As Sir Alex Ferguson (SAF) climbs in years, eventually we must scrutinize his moves with the prospect of senility in the back of our minds. With recent news that SAF has signed Michael "rejected by Blackburn" Owen it seems like an appropriate time to apply the question: "does SAF still have all of his marbles?"
When the move was still just a rumor I read a few articles on the subject, the best of which was written by football analyst Jim White. The general consensus, and the first cognizant thought that came to mind after my initial shock, is that this move is another master stroke by SAF because it is practically a no-risk venture. Owen comes to Manchester United on a free transfer because his contract with Newcastle ended this season, and thus Manchester United must only pay his wage to reap the benefits of having the striker on the team. One subsequent benefit of not having a transfer fee attached, which analysts failed to point out, is that Owen comes to Manchester without the pressure of having to justify his cost; something that I'm sure Cristiano Ronaldo envies as he sits in Madrid anxious to prove his worth.* Jim White had a unique and interesting point that Owen might be motivated to play well next season in order to work his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, with the implication that he is a player that will step up his game if given a reason to. The only problem with the point is that he did not show that incredible desire when his motivation was to keep Newcastle in the premiership. One could argue that he didn't care about Newcastle, which would suggest that there is a much deeper lying problem with Owen in that he was ungrateful to the team that paid him £100,000 a week while he was out with each of his injuries. And I'm pretty sure I didn't see "ungrateful" on page seventeen of the thirty-two page brochure Owen's agent distributed about his client (pictured above). And for your pleasure, here is a link to a site that has all of the thirty-two pages of the infamous brochure.
Another point that one of the analysts made is that Manchester United are in need of a goal poacher, and Owen fits the bill. Well that person clearly did not watch Owen last season, because poacher is one of the last words I would use to describe him. He was usually found playing more of an attacking mid, and scored a few goals from outside the box. Maybe SAF hopes to restore him to the poaching role that made him so famous in the first place, but if not I am a little baffled how United will play with Rooney and Owen who at the moment both seem to like to drop into the midfield. Or is the intention to make Berbatov stand in front of the goal and play Rooney on the wing and Owen behind Berba. Either way I give SAF the benefit of the doubt in the matter, and hope that my faith in him is not rewarded with news that he has indeed gone insane.
*As I proofread that line I realized the ridiculousness of the thought that Cristiano would fret over the worth of his own abilities. Clearly he thinks he merited his absurd transfer fee, but there are plenty of fans who are expecting magical things from the winger given his cost, and he will have to provide those feats or face jeers.
isn't he on a pay-as-you-play plan too?
ReplyDeletei'm assuming saf is changing the way utd are going to be playing w/o ronaldo, b/c w/ him they definitely did not need a goal poacher (ie rvn)
I don't think he is on pay as you play. The brochure convinced me he is fit though. Read it if you aren't.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to say it very bluntly: Owen is a fantastic signing. There is almost no downside to signing him.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is that some of us were too young or too removed to recall that Owen was the Wayne Rooney of his day. He was perhaps even more highly touted, and undoubtedly more of a celebrity. I direct anyone questioning the talent that Owen has/had to search him on the youtube.
My point is that Owen was once one of the best players in the world, and at age 28, it would be difficult to say he is past his athletic prime. SAF tends to bring the best out of people, and I would be surprised if Owen does not have a very solid season.
Imagine if Man U had had Owen instead of Tevez this season. Owen would have finished all the chances Tevez missed, and United would have been better off. Add that to the fact that Owen is a good £25 Million less than Tevez, and you have one of the greatest bargains of the decade.
The one obvious downside is his injury record, but for me injuries are almost always a question of misfortune, and I don't see it being a huge issue in the future.