Freddy Shepherd has come out today and insisted that Michael Owen was the right deal at the right price for the Newcastle club.
Freddy Shepherd - Owen was a good deal – when it was made
Freddy told the Evening Chronicle today:
“Hindsight is a great management tool – everybody’s wise after the event,”
“It’s very easy for people to say signing Michael Owen was a disaster, but everybody said it was a fantastic deal at the time. There were no dissenters back then.”
“The clamour for him to sign was immense, and I didn’t hear any complaints from the thousands who turned up to welcome him on the day he arrived.”
Michael did have a good goal-scoring record but in his first two seasons on Tyneside he played just 14 times and scored 7 goals, and the thing that upset Newcastle fans the most, was that he seemed more interested in playing for England than Newcastle.
And the thing that really cemented his place as a failure at the club were his rather inept displays this year – because when you pay a player that much money, you expect him to come through when it really matters – and he didn’t – and the club was relegated.
But Shepherd added:
“At the time we signed him, his goals-per-game stats were about the best in the business and his pedigree second to none.”
“Plus, he had had no career-threatening injuries and we had his fitness stringently checked out, as Real Madrid had a year before. Yes, things didn’t turn out anything like we hoped and expected they would.”
“But nobody – and I mean nobody – saw it coming.”
Freddy seems defensive here, and we’re not sure why – it didn’t turn out with Michael and in retrospect we way overpaid for him, but that’s hardly Freddy’s fault. Everybody would have expected more production from Michael than he in fact produced, and it’s now having an adverse effect on him, as he looks for another top club, with not many looking to be much interested.
Alan Shearer scored 82 goals on average in 4 seasons on Tyneside, with 206 goals in his 10 seasons at Newcastle.
Freddy got a world-class player to Tyneside at the time, but how many players who come here, just don’t fare well, for whatever reason? We overpaid for him at £17M, becasue he was sold to Real Madrid from Liverpool for just £ 8M 12 months before, and he didn’t exactly take Real Madrid by storm.
And we wonder why Freddy brings this up now, because it was a good signing initially, and was news throughout the world, as people were amazed to see over 20,000 turn out at St. James’ Park, just to welcome Michael to the club. It was great news for the club, that’s for sure.
But it just didn’t work out and Michael cost the club around £1.3M for each of the 30 goals he scored at Newcastle. It’s not a good deal for the club, and we’re sure Michael himself is less than happy with that record.
But a combination of his injuries, his very political comments, when you didn’t really know what he was really thinking, and his lack of form this year, have all combined to make it a poor deal for the Tyneside club - and yes that’s in retrospect.
We should all probably just leave it there and move forward. There are much bigger concerns at the club right now that need to be deal with, and quickly
Comments welcome.
46 responses so far ↓
1 GatesheadMag // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Won’t let me on the other thread now :@
2 toonoholic // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
i think no ones needs to defend michael owen transfer. 4 yrs back ,it was a great coup, it was as big as signing big AL. How could we predict that MO would have two career threatening injuries ?
Its one of the those transfers who never made it in this club. case closed
3 SHEARER 4 TOON // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Fat Freddy’s getting a few mentions on blogs this past few day’s beginning to wonder 2+2 don’t make 5.
4 GatesheadMag // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Yep true, think he’d still chip in with decent amount of goals with good service. But we created absolutely nothing last season. Happy he honoured his contract though.
5 hitman // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
injuries fked owen end of.
6 Isaac Hunt // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM
mmmmmmmmmmmmm looks like Freddy is getting bigged up now. Just in case or what?
7 baro // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Sheppard is right. Because if you sign David Villa now and every Newcastle supporter would be excited more than ever because right now he has one of the best finishing in the world. After an couple of years every one in the 25+ age becomes nothing the same as peter ramage the sorriest player in the world.
That is why we need 2 sign strikers at an young age, or use our strikers that are young for example Haris Vuckic and Nile Ranger, Bradden Inman and all they can do is get better at this stage and improve.
NEVER BUY AN STRIKER AT AN LATE AGE NO MATTER HOW THEY ARE DOING IF YOU DON’T WANT WHAT OWEN IS DOING
8 GatesheadMag // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
baro // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Sheppard is right. Because if you sign David Villa now and every Newcastle supporter would be excited more than ever because right now he has one of the best finishing in the world. After an couple of years every one in the 25+ age becomes nothing the same as peter ramage the sorriest player in the world.
That is why we need 2 sign strikers at an young age, or use our strikers that are young for example Haris Vuckic and Nile Ranger, Bradden Inman and all they can do is get better at this stage and improve.
NEVER BUY AN STRIKER AT AN LATE AGE NO MATTER HOW THEY ARE DOING IF YOU DON’T WANT WHAT OWEN IS DOING
————————————————–
Im sorry but thats the biggest heap of sh!t I’ve ever heard. Most players are in their prime from 25-30ish. Can only get better? What do we do until they get better?
9 Rangerman // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:58 PM
It’s a tough one, I was as happy as anyone when we signed Owen because before his knee injury he was a quality striker, I wasn’t happy that he didn’t feel fully committed to the club but Shepherd is right when he says the people moaning about him being a waste of money is hindsight.
What Shepherd should have known though was what a financial drain he would be on the club and that we couldn’t really afford the whole transfer window, we haven’t had any sponsorship money off northern rock since and won’t get none this year either, that and his wages set a new high at the club which meant everyone else coming in were demanding bigger wages because they knew we paid silly money.
Another thing that bothered me was it was typical of the club in that we needed a ‘big name’ player than building a team, not much point in having an Owen up front if you’ve got a Carr and a Babayaro as your first choice fullbacks.
10 GatesheadMag // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Lol Rangerman.. well said Babs N Carr as fullbacks. They were like Cannon and Ball
11 lacedaemonian // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Rangerman is bang on. We need a few quality players at that time not one expensive player. Anelka was a far cheaper option.
12 SHEARER 4 TOON // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:09 PM
I remember when sky sports broke the news that Owen signed.Was sitting on the throne reading one of the daily rags when the wife shouts upto me “Michael Owens signed for Newcastle”trousers and Yfronts down to my ankles i stummbled down the stairs in sheer joy
.4 years later a bit of an anti climax 
13 Tino 11 // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Owen told Sven early on he didn’t want to be here but had never earned so much money, for me that says it all!
14 flyingmag // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:13 PM
owen was bought over the managers head thats what was wrong about it.
15 GatesheadMag // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:15 PM
LOL shearer4toon, Bet you wished you had finished now. Apparantly Owen done similar to Newcastle but he had our trousersdown for 4 yrs.
16 ToonRy // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Sheperd deserves to be tied to a poll and burnt alive just like when Mary 1st was queen, but they should burn anyone who has done wrong to Newcastle United FC instead of Christians.
17 SHEARER 4 TOON // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Too true Gateshead Mag by the way i’m not from Newcastle (my mum is) how much further is Chester le street from Newcastle i’m going down on Sunday.Sorry to be off topic
18 ToonRy // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:46 PM
SHEARER 4 TOON
Not far mate like 20 mins away
19 hitman // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:47 PM
if only.
http://www.oleolefootball.com/Football-newcastle_united_plot__300m_football_ground_plan-23.htm
20 SHEARER 4 TOON // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Cheers ToonRy my son is costing me a fortune with his pigeons.
21 tooneskimo // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Hitman, I think you need to update your computer my friend, what you got a commodore 64?
seriously though those plans look a million miles away now, probably wouldn’t have worked as Ken Bate’s Chelsea village was in serious shite before the Russian came along, and Big Fred looked like he was copying that…….says it all.
22 tooneskimo // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Call me Mystic Meg but that ugly mug is going to be our new owner…….
looks like he’s trying to get back in our good books before he makes his entrance next week.
23 NOVA2967 // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:40 PM
17 mill i never wanted it. He had already lost a step i remember saying he was scared to take people on back then compared to when at liverpool and didnt Souness want anelka instead for only 7 or 9 mill hmmm…
24 IrishMan // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:47 PM
There was an old striker called Owen
Who is now left all on his own
He was bought by the Toon
To great fanfare and tune
But in the end he just left us all down.
25 Dan4Toon // Jun 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM
I know everyone is going to take this as BULLSH1T but my mate was at his sisters fancy dress part and there was a lad there who worked for the chronicle and he said that Shepherd wont be taking over, Shearer will defiantly be manager unless Ashley stay’s on, and the front runners are the Profitable group!! I am not lying, TRUST ME!
26 Doocey // Jun 27, 2009 at 12:18 AM
We’ll trust you Dan lol
Mainly because it’s music to our ears.
27 Rodzilla // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:32 AM
I’ve seen the future.
28 Rodzilla // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:33 AM
…and it fu<king stinks
29 Tino 11 // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:39 AM
J ust
A nother
C reepy
K nackered
S ick
O ld aged
N once
30 Rodzilla // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Tino 11, leave Toon_Factor alone
31 Rodzilla // Jun 27, 2009 at 2:07 AM
BREAKING NEWS!!!
…PEOPLE LOOK AT ANY OLD BOLL0CKS WHEN IT’S IN UPPER CASE!
(apologies, that’s not really breaking news)
32 Rodzilla // Jun 27, 2009 at 2:17 AM
//
33 ginkoh // Jun 27, 2009 at 4:14 AM
Owen decision was not bad one but sacked Sir Bobby and appointed Souness is the most stupid mistake he did.
34 catchy in norway // Jun 27, 2009 at 7:29 AM
his record was ok,,
he has never been a player that did a lot for himself like henry, or shearer, he has alway needed things put on a plate for him.. at liverpool it was heskey and gerard that did all the work for him , he never chases anything like bellamy did,,.
he was signed purely for money, big names sell lots of shirts. get a better fan base in far east. thats what ffs seen. .
shepherd should not be aloud to own a football club, just like cashley.
35 Solaidback // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:19 AM
The one thing people seem to forget is that we paid £17m for him & he took a heafty wage every week for doing nowt but FFS did get £10m in comp from the FA after Owens injury during his England trip, so we did get something out of him, even if it wasn’t passion!!!
Personally I said when we got him that he wasn’t worth £17m, as once his legs go, what else does he have in his locker… nothing!! Unlik Big Al, once he lost whatever pace he had, at least he was still skillful enough & strong enough to change his game to holding up the ball & waiting for fitter, younger midfielders to get up front & take the ball from him, I never once saw Owen doing that, he would just be pushed over by the defender…
So please don’t try to compare Owen to Shearer, as he comes no where near him!!!
36 magforlife // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:25 AM
The problem with Owen was that we had a paper thin squad unlike manu, chelsea and even Arsenal who have decent backup when a forward loses form or fitness. You dont see the same gnashing of teeth at these clubs but when your backup is Ameobi it just doesnt paper over the cracks does it? Shepherd is talking bollocks though, if he had put his foot down Owen should never have been allowed to go to the World cup half fit and would never have sustained that career threatening injury in the first game.
37 Mac // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:25 AM
This is mow ruining my holiday. Doomed doomed doomed we;re all doomed
38 Nick D // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:32 AM
This sums up Shepherd’s crass stupidity competely. Liverpool sold Owen a few months earlier for 8M. Nobody but us was ever going to pay 17M. It’s like Boumsong goes to rangers on a free, 6 months later to us for 8M !!
Owen had a bad injury record before he came to us. Why do you think Benitez et al don’t ever want him back.
Basically Shepherd went for another trophy signing to make him look good. Did Souness even really sign him, it looked like the hard sell was from Shearer.
Shepherd = poor managers = poor players.
39 Nick D // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Tino 11 you’re letting yourself down there mate, show a bit of class.
40 belfast toon // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Suprised to see the daily Mirror having such a go at us this morning, it’s on news now sorry I’ve no link I won’t be buying that rag again!
41 Stuart79 // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I’m going to sleep now for one week. When I wake up I want us to have been sold to a rich Arab.
Something tells me that won’t happen!
42 belfast toon // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Off topic but will help get the day in (and let’s be honest nothing else is going to happen) who is the best looking on ssn it’s Natile Saywer for me
43 belfast toon // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:51 AM
?
44 ian // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:51 AM
I was for Anelka not Owen, Anelka was on his knees begging to come to us.
The signing turned out to be Owen but we knew they were trying to sign someone but he was holding on for the best deal, I always think that the keenest player who is good, is best to get at your club, however I always knew what Anelka could be like and when we signed Owen i was not sure which one would be better, however again I sway toward stronger strikers, Ferdinand, Shearer etc as the main man and a smaller faster second striker ie Bellamy, Martins type. Since we already had Martins I would not have chosen a small light player.
I definately would have signed Anelka I wouldnt have waited for Owen, my elderly neighbour an avid fan would have bought Mcarthy, then Mcarthy had a brilliant season so he may have chosen better than me, for the following season, but mcarthy as we know dropped off a bit.
That is why I would have sold Owen last Summer because Cisse was begging to get back in to the premiership, Cisse is big and strong a better partner for Martins, I would always go for someone who is eager to join above a player who hangs on and on for a better deal unless it was Torres at his current age, it would have to be a ‘now’ player to wait.
I think they probably did pay the right price, Owen should have been better at his age but it has to be said, why werent other clubs going to buy him?
He didnt have the Anelka and Cisse image issues so a lot of people knew something from somewhere.
45 batty // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:41 AM
at the end of the day we brought owen to replace shearer and if bent was worth 15 mill at the time on paper owen must have been worth 17 mill like sheperd said hindesight
46 Frank pingles come sock // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Alan Shearer is 100% our next manager. I asked him last night in our marque at gosforth races. He was an hour late arriving due to being in a meeting with the club. He then spent an hour on his phone. so after all that and a few pints i walked up to him and asked him outright, he said “yes” but just awaiting the completion of due dillegence. Thats all he could say.
You must log in to post a comment.