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

Comment 29 - 48 of 88

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  1. i would have owen on our bench no worries the lad as­ class and can still finish if given the chance i hope­ fergie takes a punt on him cos a fit owen is a­ guarantee of goals for sure he will win whatever team­ he goes to if there a decent side a lot of matches and­ points with his goal poaching instincts defo come to­ united owen and get your career back on track

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Mon 22 Jun 5:17PM

  2. worth 5m of any clubs money, he'll obviously have­ to take a considerable pay cut... you can not pay off­ form players 100k+ pw.

    For 5m and a 60k wage i­ wouldn't mind seeing him at villa park next season.

    From hambycomb, on Mon 22 Jun 4:37PM

  3. Owen is lackin fitness he will probily retire next­ season hes had his day.
    good luck to him though

    From The Top Fan, on Mon 22 Jun 4:22PM

  4. Owen should play for free for Hull if he is so keen. He­ should also pay for the litany of people who will be­ called on to look after him when he comes there. He is­ the biggest white elephant that I have ever seen in the­ history of the Premier League.

    From aidan, on Mon 22 Jun 4:21PM

  5. i believe he is still shine like he was previous­ before..he has a very good talent at the forward, only­ the injury caught him to the problems...come on­ Michael!!!!! you can make it..lets change the­ history...u can make it

    From hafizi, on Mon 22 Jun 3:43PM

  6. Injuries will ultimately take there toll on every­ player.
    only Owen knows if he's still got what it­ takes to compete in the toughest league in the world.I­ hope he has and proves all the doubters wrong and can­ get back for one last world cup.He's 1 of the few­ England players that actually plays better for country­ than club.True big game player.
    C'MOM owen­ son........

    From Adam B, on Mon 22 Jun 3:43PM

  7. The divingwelshnonce never had it !!! hahaha !!!

    And­ Sir Bobby Charlton's, the Englishman Capello would­ pick over all others, record is safe bigheadedcnut.

    From nikyates, on Mon 22 Jun 3:39PM

  8. He's a shadow of his former self, you can see that­ pace has deserted him, along with the determination to­ COMPETE. As a former MO fan I don't like to see him­ playing so poorly,he would us all a big favour by­ retiring.
    He is rapidly becoming a passenger who's­ forgotten how to create and finish.

    From JOHN D, on Mon 22 Jun 3:24PM

  9. why is this section still under "premier­ league"

    please remove it and place it where it­ belongs.............

    From geordieprince1, on Mon 22 Jun 3:19PM

  10. The truth from my corner is that of Owen want to regain­ his ego and glory he should be quiet and stay in NC to­ bring them back up next yr otherwise i will advice he­ hangs the boot now. He is in the past and all he needs­ is to hang the boot on a glorious hanger and that can­ only be achieved if he stays in NC then see them coming­ back to EPL. But to go to Hull is a waste of money for­ Hull City

    From Dynamic, on Mon 22 Jun 3:13PM

  11. as a massive hull fan i dont think hes the right fit we­ need a speedy player that can create goals as well as­ score them, i think fraizer cample is the best option­ as he has already proved himself capable

    From alex, on Mon 22 Jun 2:22PM

  12. i am a big newcastle fan 'n' OWEN should *UCK­ OFF 'n' retire he is useless the guy lost it­ when he left liverpool 4 real madrid he should pay back­ the money we av forked out on him coz he don't­ deserve it 'n' if he still wants 2 play­ football he should go down 2 the conferance­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD RIDANCE 2 BAD­ RUBBISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!

    From w.newton79, on Mon 22 Jun 2:03PM

  13. ¿Qué os pasa? Tendríais que besar el suelo que pisa­ después de todo lo que os ha proporcionado en años­ anteriores. Ojalá que resurja como el AVE FENIX, y que­ todos los que lo ningunean se tengan que tragar sus­ palabras.

    From luoguez, on Mon 22 Jun 1:52PM

  14. Difficult to live on £40,000 a week stated by sloaney­ lad. Don't if Owen made that comment himself or not­ but if he did he needs a wake up call. How many of­ those who pay week in week out to pay the wages of­ these over paid spoilt prima donas would like to try­ and live on £40,00 a YEAR. Many people earning less­ than half of that are looking over their shoulders­ every week to retain their jobs at all. Some of these­ footballers make me sick, no wonder I'm going off­ the game slowly. Get real Mr Owen and all the rest of­ these players complaining about the fortune they earn­ not being enough. Come and live in the real world and­ see how long you last on minimum wage.

    From j.essaye, on Mon 22 Jun 1:49PM

  15. 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......

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 22 Jun 1:01PM

  16. NO

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 22 Jun 1:00PM

  17. #16 - the Owen we kenw and used to love is long gone.­ He may still be a great guy, but only off the pitch.­ It's time for him to move on, to activities that­ don't risk injury. Footie is not one of them.

    From monson.theknole, on Mon 22 Jun 12:57PM

  18. Has he still got it? Hhhhmmmm! Depends how much money­ he gets. He hated Newcastle which sticks in my throat­ the way we treated him, willed him back to good health­ and supported him throughout along with his­ astronomical wages but more than anything he­ couldn't even be bothered with the fans. On the day­ of the new shirt release I took my son and they had,­ Harper, Taylor, Guttierez and Owen signing shirts. Mt­ son was really excited to met Owen and when it was his­ turn Owen didn't even look at him. Keeping his head­ down he just passed the shirt along the line. My little­ lad was crushed.Luckily the rest of the players­ we're lovely with him. Unfortunately Owens name­ will notcome out of the shirt or I would erase it­ myself. @#$%!

    From helen, on Mon 22 Jun 12:50PM

  19. Why in the pic does he look like he has just been­ scratching his a r s e, oh yeah thats all he does­ these days that and counting his money.

    From James, on Mon 22 Jun 12:45PM

  20. Has owen still got it? What did he have he lost when he­ left Liverpool.

    The only thing he has got is a bank­ full of money, a load of horses and an injury list that­ is a joke must have missed half of his career through­ injury, anyone including Hull lol are willing to pay­ him good money to play for them must clutching at­ straws. Why dont we in the Uk have any decent young­ players coming through the ranks, I would rather a­ young player from an academy get a game before the­ likes of sick note.

    From James, on Mon 22 Jun 12:38PM
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