If you have a contribution to make, drop us a line at theeditor@football365.com....
Beginning With A Complaint
Sir,
Considering the fact that every user of your site is having to get their head round the mindf**k that is ManYoo signing Mickey Owen, I think it is particularly irresponsible to headline a story "Cardiff swoop for Gerrard."
Yours sincerely,
Mac (currently compiling brochure of my personal brand qualities and searching for Sir Alex's address)
Oh Dear - People Aren't Happy
So we're signing Michael Owen then.
Fantastic! All we need to do now is keep Fraizer Campbell and we'll have the best strikeforce in the league.
Excellent!
Bradley (A very bemused Man Utd fan) Kirrage
...Mike Christie, What are Macheda and Wellbeck gonna learn from Owen in training?? How to spot a good horse and how to pass the time when injured seem to be all he's an expert on these days.
And why are people comparing Owen's signing to Larssons as being a good thing. Larsson only played 7 games scoring a whopping 1 goal.
AM, Dublin
...Just one thing though: stringent medicals seem two a penny. I heard another famous Michael passed one of those ahead of a demanding upcoming schedule. And we all know how that turned out
Nayan
Good Riddance
I just thought it appropriate to leave my opinion on Owen's impending move to Man Ure. As a Newcastle fan, I went to SJP to welcome him with the other thousands of other foolish Geordies.
Well four years later, twice as many would turn up to boot him up the backside on his way out the door. He never wanted to play for Newcastle, never even lived here full-time. He walked around with a face like a smacked-ar*e for the four years, only coming here as we were the only club foolish to throw that insane amount of money at him.
Good riddance, and my hatred of Man U is only going to grow with you there. I just hope he rips them off as much as he did us - though knowing that guys luck he'll probably stay fit for them.
The only solace I can take is that Ferguson only wanted him because they were getting desperate. Benzema and Owen - they're the same.
Greg (Not at all bitter and angry) Morrison
It's No Bother
As a Liverpool supporter, I can honestly say that I'm not too pushed about Michael Owen going to Man United. I don't see him improving their first team in any way - yeah he's a good finisher and if he stays fit could probably get them 15 goals next season, as long as United provide him with the shedload of chances that people seem to take for granted that they'll create. He won't create them for himself like in the good old days, so it'll fall to the rest of the team to provide the ammo.
Rooney and Berbatov are arguably their two most creative 1st team players now and the perceived wisdom is that he'll most likely only be on the pitch at the same time as one or the other. He won't have any pace on the counterattack either. Sure, if the ball falls to him in the box he'll on average put a good few of them away, but so could any number of strikers that would bring far more to the team.
I wouldn't want him back at Liverpool because where would he fit in? He doesn't have the pace, power, or workrate to get near the first team.
On an emotional level, do I care that he once played for us and is now going to play for our rivals? Not particularly as I don't think it's a good move for them. Perhaps some fans may feel betrayed in some way, but they probably think of him as a dirty little Judas since his move to Real Madrid anyway, so what difference?
John (prepared to be proved massively wrong), LFC
Owen Is No Good
Why do people still think Michael Owen is a good player?! He doesn't work hard, he has a bad attitude and all of that is glossed over because he scores a few goals. The fact that people are comparing him to Tevez is nonsense, I'd have Tevez every time!
One of the reasons England have been doing so well of late is that they've stopped including him in the side! Capello knows what he's doing - they don't need him. They now have 11 players on the pitch rather than 10 + 1 lazy occasional goal scorer. At this stage in his career he is no more likely to pop up and score a goal than any of the other fringe England squad members who contribute more to the side (yes, even Carlton Cole!). Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to stop living in the past.
I'm not the sort to wish harm on anyone, but I hope he lives up to his reputation and gets crocked so he's not available to ruin England's chances at the world cup, because if he does sign for Manyoo, it's gonna be harder for Don Fabio to keep ignoring him.
Adam (did that guy doing the clubs/countries thing compare Zola to Gordon Brown?!) WHUFC, Surrey
Not The Signing United Needed
Do not get me wrong, I think Michael Owen is a great finisher of the ball, and if he COULD stay fit, he would be a smashing addition to any squad. He would guarantee you 20 goals plus a season without a doubt!
However, my problem is this; as a Manchester United fan, I am worried that we have lost our main goal scorer and provider in the world's greatest player and are looking to try and make up for that by signing Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen.
Valencia will be a good signing, not a cracking signing. Owen, well if he even passes that medical I'll be surprised. Why is it that NO-ONE wants to come to Manchester United, and indeed that Premiership? It's not money so it has to be the weather!
I think Fergie is making a mistake in signing Owen, but he has proved to be the master before and I wouldn't bet against it again. I'm annoyed at Ferguson because he has not signed WORLD CLASS talent as of yet, but there is still time. I just hope he does not regret losing his balls in his pursuit of Benzema!!!!!!!!
Matthew English, Belfast
This Bloke Hasn't Read Very Much Then
So far I don't see anyone mention the name of Teddy Sheringham when
it come to the surprise signings of SAF. Out of curiosity, where exactly have you looked for these mentions? They are everywhere. If you had bothered to look, that is - MC. Around the turn of the century, United had 4 top draw strikers, with Owen, it makes three, plus Wellbeck and Mancheda (who also gain from the experience of working with an experienced international striker)
With regard to Michael himself, I thought he Newcastle move was a cop out, and going to United he finally got the chance to win something, as I recall he never won the Premiership with Liverpool, some cups yes.
Fingers crossed at Man Utd will get his hunger back, because I'm sure as much as football is a little on the loony side, Don Fabio will be picking the strikers in form to go to South Africa and if it's a choice between Jermaine Defoe playing at Tottenham (and aiming for 5th) and (E)MO playing Champions League and playing for the title at Manchester Utd, I know who would get my vote to get on the plane
And on one final note, United have over £60 million left to spend from the Ronaldo money, who says they have stopped the summer shopping? And if they do use it to pay back the debt, doesn't that make them stronger in the long run?
Jonathan (Will be watching Le Tour this weekend) Sheffield
Show Owen Some Respect
Having only made it half way through this morning's mailbox, I feel I need to explain to this particular section of the Manchester United support why they are all retards.
Michael Owen has always been a prolific goal scorer. While he hasn't been at his peak for a while, this has mostly been attributed to injury rather than a loss of ability. When he plays, he scores. If Alex Ferguson and his medical staff think they can keep Owen fit enough to complete half a season, then that's 38 times one of the best goal scorers of his generation can come off the bench and nick a goal. Surely this is preferable to a full season of having Carlos Tevez run around a lot for no apparent reason.
Regardless, what has really got my goat this morning is the sheer lack of respect for a player who has been as good as Owen for both club and country. Supporting a club you live nowhere near and have no connection to, other than they were good when you were a kid, does not give you the right to slag off such a talented player. He's had his ups and downs, but I for one would love to see this move work out and Owen be a success because I genuinely believe he deserves it, he's too good to go out with a whimper. It's the same sadness I felt when Shevchenko played for Chelsea's reserves.
Rob, Guildford
...First off I'm a Liverpool fan and no doubt you will have a glut of mails on the imminent signing of Michael Owen to Manchester Utd and rightly so...its a big story.
However the majority of e-mails will be mindless crap slating him either from fellow Liverpool fans or Utd fans not wanting a Liverpool cast off. A lot of people are saying little Mickey is "past it " and "he's lost his desire" or "he loves horses so much, he gonna hang his boots up". Its easy to say these things as little Mickey has not been himself over the past few seasons (who would be playing a Newcastle ?)
The main factor is the guy has not had a pre-season for a few years now, he broke his foot before the World Cup....rushed back and then damaged his knee ligaments in the World Cup itself, he had lots of niggling injuries after that which were probably a result of the two serious ones. Anyone could of picked up these injuries its just plain bad luck. I guarantee if Owen goes to Utd gets a preseason under his belt he will bang in the goals and he will be in SA next year banging them in for England.
I'm not a bitter Liverpool fan just because he will go to Utd, believe me I'm not estatic about the idea of him banging in goals for Utd but I do remember what he did for us, FA cup final against Arsenal being one of them. So Liverpool fans think before you slate and Utd fans just think about the potential goals. I hope he does well on a personal level at Utd and scores enough goals to save Utd from relegation.
Also think about if he did do well....Big Fat Sam will have egg on his big fat face as he practically said Owen was past it. Surely that's worth Owen doing the business?? Neil Walters, LFC
Yup!
Well, Sir Alex must have loved the brochure!!! All we need now is Van Nistelroy to sign for Liverpool and this will have been the most mental transfer summer ever.
Jon M, Durham
Value For Money
Go Fergie.
Tevez scored 5 league goals for us last year. I'll take a bet with anyone that Owen scores double that. At 25 million cheaper and 50k a week less wages that's brilliant business by any standards.
As for where our goals will come from this year? Not before time they'll return to being spread around the team. This season Owen will get 12. Rooney 23. Berbatov 17. Macheda 8. Wellbeck 6.
My big question is this: has Fergie, knowing that Ronaldo has been going for a while, had Owen in his mind or is this a knee jerk to not getting the players he wanted? I fancy it to be the former. Barca won the Chamions League coz they played like a team. We played like 10 players and 1 superstar. I honestly swear I saw Fergie thinking that during the final.
If Fergie has as much faith in his kids becoming A TEAM as I suspect he has, if he thinks Hargreaves will come back more motivated than ever, if Rooney and Berb step up to the plate.... a lot of ifs but it could be exciting.
Can you imagine the satisfaction of winning the Champions League with a net spend of MINUS £70million in a year when Madrid have spent £200 million? Can you imagine the satisfaction of knocking Madrid out on the way (I promise we'll be drawn against them this year. Football works that way). I love the idea of making everyone associated with Madrid suicidal.
Dan (the man)
Question Time
Because I never get my letters in F365 anymore I'll keep this one brief...
Re: Michael Owens injury record at Newcastle
How many games do people think that Giggs would have played (with his
hamstrings) over the last few years if he had to use the Newcastle
treatment room?
Chris Hodgson
So Who Was The Best?
Great point made by Alex Smith (letters 03/07) about EMO's goals to game ratio. It's about time this point was nailed, and a consensus reached as to who is the best International Striker on a goals to games ratio.
Gerd Muller was good, Lineker not bad but clearly the best England Striker ever is David Nugent. He has played 11 minutes for England and has one goal. His ratio is therefore 8 goals per game. If he had been given 7 caps, he would be England's leading scorer ever. Credit also to Franny Jeffers, who played 45 minutes for England, and has one goal. Nugent & Jeffers.
That, people, is the answer.
Ray, Exiled in Perth (No, not the hot one)
It's Good To Call
Ok, so I probably shouldn't be reading too much into this, but Wenger said he was interested in Benzema but didn't make an enquiry because he didn't think Lyon would sell!
Even if this wasn't the stupidest close season in years, is it really good enough to forgo a simple phone call because of a hunch?
If you're reading, Arsene, I'm looking for a job, and if you can't be arsed phoning round I'll gladly do it for you.
Will O'Doherty
The Worst Teams From The Last Ten Years...
Inspired by Chris Nixon, here's my entirely subjective, worst Liverpool signings from the last 10 years (approx).
1 - Charles Idjante - For the Hillsborough Dancing Alone.
2 - Jan Krompkamp - Beats off Josemi and Degen for the least inspiring right back ever.
3 - Djimi Traore - That OG against Burnley.
4 - Salif Diao - Brought in to help Diouf fit into the team. That worked.
5 - Mauricio Pellegrino - Free, but still a waste of money.
6 - Igor Biscan - A cult hero for being crap.
7 - Antonio Nunez - A winger with no pace - wonderful.
8 - Boudewijn Zenden - Very little creativity from a left winger who had played with Barca and Chelsea.
9 - El-Hadji Diouf - Very Dislikable, and had the nerve to be quite effective for Bolton after leaving.
10 - Andriy Voronin - Triple H is not a striker.
11 - Mark Gonzalez - A winger with no brain - wonderful. Amazing on FM though.
Steve, reflective Liverpool fan
...Thought I'd join in Chris Nixon's game from this mornings mailbox:
1: Lionel Letizi - Awful, just awful.
2: Kevin Muscat - Why sign a player that you don't trust to play in big games?
3: Olivier Bernard - Showed no intentions of getting fit. Waddled around the pitch with his massive @rse.
4: Jose Karl Pierre-FanFan - Splendid name but never a footballer.
5: Bert Konterman - Dutch international centre back who couldn't tackle or head the ball as well as being as soft as sh*te.
6: Amdy Faye - Looked incapable of anything remotely positive on the pitch.
7: Nuno Capucho - Swanned about like he owned the place but not willing to take men on, quite a drawback for a winger.
8: Dragan Mladenovic - "The Serbian Zidane" apparently.
9: Egil Ostenstad - How he scored a hat-trick against Man Utd I'll never know.
10: Franny Jeffers - "The Fox in the Box" never managed a goal in 6 months at Ibrox.
11: Lee McCulloch - Walter Smith's lovechild I can only assume.
I won't sleep tonight after thinking of this team...
Anon
...I'm confident this is one trophy Newcastle can win, feast your eyes on these horrors: (yes a little more than 10 years, but that's only to pick some classics)
GK Perez, Lionel
RB Hamilton, Des
LB Babayaro, Celestine
CB Boumsong, Jean Alain
CB Mareclino, Broken finger
CM Faye, Amdy
CM Maric, Silvio
CM Viana, Hugo
CF Guivarch, Stephane
CF Tomasson, Jon Dahl
CF Rush, Ian
Subs:
Bassedas, Cort, Karelse, Quinn (Wayne), Andersson, Carr, Bramble.
I don't care what team you come up with, you can't beat (lose) to us in this one. And no I didn't forget Luque, a goal against the mackems means he didn't qualify (same for Owen).
Dave Blake, Geordie in Harrogate
