The Evening Chronicle today has a new series out on Michael Owen, who was signed by Newcastle for £17M from Real Madrid in August of 2005, when Graeme Souness was managing the club.
Michael Owen – while at Newcastle
And Newcastle signed Michael to a wage of £110K/week for four years, and of course it was a massive signing for Newcastle at the time.
And Newcastle had to use future payments from our Northern Rock sponsor to be able to buy him – something that Chris Mort revealed when he became Chairman in 2007, and financing deals in that way is very unusual – to say the least.
In other words we didn’t have the money to buy Michael, so we used money that was going to be paid to us in the future by a sponsor, and that kind of deal can lead to financial suicide.
20,000 turned up to see him at St. James’ Park – just to welcome him – but his injuries made it a very bad deal in retrospect, and Newcastle were relegated when his contract ended in 2009.
But Michael is very positive about his time at Newcastle, as he said this to the Evening Chronicle today:
“It was a dream start. It has hurt me over the years since I left that every question that is asked to me is always a negative one about Newcastle.”
“I am always trying to say positive things about Newcastle – because that’s what I thought about my time up there.” “A lot of negativity came out and the bandwagon rolled on.”
“Whenever I say anything decent nobody wants to write it.” “So I mean it when I say it was an enjoyable time for me. “From the first minute I arrived with the amount of people that were there to greet me when I signed, it was fantastic. It was unbelievable.”
“I got off to a great start in that sense.” “After signing it was an absolute dream in many ways.” “Leading up to the turn of the year, one of the big pulls of going up to Newcastle was playing alongside Alan Shearer.”
“There were plenty of good players in the team at the time.” “I signed when we were in the bottom three, but there were only three or four games gone.”
“That didn’t worry me.” “I signed, and then in my second game away at Blackburn, me and Alan basically went on a great run and scored loads of goals together.”
“We rocketed up the league and everything from my point of view was just as I had hoped in many ways.”I was buying a house up there.” “Alan put myself and my wife and eldest child up at his house.” “I found a house of my own and it all got taken care of pretty quickly.”
” was buying a house up there.” “Alan put myself and my wife and eldest child up at his house.” “I found a house of my own and it all got taken care of pretty quickly.”
“It was great and I settled down really quickly.” “Everything was going perfectly for a good few months. “We were in the top 10 at the turn of the year and then obviously at White Hart Lane came that fateful day.”
“I always look back on it and think it was a major turning point of my career because it led on to so many other things.”
Those are good words from Michael, who seems to be trying to put a positive spin on his time at Newcastle, and it was certainly very positive at the start – at the time he signed my son Neil thought it was simply a fantastic signing, and so did the vast majority of Newcastle fans – maybe 99%.
But he broke his foot in a collision with Paul Robinson, the Spurs goalkeeper, in early 2006, and he was out for the rest of the season, and that was the first of his many injuries at Newcastle, which dogged his time at the club.
And after four years on Tyneside, he played only 79 times with 30 goals, in a black and white striped shirt.
But it’s still good to hear him taking so positively about his four year stay on Tyneside.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
183 comments so far
pawl250
Jun 28, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #1Sinclair is a more “realistic” signing.
Cost Man City 5m, arguably cost us less, if we wanted to buy him.
Had a decent season at Swansea, I would like to think he knows he made the wrong choice going to Manchester City. He should have went somewhere like Newcastle, Everton, Villa, Sunderland if he wanted game time.
Shame this will most likely never happen, he is English and a decent little player. Better than Obertan, Sammy, Gosling, RTaylor atleast!
Our current starting 11 is not actually that bad! For me it would be
—————————– Krul ——————————–
Debuchy —– Mbiwa ——– Coloccini ——- Santon
————– Cabaye — Tiote — Sissoko —————-
Ben Arfa —————- Cisse —————— Gouffran
Subs
1. Elliot
2. Haidara
3. STaylor
4. Perch
5. Mareveaux
6. Anita
7. Shola
It really is not that bad.
Personally think we need another right back (mold of Haidara), striker, winger/attacking midfielder.
PEA, Zouma and Belhanda would be dreams!
More likely to get Tomkins, Sinclair and Bent though haha Even that maybe stretching it! haha!
pawl250
Jun 28, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #2On this thread, Michael Owen is a robbing get!
BUT we only say that because ultimately he never played much!
His goal record is decent, considering how many appearances came from the bench, or half games being taken off in the process.
Still I would be “happy” on 110k a week! Especially sitting around in my joggers most days relaxing in my multi milliion pad! haha!
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #3His attitude in the last year was questionable but can you blame him? He had signed for a good team, came back that last year for a poor side fighting relegation, his pace had gone and he wasn’t the same player….can see why he was down and lost interest.
Until he broke his foot and then did his knee in that comeback game for england he was amazing. 7 goals in his first 10 games….could have been a great at the club if not for bad luck.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #4million$ of reasons for owen to have enjoyed his time here … monotonous bell.
Mister Tuff
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #5bills son -you mentioned earlier that when JK had his heart attack in the 2008/9 season -we were 12th in the league. This is not correct we were 15th. – we had played 24 with 24 points.
lesh
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #6Memo to JFK. Heed Owen’s words (me and Alan basically went on a great run and scored loads of goals together).
Trust you understand the message!
Mike A
JackButler
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #7I hope the robbing git is happy to sit at home counting his money and cleaning the medal he got for sitting on the bench at Man U. I hold him in such low regard it’s impossible to put into word’s just how much I dislike the man
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #8naptoon
not his fault the club gave him a huge contract
not his fault he got injured
Only thing you can question is his attitude at the end in games, but as i said above…it cant have been easy for him after going through all his injuries and everything to be expected to carry a team to safety.
pawl250
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #9Does it matter where the club was in the league?!
JK is a tool, but many fans are fickle.
If we signed PEA, Zouma tomorrow everyone would be eating humble pie in respect to JK, myself included.
I think time is what is needed to see how it plays out, being all negative from the start does not help you or the club.
I cannot wait for our marquee signing, I can see it now! Linked to all these players and we end up Bent, or Heskey! Its written, just waiting to happen. Especially with the whole “We will get the very best players for NUFC” speech.
John Tudor
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #10i wont i freakin hate humble pie
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #11One thing i’d like the club to try and do more is get players like shearer, solano, etc etc who did well over the past 10 years for us more involved.
Nothing is better than listening to a good player, even current pros as well as the kids at the club could learn a lot from them…would be nice to try and get them more involved around the place.
Football is one of few sports where people seem set against using past players just to consult and take info from.
pawl250
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #12My last post is sooooo contradicting, but its hard to be positive with JK running about behind the scenes.
Hes like a hobbit from Lord of the Rings!
Just does not fill me with confidence, but as stated mid week, I have no doubt MA did this for a reason and that reason will be to improve the club.
How?! I do not know, but time will tell.
josh
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #13Good words or bad words, he’s still a pole smoker.
jamesnufc86
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #14Owen said when he was about to leave “it’s hard to motivate myself for a club that is only ever going to finish in the top 10 of the pl” – that’s what I found shocking , considering his wages. In all fairness seems like a nice bloke though. Just finished Craig Bellamys autobiography , ha ha has anyone else read it ?
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Comment #15pawl
it depends how much he had to do with the deals though.
We already were linked with these guys and bid for PEA in january…how much has he actually done.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Comment #16ts
and the fact he let his contract run down and deserted us after having a poor season.
on the injurys did he not go to the tourney carrying a knock?
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #17josh
lol
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #18Sage,
I wouldn’t want Shearer in doing it. Solano, Ginola, I would love to come in and work as coaches. Solano has done pretty well managing in Peru, wouldn’t mind him in and then potentially to step in to managers role. Ginola has said he would like to get into coaching. Harper is another that should be offered a role when he hangs up the gloves.
croftus5678
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #19@8 transfer
its his attitude in the games he played that was the main concern as he never even tried in 70% of the games and just stood there looking at the floor is why i consider him a bad signing !
he blamed everyone else but was not part of the team himself ^^ i remember 2 occasions after matches where he came out and said ye we played poor blablabla we just didnt get to them ect yet he pretty much stood with his hands down his pants all game looking at the ground >.<
great player in his day and obv going to take as much money as he can in a failing end to a career but we signed he when he was allready done for 🙁
Mister Tuff
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #20pawl – I take it your comment was aimed at me re the position in the league when JK had his heart attack. In the great scheme of things it probably does not matter at all. However if it is being introduced into a post and is inaccurate – the inaccuracy should be corrected.
JDdubai
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Comment #21@Pawl 12
Hobbits in the end saved the world, u rate JFK in that bracket? Is Ashley the dark lord?
The hobbits also destroyed the Dark Lord’s ring…..can you see JFK destroying Ashley’s rin…ah its not worth the joke.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #22michael owen is a hobbit … he couldnt save us
John Tudor
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Comment #23however i find the use of the subliminal diphthongs infuriating in recent posts
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #24naptoon
Not 100% sure, think he went to the tournament without playing for us since his injury so if fit he wasn’t fully match fit with games under his belt.
But if England pick you you’re always going to go to a tournament with them.
He did run his contract down but he’s well within his right…same way we run down players or try to sell if we want them gone i guess. Also we were relegated so no way we’d have kept him with his wages and a player like that should be in the prem league in fairness.
I just think a lot of crap happened to the guy and when football is your love and you lose the pace which made him stand out and be one of europes top players for a while any amount of money would struggle to motivate you.
See it with so many players in all sports…when they go from world beater to just good they often finish their career early or fade away into nothing quickly.
croftus5678
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #25@18
solano and asprilla my hero’s and never a bad word to say about us and still love us through and through (i still reckon solano can do a job for us) 🙂
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #26what a horrible weather in the North East today, hopefully PEA & Zouma will come and bring the light on this doom & gloom 😉
Transfer Sage
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #27lilongwe
why not shearer?
and it doesnt have to be in a coaching capacity…just sit with the players for a bit every now and then after games/training etc and just have a chat….learn so much from just talking.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Comment #28ts
im just bitter he was part of the team that got us relegated and he didnt match his price tag … unfortunately a case and point of all the bad things that were going wrong at the time
John Tudor
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #29go on ed 50% of jd sports ad stick it to the man
jimmysmith
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Comment #306 years is long enough, it’s time he got this club functioning as a legitimate and consistent top 6 contender. That’s where a club our size should be and we all know it, including Ash.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:29 AM
Comment #31jimmy
exactly
John Tudor
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Comment #32a month of sundays comes to mind
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Comment #33Sage,
I think if we want to help the kids develop, then Shearer isn’t the man. Some people are good at that sort of thing. Some aren’t for me, Shearer, as good a player as he was, isn’t someone I would picture as being able to talk to and help them.
From lots of things I have heard he was never one to particularly encourage the younger player at the club, or have time for them. And on more personal levels he isn’t widely liked by a lot of people who know him, including some of his close relatives. I just don’t think he has a personality suited to that sort of role.
Ian Toon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Comment #34For me the ideal two signings to provide power, pace and creativity would be PEA and Jozy Altidore and at a price within Ashley’s thinking. Altidore at 23 and for around £ 4.5 million would be a terrific signing. Unlike Bony he has real pace. Playing in the Eredivisie he has really impressed and can only get better. Altidore would be an ideal starter or an impact ST. Bent as a shorter term option would be OK but only at around £ 5 million.
We then would have an up front 3 of Cisse in the middle flanked by PEA on the right and HBA on the left.
The main area of weakness last season was the midfield this was devoid of movement and pace which led to a lack of possession and a slow build up in going through the gears from defensive to offensive play. At Man City let’s match them with 4-3-3 and be on the front foot- having witness countless occasions where we haven’t turned up this could be a good opportunity to gets points on the board.
Tiote to play in a Makelele uncomplicated disciplined type role , in front of the back four. Sissoko and Cabaye in the two in front of Tiote. Both are intelligent enough to have a fluid linking presence but with Tiote playing as an out and out DM not looking to exceed his skill base. Anita would be an excellent cover for any of the midfield three. Gouffran and Marveaux would provide the cover for HBA and PEA. This assumes we don’t sign Tom Ince who would be just what were looking for a wide/ winger on the left.
Toonfan8
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Comment #35lilongway geordie
first of all, you would sell marveaux for 5 mill 😀 😀 what a joke and then what? you will play sissoko as cam??? or cabaye? yes he got 6 assists and who did have more? cabaye,ben arfa,guttierez,obertan? nobody…you talked about his starts, but how many was from bench? as for anita, they both should played in starting line up all season…
John Tudor
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Comment #36watching nufc under ashley is like watching the keystone kops
Rowan Milsted
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Comment #37I have understood, and will never understand, the level of antipathy toward Owen from nufc fans.
His career was dogged by injuries and unfortunate decisions. Liverpool played him into the ground as a youngster and his move abroad never came off. When we signed him he went on to have a spate of injuries (as many players have for us, but none more so than Owen – and Dyer perhaps) but when he played, he played well. His goal scoring record speaks for itself.
People speak like he’s a born-and-bred nufc fan. He isn’t. He gave us four seasons – more than a lot of our players who get far less abuse – and he was always going to leave when we went down because he was desperate to reignite his England career. Sadly that never happened.
His performances toward the end were only as questionable as many of the players around him in what was a truly awful season. I’ve always thought of Owen as a true professional and I think that he would have become one of the greatest strikers of all time had he not been hampered by injury. For shame.
We payed lots of money for him. That was our call. Not his. He scored many vital goals for us and things would have been so much different had he not been injured so much (story of his career). He may well have stayed with us and gone on to catapult us toward the top of the league. We’ll never know. All I know is that not every player we sign should be expected to become a life-long servant; he gave us four years and for the amount of games he played he scored an impressive number of goals.
Doubtless many will disagree but that’s my opinion!
Rowan Milsted
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Comment #38‘I have *never* understood’… that should read. Ha, woops.
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Comment #39rowan
i disagree … but im as bitter as fook
naptoon
Jun 28, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Comment #40rowan
i disagree… but im bitter as f##k