Look out! little mickey's back just in time for England! Will he return fit?

[maze]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article315349.ece     

 

If this is true... you know... get rid of him... the lad goes... wooops... limps.... around more than he does anything else (since his arrival)

 

So... best thing for him now is to shut it, and get his fitness back on track... AND start playing more for newcastle and score goals... before joining with Steve on his backpacker trips around the globe...  

[Baggio]

If Owen comes back from these International games injured then the fans will turn on him IMO.

[maze]

If Owen comes back from these International games injured then the fans will turn on him IMO.

 

Chances are, with his kind of luck, he'll come back in a wheel chair..

 

And Newcastle will have to pay his huge salary, not to mention the recovery expences.... which I think England should compensate the club for... if it happens again...

 

Just kinda strange that Owen's always fit and motivated for the international matches, but rarely fit, sharpe and motivated for his club.....

 

 

[James]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

[NSG]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

 

5 mins before KO?? Miss the anthem? Unlikely story.

[Keefaz]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

 

5 mins before KO?? Miss the anthem? Unlikely story.

 

Why aren't you on TalkSport, mate? Been banging on about Owen all day.

[Karjala]

celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt

Would that be allowed? Health and safety n all that...

[thewellander]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I'm sorry if this has been discussed, but I'm more than a bit concerned about this fake pitch in Russia. We use this surface at BMO Field, where Toronto FC play, and I'm convinced the injury problems we've suffered have been at least in part due to it. It's hard on the knees and has very little give to it. I think it's dangerous, and I worry for Owen's fitness, with his recent run of injuries.

[merlin]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

 

Especially if he had taken Martins' place in the side before scoring the Hat-trick, or, even worse, if he came on as sub for Martins and THEN scored the winner...!!

[Guest niina]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

 

Not really. Actually as long as he remember that it is us who pay his damn wages, not England, therefore he put us before England, then it's fine by me

 

I mean, if it's not because there are England matches coming, would he be fit in our last match (Everton) and score goal?

[Guest Gemmill]

To be honest, Michael Owen could walk onto the Wembley pitch five minutes before the start of a Newcastle vs Manchester United FA Cup Final to announce his international retirement, and two hours later, celebrate his hat-trick that has won us the game 3-2 by burning an England shirt, and some Newcastle fans would still hate him.

 

Not really. Actually as long as he remember that it is us who pay his damn wages, not England, therefore he put us before England, then it's fine by me

 

I mean, if it's not because there are England matches coming, would he be fit in our last match (Everton) and score goal?

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Guest Gemmill]

It's gonna be fun when Michael Owen leaves this club because he gets sick of all the "England's Michael Owen" shit.  I can't wait to have Martins as first choice, so we can lose games we should have drawn and draw games we should have won through him missing chances.  Maybe we can have a permanent conveyor belt of A.N. Other striker to partner him too, like most other clubs in the league have where it's a constant trial and error every transfer window to find someone (anyone!?) who can score regularly in the Premiership.

 

Or maybe we could shut the fuck up, accept that the lad has had some bad injuries since he got here, accept that he loves playing for his country, and just be thankful for the fact that we've got a player of his class in our squad.  Unfortunately, the choice isn't mine, it's up to the St James' Park "faithful", half of whom haven't got two brain cells to rub together, as evidenced by some of the patter on here (although tbf, half the shite on here comes from people who've never set foot in the ground).  So anyway, let's look forward to no better than Benjani Martins and A.N. Other that can't hit a barn door with a banjo.  It's gonna be fun.

[Guest johnson293]

The Sun stir it up just a little bit more today...

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article321037.ece

 

THE simmering tension between Michael Owen and his Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce stretches back nearly two years.

 

SunSport can reveal Owen is still privately hurt by comments Allardyce made before the last World Cup.

 

Part of the reason why he is so determined to play in England’s Euro qualifier double-header against Estonia and Russia is he wants to prove Big Sam wrong.

 

Allardyce, then Bolton manager, wrote off Owen at the start of Germany 2006.

 

He claimed he should be left out of the opener against Paraguay as he had not sufficiently recovered from injury.

 

Owen had broken a metatarsal against Tottenham on New Year’s Eve and made only one fleeting appearance for the rest of the season.

 

Allardyce then commented: “If I was England manager, I would forget about Michael Owen.”

 

But Owen was determined to take part and unhappy with Allardyce’s comments.

 

Ironically, he now finds himself in a similar situation. Battling to prove he can play for England — this time just 10 days after a major stomach and groin op — despite Allardyce’s reservations.

 

A source said: “At the time, Michael did not take what Sam said very well. He never forgets who said what about him.

 

“Even though it was a year-and-a-half ago, Sam is saying similar things to what he said then.”

 

Owen did line up against Paraguay, only to be subbed early.

 

Later he was ruled out for almost a year after rupturing his right knee against Sweden.

 

That is why Allardyce feels Owen should be wary now.

 

 

BTW - Spot on Gemmill! 

[Dave]

Top rant.

 

True though.

[Guest alex]

Echo Gemmill's sentiments there. Also, as I pointed out on Toontastic, re: The Sun story  - how the fuck is one year four months 'nearly two years'? Sets the tone for the the rest of the article quality-wise anyway.

[UV]

The hack "sports" journo sitting next to me at the pub when I wrote this piece last week said: “At the time, Michael did not take what Sam said very well. He never forgets who said what about him.

 

“Even though it was a year-and-a-half ago, Sam is saying similar things to what he said then.”

 

Fixed the Sun quote.

[Guest Micktoon]

Here's a mad idea, why don't we get behind Owen for once. You know make him welcome. Personally I think he'll be fit for the vast majority of the season.

 

Now if we were to give Owen half the support that we give a far inferior player such as Martins, maybe one the worlds greatest goalscorers might consider staying.

 

Mind if he leaves we can always go out and buy another great goalscorer who everyone can then say is only hear for the money, only wants to play for his country, deliberatly tore his cruciate so he could have a year off. I mean after all why on earth would any top class players ever sign for us, you know that cloth cap whippet racing club in a town of perpetual winter!!!! FFS

[Guest alex]

While I agree, Owen could fix a lot of this by making more positive statements about the club from time-to-time too. He's been his own worst enemy at times in that regard.

[Guest Knightrider]

While I agree, Owen could fix a lot of this by making more positive statements about the club from time-to-time too. He's been his own worst enemy at times in that regard.

 

He's a very clever man Owen, hedges his bets well.

 

Anyway, anyone who listened to his post-match comments at the weekend on the radio will know he is not defying the manager or putting country before club. As for Big Sam if he didn't want Owen to join up with England he wouldn't have let him go. Indeed he has claimed Owen needs games and that the internationals can be a blessing in disguise. Of course, though, people have picked up on his legitimate concerns about players coming back from international duty injured as a growing rift between him an Owen.

[Guest alex]

Allardyce can't prevent Owen linking up with England. It's against Fifa regulations iirc. I know sometimes players do pull out of internationals under slightly dodgy circumstances but that requires the player being complicit in the decision and imo Owen number one aim as a footballer at present is becoming England's number one goalscorer as it unfortunately oustrips anything he is likely to achieve with Newcastle imo.

[Guest Knightrider]

Allardyce can't prevent Owen linking up with England. It's against Fifa regulations iirc. I know sometimes players do pull out of internationals under slightly dodgy circumstances but that requires the player being complicit in the decision and imo Owen number one aim as a footballer at present is becoming England's number one goalscorer as it unfortunately oustrips anything he is likely to achieve with Newcastle imo.

 

I think Big Sam has the kind of relationship with McLaren where if a player has only just come back from injury as Owen has, then he will have the final say as to whether that player goes away on international duty which I firmly believe was the case with Owen.

 

In the buildup to the international break Sam talked like the decision was his and that he would go with whatever the specialists said which as we now know, had told Owen he is fit to play, hence his appearance for us at the weekend from the bench anjd his call-up.

 

I reckon he'll miss the Estonia game and be used for the Russia game, or play a small part against Estonia.

[Guest thenorthumbrian]

Here's a mad idea, why don't we get behind Owen for once. You know make him welcome. Personally I think he'll be fit for the vast majority of the season.

 

Now if we were to give Owen half the support that we give a far inferior player such as Martins, maybe one the worlds greatest goalscorers might consider staying.

 

Mind if he leaves we can always go out and buy another great goalscorer who everyone can then say is only hear for the money, only wants to play for his country, deliberatly tore his cruciate so he could have a year off. I mean after all why on earth would any top class players ever sign for us, you know that cloth cap whippet racing club in a town of perpetual winter!!!! FFS

 

Get behind Owen for once ?

You mean like the 15,000 - 20,000 fans who turned up to cheer him when he first signed ?

Or the trmendous reception he got at SJP on his return from injury ?

Or the £120,000 a week the club play him ?

How fucking welcome does he want to be made ffs.

Its up to him to repay the faith the fans and club have shown in him.

Something he has failed to demonstrate so far and thats why fans are turning against him.

[Guest alex]

Allardyce can't prevent Owen linking up with England. It's against Fifa regulations iirc. I know sometimes players do pull out of internationals under slightly dodgy circumstances but that requires the player being complicit in the decision and imo Owen number one aim as a footballer at present is becoming England's number one goalscorer as it unfortunately oustrips anything he is likely to achieve with Newcastle imo.

 

I think Big Sam has the kind of relationship with McLaren where if a player has only just come back from injury as Owen has, then he will have the final say as to whether that player goes away on international duty which I firmly believe was the case with Owen.

 

In the buildup to the international break Sam talked like the decision was his and that he would go with whatever the specialists said which as we now know, have told Owen he is fit to play, hence his appearance for us at the weekend from the bench.

 

I reckon he'll miss the Estonia game and be used for the Russia game, or play a small part against Estonia.

I think that sort of goes out the window a bit due to McLaren still being under so much pressure and being so short of striking options. I hope the last sentence is correct though or he at least takes him off if we're winning. (Yes, I said "we're" because I support England too )

[Guest alex]

Here's a mad idea, why don't we get behind Owen for once. You know make him welcome. Personally I think he'll be fit for the vast majority of the season.

 

Now if we were to give Owen half the support that we give a far inferior player such as Martins, maybe one the worlds greatest goalscorers might consider staying.

 

Mind if he leaves we can always go out and buy another great goalscorer who everyone can then say is only hear for the money, only wants to play for his country, deliberatly tore his cruciate so he could have a year off. I mean after all why on earth would any top class players ever sign for us, you know that cloth cap whippet racing club in a town of perpetual winter!!!! FFS

 

Get behind Owen for once ?

You mean like the 15,000 - 20,000 fans who turned up to cheer him when he first signed ?

Or the trmendous reception he got at SJP on his return from injury ?

Or the £120,000 a week the club play him ?

How fucking welcome does he want to be made ffs.

Its up to him to repay the faith the fans and club have shown in him.

Something he has failed to demonstrate so far and thats why fans are turning against him.

Change the record man.

[Guest Knightrider]

Allardyce can't prevent Owen linking up with England. It's against Fifa regulations iirc. I know sometimes players do pull out of internationals under slightly dodgy circumstances but that requires the player being complicit in the decision and imo Owen number one aim as a footballer at present is becoming England's number one goalscorer as it unfortunately oustrips anything he is likely to achieve with Newcastle imo.

 

I think Big Sam has the kind of relationship with McLaren where if a player has only just come back from injury as Owen has, then he will have the final say as to whether that player goes away on international duty which I firmly believe was the case with Owen.

 

In the buildup to the international break Sam talked like the decision was his and that he would go with whatever the specialists said which as we now know, have told Owen he is fit to play, hence his appearance for us at the weekend from the bench.

 

I reckon he'll miss the Estonia game and be used for the Russia game, or play a small part against Estonia.

I think that sort of goes out the window a bit due to McLaren still being under so much pressure and being so short of striking options. I hope the last sentence is correct though or he at least takes him off if we're winning. (Yes, I said "we're" because I support England too )

 

Maybe aye and I'm sure Big Sam has reluctantly let Owen go or agreed he will go/play. I support England too and hope if Owen does play, he scores and more importantly, comes back uninjured. With Rooney back we have enough to see off Estonia surely without the need to use Owen so I hope McLaren is sensible and brave even, as he has been the last few internationals.