Toon Put Owen Up For Sale

[johnp]

Doesn't insurance cover the players wages if they are injured?

I'm sure the insurance company are allowed to make exceptions

I'd have him back in a heartbeat if the price and wage structure were favourable. I do tend to think that Fat Sams strict training regime does more harm than good to "suspect" players. Lets face it, our medics and physios brought HK and God back from the brink (touching wood while mentioning Kewell!)

It took 2 years to get Harry back, and he's only been back a couple of weeks. Lets hope it last, but we'll have to see.........

[johnp]

Cost Newcastle approaching £1.5m for every game Owen started. Now, has there ever been a more expensive flop in football?

[dww]

I'd have him back in a heartbeat if the price and wage structure were favourable. I do tend to think that Fat Sams strict training regime does more harm than good to "suspect" players. Lets face it, our medics and physios brought HK and God back from the brink (touching wood while mentioning Kewell!)

I'm not sure a lot of players have benefitted from Sams techniques I think the major factor in Owen's failure to be returned to decent fitness is the desire for both club and country managers to play him as soon as he can do a bit of jogging.

Look how Rafa has handled Kewell - he has had numerous cameo performances before starting. Owen was rushed almost stright back to two competetive games a week. Madness if you ask me.

[Milan_Milan]

At the end of the day I don't think you can turn down a player of Owen's class for that amount of money. Our medical team would have to do some thorough checking, but they seem to be very good. Rafas rotation system would almost certainly benefit him hugely as well, though he'd need to accept it.

More importantly he would enable us to rest Torres, and Owen/Torres could be a cracking partnership (though not suitable for all games).

[sonsofthedesert]

This is a non starter on our part, there is no way he will come back.

[dww]

At the end of the day I don't think you can turn down a player of Owen's class for that amount of money. Our medical team would have to do some thorough checking, but they seem to be very good. Rafas rotation system would almost certainly benefit him hugely as well, though he'd need to accept it.

More importantly he would enable us to rest Torres, and Owen/Torres could be a cracking partnership (though not suitable for all games).

I think we would be daft to consider it to be honest. Ignoring the injury danger the fact he is no longer the player he was is enough to make it a non started for me. We need someone who can add more to the team in terms of build up than he would.

[Warren]

he is no longer the player he was.

People keep saying this but I've seen no proof of this at all, he still averages nearly a goal every 2 games and with a great midfield supplying him he would be even better.

[Matt]

From the Daily Mail -

Michael Owen's miserable stay at Newcastle will end during next month's transfer window if the club can find a buyer.

Newcastle are ready to cut their losses on the England striker, who cost them £17million to sign from Real Madrid in the summer of 2005.

Manager Sam Allardyce has contacted Manchester City's Sven Goran Eriksson to see if he is interested in Owen. The two worked closely together during the Swede's five-and-a-half years in charge of England but although Eriksson is keen, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has blocked any deal because of the 28-year-old's wretched fitness record since he moved to St James' Park.

Owen has started only 21 games since joining Newcastle. When his £105,000-a-week salary is taken into account, the deal has so far cost them more than £30m.

Newcastle will want about £8m and fear the former Liverpool striker would be available for nothing at the end of next summer if he is not sold. There has been no sign of a contract extension and Owen is eager to be playing International football at this critical stage of his career.

[The Erectile Banana]

I think we would be daft to consider it to be honest. Ignoring the injury danger the fact he is no longer the player he was is enough to make it a non started for me. We need someone who can add more to the team in terms of build up than he would.

His injury record in the last two-three seasons is horrendous.

For that reason alone no manager in their right mind should touch him.

He is undoubtedly a very good player when fit, but how often will that be.

His record at Newcastle sums it up.

[Howard_lfc]

I like MO. However - his decision to leave us looks to be getting worse by the week.

[Angryred]

I would think G&H would choke on their hotdogs if they heard his value for money as in playing time!

They would tell Parry to do one, never mind Rafa!

[Norbs]

I'd take him for 8m.

Would have to take a very significant cut on his wages though.

Not now. He's been regularly injured for too long. Really sad because at one time he was going to smash the England scoring record.

He should be earning £105k a week somewhere and be worth every penny

[bigfooty]

I'd take him for 8M but it would still be a huge gamble even at that price.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I would sign Owen in January

[dww]

People keep saying this but I've seen no proof of this at all, he still averages nearly a goal every 2 games and with a great midfield supplying him he would be even better.

He would be worse in a team where the opposition worried about the forwards IMO. He has evolved his game to remain a good player despite lossing his accelleration but he is not worth the money asked for him.