Should Liverpool FC fans be surprised by Michael Owen's move to Man Utd?
ONE-TIME Reds legend Michael Owen stands on the brink of a move to Manchester United - a turn of events that will no doubt have a fair few Liverpool supporters filled with suprise, sadness and even a little righteous indignation.
But should we really be surprised given the Chester-born striker's track record?
Any ideas that Owen really did have 'Liverpool in his blood' as he once claimed were well and truly shot out of the water after the unsatisfactory way he ended eight-year association with LFC back in the summer of 2004.
To recap, having let his current contract at Anfield run down to its dying embers and assured the concerned Liverpool fanbase that he would re-sign - the delay being down to his agent being "on sabbatical" so he said - Owen chose to sign for Real Madrid one day before Rafa Benitez's first season in charge began.
What's more, by letting the situation drag on for as long as he did, any chances of the club being able to recruit a suitable replacement were scuppered by the situation reaching a head so close to the end of that summer's transfer window.
Whether Owen himself can be blamed for Liverpool getting shafted by Real Madrid in a transfer deal that saw the club palmed off with a derisory £8m and the willing but limited Antonio Nunez - not to mention the Spaniards' refusal to immediately sanction the transfer of Fernando Morientes to Anfield, instead playing him in one European game before his eventual move a few months later which meant he was cup-tied and never able to get a decent run of games in the side - is open to debate.
What is certain is that Owen's refusal to even give Benitez's regime a chance, as Steven Gerrard did, made the new manager's job infinitely harder and any sympathy that could be felt towards Owen for the way his own game had been stunted by the anaemic style of football played in the death-throes of Gerard Houllier's reign is dissipated for me by the way he handled his departure.
There won't be many Liverpool supporters who take any satisfaction at how things have turned out.
I saw Owen score a belter against Tranmere Rovers reserves a few months before he scored on his first-team debut against Wimbledon in 1997, watched agog and proud as he lit up the world stage in France a year later and was lucky enough to be in Cardiff for the 2001 FA Cup final for what was, at the time, my best moment yet as a Liverpool fan.
Yet, while there was always widespread respect and admiration for Owen and his abilities during his time in the Red shirt, he was never really as loved by the supporters as much as Robbie Fowler or latterly Fernando Torres. In short, it never really felt like he was one of us.
There was always a suspicion, possibly at times an unfair one, that Owen's primary focus was his England career - a school of thought backed up by his decision, following his ill-fated year in Madrid, to move to Newcastle United a year before the 2006 World Cup, when a little more patience may have seen him secure the move back to Anfield he supposedly had his heart set on.
What is inescapable however, at this moment in time, is that there has only been one loser since the parting of ways five years ago and it hasn't been Liverpool FC.
Owen has missed out on glorious triumphs in Istanbul and Cardiff along with the chance to build on the foundations laid in his early years with team-mates Gerrard and Carragher, saw himself bombed out of Real Madrid as soon as they'd sold enough shirts to make his transfer profitable, picked up enough serious injuries to make him lose his beloved England place to the likes of Darren Bent and travelled the country with the Newcastle United travelling circus, his ignominious spell there ending in the club's relegation.
How the once mighty have fallen.
Forced to hawking himself round interested clubs with his now infamous brouchure, Owen must be pleasantly surprised to see the current English champions coming in for him when until recently the only clubs reported to be expressing an interest were Hull and Stoke.
He will no doubt receive an extra-special brand of the hideous abuse that continually mars the biggest rivalry in English football but in many ways the indifference his presence has met with so far when appearing at Anfield in another team's shirt remains the most cutting response - don't hold your breath on that continuing however.
Owen's Old Trafford move has been compared in some quarters to the equivalent of Liverpool selling Gerrard and Torres and buying Teddy Sheringham.
While United's prospective new striker clearly is not quite as far down the road of his career as the Londoner, his acquisition does represent a scaling down of Ferguson's striking ambitions following reported moves for Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema.
Only a fool would write off Owen's chances of scoring goals in a Manchester United shirt - what is for certain though is that, if Liverpool are able to take that final step and become the first English team to reach nineteen titles, their former striker's presence in the Old Trafford ranks will make that success taste even sweeter.
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I hope he is given the most horrible reception when he comes back to Anfield.
He is a dirty little traitor. He's captained our club and now he's going to be playing for them. It's disgusting.
He should never show his face in our city again the little hobgoblin
The article sums up my views of Owen exactly. He betrayed our trust and it serves him right for losing out on Istanbul. Those who would welcome him back should see his true colours now. At least Tevez had the decency not to sign for us. The last time he betrayed LFC, Pool went on to win the Champions League. Hopefully he will watch us win the Premier League while warming the bench at OT. Whenever Owen's name is mentioned, few words come to my mind to describe him - greedy, liar, judas, traitor, self-centred.
And what if he helps UNITED become the first english team to win NINTEEN TITLES.? How will the scousers feel ?If he remained with liverpool he would be like gerald ,with no Championship medal !!!!!!!
Thank God we ain't in the running to touch that little rabbit!
We will live to regret Rafa's refusal to let him come back home as he has been trying to do for the last 3 years. Bought for nothing and on low wages, its a no-brainer Rafa, scupper the dael before its too late, and bring him home.
Dont get too technical about this.
If he does indeed sign for Utd. so be it-he's not a hobgoblin or traitor.
I really wanted him back at Anfield and I honestly dont know why he is not?
If LFC are not interested in his services then we need to move on despite what I or others want.
I hope he does well at MUFC but not too well. I hope he does well enough to get back on the international scence because a strike force with Owen and Rooney (and Mr Stevie G.) will give us to best chance to reclaim the World Cup....every cloud has a silver lining.
what a traitor, robbie fowler would have never have done this nor other liverpools greats he just blew away his history with liverpool for me its like owen never played for liverpool what a miserable little man,traitor owen
Nick, what would you do, football is his JOB he is hardly likely to join Hull now is he. We should have given the chance to come home...
You scousers are hilarious! You turn on one if your own so quickly?
A prime reason why you scousers have no class!
You couldn't make it up.
Sorry but for anyone to come out with stuff like 'It's his job' and 'You can't blame him' etc is to completely miss the point. No-one who is a genuine Liverpool fan would make a comment like that because every Liverpool fan knows one simple fact: YOU DON'T PLAY FOR US AND THEN GO TO MAN U.... EVER!
To have been a Liverpool captain and to join them, Owen KNOWS FULL WELL that he will never again be welcome at Anfield. He will be destroying any favour he ever had with the Liverpool fans and once lost, it can never be regained.
Owen, it's your choice. Be remembered as a Liverpool player or as a Man U player, not both. All the cobblers about whether he should take such an opportunity is utter garbage: you don't do this and he knows it. It has nothing to do with opportunities, reviving careers or anything else.
In response to Chuckle:
So quickly? He left Liverpool 5 years ago! He has had a lot of support over that time and he had the chance to return to Anfield but chose Newcastle so all this garbage about we should bring him home is nonsense.
Let me ask you a simple question: how would a Man U supporter react if Roy Keane became manager of Liverpool (not that we'd have him!) and then took Liverpool to play at OT? Wouldn't happen.... EVER!
So don't give us the santimonious claptrap about turning on one of 'our own'. IF he signs for Man U (and he hasn't yet) then he would be doing the most traitorous thing in modern English football history.
Is it the same with our interest in Tevez or previously Heinze? Not at all. Neither of them were with Man U for a lot of years and neither of them ever captained Man U. Occasionally there is a player transfer that turns the stomach but you get over it. But for a former club captain to join the one club all fans consider the main rivals would not be stomached.... or forgotten!
Owen's not content to betray liverpool once but now he has commited the ultimate betrayal he's carear has been going down the drain since he left liverpool and its cost but while this move however suprising may rejuvenate his carear he has forever betrayed himself to the liverpool fans next time he is at anfield he should be called Brutus
mmm, interesting comparison with the signing of teddy sheringham when he was "far down the road of his career".
Er, was this the same sheringham that scored in the FA and Euro finals and won the treble in 1999?
Chants for his return to Anfield... "You were conned by his brochure, conned by his brochure..!!!!"
Lets not even get worked up about - we had the best out of him, he is never going to be the player he was and all he needs to do is play a couple of games for the scum and collect a medal if they win anything - no matter the team and people (fans) he plays for, all he is interested in is what trophy collection he will have when he retires - but remember 1 thing - he will NEVER be a legend, because legends show loyalty - look at Le Tissier - won nothing but will never be forgotten by his own - Shearer as well. When he comes back I hope we ignore the fact he is even there and treat him like any other scum player. There will be nothing worse than letting them and him know they have "got to us" - because he is one of them now. And remember the Heinze situation anyone? They fight tooth and nail to "save face" and win when Fergie goes crying to the appeal about how he shouldn't be allowed to go to Liverpool, when clearly it was restriction of trade - they chose where he went. I hope we get him and he marks Owen at Anfield. Justice done in 1 tackle......
He screwed us twice before by going to Madrid for almost nothing and then again when he supposedly wanted to come back to us and then going to Newcastle for more money.
This third betrayal is the ultimate. Hopefully Utd count on him to be their main guy and he lets them down.
He should be sick when Utd come to Anfield and not walk down those steps that say This Is Anfield. Tevez understands loyalty which is why he never thought about coming to us.
One more signing and we should do it this yr. Keep watching micheal you will miss out again. The true legend came back to us today and will help our academy and our brand image abroad.
Micheal Who ?
Traitor. As much as I loved him when he was with us, he went for money. He has now joined the scum, Judas.
The real good news today, is King Kenny is back, walk on
Greedy, disloyal, selfish, judas, above all traitor. I could go on all year. At least the debate about Owen is settled for once and for all. Now he will officially be remembered by us for what he is........ a low man of no morals or principles. You have to hand it to a guy like Tevez who wouldn't come to us because of his loyalty to scum but here we have Owen who we brought through the academy and never gave it a thought but instead "grabbed the chance with both hands". Honestly I couldn't care about the little sh&t, I just hope we keep xabi and masch.
p.s. Break a leg Owen.
Greedy, disloyal, selfish, judas, above all traitor. I could go on all year. At least the debate about Owen is settled for once and for all. Now he will officially be remembered by us for what he is........ a low man of no morals or principles. You have to hand it to a guy like Tevez who wouldn't come to us because of his loyalty to scum but here we have Owen who we brought through the academy and never gave it a thought but instead "grabbed the chance with both hands". Honestly I couldn't care about the little sh&t, I just hope we keep xabi and masch.
p.s. Break a leg Owen.
He was my favourite player at Anfield, I even followed him at Real Madrid and Newcastle and forgave him for walking out on us the way he did. But THIS i cannot forgive or forget!
He was my favourite player at Anfield, I even followed him at Real Madrid and Newcastle and forgave him for walking out on us the way he did. But THIS i cannot forgive or forget!
Surprised? Not at all. Owen's always been about Owen first and foremost, England second, club - whichever one that may be - third. Liverpool fans knew that and saw straight through him. That's why he doesn't get a good reception when he comes back. Compare him to Robbie Keane who only played for the club for five minutes (and didn't exactly set the world alight) but still got a warm welcome on the final day of last season. Insincerity might wash in other cities but not Liverpool. Owen's a mini-Beckham minus the Armani modelling - possibly because he's too short! He typifies the modern era of the commercial footballer that pimps himself around at every opportunity to milk the cash cow dry, the kind that rubs fans up the wrong way and disenfranchises further any bond we once felt with players. Here's hoping his arrival at OT has a similar effect to his departure from Anfield, only this time it's the league title we bring home after a two decade wait.
I am obviously pained to see Owen go to O.T. but the lad is a great talent and deserves to be playing with a big club, and not for the likes of Hull City et all.
With response to Red Barron who said: "Let me ask you a simple question: how would a Man U supporter react if Roy Keane became manager of Liverpool (not that we'd have him!) and then took Liverpool to play at OT? Wouldn't happen.... EVER!"
Well… didn't Sir Matt Busby play for and captain LIverpool before managing United?? Never say never in football!!!
I'm a Chelsea fan.
In my experience Liverpool fans are the biggest load of whingers in the country. They moan and don't give full acknowledgement of other team's efforts when Liverpool lose and are the first to rub it in the faces of opposing teams when they win (without any sense of decorum or self respect for others).
It's the same now, Owen was a great player for Liverpool but the majority of fans want to see him fail just because he's gone to a serious rival (same if he'd have gone to Chelsea), when are the fans of Liverpool going to grow up and treat others with respect like they demand off others when they go through hard times.
Give the lad a chance for chrissakes.
It is at least five years since he left Liverpool. You guys don't want him and you can't blame Owen for taking the best opportunity he has had since then.
Liverpool fans certainly have long memories, which has to be a good thing considering it's 20 years since they won the league.
Give the lad a chance for chrissakes.
It is at least five years since he left Liverpool. You guys don't want him and you can't blame Owen for taking the best opportunity he has had since then.
Liverpool fans certainly have long memories, which has to be a good thing considering it's 20 years since they won the league.
Re: AL Blue the chavski fan. The comments you make are laughable;
"I'm a Chelsea fan.
In my experience Liverpool fans are the biggest load of whingers in the country"
WHAT A PITY YOUR EXPERIENCE IS ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD.
They moan and don't give full acknowledgement of other team's efforts.
YOU MEAN JUST BECAUSE WE CRITICISE YOUR CLUB'S PATHETIC EFFORTS TO BECOME A "GLOBAL CLUB"?
when Liverpool lose and are the first to rub it in the faces of opposing teams when they win (without any sense of decorum or self respect for others).
TALKING ABOUT YOURSELVES AGAIN.
It's the same now, Owen was a great player for Liverpool but the majority of fans want to see him fail just because he's gone to a serious rival (same if he'd have gone to Chelsea),
NO - WE WANT TO SEE HIM FAIL BECAUSE HE WALKED OUT OF THE CLUB WITHOUT A SINGLE GLANCE BACK. HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT HIM.
when are the fans of Liverpool going to grow up and treat others with respect like they demand off others when they go through hard times.
TALKING ABOUT YOUR OWN PLASTIC CLUB AGAIN PAL.
WHEN THE RUSSIAN ASYLUM-SEEKER RUNS OUT OF CASH OR INTEREST YOU'LL GO BACK TO OBSCURITY. ENJOY.
Congrat to Owen....be a man Oke... never give up....football is ourlove
It makes me sick to the stomach to see Michael Owen in a Man U shirt especially if & when he scores for them. But see it from his point of view. Stuck in the Championship league without any European football to impress Capello's choice for next year's world cup. Playing for the likes of Stoke & Hull when at the age of 28 he could be playing for better teams in the premiership with a better wage. He has visited Liverpool in 2006 but Benitez couldn't agree terms so he ended up signing for Newcastle.
Before & end of last season Owen made obvious signs he wanted to return to Liverpool - Gerrard & Carragher tried to persuade Benitez to sign him before another team grabs him but Benitez obviously didn't see Owen being in his plans otherwise he would've grabbed him with both hands. So if he stayed at Newcastle he would've slowly faded away into football history, but if he'd joined Stoke/Hull he'll slowly ended up in the scrapheap. No win situation for a football hero. Then all of a sudden Man U comes in for you, prising you back into the premiership with European footabll, a chance to prove to Capello that he's still have that scoring instinct and hopefully play for a team that can win games & trophies - now what would you do? If he was your son, how would you advise him? Obviously the best. Don't forget we signed Paul Ince & Peter Beardsley and they both played for Man U and did we cheered them on when they pulled on the Liverpool shirt - yes. I doubt very much any Liverpool fan shouted 'United Scum' when they scored in front of the Kop wearing our beloved Liverpool red shirt.
I say give him a break even though it breaks our hearts seeing him wearing the scum shirt but think back the years when he scored those vital goals for us & those 2 precious ones against Arsenal in the FA cup final, no one can take that away from us. Deep in his heart he may not wanted to join United but when he tried everything to come back to Liverpool (twice) and to be refuse by Benitez, it leaves him very little option - championship, Stoke, Hull or United. If you're honest, it's a no brainer & I'm quite sure that when he does score for the scum he'll won't be kissing the badge.
If some of you didn't know, when Kenny Dalglish was a kid he was a Rangers fan but Rangers wouldn't sign him up (neither did Liverpool) but Celtic were willing. Can you imagine how he felt being rejected by a team that you love & supported, the worse part was to tell his family as they were all Rangers fans. The same thing happened to Owen, Everton wouldn't offer but Liverpool did & now he's facing a similar situation - Liverpool wouldn't buy but United will.
If Owen scores & help the scum to win the premiership, there will be only one person to blame and that's Benitez, coz Owen is doing his job - scoring goals!!