I think getting Michael Owen is a great bit of business for Manchester United.
For a start it's on a free but more importantly, there is no better finisher in the Premier League. And knowing how many chances United create - and they make a lorryload every week - he will score goals for fun at Old Trafford.
Owen: will be celebrating with Rooney again, says Merse - maybe for England
I know people go on about his injuries and what the doubters are saying, but I don't think his fitness problems will be as bad now. Why? Because he will not be under as much stress.
Yes, United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and he will be playing in front of 70,000 fans every other week and in the Champions League, but I genuinely think there would have been more pressure on him had he gone to say, Hull.
At United he will get plenty of chances and he will score plenty of goals. How many times do you see United dominate teams for the whole game? Practically every week they have 70-80 per cent possession, but sometimes they just need someone to stick the ball in the net - and there are none better at that than Michael Owen.
Paul Merson
Quotes of the week
At Hull he would know he was only going to get one, maybe two, chances a game, which means he has to take them. If he didn't and they get beat, there was only going to be one player everyone was pointing at: Michael Owen.
At United he will get plenty of chances and he will score plenty of goals. How many times do you see them dominate teams for the whole game? Practically every week they have 70-80 per cent possession, but sometimes they just need someone to stick the ball in the net - and there are none better at that than Michael Owen.
Perfect
I actually can't believe Arsenal didn't come in for him because they are another side that dominates teams but never take enough of their chances. Liverpool are a different matter because they play on the counter-attack and like to let teams come on them, but I thought he'd be the perfect buy for Arsene Wenger.
They say you're good if you are a one-goal-in-two chances striker. Well I happen to think Owen is even better than that, possibly two in three. At United he'll get three chances every game and he will score goals - and as strange as it may sound, it might just be good news for England.
I know Fabio Capello is not exactly his biggest fan, but I can't think of four better English centre-forwards, I really can't. There is always a surprise in a World Cup year and although it seems an odd thing to say about one of our best goalscorers, I can see Michael sneaking in the back door for South Africa.
Put it this way; international defenders fear him. They always did and always will. When the German centre-halves or Brazilian centre-halves look at that England team-sheet and see Emile Heskey's name on it, they know they are going to be given a game. But no disrespect to Emile, they also know they can let him go and he probably won't punish them. Let Owen go once, and he'll get a goal.
Pace
I have played with him several times for England and he just seems to know where the ball is going. You can tell that by the amount of headed goals he gets, especially for Newcastle. He's nowhere near the biggest on the pitch, but he still gets there first, because instinctively he knows where to go.
People talk about him losing that crucial yard of pace and it might be true, but I don't think it will matter at United one bit. Yes, between the halfway line and the edge of the box it has affected his game, but he won't need that - it's in the penalty area where they want him.
You know United are going to pin teams back and you know the opposition are going to drop deep and pack men behind the ball, so out-and-out pace is not that important.
Michael is not interested in dropping deep and linking up and United will not want him to do that - they already have Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov to do that.
I just wonder though, if it means we are going to see Sir Alex Ferguson change his approach now Cristiano Ronaldo has gone. Yes, the 4-3-3 works well when you have got a winger banging in 25 goals a season, but they don't have that now so effectively you are asking the man up top, whoever he is, to come up with 40 goals.
Popular
I wouldn't be surprised to see Fergie switch to a 4-4-2, especially in the games Michael plays in. I don't think he will be a starter every week but I do think he will be the man they turn to in certain games and also someone they can bring off the bench when they're desperate for a goal.
I can see him fitting in at United in the same way as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did - and we all know how successful and popular he was at Old Trafford.
If you give him chances Michael Owen will score goals. He will score goals for fun for Manchester United - and I still think the same goes for England, too.
Will Michael Owen's move to Manchester United re-ignite his England career? Do you agree with Merse? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...
Comments (355)
Tom O'brien (Manchester United fan) says...
There is no doubt that Michael Owen was a terrific buy for Manchester United. When I watch United play, I feel that they are always going to create chances even if they are not at their absolute best like earlier against Blackburn. All Michael Owen needs is a couple of tap-ins just to get him started and then the goals will come along in a flurry- that deciding goal against City in the Manchester derby did him a lot of good in terms of confidence. That goal he scored against Barnsley was definitely a good goal and it will please him. I think Michael Owen merits a starting place simply because of his movement up front. Compared with Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen is a spring chicken and there is no doubt in my mind that Michael Owen is much better than Dimitar Berbatov. Despite what people say about Berbatov, I think that overall his play is really poor. He is really lazy and so slow, he doesn't gel with United's side at all. I feel as if we are playing with 10 men with him on the field. So, Owen is a definite starter for me.
Posted 21:16 31st October 2009
Eamonn Jones (Aston Villa fan) says...
I have actually copied and pasted the message from Peter Goldfinch (Chelsea) even though I am not a united fan :) about united being in for a shock... I'd like to post it again at the end of the season when Man Utd have won the league and Chelsea are looking for another manager :) and I think Fergie will be the only one laughing! Great bit of business :)
Posted 15:16 9th August 2009
John Aston (Manchester United fan) says...
Micheal Owen won't need to rely on his pace or lack of a yard of pace 'cause the way Utd play they will make loads of chances for him! He will find the net virtually every time he turns out for Utd. He will be back in the England team no doubt about it, and put the fear of God into all the teams he plays against. What a signing! I can't wait for him to do the business for the reds of Man Utd.
Posted 20:48 3rd August 2009
Andrew Kingdom (Manchester United fan) says...
Ronaldo is directly irreplaceable. His goals, assists, the fact that he attracts 2/3 players to the ball are obviously going to be a huge loss. Add to that UTD have lost their free-kick and penalty taker. Owen is a gamble worth taking as he was free, he should have been given no.10 with rooney wearing 7. The club should have done all they could to keep Tevez who is a fantastic player and his exit is a massive blow to the squad. Owen will get goals playin with rooney or berbatov or even both. I know every1 is saying it but, people have left before and we've always come back strongly. This will be no different. ALWAYS trust the ferg, he will have a plan and will reform the shape of the side and the way we play to accomodate the loss of tevez/ronnie. Berba will have a big season and its now time for wazza to shine and reach his full potential after coming out from ronaldo's shadow.
Posted 21:08 2nd August 2009
Russell Withers (Manchester United fan) says...
Listen to all your Man United haters. I think Sir Alex has got a little bit more in the brain department than you all must give him credit for. A great buy in owen even if he scores 10 this season he was free. Tevez was great at putting pressure on and never gave in, but he also didn't score much. Rooney went left because fergie believed Ronaldo was going to score more which was true for the world player of the year but put Rooney in his rightful place without someone hogging all the chances and Roo will score 25+ this season. Chelsea. What have you really done lately with all your money? City will be another Chelsea for sure. All cash and no substance. I would have thought they would have bought world class, not everyone elses rejects? As a UTD fan its Liverpool we should fear most. Torres is easily the best stiker in the world and is amazing to watch so bring on the season. I think it will be UTD/Liverpool leading the way!
Posted 01:58 2nd August 2009
James Broadfoot (Manchester United fan) says...
It fustrates me to see fellow Utd supporters having a go at Owen, saying he's past it. He's not and as you can see from his pre-season games he's going to get plenty of goals at Utd and I completely agree with this article. Forget Scholes scores goals... it's Owen that's gonna get a bag full this year. Great signing as Benzema was way overpriced. Fergie is a genius and those that can't see Owen as a great signing don't know the game.
Posted 21:54 31st July 2009
David Redg (Manchester United fan) says...
Peter Goldfinch. So you think that we're kidding ourselves that we have a good team huh? Do you actually know anything about football? We have won the league 3 times on the trot. You have won the premiership twice in your entire history and that was only because of Roman's billions. Yes, yes I know that Ronaldo and Tevez have now gone but they were not our entire squad. As for Rooney being on the left because he can't score, that dosen't even dignify a response. Mate, get a clue, get a life, get a new sport because you obviously don't have a clue about this one. You numpty.
Posted 15:59 31st July 2009
Cathy Blackhall (Manchester United fan) says...
Fergie has completed an excellent bit of business in signing Owen. A natural goal scorer with a point to prove to Capello he will give us plenty of goals(provided he can stay injury free)with the sort of supply he can get from Rooney etc and he cost us nothing! Im so relieved we didnt buy Tevez, i think hell do a decent job for City but I think many United fans over rated him . Cant wait for the season to begin.
Posted 23:32 26th July 2009
Hatboy (manchester united fan also) (St Albans fan) says...
I agree that he will fit well in a 4-4-2 with Berbatov up front, Rooney staying on the left and Valencia on the right supplying the crosses. I remember the first time Owen came back from injury at Newcastle and got something like 7 goals in their last 10 games of the season, if he stays fit and is played sparingly i can see him getting the 15+ goals that Fergie is talking about.
Posted 10:03 26th July 2009
Scott Crossley (Manchester United fan) says...
Michael owen is a great signing he just knows where the goal is. at first i was sceptical to say the least but realising that bayern wanted more for ribery than we got for ronaldo is just a joke, is ribery really that good a player who has achieved nothing at international level. played in the french and german league and also achieved nothing is better than ronaldo. i dont think so, fergie is a genious and although at first i was worried i am no longer although obertan is a concern as someone pointed out he couldnt get in the team ahead of another french flop in bellion, but i do believe valencia will be an excellent signing and also believe berbatov will step up also and i think this season maybe where we see the hype surrounding nani as he isnt in ronaldo's shadows anymore. I loved ronaldo and gutted when he left i even burnt my shirt with his name on the back but i regret that i iwsh him all the best and just hope he never forgets the club that made him. i think it will be a tough season but believe we can do it again due to the fact no one else have signed anyone except city who you cant buy success over night and its been proved before.
Posted 04:52 26th July 2009
Dave Rowley (Liverpool fan) says...
I can't believe merse & utd fans think this is a good deal, owen hasn't been a good player for years , how easily ye r fooled owen won't score 10 goals next season , carling cup run for him not champions league , to think that you can replace world player of the year with part-time footballer/full-time horse breeder is rediculous , and what merse on about striker not needing burst of pace in box it's how torres beat utd in old trafford ,
Posted 01:35 26th July 2009
Dave Kyle (Manchester United fan) says...
Owen is not my cup of tea. I think Man United should've got Benzema. For the asking price. 42M, correct me if i'm wrong. Yes he's pricey;Although he has all the skills for a top class striker. Look how he performed for Real Madrid against Shamrock Rovers. Also Benzema is a young talent. One for the future definetly. Whilst Owen, getting old and not as good as Benzema.
Posted 21:59 25th July 2009
Lee Kells (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I feel that owen is a good grab, but, I don't feel he will be a Utd regular, I think that Owen is just a replacement for Tevez, a poor one at that, Tevez is one of the best players in the Prem, if I was a Utd supporter I would of prefered to have kept Owen rather then Tevez, alot a Utd supporters may slate me for what I said, but Utd should have tried to of kept Tevez not grab Owen or the £3mil on the Bordeaux flop, nonetheless when Owen does play he will grab Utd goals, if the Valencia and other midfielders can feed it, I don't think the partnership of Berbatov and Owen would work well because they are both players which need to be fed the ball.
Posted 14:07 25th July 2009
David Walmsley (Northampton Town fan) says...
I have to agree with that Paul Merson said, I think Owen will be very effective at Manchester United. Fergie made a very clever move signing him, especially since it was for free. There is a big gap between the quality of team play of Man Utd and Newcastle. Whilst the Magpies had some great players last season they never lived up to their reputations off paper, just did not function well as a team when with changes I think they could. At Manchester United he will get goals as long as he keeps his fitness up and without the stress of getting very few chances he should deliver, sure he may not be as fast but he has a natural finishing ability. In fact this makes me think of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it sounds as if Owen could be used as an impact sub just as him. Both Players are two of the best natural finishers I have ever seen. Looking forward to seeing Owen perform well next season and maybe finding that drive he once had, we could yet have that dangerous strike force of Owen and Rooney for the world cup.
Posted 13:22 25th July 2009
Bashprilla Bashprilla (Newcastle United fan) says...
Good bit of business especially if his contract is as rumoured ie low wage (50k poor soul!) and high bonuses as his "injury curse" will now vanish, cant see him being unavailable for selection if it hits his wallet, very good player on his day and I believe with the quality of service he will score goals, the only thing that sticks in the newcastle fans throats is the obvious lack of effort towards the end of his time here, and finally as for MO himself saying he's not injury prone and played X amount of games a lot of these were actually sub appearances when he was not fully fit after a groin/hamstring injury that had kept him out for a few weeks at a time but the recovery time was usually 4 weeks before he would start a game! so I would disagree and say that he is/was very very injury prone as 65 starts and 14 sub apps over a four year contract show! As someone recently said in an article "Michael Owen you put the CON in Icon"
Posted 09:06 25th July 2009
Peter Goldfinch (Chelsea fan) says...
Man Utd fans, copy and paste this msg somewhere safe and read it again at the end of the season. You are kidding yourselves if you think Owen will be a success with you and you are kidding yourselves if you think you have a good team. You have lost your two best players and you are about to get found out big time. You think that Owen and Rooney will score goals? ...if Rooney was a goalscorer of the quality you believe him to be then he would have been played upfront last seasons. He plays on the left because fergie knows he cant score, and by playing him on the left he could make excuses for him. Owen is past it, he is slow and he is weak. You are in for a shock and we are all in for a right laugh at your expense.
Posted 18:37 24th July 2009
Sean Smith (Liverpool fan) says...
It will be interesting to see how well Owen does. I can almost gaurantee him scoring at least two goals against us this season. I do love all the united fans who were convinced he was 'over-rated' during his time at Liverpool now saying he's going to score 20+ this season. He was good, still is- missed a lot of chances for us, even in the peak of his career with us, but 'got in a position to miss them'. He certainly does score a lot of goals and united will give him a lot of chances with their brand of football. But, lets get this straight: Anyone who thinks the liverpool fans are crying because Rafa decided against him (maybe a mistake) are very wrong. Even though he scored a lot of goals for us, he was never (and will never) be held in the same regard as Robbie or Rushy. And to 'Steve Long' - Good post but yes, you did get that wrong - Owen is certainly not at the top of our records. Rushy all the way, although Michael is, i think, our youngest ever goalscorer. On his debut wasn't it?
Posted 15:38 24th July 2009
Martin O' shea (Manchester United fan) says...
Michael Owen is a great signing!! there are so many doubters, yet he has always been a proven goal scorer! He has bags of talent left in him, and he has bags of heart! Maybe he won't go and score twenty, thirty goals, but he is still going to play a big part next season! Wayne Rooney will flourish next year alongside Owen, a Great piece of business by fergie!!
Posted 13:43 24th July 2009
Shane Mcgill (Manchester United fan) says...
As a true United fan id like to add that im not confident about the appearance of Micheal Owen appearing on the Old Trafford scene. I believe he will be a impact sub and score crucial goals like O'Shea!!!, but hes not the same player he used to be and the boys that say hes going to score 20+ goals are the men that HATED him at Liverpool! I also believe he didnt deserve the No. 7! A stepdown from Ronaldo if you ask me! Finally he will be loved at Old Trafford but not as much as he was loved at Liverpool and not as GOOD! O.K he has scored two goals from 2 games but against alot weaker opponents than there will be in the Premiership! Now adding to the point that Utd wont be as good as they were with ronaldo! I disagree completely! We'll take our 80 million and work well with it, as the same was said when Beckham left 4 Madrid! Yet Utd became even stronger!!! But i hope Sir Alex signs a top quality player to relieve the pain from the loss of Ronaldo!
Posted 15:16 23rd July 2009
Nick Golder (Newcastle United fan) says...
I honestly think Owen will do well and Man Utd but then again with the midfield options Man Utd have, what striker who has played in the premier league wouldn't score goals. He has only gone to Man Utd to get into the England team because his first choice was always Liverpool even when he came to Newcastle in the first place, and lets face Owen isn't a tenth of the player that Torres is. Owen will get an average of 20 mins a game this season which is probably the same as he got at Newcastle.
Posted 13:19 23rd July 2009
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