Yorkie

We should loan him to a Championship club until xmas, then try and loan him to a struggling club like Derby for the rest of the season, see if he can do anything without the pressure of NUFC on his back for a change. Would be the only way we'd get anything meaningful for him anyway, no one would pay good money to take him in his current situation. I think they probably would. And 1, he'd never drop a division. 2, that club wouldn't be able to pay his wages. 3, we wouldn't split his wages-per-week, why should we - what'd be the point in that case? He'll probably be here for the rest of the season, be in and out, ask for a move in the summer, and the guy's at a good age so someone will come in for him. I hope he does become a first choice centre-forward somewhere. Personally, i feel for the guy. 12 and a bit months ago, he was finally the main man at Newcastle after an entire career of trying - gets a shite injury - and is now in the worst position choice-wise that he's ever been in. He deserves to be a Premiership number 9 somewhere, i reckon. He's never going to be brilliant, but he'd do well at a Wigan - or even a Middlesbrough/Sunderland.

would you rather have Owen for a dozen games a season, or Anelka for 40 games? Owen would still probably score more.

I don't mind Shola.

Have some fucking pride in your team and club man. Pathetic attitude. I don't especially agree with Sniffer, but i'd probably pin that label on those who want rid of the only world class player we've signed since Shearer '96.

First time i've said this properly about Shola (disregarding the ability factor), his time probably is up now. We just don't need him.

Where do these pictures come from?

Personally would be absolutely gutted if Owen were to leave.

There's only onnnne...

Brilliant.

Minus the card, obviously, but yeah - i see your point.

I think it's impact has been exaggerated, yes. Overall point being - i can't see him leaving any time soon. It'll all be forgotten about after the international break and he scores the winner against Spurs.

I haven't missed the point, thanks - i just don't think that that is the case. I'm really not that worried in the slightest.

I'd have him as mega-backup for the rest of the season, if that's what it took for us to have him as a coach. We probably wouldn't need him anyway. Still a good player anyway!

Is something that's become increasingly frustrating and down right stupid over the past two or three years. Srnicek, Bernard, Clark, McDermott, etc - madness - and were brought back for who they were, not what they're like. Speed however, is a different matter - i think he'd be an excellent acquisition in the coaching department.

I honestly can't believe how far the debate has stemmed. When he is injured, he couldn't play for us, he couldn't play for England either in that time. When he is fit, he plays for us, and he can play for England too. He doesn't pick and choose his time to get injured and/or how long it takes for him to recover. It really is as simple as that. I don't particularly think he's said anything wrong either. The experts have said he is fit and he is frustrated that we aren't letting him play for his country. So what? He's an honest guy and a fucking mint player who has already been a vitally important figure in the team thus far. Get over it.

Huntingdon ffs.

Yawn.

Sick of this 'who Owen plays more for' tripe. I'm personally of the opinion that he does care more about his club, at this moment in time, and the idea that he rushed back soley to play England is nonsencial. I think most people would agree that he gives 100% for both England and Newcastle, and scores goals for both England and Newcastle. It really is such a pathetic little debate. If he thinks he's fit then he's going to be frustrated if he is not allowed to play. How dare he not be desperate to play for his country? ... if Allardyce thinks that it's in the club's best interests, then he'll see about trying to stop Owen from playing. Owen's hardly saying that he doesn't care about playing for us ffs, he just feels that there's no reason not to play for his country, so is subsequently frustrated.

This is where the Pie goes into the 'not working' end of the WUM spectrum.

Far better footballer than Milner ever will be. Smith contributed more out wide than Milner has. Not much of a reference though. Watch him off the ball (should you ever turn up a match) and you'll see what I mean.

I spit at those who'd rather Anelka over Owen.

Rubbish tbh. How many games this season, with our style of play, are we going to be deadlocked against a beatable side for 85 minutes? It's already been the case in four of the matches this season, two of which Owen was out of shape and we ultimately drew (Boro and Villa). The other two games i'm thinking of are Wigan and Everton, where Owen was on form and scored what were both ultimately very late winners in both. See what i'm saying. We need Owen more than we need a lot of players. It's the Shearers and the Owens who win you those games, not (as much as i like him) the likes of Martins and Anelka. If the striking department is tampered with in January, i'll be pretty annoyed tbh. Needless, absolutely needless. (Wouldn't be too fussed if Shola were to leave, though) Of course we need him now because the transfer window is shut but long-term? We don't in my opinion. We need someone who is a better all-round player Why? We have those players in the squad, and if we were to bring another one in, it should be a midfielder. Owen is a bigger asset than Anelka cos with Owen, there's always a 100% chance you will score in the respective game; his all-round play is pretty fecking good anyhow! who can play in a number of roles Why? A striker's a striker and we've got a squad of very good ones as it is. and alongside a number of options I'd wager that Owen really is so good, that he'll play with any one of our strikers (in a 4-4-2) and be effective. who won't miss large chunks of the season. I'll give you that one, but who's to say he will anyway?

Rubbish tbh. How many games this season, with our style of play, are we going to be deadlocked against a beatable side for 85 minutes? It's already been the case in four of the matches this season, two of which Owen was out of shape and we ultimately drew (Boro and Villa). The other two games i'm thinking of are Wigan and Everton, where Owen was on form and scored what were both ultimately very late winners in both. See what i'm saying. We need Owen more than we need a lot of players. It's the Shearers and the Owens who win you those games, not (as much as i like him) the likes of Martins and Anelka. If the striking department is tampered with in January, i'll be pretty annoyed tbh. Needless, absolutely needless. (Wouldn't be too fussed if Shola were to leave, though)

Don't know for sure, but i remember thinking that we'd signed a left-winger when he came in... He was a LM on all the games anyway.

Oh the potential Owen-bashing...