Sometimes i miss St.Mike

[red g]

feck him. Old news.....didnt wanna give Rafa a chance.

[Howard_lfc]

I think Bellamy is the better option for us

In a non-goalscoring kind of way you mean?

[anfieldanfield]

I think Bellamy is the better option for us

Now that's just ridiculous.

[Tom]

No it's just welsh

[paulcooper4]

No it's just welsh

Some one should tell kaip that owen is welsh though

[saveferris]

**** me lads some of you need to take of the myopic specs you're wearing.

First of all his departure; he was down to his last year of his contract, what offer was on the table from the club? Rafa and his (lack of)man management skills came to the fore here. Did Rafa really want him? Think back to the Gerrard saga when SG himself said he didn't think the club wanted him.

So he goes to Real for a price that is reasonable considering the situation with his contract. Then having played second fiddle for most of the year, despite scoring at a good rate, the next season comes, the regime changes and he's told he'll continue to be second fiddle and isn't needed.

So wouldn't a "greedy git" sit on the bench and earn his cash? No he decides to go somewhere where he's wanted. He wanted to come to Liverpool but seeing as he was under contract to Real they decided the selling price not MO.

So when we offer £11m and the Barcodes offer £17m, its hardly likely that Real will not take the extra £5m is it? So MO had the choice of sitting rotting on the bench at Real at the age of 27. Plus it was a World Cup year (the pinnacle of most players careers) and possibly his last chance to play on the highest stage at his peak.

And the one thing we are forgetting is his strike rate for us. He scored goals for fun for us and yes he was injury prone but he always managed to score his share.

Of course he's proud of playing for England - so's Stevie G - but is that really so bad? He can only play for England if he's doing it at club level and he was throughout his career for us.

As for booing him? Despicable un-Liverpool fan like behaviour for a player who gave us everything from the age of 11 to 24 (13 years for those who cannot count!). Those who booed should hang their heads in shame - but I'll bet they were dancing in the streets when he scored any of the 100+ goals including two to win us the FA Cup.

I am baffled by the sheep like behaviour of our fans over MO when no one but those close to MO know the full story.

And yet Fowler after all his lack of professional attitude after injuries and off the pitch gets returns like a conquering hero. Owen scored 158 goals for us before he left, Fowler scored 171.

Perhaps a little more respect should be shown towards Owen than has been shown.

I think this post is really good Especially the points about SG and booing fans. We boast about being the "best fans" and not like those of our rivals but we still like to play the hypocrite when it suits us (this and Kewell come to mind). The SG saga made me think that basically the club may have said the same to MO, but the fact they received a bid on the table changed matters. I also think that any club other than Madrid and he may have stayed (Barca, Milan excepted).

As for why he didnt join us, maybe he really wanted to, but couldn't. Proper pros want to play and dont like sitting on the bench, if we couldnt sign him then why should he rot? Would calling Real's bluff have worked, its a big risk maybe one he didnt want to take. I dont think for a secnd he didnt love the club, I just dont he is the type of person who goes on about it and what benefit does it bring to anyone. Fowler never went on about how much he loved the club, but he a fans favourite so its implied. There was never that strong a link with Owen and the fans, it doesnt mean he doesnt have strong feelings for the club.

He is a top class player and at times was our only goalscorer. We played football under GH which was not attractive on the eye and at times involved balls over tall central defenders for him to run on to, yet he was very successful and scored many great goals that bought good memories such as the FA Cup final.

I think in a Rafa type system where the emphasis is on team play and building opportunities Owen would be deadly as his movemenmt can focus on specific areas of the pitch instead of runs from deep as part of a counter attack move. His time at Real also supports this

His strike rate is excellent and if he recovers from his injury I think we would benefit from having him in our team.