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The Insiders View: Michael Owen
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Newcastle-Online.com caught up with Liverpool fan Paul Tomkins
who recently wrote a book on his beloved Reds and writes for the official
Liverpool website as well as various fansites, to get an inside view
on United's new signing Michael Owen.
Q: First, what are your thoughts as a Liverpool fan on the whole
saga and Owen's eventual move to Newcastle? |
Disappointed to see him at another club, but Newcastle priced us out
of the market. We just couldn't buy a player we'd lost for half that
amount 12 months earlier. It's obvious he would have preferred a return
to Liverpool, but Rafa didn't see him as crucial to his plans. He
wanted him, but not desperately, especially as he prefers a formation
where you have a lone striker bringing three attacking midfielders
into play (much like Chelsea).
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Q: In your opinion, was Owen a success or a failure at Real
Madrid and was he right to move away from Anfield? |
The time was right to leave Anfield if he was ever going to do so:
brilliant offer from Madrid, while Liverpool were entering yet another
transitional phase as his contract neared its end. I'm glad we got
£8m for him considering he could have started negotiating a free transfer
a few months later. Always suspected Madrid would sell him for a profit.
Ironic that he left to win nothing and we won the Champions League,
but there you go. He did very well in Spain, in spite of some harsh
selection decisions.
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Q: There seemed to be a mixed reaction when Owen signed for
Madrid, Kop hero or mercenary? |
He's not a mercenary to me - simply someone who tried his hand at
the biggest club on earth, and it didn't quite work out as well as
he hoped. He was cheered at Anfield when it was announced at half
time that he had scored his first Real Madrid goal. But anyone who
leaves any football club is automatically branded a Judas by some
fans; they just can't help themselves.
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Q: What's the reaction like on Merseyside to Owen's move to
Newcastle? |
A lot of Reds are disappointed, naturally. Some are angry
that we didn't make a stronger move for him, but that was unrealistic.
The heart has often ruled the head.
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Q: Can you tell Newcastle fans, having watched Owen season-in-season-out,
just what we have bought for our money, or conversely what we
haven't bought? |
A natural goalscorer who is very strong, mentally. He gets knocked
down and written-off, but gets back up. He just has that unshakable
inner belief; less naturally talented than Robbie Fowler, it's mentally
where he has been so remarkable. I've seen him miss ten good chances
in a match before, but he was still getting in there on the tenth
occasion. He'll never, ever hide.
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Q: What in your opinion are Owen's major strengths and weaknesses
and can he improve further? |
He improved his heading and left foot a lot under Gerard Houllier.
He's not as quick as he was, but is a better all-round player. Just
don't let him take your penalties when Shearer retires!
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Q: Shearer and Owen, can it work, will it work, in your opinion?
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Yes. I think Shearer is more willing to play to Owen's strengths these
days; for England Alan was the main man in the late 90s, and appeared
to resent Owen a little. With Solano supplying the crosses, both players
will do well. Owen needs a big striker to take the physical brunt
and win the aerial battles, so yes, they'll dovetail nicely, providing
Shearer is happy to turn supplier. The fact he offered the number
9 shirt suggests he's not going to be selfish!
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Q: Is Owen worth £16 million pounds, your thoughts
on his value as a player? |
He's worth it if you play two up front, which none of the top clubs
now tend to do. Any player is only worth what he adds to a team. The
best teams go for a 4-5-1 system these days. Owen's a better individual
than Peter Crouch or Didier Drogba, but Chelsea won the league with
one striker, and Liverpool won the Champions League with one up front.
Newcastle's problem might be losing the midfield battle as a result
of playing two out-and-out strikers.
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Q: There has been speculation that Owen cares more about his
England place than club football, what are your thoughts on
this? |
He's long been an England institution (ever since that goal against
Argentina made him the media darling), and always gets asked about
his country. He just answers the questions he's asked by the media,
and they usually relate to England. He's no different to Steven Gerrard
or Alan Shearer (before he retired). He wants to do well whenever
he plays, whoever it is for.
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Q: When I look at Owen I see a fully committed and hard working
player but a few Liverpool fans in the past as well as one or
two reports from the Liverpool media have at times criticised
this aspect of his game, is he a lazy player or a grafter?
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He's not lazy, from what I recall. He uses his energy wisely. You
don't want him chasing back to his own penalty area, surely? He comes
alive in the opposing penalty area.
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Q: What were you thoughts (if any) on the 15-20,000 fans who
turned up at St. James' Park to greet Owen's signing. It would
be good to get an outsiders perspective.
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Newcastle parade trophy players; Liverpool just parade trophies. It's
great to see him being greeted so passionately, but we don't even
parade new players before a match or at half-time, whoever they are.
We just quietly integrate them. It seems all about the PR with Newcastle.
I just can't take Newcastle seriously in the way they are run. I love
the passion and the commitment of the fans, but the club lurches from
one type of manager to another, changing approaches like other clubs
change away kits.
Then there's Freddie Shepherd's bizarre comments: "Alan Shearer reminded
Michael Owen he had this same decision a decade ago when he left Blackburn
and could have gone to Manchester United. He chose Newcastle and look
what it's done for him." So that would be watch on as United won six
league titles, a handful of FA Cups and the Champions League, while
Newcastle sweet FA? Alan's adored, he's scored goals, and that's great.
But to suggest he's achieved more at Newcastle than he would have
at Man Utd is just insane. It's time you started celebrating something
in May, not simply at the end of the transfer window.
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Q: Is Owen injury prone or just unlucky? Will he, in your view,
always suffer with hamstring complaints and will this effect
his game in a negative way?
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He had a lot of hamstring problems in the past, but seems to have
solved it by doing exercises that strengthen his back muscles. It's
cost him some pace, but means he rarely misses games.
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Q: Will Owen in your opinion be a success at Newcastle and will
he stay for the duration of his 4 year-contract?
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He'll be a success anywhere he goes. He wants to play football at
the moment, after a year as a sub and with the World Cup looming,
but next season I'm sure he will be more ambitious with regards to
trophies. Much depends on how Newcastle do this year, and if they
qualify for Europe. I don't see him staying unless Newcastle make
massive strides. There's potential at St James' but when does that
get fulfilled?
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Q: Where do you see Newcastle, with Owen on board, finishing
in the League this season? |
Who knows? You seem to start every season in the relegation zone,
then improve. He'll score a lot of goals, but much depends on how
many you concede - losing Butt and Jenas means less protection for
a shaky defence. Twenty consolation goals from Owen won't make an
ounce of difference; twenty goals that win games will. I'll say 8th-6th.
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Q: Finally, Graeme Souness, an ex-Red and a
former manager of Liverpool, has surprised everyone on Tyneside
with the quality of his signings, as a Red yourself, has he
surprised you and do you think he can be a success at Newcastle?
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He's signed good players this summer, and the squad at St James' looks
pretty strong. But I've never seen much from him as a manager. I said
last year I could see him winning you a cup, and that's more likely
than ever with Owen in the side. The way you're grooming Shearer for
the role undermines Souness, and suggests further troubles ahead.
If you appointed a top, experienced coach you could really go places;
the days of appointing your best player as boss seems very outdated
now.
A massive thanks from Newcastle-Online.com to Paul for taking the
time out from his hectic schedule to write a few lines for us, nice
one Mr. Tomkins. Paul has wrote a book about his beloved Liverpool,
self published too, and if any of you readers are interested in his
work, you can find out more about 'Golden Past, Red Future' by visiting
his personal website at Paultomkins.com
Good luck with the book and the season ahead Paul. |
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