If you’re a football fan, no doubt you’ll have seen the excerpts from Michael Owen’s autobiography detailing his move to Newcastle United back in 2005.
As a lifelong Newcastle fan I can remember the excitement I felt when we agreed to a club-record fee of £16.5 million (A$39.1 million) to bring in a player who was once regarded as one of the premier strikers in the world. Signing Owen was going to be the catalyst to take us to the next level. He was going to be our new hero.
Unfortunately the Michael Owen we signed was a long way removed from the Michael Owen of only a few years prior. In short, he never came close to living up to expectations.
At times he seemed like he was going through the motions, and the revelations in his book confirm that this was the case.
My move to Newcastle was one I really regret – I should have followed my gut instincts from the start. I didn’t want to go there – my heart was still set on a return to Liverpool.
Liverpool couldn’t match Newcastle’s offer. From a career perspective, there was no doubt in my mind that a move to the North East was a downward step.
Being a huge fan of the club also, Freddy (Shepherd) was only doing what all the fans constantly do at almost every football club: they believe that their club is ten per cent bigger and that their team is ten per cent better than it actually is.
This kind of blind delusion is especially true of Newcastle United – which, as I reach for the nearest tin hat, is only a big club in the sense that it has a lot of fans and a big stadium.
They’re historically not successful off the pitch, in fact quite the opposite mostly. And they’ve never really won much on it in recent times.
Understandably these comments have incensed Newcastle fans around the world and have reignited a longstanding feud with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
Newcastle fans are often pigeonholed as being deluded or demanding success, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. All we ask for is effort. Fans can see who plays for the badge, and it was evident that Owen was only there to collect his wages. That’s unforgivable.
It’s also ironic that Owen claims we’re not a big club, yet he’s very happy to use us to drum up publicity for his new book.
That a player as prodigiously talented as Owen has alienated the fans of nearly every club he’s played for speaks volumes of his character.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Zero time for Michael Owen! Agree with this article so much, as a life long Newcastle fan all we ask for is a club that tries. Under the current regime that is not going to happen. Great article ????????
Dave
Guest
Great read!!!! So so true, as a passionate Newcastle fan all we ask for is a club that tries. As for once one of England greatest strikers, Owen...... no comment Loved the read
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
Under the existing regime Newcastle are a circus but that wasn’t the case when Owen signed. They had finished a disappointing 14th the previous season but had made the semi finals of the FA Cup and the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup so the club wasn’t in a bad position compared to now. Owen was going to be the signing that would reinvigorate the team and the city. On paper a strike force of Owen and Shearer was mouthwatering. Except Owen didn’t want to be there and it all spectacularly unravelled.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
The important word there is disappointing and there’s no question Newcastle have disappointed in recent years. No major trophies for 50 years is testament to that. Under Mike Ashley I don’t think we’ll be seeing the glory days returning anytime soon either. Interestingly Newcastle play Liverpool next and its broadcast on BT Sport in the UK where a certain Michael Owen works as a pundit...
Boo-urns
Roar Rookie
Michael Owen is a tool, sure. But had he said “for a club that was born on third base (good market, proud tradition, marketable strip), This club is a disappointing shitshow.” Not many would argue.