“I believe that these can be good times to be at Newcastle, wrote Michael Owen in the Times newspaper last week, which is why I am more than happy to be here.
In manager Sam Allardyce and new owner Mike Ashley, Newcastle may have found the hard grafter/silent partner they need but has Owen really found true happiness?
Or in a league where the fox in the box (see here for a great definition) has become an endangered species among the top four clubs, has the former Liverpool man been forced to paint on that boyish grin?
Owen left Real Madrid in 2005 to ensure his participation in the World Cup. The recently revealed £9 million get-out clause (one that wont allow Allardyce a decent nights sleep until August 31st) might have been designed to ensure only a short spell on Tyneside. Yet for a striker standing just 12 goals shy of Bobby Charltons seemingly impenetrable 49-goal England record, Owen has a remarkably shallow list of suitors.
An unappealing history of injuries may be one explanation but so is the fact that the Premier League Michael Owen was born into is very different to the one he returned to.
When he joint-top scored in 1998, Owens contemporaries were predators great and small from Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Robbie Fowler to Michael Bridges, Marcus Stewart and Kevin Phillips.
Upon his return, it is the thrilling attacker and not the crafty poacher that thrives. The unpredictability of Ronaldo, the ferocity of Drogba and the explosiveness of Torres are the hard currency of 2007.
Can an injury free Owen revive one of the great lost traditions of English football? Or, more importantly, will he get the opportunity to do so at a level befitting his pedigree?
Padraic Halpin, London
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8 comments so far
A fit michael owen with something to prove could spell a very interesting season for newcastle. whenever he’s been injury free owen as scored goals (even at real madrid, when given a chance) and he could soon be reminding people what a class act he is.
- Posted by LondonPadraic, I was as surprised as anyone when Owen moved to Newcastle but it looks to me like he’s done the right thing by pledging his future to the club. Newcastle paid a great deal of money to bring him to the club and it’s nice to think that he can repay a bit of that over the coming season, while doing his prospects of a future move no harm. I’m sure he will, in fact.
- Posted by KevUnfortunately Michaels career has followed Robbie Fowlers. An outstanding beginning and an injury prone middle. Robbie can still score goals and is very much the fox in the box yet he cannot find a club in the Premiership. I think he’s worth a contract if only for the experience he could bring to his team mates, in particular the strikers.
Michael is going to have to prove his pedigree over again and over a whole season or more before he gets his dream move back to a blue chip club. Good luck to him, but he seems to have lost his blistering pace so will need to improve his game elsewhere to compensate.
- Posted by JimmyD’oh! http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Stor y/0,,2131475,00.html
- Posted by Elenalost his pace, lost his confidence, lost his reputation!
- Posted by stew arkersOwen’s game was always based on his pace and poaching ability. He blasted to prominence with that pace which took him past the entire Argentinian defence. Liverpool was blessed to have him during his prime.
For Owen to regain his credibility, he needs to evolve his game and not rely on his pace anymore. He needs to develop very clinical finishing and at least some Drogba-style flair and/or some Shearer-esque shielding abilities if possible. Certainly a tough mountain to climb for him.
Owen is a good lad. I sincerely hope he regains his credibility this coming season.
- Posted by Five TimesI have a soft spot for Owen and I would have liked to see him back at Liverpool, but I agree, without the explosive pace of old he is just not that good a player. I hope Five Times is right and there is still scope for him to redefine his game. We’ll see.
- Posted by RafaI wouldn’t be so quick to write him off, Stew. I know he’s been injured again even since you posted but I still think he’s got a lot to offer. One of the (very) few world class players to have been produced by England in recent times.
- Posted by Kevin