With it looking increasingly likely that Michael Owen will be a Manchester United player by the end of the day, take a little time to relive his decision to join Newcastle over Liverpool, after he was linked with us in 2005.
June 19th 2005 – United linked with Michael Owen after it appears he will be returning to the Premiership from Real Madrid.
June 24th 2005 – United deny the rumours
“I admire Casillas but he is not in the plans of Manchester United,” said Queiroz. “Owen does not interest us either.”
August 1st 2005 – Bryan Robson all for it
“I don’t know if there’s any truth in the rumours going about,” Robson said. “For me, Owen is a top player and what he’ll take to any team is a great ratio of goals per games that he plays in. He’s a top-class player and he’ll always score goals.” Will United fans mind his Liverpool roots? “I don’t think they’ll look at that at all,” he continued. “Many United fans want to see top-class players playing for United. If Owen goes, it’s just another top-class talent within their squad.”
August 3rd 2005 – Sven all for it
“You know you are buying a lot of goals because he has always scored goals and always will,” said Sven. “So whatever happens if he comes to England or stays in Spain he will be important for England. It does not really matter where he plays but if I could wish it, it would be good to see him and Rooney together and that would of course benefit England. I can’t deny that.”
August 8th 2005 – Deny it all
“We have had no contact with Real Madrid over Michael Owen,” stated Manchester United communications director Phil Townsend.
August 8th 2005 – Fergie not a happy bunny
“I’m not answering that,” said the United boss when he was asked at a press conference if he holds an interest in the former Liverpool hit-man. “I’ll tell you why. I’ve seen the nonsense you have written all year. There is no way I would give you a helping hand in that respect. I am not going to make any comment whatsoever. You need to ask Real Madrid that really as I’m sitting in Manchester.”
August 11th 2005 – Cricket coach John Buchanan reveals Fergie chat
“He talked a little bit about Michael Owen and he doesn’t really see his style of play fitting in with Man United,” Buchanan said. “That’s one of the reasons they’re not going for him.”
August 13th 2005 – Benitez interest
“I am aware that Michael would like to come back,” said Benitez. “I don’t know if we can do something because we are waiting for a good offer for Milan Baros. But he is a good player and I like him. I never had any problems with him. He is a nice boy, a good professional and a very good player.”
August 14th 2005 – Still nothing from Ferguson
Are we interested in Owen? “No comment,” he told Channel 4.
August 24th 2005 – Owen wants Liverpool return
“I met the Real Madrid president before last night’s friendly at the Bernabeu and we discussed my future,” said Owen. “I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool. The president understood and said he would try to help me achieve this. If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle United but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in a World Cup year.”
August 29th 2005 – Owen in talks with Liverpool and Newcastle
August 30th 2005 – Owen joins Newcastle
August 31st 2005 – Owen hails easy decision
“It was 1.30 in the early hours of yesterday that I finally decided that I was joining Newcastle,” Owen said. “Although there had been a lot of agonising, and a lot of telephone calls, it was an easy decision in the end. People will point out that, only a week or so ago, I listed Newcastle as the last of my options but circumstances change very quickly, as I have discovered. I felt that to return to Madrid would be the wrong decision. I want to play regularly and, if I am honest, part of me missed the passion of The Premiership. I was uncertain that a Liverpool bid would be accepted in time and I wanted to play for a club who really wanted me. David Moyes rang to see if there was a chance of getting me to Goodison Park and to wish me luck if not. I think he must have known I used to follow them as a boy. I have a lot of good memories of scoring goals at St James’ Park including a hat-trick on my first visit with Liverpool. I was clapped off by the home fans that afternoon and I hope I can give them plenty more reasons to cheer me.”
Whilst I enjoy the thought of Liverpool fans hurting at the prospect of their former hero (which he was for so many of them) playing for United, you can’t help but ignore that what he is doing is wrong. It is wrong to come from the Liverpool youth team, play for the team for years, then later join Manchester United.
Will he win us over? I honestly just can’t see it happening. I really dislike the fella and the fact that he wants to play for us, oddly, makes me dislike him even more. I can understand the appeal obviously, given his other option is Hull for crying out loud, but there’s just something so dirty about it. Can you imagine David Beckham leaving Real Madrid for Liverpool? Can you imagine how we’d feel about him if he had? Of course we can take pleasure in knowing how cut up some of them are going to be over this, but the whole thing still doesn’t sit right with me.
It’s not just the Liverpool connection though but the man’s priorities. Earning a lot of money and doing well for England are his biggest concerns. He doesn’t appear to be too arsed who he’s playing for as long as he earns a lot of dosh and is fit for when England come knocking. He will see joining United as the perfect opportunity to get back in the England team ahead of the World Cup and that will mean far more to him than anything United-related. So, chances are, if he stays fit, we’ll get a good year out of him. He’ll be out to impress. But he’ll be out to impress for all the wrong reasons. But does that matter? My head is spinning.
We have to trust the manager.
Don’t forget the RoM free shirt summer competition!
imagine e look on dippers if owen were to lift the trophy for e 19th time. Once hailed a saint, now a devil that’ll haunt them forever.
imagine those dippers who named their sons Owen!!!!
hahahah
@North Stand,Tier 3,Back Row Said
Contrary to what you say, “How you can abuse the scousers into the ground and despise them all (which 99% of us do)” I don’t think we do this. We have more class than them. We spend our time cheering our team rather than abusing the opposition
@Tonka Norris
Easy, give him Tevez’s shirt, that will also help him know his place better
OTRed, I cant comment on others, I can only tell it how I see it. The Liverpool thing is a big part of the issue I have, the other side is he’s a crock on a free transfer and not someone Id like to see limping into Old Trafford on match day. Theres enough players out there without going for Owen. The lack of genuine interest in Owen from other clubs isnt a bad yardstick to gauge him off – no one is looking for him.
If he signs, Id hope he does well for us, Im just saying in a perfect world I wouldnt want to see him set foot inside the door or wear the United red that we pride ourselves on.
I agree, in Fergie we trust, and Im not saying that if he signs he wont be a success (so if it does work out I dont want someone on here trying to ram my words down my throat). IF he stays fit, he could do ok, but my gut feeling on this deal is that I just dont like it and Id rather not see it happen.
As for Torres, he’s quality, no doubt, but I wouldnt want to see him at Old Trafford, it just wouldnt be right. Same as Rooney or Vidic going to Anfield.
imagine this, michael owen scores the winner against the murderers at anfield . we re gettin him for fuck-all. he will get us goals. i dont see what the problem is ,yes he is a cunt, but like someone else said he ll soon be our cunt . and don t dare kiss our badge until you score infront of the kop.you little cunt. IN FERGIE WE TRUST.
Maybe this is me being optimistic, but i think with the medical staff, and the world class fitness coaching we have at United i think this could be a worthwhile gamble, especially if the reports about his contract are correct (If he’s injured he doesnt get paid). I can see him bagging a few next season, i just dont want this to mean that rooney will get pushed back out to the wing because we all know that he performs better as an out and out striker.
IMO i would rather have signed a holding midfielder as we’re a bit short on options in that department what with Hargreaves being injured and Possebon going out on loan so i wouldnt be suprised if Fergie already has someone lined up to fill the gap.
micheal owen will be lucky if he is fit enough for the bench. us united fans want answers how we lose our best player and not willing to pay a premium for the best players to get to replace ronaldo, and instead get a washed up has been who is using united to get in the england side. they try to get players for lower prices instead of just getting them quickly, the united board fcked up with ronaldinho transfer and the only reason we got ronaldo was because no one snapped him up earlier. and it took fergie to sign him in august a week after the comunity shield when we played sporting in a friendly. he was not going to sign rooney in 2004 because he felt he could get him on a free transfer in 2005, fergie could have got carrick for 3 million in 2004 could have got hargreaves on a free in 2005. the reality is uniteds negotians on how they get players is a total joke and not smart enough to get them cheaper. they seal beckham for 25 million instead of getting atleast 45 million for him, let van nistlerooy go on a cheap. and the only good transfer they have done in terms of cash recieved was ronaldo.
Marq, you must be the 1% so. Yeah, that sounds pretty what you wrote, not quite right though. Stand on the terraces when we play the scousers at Old Trafford and just listen. United and Liverpool hate each other, thats the way it is.
re. OTRED. quote shut up about the Owen transfer. check yourself son. whats the point of all this if utd fans cant have their say. and i will tell you what the difference is Torres is world class right now. and would be a hugh take from our closest rivals. But the point is dont tell people to shut up
Owen will be highly motivated to prove people wrong and to impress Fabio Capello to get into the England team.
I hope to see United play more as a team rather than like last season, play as a bunch of individuals.
I also hope that Owen produces such performances that lead us to retain our Premier League title and regain the Champions League trophy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Wouldn’t it something if we played Barca in the semis then Madrid in the final and beat them to win the ECL trophy for the 4th time? Owen scoring
the decisive goals and Rooney having a mesmerising game where he finally shows the world he IS the man. Whilst our defence and midfield work well to nullify the likes of Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaka, Raul et all.
Well one can only dream!
as long as he doesn’t take #7.
the signing of ashley young would be a good one.
he might just be as good as ronny, but without as many tricks.
It would be difficult for the supporters to accept him in the beginning but I’m convinced that a few goals down the road, we would appreciate the move.
My only concern is his fitness. Hopefully he doesn’t stay in the company of the other Owen that much.
In this day & age, I really don’t think one can be thinking about loyalty to the club. Footballers are mercenaries now & as long as they do their job, it is fine with me.
OohAahCantona – Ashley Young is nowhere near as good as Ronnie, not even close mate.
Great signing! We should forget the way he celebrated those goals against us and him finishing Ronny Johnsen’s career. It’s good for United & it’s brilliant for England!