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For some Liverpool fans it is the greatest betrayal since Judas decided to join the Romans for a paltry 30 pieces of silver signing-on fee. We’re not sure if his contract was performance related but we suspect Michael Owen’s may be.
The news that their one time hero is now taking orders from Darth Ferguson simply compounds their opinion that he never really loved their club the way all Liverpool players are expected to. Jumping ship for Real Madrid was forgivable but then to return to England a year later to play for Newcastle, told these fans that he was more concerned with a fat pay packet than playing for a side challenging for honours. Now there’s something of a paradox in that the money hungry Owen has signed for team who will be challenging for honours and has done so for wages far less than he was getting at St James Park and probably less than he could have expected had he signed for a team like Hull. So maybe it’s not about the money after all, but United?
Thanks for the memories but the line has been drawn and you’re now one of THEM. There’ll be no customary round of appplause that most former Liverpool players can expect when they return to Anfield, instead the player who almost single-handedly won the FA Cup in 2001 is more likely to be welcomed with a chorus of boos. To know how fierce the rivalry is between these two clubs and yet still cross the divide willingly? It’s like coming home to find your enemy in bed with your ex….okay you don’t really love her like you used to but it still stings, you still feel betrayed by someone you once opened your heart to. They should consider your feelings before jumping in to bed with whoever they fancy, it’s just the decent thing to do.
Anger and comdemnation are the most likely reactions from Liverpool fans but this story, like all others, has more than just one side.
It’s no secret that Owen would have loved a return to Anfield, with Steven Gerrard and Liverpool owner George Gillett amongst the contingent of supporters who tried convincing Benitez that he was worth taking a risk on, that he still has what it takes to produce for a top club. Now Benitez isn’t a stupid man and he surely saw the appeal of signing a player with Owen’s goal-scoring potential, on a reduced contract and without a fee. The purse strings are tight at Anfield these days so, even with all the injury worries, the risk being taken is minimal in comparison to the potential reward. Even if Owen stayed fit for only half the season, he is still capable of offering a better goal return than other strikers currently on Benitez’ books. Dirk Kuyt, David N’Gog, Ryan Babel, Nabil El Zhar, names that hardly put a bead of perspiration upon the brows of opposing defenders.
Benitez may not be stupid but he sure as hell is as stubborn as a Catalonian mule. The manner of Owen’s departure may have left a bad taste in the Spaniard’s mouth, leaving for Madrid without even giving the new manager a chance, and then his decision to join Newcastle ahead of Liverpool when he returned a year later, would have been the final straw for the grudge loving Rafa.
Looking at it, somewhat, objectively, would it have been much different from the nostalgic resigning of Robbie Fowler? The answer to that is yes. Fowler was clapped out long before his return to Anfield and as much as the fans willed him on to show even flashes of his former greatness, few would have invested any great hope in him becoming a key player for Liverpool again. Owen on the other hand has a lot more to offer, those of you who chuckled your way through his 32 page dossier will be more than aware of this already. Apart from being cool, stylish and good looking, as well as being an ambassador, athlete and icon, Owen is still a goalscorer. Granted he’s slower and more injury prone than he once was but if you were a Liverpool fan and you had the choice of Kuyt or Owen going one on one with a keeper in a crucial game? Well it’s not really a choice, is it?
So Liverpool fans can boo away but Owen could well be wearing their particular shade of red this coming season if Rafa wanted it to be so but the manager decided against his return and Owen was left to make his decision based on the other offers in front of him. If his only serious options were Manchester United, Newcastle or Hull, was that really a choice either?
Should Owen have done the decent thing and sacrificed his own career for the lofty ideals of a former club?
Should Benitez have swallowed his pride and resigned Owen?
Has Ferguson made a shrewd move or is he simply trying to put one over on Rafa?
Tell us what you think.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
With a bit of luck, he will goout on first day of season and break both legs.. maybe tough boy Jamie should get his so called “tough mates” to sort him out. Michael owen had no right to go to the scum. There must have been a horse thrown in for ferguson or something. Anyway my faithful LFC friends, we may have no fear. He will score 5 premiership goals at most. 10 maybe in the Carling Cup. He will however train about 20 winners in his first flat season as a trainer. The money hes getting off the scum will keep the nags in hay.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
worst signing ever in the history of the game. even at his supposed best he was ordinary.i never liked him as a liverpool player. he left lfc for bigger things ,now hes a united reserve player. if he cant get a game for england(with their woeful strikers) wot chance has he got with united? what a hatefull wee scumbag. people are asking what kind of reception will he get at anfield? answer he wont be there ,he will either be injured or in the reserves.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Michael Owen was a good player for Liverpool and could have become great had he not run his contract down and desserted Liverpool for warming the bench at Real Madrid. Ironic when he left that Liverpool then won the Champions League!
Owen was all about pace and now sadly after many an injury plagued season with a very insipid Newcastle he has gone to Man Utd who can’t muster a decent signing now due to all their targets being snapped up by the cream of La Liga!
Owen is a has been - his pace has gone which was the most integral part of his game!
He will be another expensive treatment bench warmer or dugout bench warmer but this time for Man Utd!
July 8th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Owen didn’t snub liverpool for newcastle when he came back from Spain, Benitez snubbed him.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:41 am
I think it’s a stroke of genius by Sir Alex. Whether he starts or not on a regular basis, I firmly believe he will over the course of a long-season get 15+ goals. There’ll be targets & the onus is on Owen to prove himself. He will in buckets & spades. If he plays, he gets paid. If he scores, he gets paid more. A no-brainer really plus it will put him in shop-window should he decide to move-on in January or at enda season and with WC-2010 on horizon, Capello’ll be a much-happier man to have him playing & training with a better class of player than he was doing with Magpies or that he would’ve been doing with Hull.
My ondly worry is he’ll get injured before or during a Liverpool match especialy one at Anfield.
But on t’other hand, if he scores the winner there………………..COME ON!
July 8th, 2009 at 10:49 am
hows it a stroke of genius, my 9 year old son plays football manager on the pc an even he could work the maths out on that deal. a stroke of genius by fergie was signing cantona or who ever spotted gerrard as a young boy. lets hope he does play at anfield at least it will keep another,better striker,capable of scoring out of the side. he will weaken united with out a doubt,happy days. If owen had resigned for liverpool to replace to replace torres or gerrard how funny would that be for united fans? dont try to fool yourselves that yous are happy, wise up
July 8th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
lfc lad i take back all that i have said about you, that last line hits the nail on the head!!
July 8th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
sounds like it’s time for the annual “THIS IS OUR YEAR!” cavalry charge….
July 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
go go go
July 8th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
lfc what a wanker
July 8th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
ballbag explain what i dont know, not just slabber
July 9th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Great signing, should forge a great partnership with Rooney
July 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
kel the only partnership that the both of them will be on the treatment table if rooney gets injured they can meet up for a massage
July 9th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Michael Owen if i got u I would piss into your Face. Break both legs and we will laugh
July 9th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
OWEN BREAKS WRIST DURING CONTRACT SIGNING
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1879&Itemid=26
July 14th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
lfc lad think your bittter that both of them play for the reds, the only reds and the best ones. Watch them play next season 25+ league goals
July 15th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
kel dont even pretend your happy owen is taking 50 grand a week back to merseyside,when he played for liverpool all united fans said he was rubbish, he was rubbish then now hes pathetic.
July 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
i would rather have wayne rooney with 1 leg than a (rare) fit owen in liverpools line up
July 15th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I seriously do think Fergie will get the best out of him. Hes a natural striker and United will create plenty of chances for him.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
good luck with that theory.