Michael Owen Signs for Newcastle in Record Transfer

[Ebonix]

Luque is not a playmaker, i believe Owen + Luque are good signings but Newcastle will have the same problems creating chances

I meant seeing as Luque is a winger, service from the midfield also means crosses.

 

[Ebonix]

no way cisse is as good as owen

I'm not being funny but do you really think Owen could have come on during the Super Cup, scored two goals and made the third goal. Cisse had the game by the scruff of the neck, Owen could never do that

 

[RUSI]

Owen is a more consistent player though

I'd take owen over cisse anyday of the week.

 

[ShearerM4]

 

[Drvar]

good luck Owen! hes just pure class. i hope he tears a new one to Pool .

 

[Raikkonen]

he doesn't look too happy he looks like a wax statue

 

[AberdeenFC]

haha. i still cant get over how funny this is. last year we werent good enough for him. now we are the european champions and he is going to be playing for.... can i get away with it.... a mid table club!?

shut us yer medals michael... did ye not leave for european trophys? we have 2 in the last few months


Owened.

 

[wing172]

I sad that he didn't comeback to us but i wish him the best of luck!

 

[O-car]

it breaks my heart seeing him in a Toon jersey. However, I hope he does good, except against us though. And hopefully in a year or two he'll be back home.

 

[ShearerM4]

I honestly still can't see him not playing for Liverpool again in the not so distant future, but for the time being he's ours.

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

By the way, Owen's got a $12m buy-out clause in his contract.

 

[Filipower]

newcastle have probably managed the to best deals of the transfer season this year. (after robinho to real.) damn, this is great, when is chelsea-newcastle?...sure glad we've already kicked your asses best of luck to the toon army

 

[ShearerM4]

FROM The Times

Why I made the move
By Michael Owen

IT WAS at 1.30 in the early hours of yesterday that I finally decided that I was joining Newcastle United. That decision concluded a head-spinning 24 hours when, from one moment to the next, I thought I might be returning to Liverpool or staying at Real Madrid.
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.



Given that I will be running out to play football in front of more than 50,000 of the country’s most passionate supporters next week, I am not about to cast around for sympathy.

It was a very long day on Monday but, as I went through the same circle of late-night calls with the three clubs involved in my dilemma, 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 had 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. My mind was made up, particularly when I thought back to the excellent meeting I had enjoyed with the Newcastle directors, management and Alan Shearer.

Alan was a great help throughout and instrumental in my decision. I had spoken to him many times over the past few weeks and he should work for the Newcastle tourist board when he finishes playing football. He even offered to give up his No 9 shirt but I have declined. No 10 will do for me.

I will regard playing alongside him in his last season as an honour. He has been, and still is, a great striker and there is no way that Newcastle should be where they are in the table with that calibre of player.

Alan said how his mind was in turmoil at the time he left Blackburn Rovers and suddenly a clear decision emerged. It was much the same for me after a day that had begun at dawn. I flew by private plane into Liverpool airport and went straight into a meeting with Rick Parry, the chief executive, and Rafael Benítez at a friend’s house in Liverpool.

Rafa and I sat together in the lounge while my adviser discussed my playing contract with Rick in the dining room. We were together for about2½ hours and I would say that it was a good meeting — the most positive I had heard out of Liverpool — and we spoke to Rafa and Rick again on the journey up to Newcastle.

We met the large Newcastle contingent at a grand country house, although I didn’t know there were cameras in the bushes. The meeting went on for almost three hours and what was said made a very strong impression on me.

On the journey home from those talks, my mind was still spinning. Would Liverpool’s offer be in time and accepted? What would happen to me if I stayed at Madrid? How much would I miss European football if I signed for Newcastle?

Then, just before I arrived home, 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 that my Dad was briefly an Everton player and I used to follow them as a boy.

I arrived home at around 9.30pm and sat in the kitchen with my Mum, Dad and wife, Louise. With growing doubts about the Liverpool deal, my mind was made up. It will be strange going back to Anfield with another club but I won’t be the first player to do that and, as Jamie Carragher told me yesterday, he is already looking forward to giving me a kick.

All the Newcastle fans need to know is that I will be giving everything for their cause now. I have been watching the television and seen the queues at the club shop. From what I can tell, 99 per cent of fans are delighted that I have chosen Newcastle and are not wondering about how I got there. It will be like winning the World Cup to win a trophy.

I have got 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 only hope that I can give them plenty more reasons to cheer me.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Good pics, great read. Intresting to see both the role shearer played in getting him to come (could definately see Owen being Shearer II to toon fans if he stays there for a long time) and the fact that moyes tried to come in at the end. How much would it have steamed Pool fans to see him as a toffee

I'm not being funny but do you really think Owen could have come on during the Super Cup, scored two goals and made the third goal. Cisse had the game by the scruff of the neck, Owen could never do that

One nil down, two one up, Michael Owen won the cup comes to mind

I know, I know, that was years ago. But he is only 25, and he can rediscover his old form with the right partner

 

[SB9Dragon]

Owen to Newcastle? To be honest I still think he's stupid for leaving Liverpool in the first place. Good luck to him, because I don't see him going on a scoring run with not much of a midfield behind him.

 

[ShearerM4]

A lot of harsh words ... and to be honest most of which i might agree with. But when it comes to answering their critics and proving people wrong, Shearer and Owen are up there with the best.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Owen to Newcastle? To be honest I still think he's stupid for leaving Liverpool in the first place. Good luck to him, because I don't see him going on a scoring run with not much of a midfield behind him.

Emre and especially Parker have made Newcastle's midfield excellent overnight. If Dyer is out long term that could surely change things, but if Luque is played out wide, and can swing some decent crosses into the middle, they will be just fine for service

My only concern would be Shearer not being a good partner for Owen anymore. I know he is a legend, but for a team that is seriously holding European ambitions a 35 year old Alan Shearer is best served coming off the bench. But with all the cash they spent on Owen, getting another forward might be out of the question at the moment.

 

[shokz]

"Alan [Shearer] reminded Michael he had this same decision a decade ago when he left Blackburn and could have gone to Manchester United. He chose Newcastle and look what it's done for him," insisted Souness.

PMSL.

 

[Scotto]

Owen, Luque, Shearer, Emre, Jenas, Parker, Dyer...if you could get rid of Souness, you could actually start dreaming about League Cup.

and get rid of Boumsong & Bramble and u could dream of the fa cup

"Alan [Shearer] reminded Michael he had this same decision a decade ago when he left Blackburn and could have gone to Manchester United. He chose Newcastle and look what it's done for him," insisted Souness.

HAHA YEH **** ALL

 

[TOON ARMY]

and get rid of Boumsong & Bramble and u could dream of the fa cup



HAHA YEH **** ALL

How about fulfilling his dream to play for his home town club or doesn't that mean anything for a plastic fan like yourself?