Has fergie gone mad or is this the mark of a true genius? I woke up Saturday morning eager to end speculation from the day before, all the rumours that Michael Owen was on the verge of signing an incentive based deal with my beloved Manchester United pending an intensive medical examination.
To my horror they were true as photos started to surface of Owen’s arrival at the carrington training ground late Friday night (Sg time)…………..oh no, this isn’t a joke!
I didn’t lose sleep over Owen’s pending arrival but I didn’t think things would move this fast as this was the picture I woke up to on Saturday morning. I turned on BBC in disbelieve and there he was, the former Liverpool hitman and England 4th all time top scorer giving an interview about his 2 year contract which will see him receive a basic 50k a week pay plus incentives based on performances.
The picture we never thought we’d see…..well not quite, Fergie has always been a fan of Owen. In fact he tried to sign him as a teenager but the boyhood Everton fan listened to the advice of his father and signed for Liverpool instead. Years later he arrives at Old Trafford for…………FREE. Hmmm…….bargin deal perhaps? Considering he will be on a squad rotation basis, we have a proven goal poacher ready to come on as an impact player at anytime. Squad rotation suits Owen perfectly given his injury history, it would also serve as a slow but gradual confidence build up for him.
Age really isn’t the issue here. Remember a certain Teddy Sheringham signed for us at the age of 31 and what happened…………The Treble! Or Henrick Larsson who helped us to our first title in 4 years at the age of 35. Fergie has never had a problem signing players at the twiglight of their careers and bring out the best in them. Owen is considered young by those standards.
His proven scoring ability is not an issue here so what about the obvious problem………his injury history? Big problem perhaps but Man Utd’s medical staff could have worked with worse. Take Rudd Van Nistelrooy, his career was almost over with that knee breakdown or the other Owen currently at Man Utd, Owen Hargreaves. Missing for the whole of last season, he would certainly be like a new signing when he returns to top flight action this season. Ryan Giggs had a series of hamstring woes but he’s come through at the grand age of 34 going on 35.
So then we move on to the next flaw, Owen’s commitment………..the one or rather the lack of one during his days at Newcastle. Your on an incentive based deal now and you got your champions league football. So what’s it gonna be Owen, score, form a lethal partnership with Rooney? Get back into the England Squad? Or perhaps you might get the no. 7 jersey? If all else fails, you can always talk about race horses with Fergie…..haha!
Prove your critics wrong Mike.
United till I die!
Comments are closed