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Transfers - Your view: Owen still got it?

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 09:19:00 2009

Michael Owen may be set for a Premier League lifeline, thanks to Hull City's interest, but is the Newcastle striker still able to cut it at the highest level?

2008-2009 Newcastle United Michael Owen - 0

Plagued by injury over recent years, the England international has struggled for both fitness and form at St James' Park.

He managed just 10 goals last season and rarely looked like the player that once saw him crowned European footballer of the year.

That said, Owen is a natural goalscorer. Does that instinct for the back of the net ever leave a player of Owen's pedigree? Does he just need a run in the side, free from injury, to regain his form?

Certainly Phil Brown seems to think so. If the Tigers get their man, will it prove to be a masterstroke or will Owen turn out to be a white elephant?

What do you think? Have your say below, or on the message boards, via the link below the photo.

Here's what some of you have said already:

WORTH A PUNT

saalemnok: "If Owen wants to prove he can stay fit and still do it at this level then yes this is the right move for him. But he'll have to take a hefty pay cut to prove himself. Is he ready to do this? It all depends on if he wants to prove that he is still a hungry class striker or the has-been most think he now is."

djarmstrong1984: "If he's fit he'll score. Owen's not had a great supply since he's been at the Toon, if he gets the ball in the right area he'll put it away, he's got the natural ability to finish and that's something he'll always have. Definitely worth the risk."

dunkerfour: "I think he is still worth a shot, no transfer fee and if you can get the right pay as you play deal he's worth a gamble for anyone."

Roland: "Of course he is still worth it. Owen just needs to be free from injuries for six months and all his confidence will come back. You don't just go from being world class to being average overnight."

paul67taylor: "I think he is worth a go but only if he severely drops his wage demands."

STEER WELL CLEAR

G: "Why would anyone in their right mind take a gamble like this? Even with a pay-for-play, the amount you spend on salary could be much better spent bringing up a young talent or two. Owen's career is done, deal with it. "

Kevin H: "If I was Hull I would give it a wide birth and look elsewhere unless they are looking for a shirt seller?"

Joseph: "Sound move by Phil Brown, I guess Jimmy Bullard needs somebody to keep in company in the treatment room and play cards with."

Sloaney lad: "I'm just relieved he's not coming back to Liverpool. The man's gone crackers recently, claiming he'd find it difficult to live on 40,000 a week. Some nerve on the man coming out with that kind of statement after spending most of his career in two working class cities that have struggled with employment since being ravaged by Thatcher in the eighties."

steveandnou: "He failed in the relegation battle for Toon so what difference would it be at Hull? As proven at the Toon he can't play the link up role and striker - the only way he can score is played up front off the shoulder off the defender."

AntiBrand: "A lot has been said about a lack of service, I don't buy into that, if you are a really great player then you don't rely on others, if its not happening then you make it happen. It is too easy to blame everyone else. Make no mistake he was a great player a hat trick against the Germans says it all but those days are gone and if he does not watch out he will just be a has-been who slides done the leagues and that would be a shame."

sappercommando25: "He lost it the moment he left Liverpool on the ill fated Real Madrid adventure. Not that this has in any way diminished that account of his though."

Eurosport

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  1. Yeah go Stoke City they could really use you,good­ strong team thats not scared of any team,Owen if you­ are going fight back - fight back with Stoke not Hull­ ........
    Stoke City = great fans and a passion to­ suceed,and a great manager...nuff said ...
    Hull who are­ ya ?

    From jo, on Tue 23 Jun 12:09PM

  2. MICHAEL STOKE CITY IS JUST WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW,YOU­ HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OFF BY MOST PEOPLE JUST LIKE STOKE­ WERE LAST SEASON BUT BOY DID WE PROVE UM WRONG.COME TO­ STOKE AND WE CAN BOTH PROVE ALL THESE PEOPLE WRONG­ AGAIN STOKE SUPPORTERS ARE THE BEST SUPPORTERS IN THE­ WORLD AND BOY WOULD THEY GET BEHIND YOU OLD LAD
    GO ON­ BOTTLE YOUR PRIDE AND GET ON THE BLOWER TO THE GOD OF­ ALL GODS THE ONE AND ONLY MR TONY PULLIS

    From wilkysprivatehire, on Tue 23 Jun 11:49AM

  3. owen has been past his best for years

    From paleondrome, on Tue 23 Jun 10:14AM

  4. He's still a great player but not nearly as good as­ he thinks he was in the past. Pitty because he was one­ of the most talented and fair players you'd find.­ You'll never see him diving and screeming like­ Ronaldo would you ?

    From www.gmsport.co.uk, on Tue 23 Jun 5:35AM

  5. IF Owen can stay fit he would be a good addition to any­ team. Sign him for free, offer him a contract that will­ pay him more for playing/scoring goals and we will see­ if he is still hungry. If the ball is in the box there­ aren't too many players I would take over a fit­ Owen to put the ball in the back of the net. He should­ go to Liverpool, they need another striker and although­ he wouldn't start he could be the kind of super sub­ that could nick a few goals to avoid some of those all­ too costly draws of last season. Also, Liverpool could­ use the money saved on the transfer fee to buy another­ player. SIGN HIM UP!!!

    From dobod123, on Tue 23 Jun 5:08AM

  6. Two better judges than most of us Capello and Jose have­ actually stated that Owen is not the player he­ was.

    Dont think he has the hunger or desire­ anymore.And correct me if I
    am wrong since he left­ Liverpool dont think he has had an injury free­ season.So any manager that signs him will only get a­ half season player, can any team competitive team­ really want him?

    From f.gonsalves, on Tue 23 Jun 2:10AM

  7. the midget is about as much use as the hamster in his­ mucklaren.

    From Burt, on Tue 23 Jun 1:41AM

  8. the man was a waste of money he had more injuries than­ second hand plaster cast. Well shearer is the the new­ messiah i hope that he takes us back to the premier­ league. I have be a loyal fan for 35 years. Why did­ shepherd and hall sell the toon to a man who sell sport­ items. If i had a 100 million i would have brought­ newcastle utd. But money does not grow on trees. So do­ you think a consortium would do a betta job than mike­ ashley. A very disgruntled and peeved toon fan

    From wayne, on Tue 23 Jun 1:00AM

  9. the man was a waste of money he had more injuries than­ second hand plaster cast. Well shearer is the the new­ messiah i hope that he takes us back to the premier­ league. I have be a loyal fan for 35 years. Why did­ shepherd and hall sell the toon to a man who sell sport­ items. If i had a 100 million i would have brought­ newcastle utd. But money does not grow on trees. So do­ you think a consortium would do a betta job than mike­ ashley. A very disgruntled and peeved toon fan

    From wayne, on Tue 23 Jun 12:56AM

  10. Nope

    From Don P, on Mon 22 Jun 11:14PM

  11. Owen A effing @#$% hes taken millions from the Toon­ & he now says he wants premiership football, the­ mans a joke, he should have kept loyal to the Toon like­ a class act in Shearer, GOOD RIDENCE to a Effing JOKE,­ by a disgruntled TOON FAN!!!

    From CAMERON, on Mon 22 Jun 8:19PM

  12. no way

    From sarahgoodfellow, on Mon 22 Jun 8:10PM

  13. When was the last time anybody watched Owen and­ thought­ "That lads got talent"......lets be­ honest,­ its been a few seasons since Owen produced­ anything­ like a premiership performance. Not his­ fault, but his­ legs have gone and he hasn't been­ able to change­ his game to compensate as some other­ veteran players­ do.

    I'm not sure he could pass a­ medical at this­ stage, never mind play even part of a­ season.....what­ Owen needs is a good friend to sit him­ down and just­ tell him truth.....its time to retire or­ move to a­ weaker league.

    PS.....Neither a Geordie or­ a Barcode­ (Newcastle supporter)

    From Praetor123456, on Mon 22 Jun 7:52PM

  14. he is a proven goal scorer when he is fit just look at­ his stats, i think he would be a great 3rd choice­ stricker for any team.

    From peter.white789, on Mon 22 Jun 6:42PM

  15. He's still living in the past. We shouldn't.

    From Silver N, on Mon 22 Jun 6:31PM

  16. POOR PLAYER, simples

    From JACK, on Mon 22 Jun 5:54PM

  17. of course he has, dont be silly!

    From TERRY G, on Mon 22 Jun 5:48PM

  18. of course he has, dont be silly!

    From TERRY G, on Mon 22 Jun 5:44PM

  19. owen- rubbish; Newcastle - rubbish; This story???­ rubbish!!!

    From COLIN, on Mon 22 Jun 5:34PM

  20. If Michael Owen wants to seriously play quality­ football and get his fitness levels back to a maximum­ then there is no other club he should go to than Stoke­ City if Pullis cant put him right then no one can.
    TAKE­ A LONG HARD THINK AT WHAT I SAY MICHAEL PULLIS WILL GET­ YOU BACK ON THE ENGLAND SCENE IN NO TIME

    From Robert W, on Mon 22 Jun 5:17PM
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