NSG Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 OWEN: WHATEVER I SAY IS TWISTED SUDDENLY I am being portrayed as a football rebel — someone who wants to take on the world in general and Sam Allardyce in particular. Nothing could be further from the truth. I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have never, ever set out to cause a single problem for any of my managers. And I'm sure I've succeeded in that aim. But over the last few weeks, I have been misrepresented in a way that has made me feel very frustrated and, at times, angry. It all stemmed from my recent double stomach operation in Germany which enabled me to be fit and ready for action again in eight days. Now you might have thought that was a cause for celebration, having worked hard to recover in record time. It was certainly a positive episode as far as I was concerned but it soon became a massive negative with accusations that I had rushed back too soon so I could play in the England games against Estonia and Russia. The spin was put on it that I was more concerned about playing for my country than my club. As a result of that people have tried to drive a wedge between myself and Sam Allardyce. I was even told about one headline which quoted me as saying "Shut It Sam". If you look at my actual comments I did not use the words "shut", or "it" or "Sam". Someone with a very vivid imagination dreamed that one up. Let me now try to clarify the situation. I recognise that my club manager wants me to be fit and available for every game for Newcastle. And, believe it or not, so do I. What I must also point out, though, is that I am fortunate enough to play for two teams — England and Newcastle. And as long as I am fit, I will try my hardest to play well and score goals for both. It was in Sport of the World two weeks ago that I stated quite clearly that my priority after the two operations lay with Newcastle. I explained that my original comeback target was to play against Spurs, in the game immediately after the international break. And that anything ahead of that would be a bonus. In fact, it was Sam Allardyce who first raised the possibility of me being fit for the game against Everton after he had spoken to the surgeon who carried out my operations. As it turned out, I was fit for that game — albeit as a substitute — but it was never a case of me rushing back for Newcastle just so I could join up with England. You can imagine how I felt then when I was warming up before the Everton game to hear one Newcastle fan shout at me: "Come on Owen, it's about time you put us before England." That hurt me almost as much as pushing myself through the pain barrier in the days immediately after my surgery. No one but me knows what that involved. And, it seems, no one wants to believe I was doing it for both my club AND my country. I have missed far too much football in recent seasons to be able to afford to pick and choose which matches I want to play in. I will repeat: I want to play in EVERY game, whether it is for Newcastle or England. A footballer's career is short enough as it is without deliberately missing out on big matches. But sometimes I cannot win. I have had games for England when I haven't done particularly well and suddenly I am labelled a bad player. Then, if I score a few goals for the national team, as I did against Russia at home and away in Estonia last season, I'm accused of putting my country before my club. It's a good job I am a fairly level-headed person or it would drive me mad. But I have been in the game long enough to know how things can just spiral out of control. While I was away with England last week, there were comments about release clauses in my contract, how I needed to prove myself at Newcastle and even my team-mate Joey Barton was dragged into the debate. He said he wanted to get fit again for Newcastle before considering a recall for England — and that was perceived as an attack on me. I will ignore all that for now and get on with my job. I suppose I should be used to all this. It happened to me before when I was a Liverpool player. I broke into the England team and did well internationally almost before I had properly established myself at Anfield. The Reds fans didn't like that because they thought I was only interested in my international career. But I did manage to turn them around by scoring loads of goals in helping Liverpool to win an unprecedented cup treble in 2001. For the first time the fans started chanting my name on a regular basis and I was referred to as "Liverpool's Michael Owen" rather than "the England striker Michael Owen". I guess that is the way to win over public opinion at Newcastle as well. If I can score the goals that will help them win a trophy or two, that will prove how much I am committed to the club. I would love to do just that. But at the same time, I want to help England to win something as well. And I still reckon it is possible to enjoy the best of both of those worlds. Interview: DAVID HARRISON Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I really love hearing stuff like this, this has cheered me up as ive had a bad night. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Spells it out about as clearly as you can, in his own words, but it still won't satisfy some people. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest microbar Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Yes thanks michael this has also cheered me up, As i sit here 48 hours after a stomach operation and i cant sleep for the pain, But if Owen does for newcastle what he did for liverpool then we should look forward to some good times. NURSE NURSE Can I have another shot of morphine Goodnight all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 We need to offer this man a new contract, hard to believe its almost up already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearer9 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Shut up and prove it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Shut up and prove it. Whereas if the article hadn't been published it'd be "How come Owen is silent on the matter? Little fucker is probably scheming on how best to fuck over Newcastle and leave us for Sunderland on a free" Can't win at all in this can he? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearer9 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Shut up and prove it. Whereas if the article hadn't been published it'd be "How come Owen is silent on the matter? Little fucker is probably scheming on how best to fuck over Newcastle and leave us for Sunderland on a free" Can't win at all in this can he? You're probably right, that crowd would be out too if he didn't. I'm not on either side, but clearly the best thing for him to do is just to get back in the team and start scoring again. I don't really care what he says or doesn't say in the media, I really care about what he does on the field. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Good timing, just after England's Euro08 dream is nearly end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razor Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 seriously he cant say much more than that. Hope he gets a great reception tonight and is given a proper go. Come on Mikey Edit: Tomorow Night Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gray Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 good lad. would drive me mental that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mobiius Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 The lad can't be any clearer than that but some twats will still winge and when he finally fucks off he will get slagged and the gobshites that drove him out will think they were right all along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Good timing, just after England's Euro08 dream is nearly end. Whereas Newcastle's title challenge is right up and running... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 OWEN: WHATEVER I SAY IS TWISTED I am a football rebel — someone who wants to take on the world in general and Sam Allardyce in particular. I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have set out to cause a problem for all of my managers. And I'm sure I've succeeded in that aim. It all stemmed from my recent double stomach operation in Germany which enabled me to be fit and ready for action again in eight days. Now you might have thought that was a cause for celebration, having worked hard to recover in record time. It was certainly a positive episode as far as I was concerned I could play in the England games against Estonia and Russia. I was more concerned about playing for my country than my club. "Shut It Sam" I explained that my original comeback target was to play the international. And that anything ahead of that would be a bonus. In fact, it was Sam Allardyce who first raised the possibility of me being fit for the game against Everton after he had spoken to the surgeon who carried out my operations. As it turned out, I was fit for that game — albeit as a substitute — but it was a case of me rushing back for Newcastle just so I could join up with England. And, it seems, I was doing it for my country. I have missed far too much football in recent seasons to be able to afford to pick and choose which matches I want to play in. I will repeat: I want to play in EVERY game, for England. A footballer's career is short enough as it is without deliberately missing out on big matches. I want to help England to win something. And I still reckon it is possible. Interview: DAVID HARRISON I am sure some people will read it like this so I have cut it down for you to save some time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Hats off to him for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Its about time the daft sniping at Owen was put to an end and the crowd started supporting someone who is a massive asset to Newcastle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I doubt it will end tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Boot Boy Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 seriously he cant say much more than that. Hope he gets a great reception tonight and is given a proper go. What's he doing tonight like? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Getting a pizza and a four pack in probably. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karjala Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 OWEN: WHATEVER I SAY IS TWISTED I recognise that my club manager wants me to be fit and available for every game for Newcastle. And, believe it or not, so do I. What I must also point out, though, is that I am fortunate enough to play for two teams — England and Newcastle. And as long as I am fit, I will try my hardest to play well and score goals for both. Notice how he puts England before Newcastle, again! etc etc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 that was good to read and i hope he scores tomorrow night after reading that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Saint Andy Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Decent words, just needs something to back them up over the next few months. Then we'll see what the real situation is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieDazzler Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Ironic that the NOTW is probably responsable for 90% of the shit said about him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmonkey Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Ive argued beforehand that yes, he may not have rushed back from injury this time, but theres a strong suspicion that hes done so in the past, particularly before the major injuries when minor niggles prevented him from playing for club but not for country. Hes avoided that issue entirely, and attempted to exonerate himself because this time, hes not guilty - so lets forget all the numerous incidents prior to this one and put them down to coincidence. Combined with the attempt to engineer a move in the summer through his agents, you have the reason for all this doubt being cast on him. Its ridiculous to now portray Owen as some sort of victim in this entire matter and his critics as being entirely in the wrong. At the end of the day, Owen has created a situation that only he can fix by playing games for us - nothing else will do. Even if he were to come out and say "I never wanted to leave in the summer, I never asked my agents to engineer a move, I have never rushed back early or played through the pain barrier/carried an injury for England whilst ruling myself out for my club", I would still struggle to believe him, because at the end of the day im judging the situation by what has happened, and not what he says. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Good stuff; you'll do for me Michael. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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