Michael Owen

[leftpeg]

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33719.msg874156#msg874156 date=1243193019]
[quote author=leftpeg link=topic=33719.msg874153#msg874153 date=1243192854]
I wasn't happy that Owen left us and the circumstances of his departure were particularly disappointing. However, wasn't his decision (or at least the decision taken by those advising him), exactly the same as that taken by Keegan, Rush and McManaman to name but three before him? And didn't he also do exactly what Barnes and Gerrard considered doing at various stages of their Liverpool careers (in fact, wouldn't Gerrard to Chelsea have been an even more unforgivable sin?)

[/quote]

No, because they never strung us along for a season promising to sign a new contract, then left us in the lurch on the eve of a new season with a new manager.
[/quote]

McManaman did. And Barnes was never slow to tell the rest of Europe he would relish a challenge over there.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Not sure about McManaman mate but didn't we try and sell him to Barca without him knowing? If so, you can't blame him for doing us over.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=33719.msg874167#msg874167 date=1243193532]
Not sure about McManaman mate but didn't we try and sell him to Barca without him knowing? If so, you can't blame him for doing us over.
[/quote]

They chose Rivaldo over him.

There was something about him agreeing a contract, only for it to go to the board, get refused and counter offered a lot less money too.

 

[Judge Jules]

Whether or not the board were justified in doing what they did over the contract (I heard it had not a little to do with the whole Spice Boys business and the effect McMoneyman was having on some of the players behind the scenes), McMoneyman could then have said "I'm not having that" and put in a transfer request if he thought he'd been hard done by. So far so understandable, even if one disagrees with such a view.

What was unforgivable was that McMoneyman lied through his teeth instead, kidding on that he "might" re-sign when, with hindsight, it was blindingly obvious that he had no such intention. He wanted to have his cake and eat it and, because the club trusted him, he did. Naive fools though the club were, what this boils down to is that McMoneyman robbed LFC of a transfer fee it had earned for developing him over the years. Don't anyone give me the "he did a lot for us as a player" bit, because he was paid more than handsomely for that. Michael Owen was unwise in the choice and supervision of his advisers, but McMoneyman was a cheating, lying cnut all on his own. For me there's no comparison.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Terrier link=topic=33719.msg874092#msg874092 date=1243187609]

I can NEVER forgive him for:


1) Fuckin us about for a WHOLE Season pretending he's going to sign 'soon.'


2) Fucking off to "The Biggest Club in the World" as the clock struck 12, leaving us with no recognized attacker for the upcoming season.



Loyalty, my friends.
[/quote]


[quote author=Mors link=topic=33719.msg874092#msg874092 date=1243187609]
He made his bed and decided to go onto bigger and better things. Whilst being one of our best strikers of all time, he also lead the club right down the garden path regards to signing a contract which he never had any intention of doing, he also spurned the chance of signing for us a second time round by prefering to sign for a nobody club on sky-high wages.

You reap what you sow you little fucking mercenary. He'll fit right in at somewhere like Citeh next season.
[/quote]

It amazes me that people are so utterly desperate to believe their own lies that they feel compelled to go and post them. Somehow they seem to think their ignorance and lies take on a form of credibility if they write them down. They've probably got a little post-it note lying on their pillow that says "my dick is bigger than 5 inches" or some other baseless statement.

While the original transfer is open to speculation with Owen commenting that he doesn't hold it against Liverpool the way Rafa ushered him out the door, the second failed signature was patently Rafa's decision. Argue whether it was a good decision or not all you like - I personally wanted Owen back but certainly Rafa should not have been pressured by Moores and Parry to sign him. But to be such an ignorant twat as to try and tell Liverpool fans that it was Owen who didn't want to come the second time :🙂. If your nan has got dementia then go and tell her but why try and convert such obvious lies and deceipt into gospel with people who know more than you anyway?

Not that Owen would care - he's done more in a week than you'll end up doing in your life so your mindless moaning is never going to take even the slightest shine off playing, scoring and winning trophies with two of the greatest clubs in history. I'm sure he's quite happy walking in to his enormous trophy room and couldn't give a rotund rodents rectum how many lies you scrawl about him on your toilet door.

 

[Fallon]

I honestly don't care about him one way or the other. As long as we don't try and resign him I don't mind whatever success he does or doesn't have.

 

[Avmenon]

Rafa should have been more forceful in trying to keep him, but I think you're being a bit harsh on him.

Owen was gazing lovingly into the lush pastures of Europe long before Rafa got here; he wanted his big move, he wanted to further his career.

Fair enough, he's entitled to do that...I wish we'd gotten more money for him...but if he felt he owed no loyalty to the club to ensure we got a big fee, that's that...besides, you'd think our management would have learnt from the Mcmoneyman fiasco...but no.

I think Peggy and JJ are absolutely right btw.

I have no hatred for Owen; he did what he thought was right...and I'm sure he's thinking much of the things we're saying whilst on his helicopter commute home.

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=33719.msg874027#msg874027 date=1243185336]
One of the best strikers to ever play for Liverpool
[/quote]

State the obvious alot don't you.

How about having an opinion?

 

[Dreambeliever]

I love all this "I can't believe he left us business"

We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

How can anyone blame him for that.

He was a great player for us while he played. Its a terrible shame for him how his career has been since, but why care?

All I care about is LFC and how we can go about winning the league next year.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874407#msg874407 date=1243222800]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=33719.msg874027#msg874027 date=1243185336]
One of the best strikers to ever play for Liverpool
[/quote]

State the obvious alot don't you.

How about having an opinion?
[/quote]

ha ha ha

 

[Wilko7]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Hmm he wasnt THAT good..

He scored goals but he was one of the main reasons we played such one dimensional football at times... through ball for Owen to chase... Flick on's off the big guy for Owen to chase...

This was obviously down to his blinding pace but also down to the fact his control, passing and ability to hold the ball up were pretty fucking useless so he couldnt be used in any other way..

I believe he is a wonderful goalscorer.. But he wasnt exactly fucking Ronaldo at his peak with the ability to do EVERYTHING...


Im not happy that he left and i wasnt particularly impressed with some of his comments.. Simply because i would have done anything to play for LIVERPOOL..
For our most valuable player to leave when we were in a right fucking hole for 8 million when the year before we could have pushed for a English transfer record was just frustrating.

I dont boo him or hate him for the move.. But to say that i dont find it satisfying that he left to "WIN" things and just got relegated would be a lie.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Wilko7 link=topic=33719.msg874418#msg874418 date=1243226705]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.


[/quote]

Please, your opinion on Michael Owen has about as much credibility as my pregnant rat. Maybe if you could ever remove the enormous chip on your shoulder when it comes to his performances then it would be worth listening to.


Once the Brazilian Ronaldo imploded at the WC it would not be hard to argue Owen as one of the top strikers in World Football through to the end of 2004. Another of the contenders in Henry was certainly convinced that Owen was in the top echelon.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=33719.msg874424#msg874424 date=1243230455]
[quote author=Wilko7 link=topic=33719.msg874418#msg874418 date=1243226705]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.


[/quote]

Please, your opinion on Michael Owen has about as much credibility as my pregnant rat. Maybe if you could ever remove the enormous chip on your shoulder when it comes to his performances then it would be worth listening to.
[/quote]

how far along is she now mate?

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=33719.msg874424#msg874424 date=1243230455]
[quote author=Wilko7 link=topic=33719.msg874418#msg874418 date=1243226705]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.


[/quote]

Please, your opinion on Michael Owen has about as much credibility as my pregnant rat. Maybe if you could ever remove the enormous chip on your shoulder when it comes to his performances then it would be worth listening to.


Once the Brazilian Ronaldo imploded at the WC it would not be hard to argue Owen as one of the top strikers in World Football through to the end of 2004. Another of the contenders in Henry was certainly convinced that Owen was in the top echelon.
[/quote]

Owen may have been in the top echelon but he wasn't the best striker in the world. He wasn't even the best in the Premiership at that stage.

Henry was.

 

[DHSC]

Wizardry sounds very angry in this thread, which is very unlike him.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33719.msg874429#msg874429 date=1243233261]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=33719.msg874424#msg874424 date=1243230455]
[quote author=Wilko7 link=topic=33719.msg874418#msg874418 date=1243226705]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.


[/quote]

Please, your opinion on Michael Owen has about as much credibility as my pregnant rat. Maybe if you could ever remove the enormous chip on your shoulder when it comes to his performances then it would be worth listening to.


Once the Brazilian Ronaldo imploded at the WC it would not be hard to argue Owen as one of the top strikers in World Football through to the end of 2004. Another of the contenders in Henry was certainly convinced that Owen was in the top echelon.
[/quote]

Owen may have been in the top echelon but he wasn't the best striker in the world. He wasn't even the best in the Premiership at that stage.

Henry was.
[/quote]

Van Nistelrooy? Shevchenko? Morientes? Raul (before his dip and resurgence)? Adriano was phenomenal in 2004/05 if I remember correctly.

Owen was defo top 10 though.

 

[Jack D Rips]

I hope nobody ever forgets that Owen was responsible for the arrival of Antonio Nunez at Anfield. I'll forgive him for a lot of things but not that.

 

[Brizzle]

I don't really know a whole lot about the period when he left us. I was just a 15 year old gutted that he was going!

Do you think the pre-arranged transfer of Cisse had an effect on the whole situation though?

It may have made Owen feel like he was being replaced? Or on the other side it had already tied up a lot of money meaning we couldn't meet his demands?

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=gareth_thomas link=topic=33719.msg874421#msg874421 date=1243229168]
Hmm he wasnt THAT good..

He scored goals but he was one of the main reasons we played such one dimensional football at times... through ball for Owen to chase... Flick on's off the big guy for Owen to chase...

This was obviously down to his blinding pace but also down to the fact his control, passing and ability to hold the ball up were pretty fucking useless so he couldnt be used in any other way..

I believe he is a wonderful goalscorer.. But he wasnt exactly fucking Ronaldo at his peak with the ability to do EVERYTHING...


Im not happy that he left and i wasnt particularly impressed with some of his comments.. Simply because i would have done anything to play for LIVERPOOL..
For our most valuable player to leave when we were in a right fucking hole for 8 million when the year before we could have pushed for a English transfer record was just frustrating.

I dont boo him or hate him for the move.. But to say that i dont find it satisfying that he left to "WIN" things and just got relegated would be a lie.


[/quote]

I know. That one dimensional style of play of letting Owen score numerous goals didn't win us a single trophy during Houllier's years.

Oh.

 

[Modo]

This might not say much but Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001. He must have been one of the top strikers in 2004.

 

[leftpeg]

[quote author=Modokay link=topic=33719.msg874494#msg874494 date=1243242349]
This might not say much but Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001. He must have been one of the top strikers in 2004.
[/quote]

I'm not sure it does actually, but I still think he was top quality then anyway.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33719.msg874429#msg874429 date=1243233261]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=33719.msg874424#msg874424 date=1243230455]
[quote author=Wilko7 link=topic=33719.msg874418#msg874418 date=1243226705]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=33719.msg874408#msg874408 date=1243223509]


We were a club struggling to challenge for the league for over 10 years and looked nowhere near challenging for the CL when arguably the worlds best striker decided he wanted to move to the biggest club in world football.

[/quote]

Owen, arguably the world's best striker in 2004? Don't be so fucking stupid.


[/quote]

Please, your opinion on Michael Owen has about as much credibility as my pregnant rat. Maybe if you could ever remove the enormous chip on your shoulder when it comes to his performances then it would be worth listening to.


Once the Brazilian Ronaldo imploded at the WC it would not be hard to argue Owen as one of the top strikers in World Football through to the end of 2004. Another of the contenders in Henry was certainly convinced that Owen was in the top echelon.
[/quote]

Owen may have been in the top echelon but he wasn't the best striker in the world. He wasn't even the best in the Premiership at that stage.

Henry was.
[/quote]

yep. the 2001 fa cup final distorted some people opinion of the two. henry was (and is) a better striker than owen.

 

[Tinto]

I can understand people disliking Owen for the way he left but to say he wasn't an extremely special player for us is just ridiculous.

He was arguably at his peak in the treble season and he scored some fantastic goals:-

[flash=300,300]http://www.youtube.com/v/u8fl6oEUi2k[/flash]

 

[Tinto]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33719.msg874504#msg874504 date=1243243100]

yep. the 2001 fa cup final distorted some people opinion of the two. henry was (and is) a better striker than owen.
[/quote]

Henry was the better all round forward with more to his game but Owen was the better goal scorer especially in the penalty area... if there was a loose ball in the area Owen would pounce on those half chances in a way that Henry never really seem to have an instinct for.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=33719.msg874506#msg874506 date=1243243354]
I can understand people disliking Owen for the way he left but to say he wasn't an extremely special player for us is just ridiculous.

He was arguably at his peak in the treble season and he scored some fantastic goals:-

[flash=300,300]http://www.youtube.com/v/u8fl6oEUi2k[/flash]
[/quote]

owen was a fantastic striker its as simple as that but once it become a apparant he was stalling on his signature and it dropped below two years he should have been moved on.
its like we never learn, we've did again but got away with it this time with agger, again a player who should have been given a contract when it reached sub two years or moved on.

if owen were sold in 2003 he would have gone for at 'least' 18-20 million and what would we have lost? seriously? even WITH owen we finish 5th, with 20 million we could have bought several players and probably turned the 5th place finish around instead of buying into the nonsencial notion that one striker was singlehandidly keeping us in the top 4.

 

[manwithnoname]

Oh dreamy, how delightfully unaware and dim you are, skipping merrily through the cornfield of life without the vaguest cogent idea about anything whatsoever in your lumpy little head

 

[DHSC]

Michael Owen, at his peak, was one of the best strikers in the world. I dont think even the most red tinted fan here will say he is THE best, but we have to acknowledge he was one of the best.

I can understand why some posters here are unhappy with him because of the way he left; however to deride him is just wrong. He can still do a job for a good team and I think what leftpeg said is true: Get him fit (albeit a long shot) and we will see how good he can be.

 

[Tinto]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33719.msg874514#msg874514 date=1243244077]

owen was a fantastic striker its as simple as that but once it become a apparant he was stalling on his signature and it dropped below two years he should have been moved on.
its like we never learn, we've did again but got away with it this time with agger, again a player who should have been given a contract when it reached sub two years or moved on.

if owen were sold in 2003 he would have gone for at 'least' 18-20 million and what would we have lost? seriously? even WITH owen we finish 5th, with 20 million we could have bought several players and probably turned the 5th place finish around instead of buying into the nonsencial notion that one striker was singlehandidly keeping us in the top 4.
[/quote]

It's all very easy to say in hindsight but I think Parry and Ged would have been lynched if they sold Michael after that season. The season that we were suppose to win the league after coming second the previous year. The season we were top and unbeaten until November but eventually finishing fifth. After a season like that we sell Michael, our best player?

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=33719.msg874538#msg874538 date=1243245005]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33719.msg874514#msg874514 date=1243244077]

owen was a fantastic striker its as simple as that but once it become a apparant he was stalling on his signature and it dropped below two years he should have been moved on.
its like we never learn, we've did again but got away with it this time with agger, again a player who should have been given a contract when it reached sub two years or moved on.

if owen were sold in 2003 he would have gone for at 'least' 18-20 million and what would we have lost? seriously? even WITH owen we finish 5th, with 20 million we could have bought several players and probably turned the 5th place finish around instead of buying into the nonsencial notion that one striker was singlehandidly keeping us in the top 4.
[/quote]

It's all very easy to say in hindsight but I think Parry and Ged would have been lynched if they sold Michael after that season. The season that we were suppose to win the league after coming second the previous year. The season we were top and unbeaten until November but eventually finishing fifth. After a season like that we sell Michael, our best player?
[/quote]

when you're in the big seat you make the big decisions espeically if they are for the benefit of the team, having said this (and I'm a massive gh fan) there is no gurantee he would have taken that 20 million and improved the team, two ends of the spetrum for ged sami to diouf so who knows what he would have bought with 20 million.