IMO.
THE BEAT.
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Comment #37spyro,to be fair crowds dropped when roeder was in charge,i think this is happening all across football now.
there does seem to be an apathy and general malaise that is filtering through most clubs,apart from the top four and clubs that have a lower capacity.
look at man city all the money flying about and they cannot sell out,blackburn,s attendences have dwindled over the last few years,middlesboro,sunderland.
i think the main reason for this is the lack of affordable football nowadays.
at newcastle though i think alot of the empty seats were due to coporate boxes not selling out because of ashley,s failure to give assurances.
toonoholic
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Comment #38ashleys project?
what is this ? ‘project mayhem’?
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Comment #39the beat-i agree, attendances seem to be dropping all over the place, did anyone see the reebok for the bolton game yesterday!? patches of empty seats all over the place
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 16, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Comment #40one other thing that has to be remembered is stadium capacity. There are times where other premier league teams will suffer a low attendance, and so will we, yet we will still be pulling in maybe a number as large as 5-10 thousand more than them week in week out, that for us regarded as a poor turnout, due to newcastle being so used to having 50,000+ every week.