Danny Guthrie is just one Newcastle player who thinks it is vital for the club to retain the services of captain Michael Owen.
Michael Owen - yesterday, visiting children’s ward at the RVI
Danny said today:
“He is massive – you saw that at the weekend (against Portsmouth). One chance, one goal. You need those players,” “We need to make it a bit easier on ourselves with people like myself getting goals to help him out.”
“The contracts are important, especially with the players who are concerned,”"Everyone knows the situation with those players, it is just a case of them sorting it out themselves.”
“But it’s nice that with all that’s going on, we can still go out there and perform, even with people who have contract talks hanging over their heads.”
Owen is just one of four players the club wants to sign before January, with the others being Nicky Butt, Steve Harper and Shola Ameobi. We actually expect all of them to sign their new contracts eventually, though not necessarily all this week of course, but we’d like to see Nicky, Shola and Steve sign this week.
It may take a little longer for Michael to sign, but we hope he does that by the end of this month, but we’ll see what Michael wants to do. But he seems happy at the club, which is a very good sign.
Things have gone well for Newcastle overall, since Joe Kinnear came in, and we think the lads are all happy working under the Irishman, and now all we need to put together is a number of wins, and we’ll be really humming. 
Newcastle players Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Obafemi Martins, Jonas Gutierrez, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini and Charles N’Zogbia, all paid a surprise visit to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) to hand out gifts to the youngsters in need yesterday.
They do this every year, and you can see from Michal’s face in the photograph above, just how delighted he seems to be. Notice the nurse on the right – do you think she is proud of Michael?
We think so – and it’s just great that the players do this – good for them – and it’s great for the community, not to mention being such a special event for the children.
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
76 responses so far ↓
1 tripp // Dec 17, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Good on all the lads. Get it sorted Mickey and then stay fit the rest of the season.
2 Chris F // Dec 17, 2008 at 10:25 PM
dunno about proud, Ed, i think she just fancies him a bit lol
3 Ally // Dec 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I think it is crucial to keep MO at the club, theres not many natural goalscorers kicking about these days and if u did want want they they cost £20m plus
4 Aussie Magpie Fan // Dec 17, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Well done to Ashley and Co… They have tabled a really good offer for Owen… Now if Owen doesn’t sign on… They will be able to hold their hands up and say we tried out hardest to keep him…. Please realise that Owen is not getting any younger… 4 years have passed since he signed on for 115K / week (reportably). I think the offer is more than generous when you consider his age and injury track record… If he doesn’t sign I will not be to upset as I feel the club has made a real effort to keep him on board… By the way the young lads are performing we should see some good strikers coming through the ranks shortly anyway. It would be nice though if Owen was around to take them under his wing when they did eventually step up…
5 workyticket // Dec 17, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Someone should have discreetly slipped a contract on top of that lad’s present when he was distracted by the camera!
6 Spyro // Dec 18, 2008 at 12:05 AM
I hope Oba is fit for Spurs, he is key to our attack.
7 King Joe // Dec 18, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Has it been confirmed that he will be missing on Sunday (Martins)?
8 Aussie Magpie Fan // Dec 18, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I hope he pulls up ok.. apparently he is 50 50..
9 Soren // Dec 18, 2008 at 12:36 AM
workyticket – hahahaha, good one!.
Anyways nice to see players do these things to help he kids. MO please sign the contract!
10 benn.. // Dec 18, 2008 at 1:14 AM
worthyticket i was just thinking if it was the contract!!
11 Brutooooon // Dec 18, 2008 at 1:35 AM
despite he is not start scoring..i dont mind if he go to other clubs…
we got oba, owen can be easily replace
12 Xisco Is A Pirate // Dec 18, 2008 at 1:42 AM
Oba’s a great player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not the consistent goalscorer that owen is. And if there’s one thing any team needs, it’s regular goals.
13 clinta // Dec 18, 2008 at 1:43 AM
I think the smart money would be on Owen letting his contract run down and then assessing his options come January myself.
At that time he’ll have a much better idea of were we are as a club (ie: sold, in the championship etc..) and what other clubs, if any are interested in his services and what they’re willing to offer.
And to be fair I don’t really think we could blame him for doing just that, given the current climate at the club.
Don’t get me wrong I hope he signs, and signs up this window, it would give the club as a whole just tha little boost we could do with now, but I don’t see it happening.
14 Taiwantoon // Dec 18, 2008 at 3:59 AM
Agree with clinta. We can not blame MO for any decisions. Most of us would do the same for our own career decisions.
15 Tripp // Dec 18, 2008 at 5:11 AM
Having Owen and Oba on the pitch at the same time gives us a lot of options. Hard to compare them as they are different players. Oba has the ability to pull goals out his arse, from nothing. Imagine if that missile he unleashed on 20 minutes had gone in. Owen doesn’t score goals like that. However, with good service he’s deadly. Oba creates space for Owen and keeps the other sides back four guessing. Hope he plays on Sunday, but not if he’s being risked. We need him fit long term. Hope Owen signs, but I agree with Clinta, it probably will happen later rather than sooner (if at all,which hopefully it will).
16 Tripp // Dec 18, 2008 at 5:12 AM
Taiwan Toon,
I’d be retired if I were making Owen’s wages.
17 Ausgeordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 6:57 AM
I dont think we will risk Martins against spurs not if he is tight. Better to rest him for Liverpool and give Viduka a start and get Shola or carroll or ranger on in the second half if he is lagging. We have enough back ups to let our best rest especially coming into a hectic period
18 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 8:20 AM
Glad to see eveyone is overc onfident for sunday’s game. The same happened when the 2 teams were drawn in the carling cup and we all know what happened that day. It was like a morgue on here the following day. So much so that i was to embarressed to mock you all. But i will gladly give you all some stick on monday.
19 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Am i right in thinking that the players most likely to be on our subs bench on sunday would walk into the newcastle first 11.
Bale
Dos Santos
Ohara
Huddlestone
Dawson
Cambpell
Hutton
20 Al Long // Dec 18, 2008 at 8:44 AM
except for the big 4…. no one can pay MO, what we are offering now… But I still think he will leave as money will not be his biggest concern… Europe games or even nearer to the family home, maybe..
21 wayne // Dec 18, 2008 at 8:46 AM
AO
DOS SANTOS IS CRAP !!! TO LIGHTWEIGHT
O’HARA IS A RESERVE AT BEST
BALE IS ALWAYS INJURED
HUDDLESTONE !! HA HA HA
DAWSON MAYBE (NOT IN STARTING 11)
CAMPBELL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER
HUTTON I WOULD TAKE
SO NO THEY WOULDNT GET IN OUR STARTING ELEVEN !!!!
22 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:11 AM
i see wigan are after owen. I doubt he would go there as it is only a sideways move.
23 xisco biscuits // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:13 AM
AO you bell end, no you’re no right
Bale – enrique/zog would keep him out
Dos Santos – dreadful, proved nothing in england
Ohara – possibly, but he wouldnt WALK in
Huddlestone – see o’hara
Dawson – nowhere near
Cambpell – ahead of oba/owen/viduka??? lol
Hutton – ahead of beye??? lol
24 KK FOREVER (Ross) // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:18 AM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4662798,00.html
people wonder why we’re laughed at, even MA is getting in on the act of giving the media ammunition-look at everything he’s said in the bottom paragraphs.
25 KK FOREVER (Ross) // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:19 AM
xisco biscuits-i had written the same thing before realising i couldnt even be arsed replying to him, so cheers, lol.
26 Daniel Petersen // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:20 AM
AO – Just out of curiosity why do you come on these boards? I just don’t get it. If your a Spurs fan (Which I believe you are from your posts) why would you come on a NUFC site?
27 NepToon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:22 AM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4662798,00.html
“we will be in Europe next year”, its comment like these, not made by the Newcastle fans, that make our club a laughing stock
28 Monster // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Have Blackburn been relegated yet?
29 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:27 AM
xiscco- The only newcastle first teamers who would make the spurs team is a fit owen. Martins is very hit and miss and i doubt he could hold down a place ahead of bent.
30 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Only O’Hara and Huddlestone would possibly get into our team from those and I’d take Bale for potential and talent but not necessarily current form and ability.
As for only Martins gett into the Spurs team.
You are a chump.
The only Spurs players that could get into our 11 is Modric, Lennon and possibly one of Woodgate/Corluka/King.
That is it.
31 xisco biscuits // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:34 AM
AO – some news for you mate
given, beye, coloccini, gutierrez, owen, martins and a fully-fit viduka would all get into the spurs side
now please, leave our blog and get a life
32 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Given
Beye-King-Bassong-Enrique
Lennon-Barton-Jonas
Modric
Viduka-Owen
Viduka when fit an on form is a world-beater.
Neither of us have a good left back but Ekotto is one of the worst players in the premier league full stop.
33 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:36 AM
tomturantoon- I am sure bentley and jenas would also stroll into your team.Even though it must be painful to admit you still wished jenas was there. Woodgate and king would be definate starters.
34 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Possibly even play O’Hara or Hutton at LB.
35 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Jenas, ahaha, the most inconsistent player in the prem.
He has one good game in 10 and is utterly useless the others.
Bentley is poor, £17mil, more like £1.7mil on current showing.
He is non eexistant for you so far.
£1.7mil is doing a disservice to Jonas who only cost £2.5mil.
The only thing Bentley has stood out for this season is his woeful deliveries.
Absolute waste of money for a tit of a footbaler.
36 xisco biscuits // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:39 AM
@ tom_toon
lennon – possibly for pace, but not over jonas!!
modric – done very little for me, but would at least get on our bench
i wouldnt put corluka above beye
woodgate/king fully-fit would prbably get in alongside colo, but bassong is doing so well at the minute i feel harsh saying that
AO just likes to wind us up, lets just hope we can hump them on sunday and shut him up the smug git. funny how even after all the shit at newcastle, their well-documented “resurgence” and their expensive summer we’re still above them in the prem
37 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Look at my team Xisco.
Lennon isn’t over Jonas, Corluka isn’t over Beye.
38 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:43 AM
I remeber all those silly deluded Spuds last season just before we player them at Shite Fart Lane, they were predicting ’6-0 to the Spurs, COYS’, with their ‘Juande’, their ‘Juanderful man’.
What a joke.
39 xisco biscuits // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:47 AM
@ tom_toon
ur team hadnt appeared when i posted that, and i was going off ur previous post. anyway i quite like that XI you posted, although i’d worry about jonas and lennon in that formation. surprised you’d pick bassong centre-half over colo though…
anyone agree enrique has been improving a lot lately and finally looking like a £6m player??
40 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Yes.
I’d possibly worry about Jonas and Lennon in that formation, but with Jonas’ work rate it would be a lot more plausbile.
However the aim of that formation was to put out the best team with the best players in relatively their position.
41 Mr. Shearer // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:50 AM
So, if Owen has said that he will continue to score goals for us whilst his team look at the contract, then surely that means that we will be waiting a fair while before we hear anything.
Therefore all the paper talk is tosh – You see how the Sun has twisted what MA said about Man City and money.
Any predictions for Spurs at the weekend?
42 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Dont think it’ll be our usually drubbing of the Spuds but we’ll nick it 2-1 with Enrique of the scoresheet hopefully.
43 Monster // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Bloody hell – didn’t half chuckle when I read “Even though it must be painful to admit you still wished jenas was there”!!!!!!
Cheers AO
44 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:05 AM
AO
The return of the prize prick !
Crawled back out from under your stone again I see !!!!
Tugger !!!
45 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I’m not winding you up. just having a bit of banter before the game.
I think jenas is better than butt and barton which is why he still makes the england squads. I agree bentley has been poor so far but when in form he is another who would get in your team.
Tomturantoon- as for viduka being a world beater, i thought you had more sense.
xiscobiscuits- we had the worst start in our history yet are still on the same points as you aswell as in the semis of the cup and still in europe. That says more about your failings than ours.
If you werent being biased i think you would agree that only your keeper would definatly get in the spurs team along with a fit owen.
46 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Would love spiderman to get his first toon goal against the spuds chumps !
47 sirjasontoon // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Couldn’t of said it better myself fella AO the tugger haha
48 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:09 AM
born again geordie- you always get one idiot who starts with the name calling and insults. take a bow.
49 Tom_Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Viduka is a world-beater ON HIS DAY and if you disagree with that you know absolutely nothing about the beautiful game.
Jenas is not a patch on Barton.
50 sirjasontoon // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM
AO you really are an Ass Ole is anybody on here really bothered about Spurs?
You really must have a sad life fella..To be honest I feel bad taking the PI55 out of you…you really are that sad fella.
51 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM
are any of you going on swunday ? I assume born again and sirjason are armchair fans who will be typing away on there keyboards during the game and then calling for the managers head when you lose without having seen the game.
52 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:12 AM
AO
My pleasure – lets see what you have to say on Monday shall we when you get beaten?
now go and play there is a good boy !
53 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:13 AM
AO
That is where you are wrong I am a season ticket holder and will be in my seat in the east stand as usual !
I await your apology !
54 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:13 AM
tomturantoon- in the past i agree viduka was good , going back to his leeds days. But he is overweight and past it now. You wont ever see another world class performance from the lump.
55 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:15 AM
bornagaingeordie- strange how you can be found on here during games. do you take your laptop to the games?
56 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:16 AM
sirjasontoon- dont feel sad. you dont come out with any good banter so your comments are usually glossed over anyway.
57 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:20 AM
AO
Show me one posting during a game – you will need to look f**king hard fella. As I have been at every home game this season
So that is two apologies!
58 Micky Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I’ve said it before, AO is not wanted on his own boards that is why is is always on here.
AO – You said it yourself, you had the worst start in your history. But that doesn’t reflect badly on us. Your club spent big had a manager and club structure they were happy with. The board invested millions in players over the summer.
We spent pennies compared to you and we are on the same points as you.
How does that reflect badly on us?
59 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:23 AM
born again geordie- you little fibber. I bet you havent been once this season. This will be my second visit this season, 2 more than you. I will be having a beer in the town after the game if you want me to get you a programme.
60 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Micky Toon
Well said mate !
AO
Gone very quiet son – still looking for my posts during the match are we ?
Like I said before – Tugger !!!!
61 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM
mickey toon- after the sale of berbatov, keane,kaboul and the players that went to sunderland we still have about 50 mill burning a hole in our pocket.
62 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:27 AM
AO
believe what you want, I will have a few pints before the match and be in The Strawberry after as I have done every match this season.
Mind you don’t get a nose bleed all the way up on level 7. You and all of your mate !
63 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:31 AM
born again geordie- are you still entertaining me? You know what happened to pinocchio when he told porky pies dont you.
64 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:32 AM
AO
So how much would you like to bet – would be my pleasure taking your money from you.
shall we say £ 100,000.00 ?
Fancy putting your money where your mouth is ?
65 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:33 AM
AO
yeah goldilocks sat on his face !
66 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:39 AM
AO
All gone quiet down south !!!!
67 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM
bornagai….- you must have a boring life, arguing with yourself. bye.
68 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:56 AM
AO
Yeah goodbye you spineless southern tugger !!
69 AO // Dec 18, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Adding a smiley doesnt make your posts any more comical!
70 Micky Toon // Dec 18, 2008 at 2:17 PM
AO – Does that include the Keane money because you haven’t had that yet?
Anyway you’re wide boy manager will only go and spend it on Crouch, DeFoe and Billy the Fish.
71 ToonPhill // Dec 18, 2008 at 3:20 PM
thats wor lasses mam next to owen!! i told yous lot she met him
:):):)
72 Born Again Geordie // Dec 18, 2008 at 3:30 PM
AO
Maybe not but owt you post makes you sound like a complete (unt !
73 HAMMY14 // Dec 18, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Workid:- Remember that Jen eats like a council estate child tho words from the numpty nurse who MO is next to !!! lol
74 HAMMY14 // Dec 18, 2008 at 5:55 PM
People the women picutred with MO is my brothers lasses mam and she is a pleb you heard it here first !!!!!!!
75 HAMMY14 // Dec 18, 2008 at 5:56 PM
lol just in case she reads this am joking ( phew got away with that lol alreet workid lol hope this hasnt ruined your chances of gannin on the dip with her lol )
76 ToonPhill // Dec 19, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Jonny there is no need for tht, you r takin it too far like u did with kayleigh
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