Keefaz

I don't think it matters i.e. I think there may be a mutual agreement to cancel his contract and sign for us as a free agent. The only ways he would be able to come here would be for him to retire as a player and join our coaching staff, in which case Bolton would still hold his player registration for the duration of his current contract, leaving him unable to play for us. Alternatively we could buy him in January or wait for his contract to expire. ...or what Alex said.

This is building to a crisis and it's not of our making. Bury your head in the sand if you wish.

No one knows if he's rushing back. His claim is that the surgeon said he's fit and ready to play. Presumably you're calling one of these people a liar?

Why the hell would Le Havre do business with us again? He's probably an anti-player that will somehow weaken the team.

My current impression is that Owen is either being overly-sensitive or is actually feeding the scandal himself. True, there is no smoke without fire, but the fire in this case is pretty small; the media are trying their best to fuel it and it seems as if Owen is either buying into it or is right there with a bagful of coal. [/poor analogy]

As a player? No, thanks. He's about a million years old. What we going to do with him? On the staff, well it's up to Big Sam, but I would be happy to have him if he was up to the job.

Owen interview just on TalkSport. Doesn't sound happy at all. Don't have exact quotes but said to effect: 'I came back from surgery ASAP to play for the club. I thought people'd be happy, but it seems that some aren't.' He then mentioned TV cameras were at the surgery and recorded the surgeon saying that he's fit and fine and OK to play as if to say 'Look at this evidence' (to who?). Reckons that Liverpool fans and Newcastle fans see him as 'England's Michael Owen' and that some in the media and 'some fans' have said that he only gets fit for England. Doesn't sound happy at all. I'm pretty convinced now he construed the booing at the weekend as being for him, so he's obviously got the impression from somewhere that Newcastle fans are against him in numbers.

Canny nice ground that, like! Bit of a trek, though.

5 mins before KO?? Miss the anthem? Unlikely story. Why aren't you on TalkSport, mate? Been banging on about Owen all day.

Bah! Not content with taking our jobs, their taking over our violent sporting traditions too...

Probably the best goal Butt's ever scored, tbh.

Some day there will be a player who can run faster than the ball... and he will win the Universe!

Chances are.

Not sure what your point is, HTT. A player only shoots at goal 0.000001% of the time, but it's a crucial part of the game.

Is this really Crumpy or some kind of automated Crumpy bot?

your an f..ing goon

I feel a bit sorry for Owen, stupid as it sounds. It's impossible for him to say the right thing. Did the business today for us, like he has for England:

I hope Sam gets asked about the Milner substitution. Seems a bit odd that he'd play the lad out of position for most of the match then sub him. Maybe he is tired.

He's a tool. Rumours of a rift with Gary Speed?

Credit to Big Sam for making the positive changes when required (unlike previous matches), but what was all the wing switching all about? Seemed to do nowt other than fuck up the natural games of Zog and Milner.

I'm not an Emre fan but he brings something different (especially at home) to our central midfield and that can only be a good thing. Owen's movement is absolutely superb, Martins should really just sit and watch him on video every night. This is it. I know we all like Martins and he's a livewire and he can do amazing things, but in terms of quality movement and intelligent play and reading of the game, he's absolutely nowhere.

Bizarre match. Good win, even though I'm still not sure how we got it. Sounds like Emre and Owen really made a difference in terms of keeping possession, and quality passing and movement.

FT. Jesus.

3-2.