May 10th 2004, three months before signing for Real Madrid.
“We will sort something out amicably next summer,” said Owen. “I won’t just up and leave on a Bosman. I have the rest of this season and all next still left on my existing contract but talks have already started on a new one. Inevitably, they are complex though and don’t get done in just a week. But I certainly see myself at Liverpool next year. Why not? I’m not in football for the money. And that is largely what it means when players sit out their contracts and go for free.”
Owen confirms he will not re-sign for Newcastle, after joining for a massive £17m fee and scoring just 26 league goals in 4 season (an average of 6 a season), and therefore leaving the club on a Bosman.
Michael Owen? In it just for the money? Surely not! Most players named European Footballer of the Year sign for a club like Newcastle three years later, for the peak time of their career, on a massive pay day. No?
Man Utd News 24/7
If only fergie read this site
(
Debrabs
love this site
build my day around it
and i work 40 hours a week with a kid
but even scott doesnt know as much as sir alex
ya think sir alex picked up “The brochure” and taught ill give this guy a look
he’s bein watching everything
and if he thinks its right
99% of the time the guy is right
In Fergie we trust
cantona7
in those words we live by
He’s free, though, (except for his wages) and if United could sign him on a pay-as-you-play contract, I wouldn’t mind him as a third or fourth choice striker. Rooney and Berbatov will definitely start but Owen is a goal poacher so he can come on when United need a goal. Macheda and Welbeck look good enough to share a couple of appearances between them as well. So United will have two world-class strikers, one deadly finisher and two emerging talents. There’s a healthy balance in age which is always important.
Owen for free isn’t as bad a move as it sounds at first. He is no Benzema but he is free and won’t demand as much playing time as Benzema. Neither will he have the Madrid obsession the continental player seem to have.
In Fergie we trust, yes.
In Michael Owen… I’d sooner trust Mourinho to play flamboyant attacking football. This is a bad idea, even if it’s Sir Alex’s.
i want Macheda and Welbeck at united for a long time
if there are not 1005 up for it this season that can cripple confidence
micheal owen will not sign a 5 year deal
i think for free with his proven record (when he’s fit)
united could be looking at an amazing stopgap
1 season being the number 3 or maybe 4
let Macheda and Welbeck get there chance to be the other r3 or 4
someone with so much history against united
could end up being amazing for the future
i’m not completely happy with this (potential) transfer, but imagine him scoring for us in front of the scouse fans
that would be delicious…
I reckon we give him a chance. Yes, he’s been injured a lot. Yes, he’s ex-Liverpool. But if he’s going to score goals then I don’t give a shit where he came from.
Maybe Fergie is doing this because he knows we need another striker but doesn’t want to splash cash yet. For all we know, he may be getting someone in 12 months and sees Owen as nothing but a loan striker almost.
Who can forget Henrik Larsson’s stint at the club? I think Micky Owen may be just as successful.
He’ll be happy to sit on the bench, which Tevez wasnt. Owen will not be our main signing. He has alot to prove, a world cup to think about and its a pay as you play deal. Why hold a grudge? No player in the premiership is honest to the press so i think owen deserves a break. Its a no lose situation. Free tansfer, low wages and a proven goalscoerer.
This is bad news….could potentially be a good move though if we spend the money recruiting elsewhere.
BTW RoM is in the daily mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1197195/Taking-Michael-Manchester-United-set-sign-Owen-free-transfer.html
“The Republik of Mancunia website, under the heading ‘God No, Not Michael
Owen’, lists 10 reasons why the club
should not sign him.
One fan wrote: ‘Not in a million years. I’d rather bring Bellion back . . . than have michael ‘I’m a crocked scouse’ owen”
just thought i’d let you know
We should all trust fergie.He Rebuilt Manchester united.
He’s a free agent so why don’t we give him a chance.
Great free signing, cant believe any negativity.
We all know why Owen went to Newcastle for that fee and it was a result of Woodgates problems at Real.
We nearly signed Owen in 2005 and we nearly signed him in Jan.
Great business by Fergie,
I really think this is a win win situation. He’s free, if you believe the papers he’s taking a pay cut from £120k a week to £50k with additional bonuses on top such as goals scored, games played and trophies won. He’s got a point to prove to Capello and to the world that he’s not a dried up old striker and he’s English. He was born and raised in Chester not Liverpool and went to Newcastle not just for money but also because they appeared to have ambition (HAHAHAHAHA).
I think we should give the guy a chance to prove everyone wrong before we start sniping and trawling through old articles to find derogatory remarks and quotes. If he can get 10 – 15 goals in all competions as a starter and also from the bench I’ll be happy. Talking of the bench he will much more humble to start from there than that argie midget was.
Scott u have a point but he has accepted a pay cut and it is pay as u play deal so i dont think money is issue.he wants to prove a point and this could be a fergie masterstroke.i m not comparing Cantona with Owen but do people ever say now that all those years back Man Utd signed french players who had come out of retirement for just 1mn from Leeds.the rest is history.and owen is getting only a one year deal
In my opinion its a risk without cost involved. We are not paying any transfer fee, the wages would be hardly setting the world on fire (the incentives could though). No one can dispute the pedigree which Owen had, we may not know how good he is if surrounded by better players and better environment than what he went through at Newcastle over the last two years.
In my opinion he is going to be the impact player which Ole was for us, with experience of carefully playing Giggs, Ole etc. am sure we would be in a decent shape to take care of the injury worries of Owen. Am sure Owen would score more goals than what Tevez scored for us last year irrespective of the number of starts he would have.
Dont forget the most important thing which Larsson did for us in his short span, passing on experience to the youngsters. The likes of Welbeck & Macheda would benefit overall with their experience playing alongside Owen.
lads this could be a good signing for you if he stays fit i believe he will score you lots of goals as the problem he had with us was that we had no creativity in our side where as you have that in abundance even if ronaldos gone
though i may be wrong the problem i believe will come when owen and berba play together coz lets be honest if berba cant be bothered then thats that where as even if owen is bothered he isnt gonna do much in the build up play
but you never know
i may be wrong again but i still think you need another striker in the mold of drogba some 1 who has a big physical presence with hieght strength and pace
good luck
Come on guys, he is for FREE! He is born to score goals, give him a chance. He can be a good addition to our squad. Fergie knows what he is doing, so calm down. This could be a good thing! And Scott, things change. Stop digging up things from the past.
Debrabs Said,July 3rd, 2009 @9:35 If only fergie read this site
(
You really think he’d take any nottice of pathetic, juvenile pieces like the one above your post?
He is the greatest manager in the history of the game with the biggest club in the game to run (no, we don’t count sugar-daddy loaded circuses) not a wannabee journo with a silly agenda.
They never learn. Egg on face coming up.
He couldnt get a game in a Newcastle side that was desperate for points to stay up. Even his big mate Shearer dropped him.
In Fergie We Trust!
ALL YE UNITED FANS YE CAN HAVE OUR REJECTS ANYTIME YE WANT, WHAT A SIGHT FERGIE GETTING ANOTHER SAHA. 80 MILL IN GLAZERS POCKETS, AND OWEN TO SCORE YOUR GOALS . THINGS ARE BAD WHEN OWEN IS YEAR NEW STRIKER . YNWA.
I think Owen will be good at backup if he can stay fit.
owen
..7..
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Whats the fucking problem? We are in a no lose situation. We dont pay a fee, his wages wont be on par with any of our top earners, he’ll not be a starter and if it pays off we get someone who can score 15+ goals a season and someone who the younger players ala Wellbeck and Kiko, and even Rooney can learn from!
I agree with the comments made by OMelhoDoMundo. We do have a wealth of talent up front even if Wellbeck and Macheda will only play a small part next season. I now look forward to SAF spending the money available wisely and go to strengthen our midfield. Ribery would be nice but then he looks Real bound ( now which one will be warming the bench there) and Silva I would like to see in our midfield. A strong defensive midfielder would also be beneficial.
Remember folks the transfer window has only just opened and will go on for several weeks yet so there is time for SAF to weigh up all options and then go for it. Lets just wait and see who he gets and not listen to the tabloids who are hell bent on making mischief when a player signs for Real. How many of these wanted to sign for United in the first place The simple answer is none, so why worry about it then.
may not work – might be okay – might be good – might be the best bit of business ever – truth is we don’t know – yet. but, he’ll be desperate to play for united and fergie really seems to value that. to my admittedly less knowledgeable mind it seems a bit like a free bet on an ex derby winner.
sean
there is good reasons for that
1-he wasnt match fit yet
2-we needed some 1 to do more in build up-where as he wont have to do as much at man u
3-he needs chances created for him we lacked any creativity
Just spoken to one of Owen’s agents and his medical started at 9am. Gave the guy some shit as could have made a fortune yesterday with Owen at 20/1 then.
Apparently because Owen knew he would be moving to a new club this summer he has been working with a personal trainer and is very fit.
Owen has never averaged less than a goal every two and half games for any club even playing in front of newcastle’s midfield so with proper preparation this summer could prove to be a great signing imo.
Well, Michael Owen will be probably paid £20,000 per week with some extra moneys for every match and goals and that even may rise to £110,000 a week (but I don’t think he’ll pass £100,000 even when he plays 90 minutes and scores three goals). That’s not bad, really that’s not bad.
However, the main question is how long will be this contract? I heard it’s going to be only 12 months deal, but the best thing would be to buy him for three years and sell after this season for about £5m to a shit team in Premier League.
To pjch.Hertha Berlin has a good defensive player gojko kacar who is very highly rated but no one is better than hargo when hargo is fit
Lets hope he fails his medical.
great one gotta hate tiny tars.i think owen should get number 10 and rooney 7
Toon man,
He played something like an average of 18 games a season for you. Nuff said
i agree with ghtt, he’ll be on a pay as you play contract and we can use him as an ole style sub. welbeck and macheda have got a long time yet, this can give them 2 more years to develop and learn from a good (albeit ysb) striker. plus rooney and owen play well together. and hes free. no significant downsides
Christian Vieri to blackburn
i didnt know he was alive
if he comes im behind him
end of story
I think he might turn out to be the steal of the season. Yes, there is undoubtedly a question over his fitness, but even if he is fit for half the season and plays 18 goals. He will still score MORE goals then Tevez, and cost us less then 5 times what Tevez would make.
I don’t like the idea of a mercenary comming to united, but for no transfer fee and with quite a lot to prove i think Michael st Owen might just do the business for us. I think the fans will not warm to him immediately but i have a feeling his presence around the youngsters and his partnership with Rooney only be positive.
Say what you will about him, he doesn’t whinge a lot and as a striker his goals to games ratio has always been good.
Would I have prefered someone younger, yes…
But he’s free. So it’s time to swallow our pride and welcome the former dipper idol.
Well if there is anyone, anyone whom I trust Utd’s transfer policy with, for sure is the SAF.. Have any of you pictured Van Der Sar, a bright future with Juve then as he was ageing he finished at Fulham to earn a living… Brought by Fergie to UTD and he got 3EPL, 1Champions and so on, with records too.. Remember Sheringham, Blanc, the trust for Solskjaer after two years injured, the trust he still gives to Mighty Giggsy, Scholesy and the list goes on… If he thinks its right for the club after all those years so we have to think its right too.. After all he gave us success, he made us the team know around the world with millions of fans all with Fergie’s ability… I will never go against Ferguson decisions, not even if he bought the scouse bastard carrrrrraghere…
Mickey Mouse is coming to town. >_<
ghtt your comments are the best and make lots of sense .I have too admit i too am surprised by vieri
sean
realy ?
yeah ok 18 games isnt a lot but you have got him on a free hell probz be on a pay per play deal and he still has a 1 in 2 record even with our midfield even with our club being in the state it has been since he signed he has been playing with average to poor players with no confidence you also have to take in to account that every becomes injury prone at our club so if youre already injury prone then thats not good news
I would have left Liverpool as well, I wouldn’t say Rofl Benitez is an easy man to play for!
To be honest, If fergie thinks michael owen is good enough to play for United, then we should back him 100%. He knows more about football than any of us put together. I know he played for Liverpool n everything, but the fact is that we are going to sign him, and we should back the player fully instead of moaning and groaning.
I know he’s free, but I cant believe that a club our size has problems attracting big stars. Honestly I’m lost for words about signing this cunt !! I’ve hated his fucking smug face since he burst on to the scene.
I REALLY do believe we are going to do nothing next year and I haven’t felt like that since the 80′s.
Michael Fucking Owen !!!
I feel sick
On Tuesday night it started with Benzema joining United to the harsh reality of some scouse has-been, Cunt Faced, Injury prone little shit who will be 5 mins while paying him thousands.
Looks like the Glaziers wont be spending the Ronaldo money this year !! Its all becoming clearer now !!! Wink Wink !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeuRP-fYm-o
Watch out this lad Gojko kacar is a decent talent
a friend who’s a scouser just sent me this from a dippers blog:
“Couldn’t find it more funny. We’ve turned down a move for him two seasons in a row and now the Manc’s seem to want him. It’d be a poetic justice for him to join them the season we win number 19. Hope it happens just for that.
Posted by: Sean O’Neil | July 3, 2009 9:54 AM
Best news ever hahahahahahahahah, he’s cracking up he’s cracking hes cracking fergies cracking up!!!! first signs of dementia
Posted by: Decky | July 3, 2009 9:54 AM
I think Owen scored as many goals last season as Tevez and probably played less games, they guy might be injury prone but he can score and he’s so desperate to be a top club with the world cup looming I’m sure he would play for a basic salary plus massive bonuses. Hate the thought of him playing for Man U and as a Liverpool fan would still gladly see him back at Anfield – definitely worth signing on a free
Posted by: G | July 3, 2009 9:55 AM
Owen is a money-grabber, that is why he is not at Liverpool living the dream like his mates Carra & Gerrard. Can’t wait to see him hugging Gary Neville………… you’ve only got yourself to blame Michael !!!!
I love Coogie’s comment “someone who the younger players ala Wellbeck and Kiko, and even Rooney can learn from!”
AIG Alex is GOD nice one
ive just seein it
and wat has been seein before i was born was taught or learned
and i dont freat the worrys
it all works out
i cant believe that on the forum on manutc.com people are shouting for sir alex to get the sack
i like to think im on the other end of that bar of united fans
Look… He joined Newcastle cos no one else i.e. Liverpool wud cough up the money Real wanted
Not the worst signing in the world, we needed someone who can sit on the bench and not sulk.. At least Rooney (hopefully) wont be pushed to the left now..
I trust Sir Alex over anyone one else when it comes to football, I learnt a long time ago not to bet against him, and even though a large chunk of me is telling me otherwise, I’m not going to now either.
That said, the little scouse prick still outscored the little Argie prick last season where league goals are concerned, and on less appearances, and without the £25mil premium.
What I do like though, is it gives our attackers a genuine pecking order, I never wanted 3 £25mil+ strikers fighting it out for two places, If Berbs and Rooney know their the 2 main men, I think it will do them no end of good, especially Berbs.
In Sir Alex I trust. (Even when it’s bloody hard to!)
Talk about a signing that will divide the fans!
And surley, if he really is ‘in it only for the money’, having him on the paultry wage that’s been reported, with him having to earn his proper crust in performance related add-ons, can only be a good thing?
Personally i would be very happy if he did sign…My liverpool supporting friends will kill themselves when their hero joins united!!!
Jason – he’s not a Liverpool reject though is he. He was your best player and you were gutted when he left, remember?
These comments are taken way out of context! At the time he said that newcastle were not in an abysmal position!
Who in their right mind would want to sign for a club as messed up as that! A sucessful club will never have an incompetant owner or board!
GOTTA HATE TINY TEARS I agree wid u.all those people who say dat Sir Alex should be sacked should be hanged.half of these journalists and people were not even born when the genius Fergie entered management.U Cant doubt the Living Legend.Hopes Fergie proves all those assholes wrong.SIR ALEX IS GOD
Owen just arrived at Carrington.
Hope he is still there this afternoon when Im there!
He is a goal scoring machine who would be a good edition to any club. Imagine he wins the league next year, it would become my favourite win of all time!!!!!
As everyone is saying he took a pay cut and its pay as your play and he knows where he sits in the pecking order so he wont be sooking like tevez. Weve signed a lot worse so give him a go!!!!
In Fergie we trust
Gotta disagree with Scott on this one.
I understand that Owen is not liked because of his past with Liverpool. But lately he hasn’t really showed much respect for them either. So why take so rough stance on this one?
This could be the bargain of the season – Owen coming on free, maybe getting 40k/wk (+ bonuses for games and goals) – you don’t get even Pavlychenko with that kind of money. And what best, Owen knows the situation probably too well, he’ll be happy to chip in for the games against lesser opponents and start often from the bench – this will give us a chance to play Rooney from the middle. I myself am excited for a chance to see Rooney and Berbatov developing a partnership. (And don’t forget that both of those players want to end their careers at Old Trafford – unlike Benzema or Ribery – or whatever Argie superstar)
Benzema comes in – Rooney goes left.
Owen comes in – Rooney goes middle.
Why do you cry after Benzema?
Just wondered Scott could you start a petition of all fans in Europe to request that their clubs DO NOT BUY any players for RM.
With the amount of money and wages they now have on their books they will be trying hard to off load to raise some money and to get wages off the payroll. So say let them keep all their players and pay their wages. lets see how Ramos Casillas RVN, Diarra et all like it iknowing Benzemia, CR7 and Kaka are on what £150 k per week.
@Tony Starks – Yea it’ll divide the pathetic and real Man Utd fans.
I’m not sure why people have such a problem, I’d much rather sign Owen for free for a season or two than spend an over inflated amount on someone who’s not even proven at the top level. Besides having a plagued injury past he’s always had a great scoring record, he’s played in the premiership and providing he stays fit there is no reason for him not to do well. At least by doing this it means we still have a huge amount of money to spend in the areas I think really need assesing, central midfield and another winger.
We have to trust Fergie. It is just a shame that we would offer him a chance to resurrect his career, after his money chasing stint at Newcastle has left him going nowhere, but if it helps us, then lets have him.
What sort of reaction do you guys think he will get from the crowd? It won’t be like Newcastle where 20,000 tools turned up to sit in the stands and watch him wave at them (by the way, don’t they have jobs to go to up there?)
Also have to add:
Who’s to argue with Sir Alex Ferguson?
Tufty, source?
If Fergie chooses to give Michael Owen a chance I think he knows that Owen has more footballing glory left in him than we think … and I think he will be proved right. You have our support Fergie!
Simply pathetic…please please no, not Michael Owen.
i cant understand why we dont have a plan B (assuming Benzema was our top target)???? all the fans know that we have a good history in missing on targets ?????
Maciek, The times are reporting it on their website mate.
TK99, pathetic indeed……we also have a pretty good history of being successful under Sir Alex. Why is it, no matter what he does for this club, there’s always some people who never learn?
On the other hand, i think we have suffered enough with injury prone players… Fucking awful month.
It won’t be like Newcastle where 20,000 tools turned up to sit in the stands and watch him wave at them (by the way, don’t they have jobs to go to up there?)
yes people have jobs in newcastle
20’000 isnt actually a lot the N E has a population of about 2.5 mil people about 800’000 to 1.2 mil are toon fans (just a rough guess) so that means that assuming none of those people have jobs that is 1 in 40 who are jobless which i dont think is too bad also taking in to account a lot who turned up wers school kids that were skiving
Injury prone players are a pain in the ass. That is something which increases the value of Ronaldo (and the Argie midget I guess) even further, they almost never get injured.
But if Owen is content to sit on the bench or be out injured without pay then Utd can’t really go wrong with signing him on this kind of deal.
Assuming he passes the medical, that is.
Nick, Ronney and Berbatov have both ugly history with injuries .All what i’m saying is ,why we dont have other ulternatives ??? Benzema was the man but we knew that Real Madrid wont pay what Valencia were asking for David Villa and they (Madrid ) publicly revealed that they are after Benzema . On top of that we decided not to give Tevez an extra week to decide whether to take our offer or not ???why ??? because we have alternatives …right !!!! and now we’re going to sign Owen,who WAS by the way a great player before being rocked by knees injuries. Shit is written all over this bloody deal.
I trust SAF 100 percent but owen come on, the guys injury prone and a dipper bad combo.
Rooney and owen..might work
Berba and owen…Can it work
I still believe in fergie tho
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww90/Superman-92-/fergie1.jpg
Its 1998 my time machine works!
Owen is a goalscoring machine when fit. He’ll hopefully fit well in with us since we play attacking football unlike Newcastle which play…well I doubt it’s called football…I think their style of football is called fuck up.
Anyways, I’m getting kind of excited about next season. We can prove so many people wrong and how many times has Sir Alex done that?! You should trust the manager after all those years and all those trophies, he knows what he’s doing. Do you remember what place in the league the papers and football experts expected us to land in when Ruud left? I remember it, 4-5th place with the text “Where are the goals going to come from?”. Can you imagine the look on the scousers face if Owen scores against them? Fucking priceless…
Perhaps Fergie’s plan is to wait a little bit with big transfers, perhaps to January or next season. The market is really inflated after Real Madrid’s ridiculous spending spree. But I’m excited about the prospect of Gojko Kacar, the young Serbian defensive midfielder from Hertha Berlin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeuRP-fYm-o
Well, i wasn’t overjoyed by the news, but on reflection it makes sense. Owen is free! He scores twice as much goals than a certain bitter argentine, thats with a shit team and not as many appearances. Get over the fact that he’s a ex dipper, he’s an experienced striker, whose got a point to prove, ie Cappelo. Could he be the new/old Ole? Coming on as a super sub and scoring?But the real benefits could be on the training ground, Owen is a preditorial striker, someone our young lads could learn from. For me fitness is the main issue, but if reports are true,that he’s been training since the end of season, it shows the lad is keen. Also can you imagine seeing Owen holding the Prem trophy (overtaking the scouses record) wearing the Red of Manchester at the end of next season? Stick that in your Carlsberg/Mastercard add!
Take your emotional blinkers off Scott and you’ll see that this is a great bit of business, (Similar to Larrson, Sheringham) And BTW, he scored 26 goals at a failing Newcastle from 58 starts. (Thank God supporters don’t run our club!) Vintage Fergie move.
as long as it is some kind of pay-per-play contract i couldnt care what happens now ! @dave mack , there is no way you can compare larrssons form when he joined united to owens form now
what has the supporters running our club got to do with owen scoring 26 goals from 58 starts ?
sorry , just reading threw the comments there , some ppl think 50k a week sounds reasonable. for a player who could easily get injured in the first month and sit out the rest of the season , once again … pay-per-play
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE$$$$$$$$$$$
its now crystal clear rooney will play up front…..that must be the best news we were waiting to hear………we have been linked with all super star strikers..in realitty we didnt bid any one of them…..now mowen to utd the most unexpected news……