Parky

Is Owen bigger than Newcastle United? Probably, yes. In his own mind, I'm sure Owen is far more important than the club he plays for at any time. Note that this is the same with any player at any club. They're pretty much all self centred tossers. With the caveat that we don't know if Owen wants away, IF he does, then he really does need to question his morals if he's prepared to leave the club after what has happened since he joined. However, the bigger concern must surely be regarding the moron who agreed to such a release clause at those figures in the first place. It smacks of doing anything to get short term gain (ie the trophy signing, if you will) and not sparing a second thought for the long term consequences. Hard to imagine SA sanctioning that kind of agreement, but then that assumes SA would actually have input over that side of things. Agree with everything you've said there, but with regard to the highlighted bit, but Owen could be seen in a 'no win' situation. If he wants away and he goes, he'll be accused of having no morals bearing in mind what's happened to him over the past 2 years. If he stays, some journo is bound to say that he did want away but the clubs who wanted him wouldn't match the salary being paid to him by Newcastle. Irrespective of what is the truth, he could be damned if he goes and damned if he stays. His advisors ought to thinking up ways of putting a positive spin on this. The simplest way would be to come out and make the statement FFS has been asking for, " I'm not going to leave Newcastle, I want to stay". Agree with all of that MJ. I'm very dissapointed that hasn't already happenned. Shame.

Is Owen bigger than Newcastle United? Probably, yes. In his own mind, I'm sure Owen is far more important than the club he plays for at any time. Note that this is the same with any player at any club. They're pretty much all self centred tossers. With the caveat that we don't know if Owen wants away, IF he does, then he really does need to question his morals if he's prepared to leave the club after what has happened since he joined. However, the bigger concern must surely be regarding the moron who agreed to such a release clause at those figures in the first place. It smacks of doing anything to get short term gain (ie the trophy signing, if you will) and not sparing a second thought for the long term consequences. Hard to imagine SA sanctioning that kind of agreement, but then that assumes SA would actually have input over that side of things. Quite confident Sam will have more input than any other manager with these issues.

Sammy Lee? mackems.gif

Fantastic player.

I think the word your looking for is committed. All meanings. Sam will only be buying nutcases.

Think he's going to Chelsea mate. There was even talk of him signing a new deal. Would love him though. blueyes.gif

King Larry is the most interesting one for me. Typical SA dossier and tracking system find, more or less unkown as well. SA written all over him.

Lareya Kingston, Kevin Nolan and Nicolas Anelka. Sam has been tracking Kingston for over a year and was very keen to get him to Bolton. An aggressive left sided /CM no- nonsene midfielder with pace and determination is highly admired by SA. The Ghanian international is very much a SA type player. Also plays in the middle. It is nailed on we will make an offer for Kevin Nolan in the summer. IMO would be a great addition. Anelka is a world class forward and the first on the list in the event of the departure of Owen or Martins. Said to be wanting to move on and strong rumours of £10m offer on the table from Juventus. In the past Nicolas has shown a strong desire to play for Newcastle when he came back from Turkey and ended up at Bolton. Top player and Sam seems to have his ear.

Well put. We're onto you.

Well put.

We can't go on selling talent to the competition.

Agree. My point was the lack of Top Club experience showed in the press conference regards the Michael Owen situation remember this is a guy who has spent his life at a club like Bolton doubts about him not having a enough of a Big Club experience is a perfectly valid one the situations that have happened at this club political and press wise for the last 5 years will be a whole new thing for Sam Allardyce and his managerial skills to deal with. But as i said there were positives in his press conference such us a new structured and constructive back room stuff which will provide a good support for the players to prosper. He's not at a "Big Club", though. Teh hope is that he validates us in showing that we can BECOEM one. "Big Club" in recent history for me is a club thats experienced High finishes in the Premiership 2nd, 2nd (Keegan) 3rd, 4th, 5th (Robson) and played Champions League football and has had World Class players, Alan Shearer greatest premiership goal scorer of all time and one of England's greatest ever centre forwards and Michael Owen one of England's highest ever goal scorers. No club outside the "Big 4" has had that since the Premiership has began we are the 5th biggest club and are a "Big Club" due to our Premiership history. There is no doubt the Newcastle United experience will be a big test for Sam Allardyce because it involves "Big Club" pressures managing "Big Club" players (Michael Owen). Sam Allardyce has proven he can managed a small club pressures to get them 8th, 9th and 6th ect ect whether he can achieve Freddy Shepherd aims of bring back 3rd, 4th and 5th and European football consistently is something Sam Allardyce will have to prove. So we are a "big club" based on a couple of decent seasons over the past 15 years, ONE current (wantaway, only here for the cash/move back to the PL) player and one EX player. Jesus. Agree. My point was the lack of Top Club experience showed in the press conference regards the Michael Owen situation remember this is a guy who has spent his life at a club like Bolton doubts about him not having a enough of a Big Club experience is a perfectly valid one the situations that have happened at this club political and press wise for the last 5 years will be a whole new thing for Sam Allardyce and his managerial skills to deal with. But as i said there were positives in his press conference such us a new structured and constructive back room stuff which will provide a good support for the players to prosper. I suppose he was worse than Souness or the 'one word mumbled at a time' Dalglish. I'm still not sure what the whole thread is about...seriously. YOu've fallen for it and started a thread around baseless nonsense from THe Sun. Are you judging SA on one press conferance? Ridiculous. Surely you see that. Forget "The Sun" Article. My points are not about that Article its about Sam Allardyce press conference. surely you can see that) The press conferance was about him and his plans for the club NOT about Owen. He said he would speak to him. Are you naieve enough to think he is going to reveal how he will approach Owen to the world media even before he has spoken to him?

Agree. My point was the lack of Top Club experience showed in the press conference regards the Michael Owen situation remember this is a guy who has spent his life at a club like Bolton doubts about him not having a enough of a Big Club experience is a perfectly valid one the situations that have happened at this club political and press wise for the last 5 years will be a whole new thing for Sam Allardyce and his managerial skills to deal with. But as i said there were positives in his press conference such us a new structured and constructive back room stuff which will provide a good support for the players to prosper. I suppose he was worse than Souness or the 'one word mumbled at a time' Dalglish. I'm still not sure what the whole thread is about...seriously. YOu've fallen for it and started a thread around baseless nonsense from THe Sun. Are you judging SA on one press conferance? Ridiculous. Surely you see that.

:-[ Unbelievable. Give the bloke a chance. He should of made it clear in the press conference keeping Michael Owen and building a team around him was something important to him comments of "its not all about Michael Owen" and "i will be asking him if he wants to stay or go" are not good enough for god sake Sam don't lose a World Class player before you have even had the chance to work with one. Read the first line in the "How to build a team" handbook. I better get Sir Bobby Robson autobiography out. You don't build a team mentality and identity by starting off and singling out one player whoever he is for special treatment. That is why he was careful to add that he would speak on the phone to Michael (pause) and others. SA is a professional with a deep understanding of sport science and psychology, he will need what needs saying to Owen in good time.

Many on here have been saying exactly that about Liverpool and Chelsea all season. Result grinding tedium. *See's Rafa taking his gloves off*

:-[ Unbelievable. Give the bloke a chance. He should of made it clear in the press conference keeping Michael Owen and building a team around him was something important to him comments of "its not all about Michael Owen" and "i will be asking him if he wants to stay or go" are not good enough for god sake Sam don't lose a World Class player before you have even had the chance to work with one. Read the first line in the "How to build a team" handbook.

What kind of thread title is this? He's defeated even before he's spoken to Owen?

Agreed. Prison Island mentality strikes again. :parky:

Not what he's saying. Principles > Money. blueyes.gif Maybe I'm being too subtle.

"That was confirmed by the chairman Freddy Shepherd's words on Wednesday regarding Owen's perceived lack of commitment to Newcastle, which were so strong they bear repetition. "I'm telling Michael he has two choices," Shepherd said. "He either comes out and tells our fans, who have taken him to their hearts, that he is happy here or I tell him that not one of the big four clubs, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, are interested in him." Owen and his advisors had been offered the opportunity to speak of Owen's commitment publicly but he declined, which incensed the Newcastle chairman and leaves question marks over Owen's future at the club." Good blog... http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/05/11/owen_put_on_the_spot_as_newcas.html

If rumours circulating down here are true, there were figures of £12m at year 1, £9m or £9.2m at year 2 and £4m or £4.6m at year 3. They are only rumours so I've no idea if there is any truth in them at all. What? £4million? Get rid asap please!!!!!!!! It's not about the money. >

If rumours circulating down here are true, there were figures of £12m at year 1, £9m or £9.2m at year 2 and £4m or £4.6m at year 3. They are only rumours so I've no idea if there is any truth in them at all. But how the fuck can you invoke it if you haven't played. How can you punish the club if you've been sitting on your arse for a year. It makes no sense legally, morally or even in the warped logic of the professional footballer.

It's not so much about whether the clause is real or not (or even the value), what concerns me is WHO gave the ok to talk to the media about this stuff? Can't see Shepherd wanting to make details like this common knowledge. tmonkey has already ans. This is the gist of my anger with Owen....There is no way the paper talk would have been encouraged by his reps without his get go. Especially the level of detail of confidential information....Property of the club actually.

It's not so much about whether the clause is real or not (or even the value), what concerns me is WHO gave the ok to talk to the media about this stuff?

Season's over. Holiday begins. Simple really. Didnt know if teams went away straight away or had some kind of wind-down period at end of season (not that we'd need one) Obafindme bolted from his hotel room during the Watford game.