Jim White

Who would have imagined this?

Fri Jul 03 09:39AM

Sam Allardyce wouldn't touch him with a lengthy bargepole. Fabio Capello considers him entirely surplus to requirements. At Newcastle, the accountants have been desperate to get his enormous salary off the books before it drags the whole enterprise to the bottom of the Tyne.

Just about the only interest in securing his signature this summer had come from Stoke City. And yet, provided all goes well with his medical, today Michael Owen will be joining the Premier League champions. By five o'clock he will be a Manchester United player. How on earth did that happen?

Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson is a man buying on potential here, not recent history. Over the five years of his ill-starred, injury ravaged stay on Tyneside, Owen managed just 58 Premier League starts. He arrived from Real Madrid with a reputation as one of the most potent strikers in Europe, his signing a huge coup for the club. He leaves having seen his stock fall so low there was much talk in the papers that he would give up on football altogether and pursue full time his real interest in life, racing.

So what exactly is Ferguson doing? Does he really think that a ghost of a has-been is adequate replacement for those he has lost this summer? Will Owen - averaging a goal every fourth game for Newcastle and playing about as often as Led Zeppelin - really fill the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, who between them accounted for more goals in the last two seasons than Owen made appearances?

As it happens, Owen is not as old as he seems. He may seem to have been around since Methuselah was a kid, but in fact he is 29, younger than Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Nicolas Anelka. For a finisher, that is not remotely close to geriatric. True, the searing pace that used to earn him his goals has largely gone, but this is not a stupid player. He will have learned to compensate. And, with his enormous reserves of self-confidence, he will be convinced an injury-free run is all he needs to show he has it still.

Which is presumably what Ferguson sees in him. He recognises that Owen has a point to prove, a reputation to restore. Plus, he knows the player's affection for the World Cup. With the tournament to take place next summer and with the England manager wholly agnostic, Ferguson appreciates that Owen's anxiety to prove himself could serve United's cause well. The only way Owen will be on the plane to South Africa is if he has the season of his life. And the season of Michael Owen's life is something every manager would wish to have in their armoury.

Besides, Ferguson has made signings like this before. Although his preference is to buy younger players of potential - Ronaldo being the most successful example of the policy - he has recruited older players when he feels his squad needs experience. Teddy Sheringham was two years older than Owen when he went to Old Trafford in 1997 and yet Ferguson extracted 156 appearances from him (one of which was rather crucial). Henrik Larsson, meanwhile, was 35 when he came for a short loan in 2007. And Ferguson was desperate for him to stay longer.

What's more, for a club of United's resources, signing Owen on a free transfer and a largely performance-related deal involving a relatively modest guaranteed wage is not as significant a gamble as some of the ones he has had on the race course. If it comes off, it will be the signing of the season. And if it doesn't, well if nothing else it will confirm the prejudice of most United fans: they never rated him in the first place.

- - -

Jim White returns on Wednesday, July 15

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yellowfrisbee
Quality point m8.
From postmanpatcan on Fri Jul 03 03:22PM
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Not sure how SAF/Utd can lose with this deal. Owen certainly won't be first choice at start of season, but he will increase the pressure on Berb & others to perform and keep their places - and Lord alone knows he needs a few kicks up the backside to get him moving. Owen will have to compete for his place, and will more than likely be kept to slots as an "impact sub". If it comes off, great - if not, what have we lost? With all the big targets going to Madrid, we can't allow a potential situation where we only have 3 forwards, get 2 injuries and finish up throwing Park or Nani up front. The Scousers on here can crow all they want, but it's a bold, and shrewd signing by SAF. As several Scousers have pointed out, what would Rafa have had to lose if he signed him?
Good luck Michael!
From geofft1 on Fri Jul 03 03:26PM
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Hey nedsid2003, could you repeat that message, I didn't quite get it
From rproudlove on Fri Jul 03 03:28PM
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ben_wilson21 I agree totally. Unfortunately, we seem to get a lot of silly people on this board, it is nice to read sensible comments instead of the pathetic garbage we have to endure from United haters who know absolutely Jack about football. Why don't people just put in constructive comments instead of all the rubbish like 'Fergies losing his marbles'?
I think 11 Premier titles, 5 FA cups, 2 Champions Leagues, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 Super cup, 1 World Club Championship, 2 League Cups and countless Charity Shields speaks for itself. Nuff said?
From rproudlove on Fri Jul 03 03:36PM
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Doubt it!
From jay8my on Fri Jul 03 03:38PM
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Don't like Man Utd much, but do like Fergie. Owen has scored goals at every level of football he has ever played and will continue to do so given the right service. I think it is a great bit of business, Utd have nothing to lose. If he can stay fit and get his confidence back then he will be a great signing for Utd and also good for the England national team.
From kenneth.hendry on Fri Jul 03 03:44PM
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i made this call at the end of the season and my mates laughed at me, but its a win win situation for everyone concerned, owen will definately get the service at OT and thats all he needs good signing, but would of loved to have that french lad (cant spell his name)
From jonah662 on Fri Jul 03 03:47PM
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Fergie can see that he wont get his first choice targets this year so a filler is needed, so why not go for an old pro or 2 that can do the business if all goes to plan? he's done it in the past (sherringham, Larson, Blanc) and been fairly successful. it'll be a transitional year and he's got nothing to lose face by bringing in a good player for no money. It could all go wrong, but it could also go well.... I bet he woudn't mind having a 29 year old giggs again, someone who was always out with injuries but came back and was just voted players player of the year, why cant the same happen to Owen?
From chappellillustration on Fri Jul 03 04:04PM
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i think michael own wud b a gd signin 4 man utd yeh his pace myt b gone but hes a predator n that sticks with u 4 life n if he gets the right training schedule 4 him at united stay fit n push bebra n rooney 4 a startin place n he wud b a fantastic role model 4 the younger strikers comin throo the ranks
From thomas_allen1705 on Fri Jul 03 04:08PM
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You wait and see. Ferguson will convert him into an English Inzaghi and he'll be knocking one in on almost every appearance.
From xo_wae on Fri Jul 03 04:18PM
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Type of striker man utd need.someone who plays off the shoulder of the defender and a poacher.I think he'll be a big success.
From sionrolls on Fri Jul 03 04:27PM
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well as a chelsea fan i admit sir alex is a clever manager and he always knows what he is doing so i think id agree here that it is a very smart move because he is just 29 and can still go on for 3 years at least and if he gets his form back and get alot of playing time then he will be a great player again. for me he has always been the best striker in england and one of my favourate football players along with lampard, terry, arshavin and vagner love
From andreysizemin on Fri Jul 03 04:51PM
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I hope he can pull it out of the bag I would love to see Owen and Rooney playing well for Man Utd it can only benefit England
From stuartellison1 on Fri Jul 03 04:55PM
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I am a Newcastle fan and would like to say that th e whole season hasnt been good for newcastle and owens hasnt been any good for us. I do beieleve that if owen joins Man utd fergie will get the best out of him like larson
From dawnlewis56 on Fri Jul 03 05:04PM
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RE Comment 61: "timbarwell. minutes and goals are all well and good but
do the Newcastle fans like Owen NO.
Do the manure fans like Tevez YES.
Why?
Because one of them can be arsed and the other can't and i dont need to tell anyone which way round that is."
Seriously mate, do you watch much football, as if you did you'd realise goals are pretty important. And he managed to score more goals than Tevez when according to you he couldn't be arsed, and he was playing in a much worse team.
From mrjusticeni on Fri Jul 03 05:08PM
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c'omn Owen score you first goal against your former employers Losepoo and rub it in. good wisdom Sir alex. that one goal will do for the season
From kaggwa2000 on Fri Jul 03 05:17PM
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At least with our championship status we won’t have to see Owen’s miserable face back at SJP – baring cup matches.
From toonman75 on Fri Jul 03 05:18PM
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"Last year in the Premiership:
Tevez 1860 minutes played 5 goals
Owen 1893 minutes played 8 goals
Cost to sign for Man U:
Tevez 25 million pounds
Owen less than a cup of coffee
Any more questions ?
Well done Fergie !"
Excellent point YellowFrisbee. No footballer is worth 80million. Real Madrid will be bankrupt soon enough, with no championships to show forth. Looking forward to Owen playing.
From the_rogue_unknown on Fri Jul 03 05:19PM
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Maybe, just maybe, this is just the kick up the backs ide that Berbatov needed. If the aged and the sickly can run so must he.
From cokrowinoto on Fri Jul 03 05:25PM
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johnhannon i think u r just silly do you call winning the fifa world club cup ,the premier league and getting man u to their 2nd consecutive european cup final in a row losing the plot also great say number 5 ./ yellow frisbee owen is a clever buy and if he does well this season one of the best choices fergie's ever made.
From ogunyeyef on Fri Jul 03 05:28PM
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Yet another thoughtful article from Jim White. More Jim White and less Paul Parker say I.
From pauljohnsmith3000 on Fri Jul 03 05:57PM
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Well Fergie may have the last lauh on everyone. What would folks say if the move proved a success and Owen really enjoyed himself, relatively injury free ? The World Cup beckons and he could raise himself with the England Squad. I can see Fergie enjoying this one all the way. Love him or hate him, he has the touch to do things and he is the most successful manager for Man Utd.
From georgeechase on Fri Jul 03 06:08PM
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im a liverpool fan but i think fergie might have something here. Anyway he got nothing to lose cos he have 80 mil pound. might be a shrewd move. Nice article jim. i love this funny line "For a finisher, that is not remotely close to geriatric"
From e_chong_han_boon on Fri Jul 03 06:15PM
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a lot of great players....Gullit, Shearer etc came back from serious injuries in the latter days of their career.....just need 3 months regular football and the sharpness and confidence is back.....can happen to Owen.......
From walshtim75 on Fri Jul 03 06:27PM
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I don't think it's that bad a deal. Owen now needs to prove himself as Fergie has thrown him a lifeline to get back in the England team. Playing with an excellent group of players should help him. No need to pay for any overpriced striker like we did for Berbatov.
From balvinl on Fri Jul 03 06:32PM
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Well done Michael, just take what ever money the mancs give you and play like you did 2 years before you left Liverpool and ever since for all the teams who gave you fantastic salaries ABSOLUTE @#$%, it will be great to see the ol red nose lighting up and you sitting behind him on the bench doin what you do best F*** All. Great answer No5 Newcastles last game to stay up Owen on Pitch nowhere to be seen result relegation what an incentive and he was on over double what you are goin to pay him great buy
From s49ro on Fri Jul 03 06:41PM
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ANOTHER TEDDY SHERINGHAM , HE WILL COME GOOD HE HAS THE SUPPORT SO WHY NOT ,,,... GREAT STUFF COMON MAN U !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From marktoddy on Fri Jul 03 07:02PM
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ROY OF THE ROVERS
From marktoddy on Fri Jul 03 07:08PM
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I think as a liverpool Fan that SAF again may have pulled off one hell of a coup... lets face it Andrew Cole wasnt that good a finisher (missed more than he scored) and look how many goals he got for united. All they will need to do is get enough ball in the box and Owen will bag 15 league Goals whether only managing 60-70 mins from starts and 25-30min cameos at the end of games... Watch this Space... Rafa your mad not taking a punt on him Shirt sales at LFC would cover his homecoming wages after all he is a touch more proved than Robbie "GOD" Fowler was when he came back for a finale season
From ws67no on Fri Jul 03 07:20PM
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Ok, it's an alright signing seems as though it's a free transfer. If he stays fit then he could make a good cup-game player and an impact substitute.
But seriously: We still need at least two more players!
1) Ferguson has said in the past that he needs 4 proven strikers, with Owen - that’s three. So, one more left. Personally, i cannot look past Aguero. Ferguson still has around £80million to spend so do whatever it takes to get him! The player has already said he would like to play in England (Not recently, when he played back in South America) so i think he would be perfect.
2) Right, after the Champions League final no-one can deny we need some more quality in the centre of midfield. Jaou Moutinho from Sporting Lisbon would be perfect and if the reports of Sporting offering him in a straight deal for Nani, that’s ideal for Manchester United.
3) In my opinion, we need a left winger. Nani has said he will step-up but, 1 - I don’t think he can and 2 - He won’t be there if the swap deal goes ahead. With David Silva at Valencia who are in desperate need of cash, it shouldn't take to much to bring him to the theatre of dreams However, with reported interest from Real Madrid, we might not get him. Hang on... Don’t Real Madrid already have a quality Left Winger in Arjen Robben? So, if Real Madrid goes for Silva, they wouldn't need Robben (Who wanted to join ManU ahead of Chelsea if you remember).
From c.cchambers on Fri Jul 03 07:24PM
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