Rumour - Michael Owen

[bracksroyal10]

Looks more likely as he has not been offered a new deal. But on the other hand would rather we shell out for a striker who will not be struggling to be involved each week as a result of niggling injuries. Last 20 minutes player at best but you have to ask yourself how much is he going to expect in wages each week?

The only way I could see it working is if we did something similar as to what Harry did with Louis Saha at Spurs .. pay as you play deal.

[Wimb]

I'm waiting for Focher to tell me he's looked round a 5 bed detatched with a stables in Cold Ash before I take anything seriously

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Camberly?

[Geekins]

Has he been released?!

[andrew1957]

Owen was a great player many years ago but it would be a complete waste of money today. Totally different to Roberts (who I for one welcomed with open arms) as he is a target man which we desperately neeeded - whereas Owen and ALF are very similar players.

IMO ALF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Owen now.

[winchester_royal]

Owen was a great player many years ago but it would be a complete waste of money today. Totally different to Roberts (who I for one welcomed with open arms) as he is a target man which we desperately neeeded - whereas Owen and ALF are very similar players.

IMO ALF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Owen now.

[buzzby]

I'm still gutted that Owen never forfilled his true potential. I honestly thought he would end up one of the best strikers we've seen.

[southbank1871]

If we signed him on a pay as you play type arrangement then it would worthwhile imo. I'm sure our strikers would benefit from training alongside him too.

[TBM]

tbh i doubt he would move down South for a deal he's not even guaranteed pay for.

I would offer him a year with a basic wage and a high appearance/goal bonus

[3 veesinarow]

Owen was a great player many years ago but it would be a complete waste of money today. Totally different to Roberts (who I for one welcomed with open arms) as he is a target man which we desperately neeeded - whereas Owen and ALF are very similar players.

IMO ALF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Owen now.

Note the clause "now" - I wouldn't disagree with that right now. Owen hasn't played for United since November and is constantly on the treatment table. Any new club he goes to will be arranging an open appointment book with the physio even now. ALF offers the same type of player, only he's got two good legs to run on, why would Owen make a difference? He certainly doesn't offer an alternative.

[winchester_royal]

Owen was a great player many years ago but it would be a complete waste of money today. Totally different to Roberts (who I for one welcomed with open arms) as he is a target man which we desperately neeeded - whereas Owen and ALF are very similar players.

IMO ALF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Owen now.

Note the clause "now" - I wouldn't disagree with that right now. Owen hasn't played for United since November and is constantly on the treatment table. Any new club he goes to will be arranging an open appointment book with the physio even now. ALF offers the same type of player, only he's got two good legs to run on, why would Owen make a difference? He certainly doesn't offer an alternative.

Owen, when fit, is still better than ALF. Without question.

[bracksroyal10]

Admittedly though if you looked at all the strikers we have and imagine they were all playing to the top of their game, Owen would still top it just ahead of Roberts. Its just a very big ask to try and keep him fit and give him a consistent run in the team. Give him the service though 8/10 times at least he will put the chances away.

Depends on how much of a gamble AZ would want to take with his money I know there was alot of talk about him wanting to bring in big names. (If the takeover finally goes through at last!)

Rather Owen over Rhodes mind you

[Bring Back The SB]

Michael Owen has revealed he will be leaving Manchester United after the club decided not to offer him a new contract.

The striker scored three goals in four appearances, with the goals coming in the Carling Cup victories over Leeds and Aldershot.

Owen revealed he was informed of the decision after this week's testomonial match for former United hero Harry Gregg - and he admits he loved his spell at Old Trafford.

Owen wrote on Twitter said: "The Manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract and that I would be advised to move."

"I have loved every minute of the 3 years I have spent at such a fantastic club

"I now plan to have a short holiday during which I prepare from my new challenge with Reading FC"

The highlight of his time at United was his injury-time winner in a pulsating 4-3 derby win over Manchester City in September 2009, a goal which warmed sceptical fans to him given his Liverpool connections. He will find the Madejski faithful easier to win over.

He also struck in the 2010 Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa but was forced off injured later in that game and any hopes of an international recall in time for the World Cup were ended.

Owen scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England but has not played internationally for four years.

Owen burst onto the scene as a precocious teenager with Liverpool in 1997 and went on to make a huge impact at the following year's World Cup.

He left Anfield for Real Madrid in 2004 but spent only one season in Spain before returning to the Premier League.

Liverpool were interested in re-signing him but balked at Real's valuation and he opted for Newcastle.

His spell on Tyneside was also ravaged by injuries and his move to Old Trafford, when out of contract, came as a surprise but he accepted a role as a squad player under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Statistically, Owen's contribution to United amounted to 17 goals in 52 appearances over his three seasons.

United confirmed the news on their website in a statement which added: "Manchester United thanks Michael for his contribution and wishes him well for the future at Reading."

[Simon's Church]

gd 1 m8

[andrew1957]

Owen, when fit, is still better than ALF. Without question.

Think you have inadvertently got to the route of the problem there.

Surely the issue is we can probably only afford to have 4 at the most 5 strikers in our 25. If we risk filling one of those places with a crocked player - that could have serious consequences and frankly I would much prefer we gave playing time to ALF who is getting better and better - and is fit.

[cmonurz]

Rather Owen over Rhodes mind you

*frown*

Two completely different players and types of investment.

Goes without saying I'd have Owen here in a heartbeat.

[Forbury Lion]

No harm in having a medical, plenty of stables round this way o attract him, that might be the problem though.

[loyalroyal4life]

closer to ascot, he will love it down here

[Bring Back The SB]

In all honesty, who would really want the ageing, injury prone Michael Owen?

I hate all these new age fans.

[dobcheck]

He has just been on sky and feels he can still cut it in the premier league and won't consider dropping down to the Championship. He even said he would look farther afield if he could not get a deal with a premier league club. MLS? Seems to be the place for players of his ilk.