Newspaper reports suggest Michael Owen, formerly of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and England, is on the verge of joining English champions Manchester United. Yes, you read that correctly; the injury prone, past it, not good enough to beat out Carlton Cole in the England squad, couldn’t score a single goal in Newcastle’s run in to save keep them up, no goals since January…Michael Owen.
But here’s why Owen could actually help United:
Before his injuring his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the 2006 World Cup, Owen scored 165 goals in 308 games for English clubs, as well as 16 in 43 largely from the bench for Real Madrid. He was European footballer of the year in 2001, the top scorer in the league in 1998 and 1999 and one of the most feared forwards in the world.
Long time ago. Long, long time ago.
Is he as quick as the precocious youngster that burst on the scene in 1997 with a well taken goal at Wimbledon (remember that - I do) and went on to star in the 1998 World cup when he scored that goal in that game which also featured that David Beckham moment? No. Does he appear to have the same nose for goal that saw him score a hat-trick against the Germans in Munich and scored 40 goals in 89 games for England? No. Does the brochure that ‘sells’ his accomplishments to prospective clubs by his management group WMG reek of confidence? Not entirely. But he might not finished quite yet.
Sam Allardyce commented that he didn’t want Michael Owen, his former charge at Newcastle, because he felt he needed ‘a striker that's going to be available for 30 games next season.’ Its hard to doubt the Blackburn managers eye for talent but in the case of Owen, his only experience of the player first hand was during an injury prone (one of many recently) spell at the start of the 2007/8 season when the whole team were struggling (again, a recent theme).
Should United or indeed anybody sign him, it will only be after a thorough medical. Most players take upwards of two years to recover from the kind of ACL injury he suffered against Sweden in 2006 and there have been further complications along the way that have clearly damaged his fitness and his confidence. The sooner the former Kop hero can sign with a new club, the better his chances of completing a full pre-season and strengthening his body to play regularly.
The benefit of signing for Manchester United rather than the likes of Stoke or Hull, who have also expressed an interest, is not simply fiscal for a man used to hauling in over £100,000 a week. More importantly, Owen would have the advantage of one of the best medical teams in the game, a manager with a history of taking chances on maverick or oft-injured players that others wouldn’t (stand up Mr. Cantona and Mr. Larsson), and the chance to be part of a rotation of forwards that wont rely on him being the saviour.
For United, he could appear 30-40 times during the season - Owen has played 31 games in each if the last two seasons and more games in the league last year than Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres, Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Didier Drogba. With the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, the defection of Tevez and the likely sale of Fraizer Campbell, Man Utd are in need of depth at the striking position with only young players like Macheda and Welbeck to back up Rooney and Berbatov. Michael Owen could build up his conditioning and confidence in a team that create a hatfull of chances and would only need to be part of the attack, not the focal point. He also provides a variation to anybody else currently on staff and has linked well with Wayne Rooney in the past.
It should also be remembered that Owen, playing for a desperate team and never fully fit - one would hope he can be again - scored more goals a game (8/28) and had a higher shots on target percentage (48.5%) in the league than Tevez (and Drogba and Heskey and Santa Cruz and Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch).
He can’t be the star he once he was, but for the Red Devils, he wouldn’t need to be. Will he replace a departing member of the squad? Not really but nor will recent signee Antonio Valencia. But can he effective? Can Owen still score goals in the Premiership? Yes.
What is clear is that Manchester would be a fantastic place to land for Michael and if there is one place that would give him the best chance of success, then he might be on the verge of finding it.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Sunday, 28 June 2009
What I'd like to see (part 1)
What I’d like to see in the world of sport over the next 12 months:
England U21’s to beat Germany U21’s - If the Confederation Cup is a ‘major international tournament’ then so is this. England have won this tournament on two previous occasions but not for 25 years and the senior side has not been in a final during that period either. Just making the final is a good omen (the successful Greek, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian teams of the last decade can all be traced back to teams that were finalists in this tournament) but to beat the old enemy would make lifting the trophy that little bit sweeter. I just hope people watch the final.
Chance of happening - 6/10
Kobe Bryant to change his jersey number to 22 - We get it. Jordan wore 23, you wear 24. Ok, you’ve won 4 titles and an MVP but you should feel lucky that I’m offering you 22.
Chance of happening - Kobe has stopped returning my calls
A drug-free Tour de France - I grew up looking forward to the first few weeks of July for the Tour. In fact any kid who can watch seven odd hours of cycling for three weeks on TV in the middle of summer is almost certainly going to grow up as an avid sports viewer. Over the last few years, the race has become somewhat of a farce; numerous cyclists getting banned, teams withdrawing in shame, allegations that have overshadowed the race basically every year. And yet, from the darkness comes light in the shape of arguably the greatest cyclist ever, Mr. Lance Armstrong. I just hope, whether he embodies the light in the form of the yellow jersey or not, his and his fellow cyclists exploits on the road take all the headlines.
Chance of happening - 2/10
Jenson Button to win the F1 Championship - He’s endured slow cars and been overshadowed by team mates only to finally find the right situation in this years tumultuous and uneven championship.
Chance of happening - 8/10
Roger Federer to win his 15th Slam - This could take a week, a couple of months, or maybe the best part of the year but it seems like an inevitable accomplishment for the 4-time Swiss sports personality of the year (and I thought I’d never get a chance to use that stat).
Chance of happening - 15/10
Mayweather v Pacquiao v Cotto - Not sure how this will all play out but at least one, if not both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto will get their shot at the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game. Pacquiao has been so impressive over the past few years and equally as entertaining. The Cotto fight may be the more likely and the better spectacle but there can be few fight fans who wouldn’t want to see who would come out on top between ‘Pacman’ and the undefeated and former pound-for-pound king ‘Money’ Mayweather.
Chance of Pacquiao v Cotto happening - 8/10
Chance of Pacquiao v Mayweather happening - 5/10
Me watching England in the World Cup - I made a drunken promise to another drunken man. Essentially unbreakable.
Chance of happening - Ask me in a year.
Kevin Pietersen not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - It’s not that I don’t want to see England win, in fact I think they have a decent chance against a waning Australian side and would enjoy seeing them return the Ashes to these shores, but it can’t be all about KP. England are overly reliant on the batsman and while it may be hard to see them winning without Pietersen being the catalyst, it would be fantastic to see someone else step up.
Chance of happening - 5/10
Freddie Flintoff not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - So 4 years ago.
Chance of happening - 1/10
My Fantasy Baseball team to turn the corner - Don’t ask.
Chance of happening - I said don’t ask
Lyoto Machida v Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson - Marquee UFC fights are often advertised but this would be as intriguing a match up as any between the unbeaten Machida and the dynamic Jackson. ‘Rampage’ is scheduled to fight Rashad Evans next, the man Machida dismantled for the Light Heavyweight title, but, assuming he comes through that unscathed, would likely challenge the Brazilian at the end of the year or the start of next. Machida has a bout with Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 104 to immediately contemplate but must know that Rampage, who has only lost to Forest Griffin while beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell in the last four years, is the main challenge to his mantle.
Chance of happening - 6/10
The next great Italian defender/midfielder/forward to introduce himself - Needed. One sign of hope. Just one.
Chance of happening - 4/10
An exciting heavyweight boxer - Yes Wladimir Klitschko is a very effective pugelist. Yes I did watch him outclass the previously unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev. Yes I know he hasn’t lost in five-ish years. Unfortunately, the only interesting fight out there for him would be against his brother and that won’t happen and the two Ukranians are the only two vaguely elite heavyweights that have been on the scene since Lennox Lewis.
Chance of happening - 2/10
A rookie wage scale in the NFL - Maybe we should keep the current system in which players who have never played a minute of the professional game become the highest paid players. Who knows, it may spread to blogging.
Chance of happening - 3/10
The FA to retire the League Cup - The football calendar is overly congested as it is and few would miss the tournament. It is demeaned by the near ambivalence it is shown until the quarter-final stage and offers a European reward that would be a better prize for the 7th placed team in the Premiership. The football calendar is overly congested as it is.
Chance of happening - 1/10
UEFA to return the Europa League to a knockout tournament - Talking of cups that people don’t care about until nearing the finish line…
Chance of happening - see above
A female sport’s star that makes me want to watch them play - The odd athlete, the occasional swimmer and a few tennis players have been close but really, when would you turn over the TV from a men’s sporting event to watch the women’s equivalent?
Chance of happening - 36DD/10...kidding…kidding!
England U21’s to beat Germany U21’s - If the Confederation Cup is a ‘major international tournament’ then so is this. England have won this tournament on two previous occasions but not for 25 years and the senior side has not been in a final during that period either. Just making the final is a good omen (the successful Greek, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian teams of the last decade can all be traced back to teams that were finalists in this tournament) but to beat the old enemy would make lifting the trophy that little bit sweeter. I just hope people watch the final.
Chance of happening - 6/10
Kobe Bryant to change his jersey number to 22 - We get it. Jordan wore 23, you wear 24. Ok, you’ve won 4 titles and an MVP but you should feel lucky that I’m offering you 22.
Chance of happening - Kobe has stopped returning my calls
A drug-free Tour de France - I grew up looking forward to the first few weeks of July for the Tour. In fact any kid who can watch seven odd hours of cycling for three weeks on TV in the middle of summer is almost certainly going to grow up as an avid sports viewer. Over the last few years, the race has become somewhat of a farce; numerous cyclists getting banned, teams withdrawing in shame, allegations that have overshadowed the race basically every year. And yet, from the darkness comes light in the shape of arguably the greatest cyclist ever, Mr. Lance Armstrong. I just hope, whether he embodies the light in the form of the yellow jersey or not, his and his fellow cyclists exploits on the road take all the headlines.
Chance of happening - 2/10
Jenson Button to win the F1 Championship - He’s endured slow cars and been overshadowed by team mates only to finally find the right situation in this years tumultuous and uneven championship.
Chance of happening - 8/10
Roger Federer to win his 15th Slam - This could take a week, a couple of months, or maybe the best part of the year but it seems like an inevitable accomplishment for the 4-time Swiss sports personality of the year (and I thought I’d never get a chance to use that stat).
Chance of happening - 15/10
Mayweather v Pacquiao v Cotto - Not sure how this will all play out but at least one, if not both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto will get their shot at the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game. Pacquiao has been so impressive over the past few years and equally as entertaining. The Cotto fight may be the more likely and the better spectacle but there can be few fight fans who wouldn’t want to see who would come out on top between ‘Pacman’ and the undefeated and former pound-for-pound king ‘Money’ Mayweather.
Chance of Pacquiao v Cotto happening - 8/10
Chance of Pacquiao v Mayweather happening - 5/10
Me watching England in the World Cup - I made a drunken promise to another drunken man. Essentially unbreakable.
Chance of happening - Ask me in a year.
Kevin Pietersen not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - It’s not that I don’t want to see England win, in fact I think they have a decent chance against a waning Australian side and would enjoy seeing them return the Ashes to these shores, but it can’t be all about KP. England are overly reliant on the batsman and while it may be hard to see them winning without Pietersen being the catalyst, it would be fantastic to see someone else step up.
Chance of happening - 5/10
Freddie Flintoff not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - So 4 years ago.
Chance of happening - 1/10
My Fantasy Baseball team to turn the corner - Don’t ask.
Chance of happening - I said don’t ask
Lyoto Machida v Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson - Marquee UFC fights are often advertised but this would be as intriguing a match up as any between the unbeaten Machida and the dynamic Jackson. ‘Rampage’ is scheduled to fight Rashad Evans next, the man Machida dismantled for the Light Heavyweight title, but, assuming he comes through that unscathed, would likely challenge the Brazilian at the end of the year or the start of next. Machida has a bout with Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 104 to immediately contemplate but must know that Rampage, who has only lost to Forest Griffin while beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell in the last four years, is the main challenge to his mantle.
Chance of happening - 6/10
The next great Italian defender/midfielder/forward to introduce himself - Needed. One sign of hope. Just one.
Chance of happening - 4/10
An exciting heavyweight boxer - Yes Wladimir Klitschko is a very effective pugelist. Yes I did watch him outclass the previously unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev. Yes I know he hasn’t lost in five-ish years. Unfortunately, the only interesting fight out there for him would be against his brother and that won’t happen and the two Ukranians are the only two vaguely elite heavyweights that have been on the scene since Lennox Lewis.
Chance of happening - 2/10
A rookie wage scale in the NFL - Maybe we should keep the current system in which players who have never played a minute of the professional game become the highest paid players. Who knows, it may spread to blogging.
Chance of happening - 3/10
The FA to retire the League Cup - The football calendar is overly congested as it is and few would miss the tournament. It is demeaned by the near ambivalence it is shown until the quarter-final stage and offers a European reward that would be a better prize for the 7th placed team in the Premiership. The football calendar is overly congested as it is.
Chance of happening - 1/10
UEFA to return the Europa League to a knockout tournament - Talking of cups that people don’t care about until nearing the finish line…
Chance of happening - see above
A female sport’s star that makes me want to watch them play - The odd athlete, the occasional swimmer and a few tennis players have been close but really, when would you turn over the TV from a men’s sporting event to watch the women’s equivalent?
Chance of happening - 36DD/10...kidding…kidding!
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