Owen for broke
Fri Jul 03 08:41AM
"Would we be interested in him? No. Firstly, his wages are too expensive. Then has he got the urge, the bottle and drive to do what the Premier League wants you to do? It's a big question." Dave Whelan, Wigan Athletic chairman.
"No, not for me... I think that from my point of view, from being with him at Newcastle, it's always been the injury threat. I can ill-afford to sign a player who's going to be out the team," Sam Allardyce, Blackburn Rovers manager.
"Michael Owen could be waiting a while if he expects anyone better than Hull or Stoke to express an interest." Early Doors.
- - -
It might not seem like it given the events of the last few weeks, but ED is forced to admit that Manchester United are better than both Hull and Stoke.
And so we enter the final part of ED's trilogy laughing at United's summer transfer dealings.
They have lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez; they have missed out on Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema. And now they are going to sign a player who, just days ago, everyone was willing to chuck on the scrap heap.
If City fans want to rub in their status as Manchester's coming force, they need only buy a job lot of United weird red-and-black rugby league shirts and have Owen's name printed on the back.
So what on earth is Fergie thinking?
In one sense, it is a risk-free signing. United need a poacher and Owen (pictured at Chester racecourse) is certainly that. He will be on a short-term contract, he will have to take a massive pay cut and he will not be expected to start too many games.
But then Dele Adebola would have been a cheap striker who didn't start many games, but it doesn't mean that would have been a good idea.
Despite playing 32 games, last season was arguably Owen's worst.
Even without the excuse of injuries he was simply dreadful. Having been singled out by Alan Shearer as the man to keep Newcastle in the Premier League, he played appallingly and was dropped.
He even achieved the rare distinction of making his club's fans glad to get shot of him on a free transfer, just four years after shelling out a club record £16million for him.
In a staggering show of disloyalty to a club that paid him £100,000 a week throughout years of foot, knee and groin problems, Owen showed no interest in discussing a new contract with Newcastle.
He then found he was not in quite the demand he anticipated, and his management company was reduced to supplying clubs with a now-infamous brochure in an attempt to drum up interest.
Most famous is the 'brand values' section in which the commercial benefits of signing Owen are described in 21 almost universally ill-suited terms like 'Fit & Healthy', Young', 'Devoted' and 'Dynamic'.
There is also a spoof version circulating the internet, in which the corporate guff is replaced with 'Bench warmer', 'Liability', 'One-paced', 'Ex-footballer' and a few containing language that would make 50 Cent blush.
The sad part is, the gag phrases much more accurately represent Owen's current stock with the public.
ED's favourite part of the brochure is page 18, where Owen's former doctor is deputised to explain why Owen is not a crock.
John Green BSc (Hons), MCSP, HPC might be a better doctor than House, Meredith Grey, Doogie Howser MD and the smug one off Scrubs put together, but it is hard to trust his assertion that the description Owen as injury-prone is "a nonsense".
Dr Green said: "I was asked to see Michael Owen by David James in 2006. I had just rehabilitated Kieron Dyer from his hamstring problems. This culminated in Newcastle receiving £7m for Kieron from West Ham United.
"Following Michael's return from his cruciate ligament injury under my guidance, I treated Damien Duff and Dean Ashton for their respective foot and ankle fractures.
"I also successfully treated Craig Bellamy following a long-standing groin problem whilst he was at West Ham."
Yikes. And is it weird that, despite all the injury wrecks that have been through Dr Green's care, ED thinks the most troubling thing is that it was David James who arranged Owen's treatment, not anyone at Newcastle?
Today's medical at United's Carrington base is hotly-anticipated, but really, what could United find out about Owen's fitness that they do not already know?
Unless his entire leg shatters when the doctor does the knee-jerk reflex test, there is surely no physical defect left to discover on Owen. He has suffered every injury in the book, except possibly scurvy.
Just as United fans gamely denied that Cristiano Ronaldo was an odious twerp - until he was sold - they will cling to a faint belief in Fergie's track record and Owen's enduring ability as a finisher. But deep down they will shudder every time the little sod ambles on to the pitch.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We can confirm we have completely rejected an offer
from Manchester City for John Terry. It was made clear
to City, for a second time following an approach last season, that we would not
entertain any conversation on the subject. At the time John also reiterated his
total commitment to Chelsea.
We would like to make it clear, and will not do so again, that John is not for
sale." Chelsea dismiss interest in John Terry from City. ED thinks the Blues doth protest too much.
FOREIGN VIEW: Poor old Raul Albiol. A couple of days after Kaka was rapturously acclaimed by 50,000 at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid's new £13 million defender - a Spain international, no less - was presented in front of a few hundred people. The stadium could not have been more sparsely populated if Dinara Safina had been playing a Wimbledon semi-final there.
COMING UP: Other than millions of Manchester United fans' breakfasts, you mean?
ED reckons this could be the day Murray-mania comes crashing to a halt, but if we can have a three-hour women's semi-final anything can happen. It's Haas v Federer and Murray v Roddick from 13:00 UK time. It should be fun.
READ THIS: Following Schalk Burger's gouging non-apology, here are sport's top five unrepentant b******s.
Nice hat Andy...
From rock.bratt on Fri Jul 03 09:44AMcant wait for season to start will all you united knockers have egg on your faces at the end of it oh but of course you will have forgotten what all of you had put on here by then remember cantona
From craigwise70 on Fri Jul 03 09:45AM#29 At least his body will still be preserved (Pickled)
From reynoldsj_2000 on Fri Jul 03 09:45AM# 33 - I think Dr. House is better.. His dry sarcasm is so much better than ED's dimwitted comments..
From rock.bratt on Fri Jul 03 09:47AMOwen can be a brilliant signing for united. He just needs to stay fit and we all know he is a natural goal scorer. He has played along side Rooney before and have a good understanding of each other and will put in more effort then Berba-bob. He also will be a good experienced striker for the likes of Macheda and Welbeck to learn off and could turn out to be one of the coups of the season if he gets into double figures as he is free. Sir Alex usually knows what he's doing in the transfer market and signing Owen instead of shelling out 30 mil or upwards on another striker leaves him more money to get some young talent in. Plus with the new champions league rules another english player who is proven can't be a bad signing can it.
From jonkelly06 on Fri Jul 03 09:51AMsir alex have made a history in man u and he fail to make achoice for
better result what will OWEN do in man u for get him.From lopejoe2006 on Fri Jul 03 09:52AMOh well at least the other headline is about Fabiano. United could get him. Him and etoo are the only world class strikers left on the market.
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 09:52AM#30 i agree with you there mate, grnated owen had a poor season at newcastle last season but i can only pick out one utd player who actually played well and that was taylor. so if your expecting a striker to bag you alot of goals in a club where the fans boo there own players, clubs being run by a beer swigging fatty, and then you take keegan bailing out again and joe kinnear coming in. with all these factors there, their is no surprise owen didnt perform well. granted he is injury prone but hes joining a club that is world class, and with that they he will get the best treatment around. I'm a villa fan and was excited when we was being linked to owen hes still one of the best finishers around and for a free transfer and maybe a earn as u play contract is a great bit of business for utd. good luck owen!
From yam_crog on Fri Jul 03 09:54AM#36 - United Knockers ? They will get my full support ! Guffaw !
From stevebrown793 on Fri Jul 03 09:54AMIf Fabiano is any good, Real will hog him too..
They are really proving to be the stupidest of the lot in the transfer market...
And Eto'o will go to Citeh for some exorbitant amount that may well prove unreasonable..From rock.bratt on Fri Jul 03 09:56AM31 - PMSL - The spammers are getting real good at this, linking their BS to the title topic. The biggest irony being that it is a site for tall-fetishists spamming on a topic about arguably the shortest player in Premier League football. ROFLMAO.
From edgar_friendly on Fri Jul 03 10:03AMOr Post 32 even. (Sorry Andy!!)
From edgar_friendly on Fri Jul 03 10:04AMI dont see why ManPOO aren't trying to sign Eto, they certainly have the money after Ronaldo's departure. I'd like to see Arsenal sign Owen as i dont think there's much to lose in doing so, especially as he's a free agent, and we could do with a good old fashioned 'goal hanger'.
From jay8my on Fri Jul 03 10:06AMRB Fabiano is excellent and he's physical enough for the EPL. 16m is unbelievably low if you believe the paperbullshit !!
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:07AMTry again Edgar it was Post 33
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:08AMJay Etoo wont go to Man United he will only go to Man City he loves the money tooooooo much
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:09AMNo team has won the EPL 4 seasons running and it looks like SAF is making sure that stat continues.
I would give my right leg to be able to play for the glorious MUFC, in fact I could lend Owen my right leg when he gets injured getting off the bus from Ascot.From reynoldsj_2000 on Fri Jul 03 10:11AMWhat was the film like?
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:12AMPossibly Anne, but im sure its at least worth a try, Fergie wouldn't have much to lose in doing so. I tell u what suprises me , no-one has gone in for Adriano, I know hes fairly happy back in Brazil but im sure Mid-table teams like Spurs could tempt him and hes gotta be worth the risk looking at his record.
From jay8my on Fri Jul 03 10:14AMA win win situation for ManU. I can't really think of a good Newcastle player in the last half of the season and any striker will tell you he can't score if he doesn't get the ball. No fee, pay and play, dangle a contract if he performs well, horse racing tips and reduced stable fees - NICE
From pfy1101 on Fri Jul 03 10:14AMtypical english attitude...lets all slaughter the guy and then kiss his arse after he's finished. self-righteous idiots.
From scottdavisfrance on Fri Jul 03 10:17AMRock Bratt Real wont go for Fabiano. They have Benzema now so they aint even goin for Villa anymore. its defenders they need and I think they know it and will concentrate on this going forward.
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:17AMAnne the film was good, i really enjoyed it. It was never gonna be as good as the first but still defo worth watching at the cinema.
From jay8my on Fri Jul 03 10:18AMJay - Adriano, has had enough chances.There is clearly a screw loose and its just too much of a risk. He's best off staying in brazil where he feels at home. He was a world class prospect but that was a number of yrs ago and it never materialised.
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:18AMFree transfer, pay as you play, possible good gaol scorer, injury prone so what ? still a real bargin for free.
Only too sorry Raffa did not sign him, no layout, no play no pay, its a good deal.
Maybe he will score against Liverpool then Raffa will be sorry.
From shaunjonvernon on Fri Jul 03 10:18AMIll have to give it a shot Jay Ive been told to go and see The Hangover it has come highly recommended supposed to be a pisser laugh must watch movie
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:21AMAnother bid from City for John Terry rejected? Surprise surprise. When the rich arabs get bored with dangling a "Premier league" team from their charm bracelet City will return from whence they came, the anals of footballing history.
From reynoldsj_2000 on Fri Jul 03 10:24AMOwen to Man Utd? Really? They really ARE having trouble signing people aren't they? Can anyone else hear the sound of bottoms of barrells being scraped?
From danny_saks on Fri Jul 03 10:25AMDont sit on the fence Nik
From annieh97 on Fri Jul 03 10:26AMAnne - C'mon he obviously found it difficult in Italy, he's such a strong player his physical presence wud be deadly in the prem. What do u mean he had enough chances didn't he go off the rails once and then that was it? Di Canio had his fair share of trouble in Italy but he found his game more suited in England therefore enjoyed it alot more and become more professional. If Di Canio can do it, then im sure Adriano can.
From jay8my on Fri Jul 03 10:26AM
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