Michael Owen

[Lee]

[Lee]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19593030

Michael Owen says he has regrets about spending last season at Manchester United before his release this summer.

Owen was urged to stay at Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson a year ago but made only four first-team appearances for United in 2011-12.

The former England forward, 32, is now with Stoke City after signing a one-year deal with the club last week.

"In hindsight, probably with that extra year, it might have been better if I had moved in many ways," he said.

"I was on the bench a lot of the time, but then when the manager says 'you have a big role to play and we want you to stay for another year', it was great to hear that from someone like Sir Alex Ferguson."

As it turned out, Owen's final season with United was blighted by a thigh injury that prevented him being available from November until the final few weeks of the campaign.

Owen could make his Stoke debut against Manchester City on Saturday - a team he scored a dramatic injury-time winner against for Manchester United in September 2009.

That was probably the highlight of his injury-hit time at Manchester United and he is looking forward to making a bigger impact at Stoke.

He added: "I want to perform and I want to finish my career on a real high. I'm still only 32 and I still feel as if I have a lot left in me.

"I've always scored goals, no matter what team I have been in, so as long as I can stay fit and healthy, then I'm sure I can do that here at Stoke."

Owen was interviewed by Football Focus this week and asked if he felt he got the respect he deserved.

He has won numerous accolades and titles during his career. He helped Liverpool win League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup in 2001 and was awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or the same year.

He is also fourth on the list of all-time England goalscorers after finding the net 40 times for his country.

"I wouldn't know what view people have of me," he said. "I don't really mind what type of view in many ways.

"I think real football people appreciate what a good player I was and hopefully think I've still got a lot to offer.

"Obviously I'm not 18 anymore and the fastest thing in the Premier League and a good finisher and everything else.

"I'm still a decent finisher but I'm obviously not at the absolute peak of my powers. I was probably that at 19 or 20 but I still feel I've got a lot to offer.

"Evidently Stoke do as well and evidently a few other Premier League teams did because they were a few teams I was in talks with."


Deary me. The bit towards the end.

[Fivex]

Where's the smallest violin in the world smiley when you need it?

[Pablo]

Where's the smallest violin in the world smiley when you need it?

It's there in the list of smilies, you've just got to zoom right in on your display to be able to see it.

[Pablo]

"I'm still a decent finisher but I'm obviously not at the absolute peak of my powers. I was probably that at 19 or 20 but I still feel I've got a lot to offer.

"Evidently Stoke do as well and evidently a few other Premier League teams did because they were a few teams I was in talks with."


Deary me. The bit towards the end.

I'd imagine his talks with Liverpool went something like this:

Michael Owen: "Oh erm hello Mr B-Rod, I'm glad I've finally managed to get hold of you. Your wife said you've been out of town fishing uncontactable for the last 3 days. But then I saw you on SkySports News last night. Anyway never mind, there's something I wanted to talk about."

Brendan Rodgers: "Ah ****........[long pause]........[muffled abuse towards his wife]....erm yes hello Michael, I'm very busy at the moment cleaning Colin Pascoe's son's spunk out of my Persian rug. The little *******'s splattered it all over my priceless self portrait too. Ah **** it what did you want then?"

Michael Owen: "I want my number 10 shirt back gaffer! I want to do my rubbing hands celebration again to the adulation of my loving Kop faithful. I want it, the fans certainly want it. I've got a number of top, top clubs clamouring for my signature, but I want to fire my one true love, Liverpool FC, back into the Champions League!"

Brendan Rodgers: "**** off you little midget prick."

Michael Owen: "Hello, hello?"

Louise Owen: "So how did it go Michael?"

Michael Owen: "He said he'd think about it"

[Lee]

I really wish that was true.

**** it, I'm going to pretend it's true.

[Fivex]

It's there in the list of smilies, you've just got to zoom right in on your display to be able to see it.

Of course!

[Pablo]

I really wish that was true.

**** it, I'm going to pretend it's true.

Me too

[Fivex]

Me three

[Gibbo]

Think someone has just attempted to get nick from his house.

Great TV tonight. Been watching some fella on my cameras for an hour weighing up what to nick! pic.twitter.com/3Gxe8n7k

michael owen @themichaelowen
Police came round while he hid in my woods. They then went and 5 minutes later he runs back to his van and hides in the boot!

michael owen @themichaelowen
Watched it all laughing my head off as the police returned to drag him out. pic.twitter.com/ZPK6QkaC

[G]

That was Mudds in his lurker van

[Frenchie]

no it was Slinky after a bit of doggin'

[Muddled]

That was Mudds in his lurker van

To clarify - I wasn't thieving, I just wanted to crack him upside his head.

He's on Football Focus at the moment coming across as a cunt.

[Leyton388]

Think someone has just attempted to get nick from his house.

Owen sitting and watching from the sidelines as usual.

[McDermotX]

Owen sitting and watching from the sidelines as usual.