Michael Owen has spoken with MUTV about his shock at signing for Manchester United. He also acknowledges that he didn’t have the best spell at Newcastle but reckons he can restart his career with us.
“It feels great. I never even had it in my wildest dreams really but then I got the call from the manager to come and meet him,” said Owen. “It was a shock but I’m obviously really happy and things have moved quickly since then. I probably had a poor spell up at Newcastle but prior to that, my career was very good and I’m sure a top club like this can reignite my career. Hopefully I can score a few goals and help the team to more success. It’s early days but when you think about United, you automatically think about winning trophies, the stadium, the massive fanbase.”
Man Utd News 24/7
welcome to ot michael owen.
i dont know about you guys i am behind him 100%.
oh and yes the number 7 should go to VIDIC.
dont agree re owen
vidic? 100%
With a full pre season to build up his fittness Owen has every chance of being a success. If we create the chances he will put the ball in the abck of the net..
The number 7 should either go to Rooney or wait for another big talent, I think Owen is a decent signing providing he’s not our last.
gut feeling is he’ll do well…. i really really feel so… but the fact that we got a ex-scouser (one of their best) to don a united shirt on a bosman (he chose) is the clincher for me… thru and thru….
sign who exactly mic? aguero 51 mill. villa (27) 40 mill. ribery(26+madly in love with real) or YOU TUBE costa.
we cannot sign tabloid favorites.
im happy with this…
jus cant wait for him to score against the dippers
We got everything to gain & absolutely nothin’ 2 lose from it!!
He’s on a free …u gotta love that!
I dont think he will be our last signing of the summer fella’s.
Hahaha! Now let us get Larsson back as well! That would have been awsome:
Rooney, Berbatov, Owen and Larsson:D And for reserve: Ruud and Ronaldo (The brazilian one)!
Errrrm, how do you give a defender the shirt that’s supposed to be for the creative playmaker?
For the sake and mental well- being of some United fans, hopefully this isn’t the last signing.
well scousers, bet you never imagined michael owen in another red shirt
owen will do good at ot, i think that he should have the number 32, a great striker should replace another great striker.
wait on the number 7, we will get another big name.
aguero? villa? ibrahimovic?
He’s a red now, like it or not we should support him. It’s going to be intresting to see how he does, my gut feeling thinks he’ll do alright!!
I’m not happy at all, but I’m really hoping that this comment comes back to bite me in the ass during the season. To be honest it’s not the Owen deal wich pisses me off, but the lack of other options wich really bothers me. Having Owen+Berva up front during Rooney’s injuries is not something I’m looking up to (provided he can stay healthy while wayne isn’t)
But, above all of that, I trust SAF, wich is why I’ll sing for Owen as I did for the rest of the team.
at OTRed the number 7 should represent man utd not some primadonna just because he is a creative midfielder.
why can’t a defender have it?
vidic was the main reason we won the league last season.
he loves the club unlike some money grabbing creative midfielder.
There is only one jersey he should be given- number 19
Jorgen @ 23:05 – Great Shout about FatRonaldo – another lethal finisher with injury issues (and other ones, too). Like Little Mikey, he’s hoping to get himself fit for the WC next summer – he’s old, slow, heavy but, dammit, the man can find the back of the net. I’d actually be more-than-happy to have him as A-N-other super-sub ‘cos there’s no guarantee that Little MIkey will make it off the bench without tweaking himself.
OTRed, do you feel that United, as they are now, are favourites to win next year’s Premiership title? Personally, i don’t think so. I don’t want us to panic buy by any means, but i feel that there are still certain chinks in the armor for the lack of a better term.
costas why do you want us to be favourites?
we just need to win it thats all. our job is to support sir alex he takes care of the rest.
kapti14, i don’t take any special pleasure from being considered the favorites for the league, but often it’s an illustration of how the teams are lining up for the new season. Our job is to support Sir Alex but once in a while we have to put our hands up and as “what’s happening here?”.Nothing wrong with that. When we lost out on Benzema, i don’t think that Owen was on anyone’s mind as the next target. That’s if we ever made a serious bid for Benzema.
yea well me i cant them to face the might the MALAYSIA xi.
I heard their number 7 talalk al bin musalin is > ronaldo.
i predict an entertaining 3-3 draw.
19 is welbeck’s number, isn’t it? the only vacant numbers at the moment, other than 7, are 27 and 32.
Are you from Malaysia kapti? Sorry for asking.
I think he can take 27 or 32.
Look at his England record with Rooney, its good! get him fully fit and it could be the deal of the century
no no i am in the uk. but that malaysia team is something i tell ya.
o dear our defence is gonna be sore.
http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,15205_5414047,00.html
read that guys, couldnt agree more
Owen knows he’s well and truly landed on his feet and I’m sure Fergie will have told him a few home truths, as if they needed telling. If we can keep Owen fit he’ll be a success. Giggs attributed his ability to remain fit through taking up yoga. Seriously. I think Michael should do the same. He has no better guide on how to look after himself. Fergie will instill Michael with confidenc, which I’m sure he must have lost some of after a dispiriting season last year.
Ok, cheers kapti. I have been waiting to watch United up close for 15 years. I will get the chance to against Valencia. I never imagined that the first time i watched United live, i would watch Owen in the red shirt.
Rooney and Owen did combine well with England. But recently Rooney has had big success playing off Heskey.
34 is vacant also, since Posse’s gone
The number 7 is the big question on everyone lips
Were still not that convinced about Valencia, and ofcourse not Nani
We wanted it for Benzema, but you know how that worked out
NOT OWEN for sure
RoM should make a poll of who do you think 7 should go to
is he going to be a good version of tevez? by that i mean he understands he’ll be on the bench more than often.
This could be a good signing couldnt it?
You gotta love fergie!
I have to admit that listening to his interview, i found him humble. In a way it was like a 19 year old joining United. He was excited about playing with some of the top players here. I know it’s been a while since he has done that obviously. And to be honest, even when he was at Liverpool i didn’t hate him. I hated Fowler and McManaman. I can’t get excited about this transfer(funny how the official website says that United fans are happy for this when there are some that aren’t), but i hope that Fergie and Owen prove me wrong.
Douglas Costa for 7… He looks unbelievable
Happy with this… It seems like a lot of pundits are slagging off Owen for his time up at Newcastle (Injury Prone, ineffective in front of goal)… to which I’ll say two things… I got the impression he was brought back too soon from injuries up at Newcastle, as they needed him playing – contrast that with Ferguson’s seemingly endless amounts of time he gives to players to recover from injury (I’m sure Rooney could’ve played earlier last season than he did)… and the other thing is he is obviously joining a better team, who will create far more chances…
One thing that has intrigued me about this though is why has Owen signed for only two years? I seem to remember when Sheringham signed, it was a three-year deal, and he was 31 at the time… Ferguson’s retirement date, perhaps?
TBH i think all the haters should take a look at themselves, hes a scouser and in it for the money but hes likeable, the press who took the piss might be eatin their words, thers no drawbacks with the deal and like i said before if he scores at anfield ill jizz my pants
proves again that fergie is a fuckin genious
who’s number 12?
Kapti – “We cannot sign tabloid favourites”. Spot on mate, I really cannot understand people calling out for Aguero. We have been bitten by Argies twice already. Villa. He DOESN’T want to come. Ribery. Massively overpriced and wants to join the Fascists. Costa. Like you say a “youtube” favourite.
Well shocked at this but lets be honest, it’s a no lose. It’s only for 2 years, his basic wage is very low, and he came without a transfer fee. Plus he’ll be desperate to show everyone he’s not finished, desperate to get back in the England squad as he desperately wants to go to the World Cup and break Charlton’s record and to do that he has to be playing well and scoring goals, more good news for us, and desperate to finally win a major trophy at the end of his career; so he should be playing his arse off!
Plus at the tail end of the ’07-’08 season Keegan had him playing deep behind the strikers, where you don’t need pace, and he was playing well, creating chances for Viduka and Martins, maybe SAF sees that position for him, with Rooney and Berbatov pushed up, who knows?
Anyway, whatever anyone might think about his Liverpool background, fuck it, he’s here now so lets get behind him.
I’m sure he will score goals, I expect he will score the winner in the Champions League final for us next season. BUT it turns my stomach big time, he’s played for Liverpool. Unacceptable.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1197397/If-Owen-s-fit-like-cavalry-arriving-goals.html
A decent article. He raises some good points, not least Tevez’s goal ratio.
I’m not happy with Owen signing. But, the fact that he’s one of the scouser’s most favorite player and it might hurt them, I think it’s okay. Still not happy, but okay. We got him for free after all…
kash – ben foster is number 12.
cant wait until pre season now.
How long to go?
My mate just called me tonight. He has a garage which he has put posters of Liverpool’s legends: Ian Rush, John Barnes, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and more. He was quite frustrated and was taking down all of his Owen posters…lol
why can’t we bid for pato? chelsea might not be able to lure him over but how much money have we got still?
@Mic: Rooney, #7, of course!
Back on topic, been playin’ motion+ tiger10 all night (awesome!) n’ tryin not to think about ‘the transfer’, but my brother threw it in there 3 times to try n put me off, and it worked! I was stood there, virtual golf club in hand, discussing the many factors that surround this news, both good (goals) and bad (scouse). We aren’t sure, that’s for sure.
Could I be drunk or am I just gettin’ soft… in thinking, and hoping a little, that Sir Alex has ‘done it again’?
Nite
ps. I am gonna have to just check quickly again in the mornin, make sure I didn’t imagine this.
@Costa a number of your comments suggest that you believe that because we have about 100m in our pockets we should be out there looking for ways to spend it. Nothing could be more dangerous for a club or any business.
Fergie must continue to look for value (like this superb Owen deal) and only buy players who want to be at OT and can fit his squad plan for 2009/10.
Let the virus persue their (already failed) Galactico plan by buying every big name the can (or can’t) afford. More than ever I believe we will have a truely UNITED squad next year, with a bunch of hugely talented players out to show the world that they aren’t going to live in anyones shadow.
Can’t wait!
A free transfer and a 20 grand-a-week pay-as-you-play contract for an under 30 experienced former class player is a good enough deal for me, albeit a risky one given his injury streak.
I hope Owen proves himself to be a bargain in the United kit, I can just imagine the look on the scouse’s face seeing their former messiah banging in goals for the great enemy.
With a World Cup year coming along, as well as seeing that he passed a grueling two day physical at Carrington, I’m sure that Owen will be plenty motivated to prove the doubters wrong, playing alongside Rooney and the brilliant ammunition that United are guaranteed to provide.
I’m willing to put aside my doubts for now and hope for the best, seeing that this is a win-win situation for us given his experience, pedigree and cheap value. Here’s hoping to a good year for the lad
@Dave Mack:
I fully understand the dangers of panic buying. It’s not something i would want either. My main concern is not spending the Ronaldo money. It’s what has happened to the Ronaldo money. Of course, i don’t want the Glazers to go buy Ribery just to prove that they have the money,but our actions this summer are on the basis that we never had that 80 million. No one has spoken about the summer budget, or how many players we will go for. And given that SAF has stated many times that he is happy with his squad, it’s easy to imagine that after swapping Ronaldo-Tevez with Valencia-Owen that we won’t see much more transfer activity at Old Trafford. Which is something that would have been understandable, if they has been upfront about it.
@ Costas
Why should Fergie come out and tell everybody his transfer plans? Hes not going to do that for a few reasons. The main one being if he did say he was after such a player or was looking for a striker for example then prices would be hiked up even more then usual. He likes to keep his cards close to his chest as we have all found out with the Owen deal. People need to relax and stop over reacting. The transfer window has only been open 3 DAYS so who knows whats going to happen. Look at last summer we spent 30 million on the last day of the window, So theres still plenty of time for more transfer movement. At the end of the day even if we dont buy anybody else i have complete faith in SAF and the squad to deliver that 19th title we all want so much.
Dave Mack.
Spot on mate. Like pretty much every other United fan I started licking my lips when the Ronaldo deal was announced, that, along with the Campbell money, plus potentially Simpson, Gibson and maybe someone like Nani, and our annual summer transfer fund, could see us with 130 million or more to spend! Happy days! But when I stopped to think about it, it’s not quite so wonderful. Attracting the players isn’t easy, for all that we are one of the top sides in the world, we’ve rarely signing top World Class players from abroad before, think about the Worlds Greatest players; Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, (fat)Ronaldo, Romario, Zico, Baggio, Gullit, Van Basten, Zidane, Figo, Puskas, Di Stefano, Eusibio, Yashin, Platini, Muller; not many played for United is there? The one’s who have; Best and Charlton came through our youth ranks, Law was British and we’d always have a good chance at getting any British player, Schmeichel was virtually unknown, Cantona had burned his bridges in France and was deemed finished (hence the trial with Sheff Fucking Wed!) and Ronaldo was signed as a 17 year boy.
So why did anyone think we’d be able to go and sign Messi, Kaka, Ribery, Iniesta, or any other true World class player? These guys have never came before, why now? Just the money? Well no thanks, I don’t want some money grabbing mercenary who has little interest in playing for United other than the amount of money we’re paying him, save that shit for Citeh. Plus the tax problem means we’d have to pay out truly exorbitant sums of cash for these guys, a hell of a lot more than Madrid are paying them.
And the obvious problem with having loads of cash is of course that everyone knows it. Does anyone think Ribery is really worth 60 million? That’s what Bayern were asking, because they knew us, Citeh, Chelsea, and Madrid had money to spend. SAF’s doing the right thing, again! We’ll stick to getting up and comers like Valencia and cheap proven match winners like Owen, players we know are desperate to come and play for us.
As King Eric said, Kaka, Benzema, Villa, Ribery all want to go to Madrid, they don’t want to play for us, so fuck them, lets get players who DO want to play for United.
We’ll stick the rest of the cash away for another day, the Glazers have promised SAF the money and we’ll just have to believe them. Let the press say what they want about our failure to attract ‘big’ names, we’ll just let our ‘lesser’ players like Rio, Evra, Vidic, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Rooney, and Berbatov, plus of course Valencia and Owen, lead us to another title and another Champions League Final, and shove the words down their fat fucking throats as always.
I don’t think any of the senior players will specifically ask for the no 7 as we have gotten rid of the last of the two viruses. Rooney likes his 10 and I think Vidic feels the same too. We can always give it to Macheda.
I’m 100% behind any MU player, as long as they don’t sulk and whine.
Owen is free and contract is pay-as-you-play basis. I see no loss to MU whatsoever. This is MU giving Owen a chance. We will definitely use him as a 3rd choice / impact striker and he can’t afford to complain.
imho, 3rd choice striker for Manchester United is way better than playing for Hull City.
some of you guys are reacting like as if we have signed ADOLF HITLER OR SADDAM HUSSEIN.
HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER. HE IS FREE. THE MANAGER THINKS HE IS GOOD.
THE END.
All the reasons given for not signing Owen are spurious, he’s in it for the money, no shit sherlock, like every other footballer, he’s a mercenary, ditto.
He’s less of a dick than a lot of footballers, doesn’t beat his wife, doesn’t fall drunk out of nightclubs, doesn’t give interviews saying how much he’d prefer to be playing elsewhere, or how he doesn’t like the english lifestyle (hello vidic).
The only good objection is he’s a crap player, we’ll have to wait and see on that one.
@pbozz22: It’s not something extraordinary to come out and say “we need to stregthen our attack and midfield and we are looking to bring in 2 players”. In the end, it’s not going to make that big a difference to the negotiations. But i am not talking about just the transfers. As i said above, fans deserve more honesty. You can’t keep lying to them for a year telling them Ronaldo isn’t going anywhere and then sell him at the first chance you get next summer. And even though United is no longer a PLC, United support is still what keeps this club going. So if there is no desire to buy expensive whatsover, i think the fans have a right to know.
The Berbatov deal did get sorted out late in the summer, but how long were we after him? I don’t see the same desire to bring in anybody else at the moment. And looking at our squad depth, there is no reason to either. We don’t have a squad proble. The problem is that we might not have replaced the players that left in the best possible manner.
At least the kit looks half decent on him. =p
Too much analysis on his cons, stats blablabla hv been directed. I think as the pre-season goes, he will build up his fitness and chemistry with the team and he will be a great team player on and off field. We really should let him do the talking on the pitch and get on the OWEN BANDWAGON. =p
Welcome to OT Owen.
How about this for a welcoming chant..
Viva Michael Owen,
Viva Michael Owen…
Another goal for $dough for Michael Owen…
@Costa, @Dazjoe makes some key points.There is absoloutely no evidence that Fergies ever had a problem getting the cash he needs to make the right deal. To the contary, he himself describes them as “near perfect owners of a football club.”
The other point is he and all of us only want to bring in players who consider pulling on an United shirt as something special. (I’ve no doubt that once Benzema said he favoured Madrid, Fegie turned away.) Right now all the tabloid names appear to want to be part of Perez’s Prancers. That won’t last. Can you think of a strategy more doomed to failure than a President of a club buying every ego he can or can’t afford and turning them over to a manager to coach them into a successful team? Can you imagine Fergie allowing Gill or the Glazers to do that?!!
No, Fergie will always look for the value trade no matter how much money he’s got at his disposal and it’s for exactly that reason that when the right player or players come along he’ll continue to get whatever it will take to do the deal.
yeah i mean newcastle were shite the last 2 seasons and a striker depends largely on the service he gets…he was also unlucky with injuries…..u think utd would have signed him if he failed the medical? ………….give owen service and he will guarantee you goals…..he will get that at utd……..also, its not as if he’s a 34 yr old crocked has been – he’s only 29….. and also, we havent actually payed anything for him……..like the valencia transfer i think it will prove to be a fantastic bit of business………..i think he will be used by ferguson on a horses for courses basis as he is obviously a very different type of player to berbatov or rooney…..he is no worse a player than tevez so you could say that we’ve just saved 30 odd million…..and for those of you that feel ‘physically sick’ by it all – get a fucking life! who gives a flying fuck if he played for l’pool or not??? are you man utd ‘fans’ or do u follow utd as an outlet just so you can fuel your hatred toward city or lpool or whoever…..pathetic meat heads…….get behind your team or piss off………now lets see some of this money in the pot being spend on a center midfielder and a left winger……….then we’re sorted………..
@Dave Mack:
I guess we will see.But there will come a time when United will win the money from Ronaldo’s transfer. I hope that it will still be available. MIght not be this year or the next. I told you. I don’t want us turning into Real. Today i heard that Perez will ask every single sponsor they have to raise their sponsorship by 30% at least. That’s what has happened to them. I just think that from Benzema to Owen there is a big difference. There must have been a better solution somewhere in the middle. Either way, i don’t want to beat this to death. As i said above, i actually like Owen as a person because he seems very mild mannered and we have had our fair share of brats in the recent past. I hope he becomes a rejuvenated man. As far as he Glazers are concerned, i remain cautious. Over time, the truth will come out.
I mentioned this earlier and am not sure if anyone has stated this but, for all those who are physically sick ( i’m just mentally confused), how would you feel if we signed tevez for 100,000 quid a week and then he scored 5 or 6 goals again and complained to the papers every week about playing time. Now think how you’ll feel about a free transfer owen scoring 12-18 goals and kissing the badge at anfield!
Well said,jcolas!!
The jurys still out on Owen for me.
I’m not happy that he has signed but since he has we have to get behind him now.
As for someone saying he should get the number 7 shirt,they must be having a laugh,no way!
Rooney should get that shirt now.He has earned it and will become our greatest player I think.
Still cant believe the picture of Owen in a United shirt….freaky!
Apparently he has always dreamed about playing for United. LOL I am starting to like him. I still believe that Bojan would be excellent in our squad and that he will be a better player than Pato when his day comes. The squad could still use some strengthening but over all its coming together fine for next year.
On the number 7 shirt. Give it to Fletcherino, make up for missing the final and as recognition of his improvement over the last 18 months. How many times has he whinged about playing time (yes Tevez I’m talking about you again, nob end), he’s kept his head down and improved beyond all recognition. Seriously, would ANYONE have thought we’d be saying ‘Shit, no Fletcher’ for a Champions League Final just 2 years ago?
@Dazjoe: well put: let’s have players who want to play for us, and as soon as they don’t – ronaldo, tevez – well, thanks, cheerio, and fuck you!
If Owen wants to play for us – and he wants to, badly, then great, lets move forward: good for him, and should be good for us.
Now for St Michael to work on a goal celebration for loserpool: how about something like that cringe-inducing rubbing hands together – i’d love to see the kop face that – love it!
Does anyone think we might see 4-4-2 – at least against most teams in the PL?
Crazy times ahead of us. I am shoked.
But, Costas, friend, i see Owen’s transfer as VDS’s. At 35 he came to the club and helped us win things. Maybe SAF will work this magic with Mickey.
Crazy times, mate.
But don’t be so depressed about things. We are United and United we’ll stand no matter how many “stars” we will sign.
I don’t care as long as we keep our dignity.
i woke up 2 see owen is a United player???????
i have a funny feeling that what is happing now has happend before, 99 was when we where ment to builed but end up with players like kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Bellion and Blomqvist.
Now Owen has not played a lot football in the past 2years but Sir Fergie is the man that can make a player, we all know that. so sit on the side line and wait and see.
just hope he dose better than Berbatov
my gf loves owen. i love united. united loves owen. fucking hell.
a bit out of topic. but has anyone mention or thought about Mikel Arteta for our midfield? He’s absolute class in the Everton side, imagine what he could be like with us!
Passes well, good eye for goal, got a mean tackle on him, not to mention a superb freekick taker. Plus he’s got bags of PL experience.
Any thoughts?
Off topic but after these comments fron Tevez which are printed on The Mirrors website I’m glad we have owen over the Argie midget!
“What I want to do next season is score against United. I promise I will not celebrate in front of the United fans but I will shout in Ferguson’s face.
“You can be sure of that – and it will be one of the most beautiful things I have done in football.”
If Tevez has said that he should just die.
What I would adore is when City come to OT, Berba to do a Keano-tastic career wrecking “tackle” on the little twat. Then, and here’s the best bit, when the twat is down crying and wearing an oxygen mask, Berba will walk over to him and say “you should have known I was better than you”.
Wouldn’t matter if he got a red card because Micky Owen will step in. It’s good it’s guuud.
“Ferguson still believes I will be at United next season. He thinks I will return. But I know what I want and I know that Ferguson did not respect me as a player. Before Berbatov arrived in Manchester, Ferguson told me, ‘You will still be the starting striker, so be cool’. But he lied to me! That is why I know I will not return to United. more bull from Tevez.
dickson.
Yeah I would take Arteta. He was linked with Arsenal quite a lot 12 months ago, but he had a pretty nasty injury last season, so would have to see how he is after that, but he’s definitely a good player.
Niterunner79.
I said yesterday that we should re-sign Keano to do a Haaland on the cunt. Of course it was a joke, but now I really do think we should look into it. Fuck it, it doesn’t have to be Keane, any hard bastard would do. How about Mike Tyson? He likes hurting people, and he’s pretty hard up at the moment. Offer him 100 grand to sign professional terms (the great Joe Louis once signed for Liverpool!) stick him on the bench and bring him on 5 minutes to go with instructions to snap that fuckers neck, stamp on his teeth as well, knock them fuckers out, it couldn’t make him any uglier.
lets hear it from all those who cheered his dissent at OT…..
dazjoe
Tyson would be legendary. Keano’s tackle always, for some reason, makes me feel good. Maybe I should be ashamed but it was revenge at it’s sweetest.
@Bob Koh
To ‘You are My sunshine’
‘He’s Michael Owen, He’s Michael Owen
Fergie has ripped out all his scouse
Won’t play for Benitez
but’ll outscore Argie Tevez
please bring wee Micky off the bench!’
Welcome to OT Owen, your 999 shirt is ready and waiting for you. Seriously though, if he delivers, then that’s all that matters to me. And as Rossee said, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose on this deal.
i welcome him. good luck score a hattirck againts pool. he will be much better than that bastard tevez.
fergie will want all his signings before they go to malaysia