I'm Michael Owen and I am not the brightest star in the sky.

[Liverpool_SC]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=311955&cc=5901

Get this from Real Madrid's Rocket (Scientist):

At Liverpool I was first choice every week. What Raul is to the Real Madrid supporters, I was in a way to the Liverpool supporters.

Fortunately the reporter did not fill in the rest of Mr. England No. 10's thoughts . . .

"and I threw it all away".

Michael Owen's naive ponderings almost make him a tragic figure. Is he only just now realizing what he has done? Exactly what kind of representation did his agent provide?

The only thing I wonder now (after all this) is how much of a fee the agent received from Real Madrid. With that low-ball transfer and a lower wage at Real Madrid - one would think that the agent didn't necessarily make of like a bandit.

I hope that Owen looks at the shreds of his career, fires the agent, gets himself transferred back to England and figures out what made him a successful and popular player. He is way too young to MacManamanned, but with as little playing time as he is getting - those hamstrings are going to be completely screwed up when he gets back to a team that wants him to be an ever-present.

[Achtung]

On some level I do feel kind of bad for Owen, because he always seemed like a hard worker and a class guy. But the move to Madrid was a bonehead decision from the very first step. What exactly motivated him to go there, we may never know. But when I thought about the issues Liverpool has been having over the past couple of years, I didn't think Michael Owen was one of them.

[bigredfutbol]

I like Owen, and I have to wonder if a change in representation wouldn't be in order.

[Lanky134]

Actually, Michael, what Raul is to Real Madrid is what Robbie Fowler, not you, was to Liverpool. But apart from that, this is proving what many of us knew would be the case - that Owen wasn't going to just come in and supplant either Raul and Ronaldo. If he truly thought he would, then he has a much more inflated sense of himself than I thought. Self-confidence is one thing. Delusion is another.

[liverbird]

Actually, Michael, what Raul is to Real Madrid is what Robbie Fowler, not you, was to Liverpool. But apart from that, this is proving what many of us knew would be the case - that Owen wasn't going to just come in and supplant either Raul and Ronaldo. If he truly thought he would, then he has a much more inflated sense of himself than I thought. Self-confidence is one thing. Delusion is another.

"You can be certain, but you can also be wrong" John Kerry 9/30/04

[655321]

Actually, Michael, what Raul is to Real Madrid is what Robbie Fowler, not you, was to Liverpool.

Just what I was thinking.

Ha, he must be so pissed at his agent right now.


EDIT - and it just gets worse for little Mikey...

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/041001/4/6tx7.html

[churchill2000]

Just what I was thinking.

Ha, he must be so pissed at his agent right now.


EDIT - and it just gets worse for little Mikey...

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/041001/4/6tx7.html


Isn't his agent his father?
This was probably the stupidest thing he could have done, Rooney has certainly become a favorite atop for England, and other players are waiting to take his spot.
Leaving Liverpool, getting away from being in top form, he will certainly lose some favor with Sven if he doesn't produce when he gets capped.

[oojason]

Isn't his agent his father?
This was probably the stupidest thing he could have done, Rooney has certainly become a favorite atop for England, and other players are waiting to take his spot.
Leaving Liverpool, getting away from being in top form, he will certainly lose some favor with Sven if he doesn't produce when he gets capped.

Yet Owen claims that Sven told him it may be a good idea to 'refresh himself' at a different club... then tells him he may not play him if he's not playing regulary...

Have to wonder how he had the nerve to deny to Benitez that his agent was touting him to clubs in Spain 6 months before the start of this season - despite Rafa being one of the managers who Owen as offered to...

[SirManchester]

Well he's going to have to learn to live with his mistake...

[SuperElf]

But apart from that, this is proving what many of us knew would be the case - that Owen wasn't going to just come in and supplant either Raul and Ronaldo.Well, that's one thing, but also being behind Morientes, Guti, and the damn water boy is another thing. Not even I thought he would be FIFTH at Real. Why even buy him if you didn't think he'd play more than once a month? Galactico indeed.

[usscouse]

Well, that's one thing, but also being behind Morientes, Guti, and the damn water boy is another thing. Not even I thought he would be FIFTH at Real. Why even buy him if you didn't think he'd play more than once a month? Galactico indeed.Kind of a bummer... but do you know how much he gets paid for keeping that bum warm on the bench.
He's just a Real supporter with a great seat.

[PokerNSoccer]

If i were Owen i would kiss the warm Spainish sun good buy and return to Liverpool.I think Real Madrid would be happy to see him go after it is just pointless for Owen to take in the big bucks just watching from the sidelines.

[nicephoras]

What has been clear from the beginning (at least for me) that whatever Owen achieves at Real will either be spectacular or an utter failure. Its that type of deal. Either Owen achieves success, or he fails and runs away with his tail between his legs. There can be nothing in between. So its too soon to say what will happen after 4 games in La Liga. One injury to Ronaldo or Raul and suddenly Owen's role could change. Or he could adapt to La Liga well within the next two weeks. However, what Real cannot afford to have is a sulking Owen on the bench if he's not performing well. If Owen isn't succeeding, he'll be gone in two years, perhaps even less. I don't think he'll be mediocre for a couple of years. But that's just me. I also, honestly, don't see him back at Liverpool. Too many things have happened for that. If he fails at Real, a side like Charlton seems far more likely. That's cruel, I suppose, but failure usually is.

[TruReds]

I hope that Owen looks at the shreds of his career, fires the agent, gets himself transferred back to England and figures out what made him a successful and popular player. He is way too young to MacManamanned, but with as little playing time as he is getting - those hamstrings are going to be completely screwed up when he gets back to a team that wants him to be an ever-present.

My guess is that being a buddy and ex-team mate to McMananam, Owen must have heard stories from Macca of how life was wonderful always being a substitute in a big club like Real Madrid, getting no less fat wages almost effortlessly. :D

Perhaps having achieved the honour of Ballon d'Or at such young age was his own undoing, whereby over the years he had succumbed to the pressure of always under the limelight. Almost a legend of Liverpool FC, he is too frail to handle the great expectations of the club and fans alike to score in every match he played in; to adapt to the disciplines of a reknowned 'no holds bar' tough gaffer; not to mention to a greater extent, to emulate what previous Reds legends had achieved.

However, to each his own, Owen has chosen such path of career, as a Liverpool FC fan, I can only wish him happy playing for a 'bigger' club, but at the expense of risking his career fading into oblivion though. :rolleyes: Hope he knows the whole fiasco is a mistake and he get to rectify it before too late.

[Twenty26Six]

Well, that's one thing, but also being behind Morientes, Guti, and the damn water boy is another thing. Not even I thought he would be FIFTH at Real. Why even buy him if you didn't think he'd play more than once a month? Galactico indeed.


I'm sure Madrid will gross in way more than what they paid out for him. How many replica kits you think got sold in Thailand and England the first week? This was sadly a pure business matter. He's worth nothing more to them than a leg up in the British and Asian commercial markets.

[NC RED]

I'm actually right behind Owen on the Real bench. I think I may jump right in front when he injures his hamstring in PRACTICE. Good job bud. Well at least we will let Baros develop and form a great partnership with Cisse and Garcia.

Hell Diouf is playing more than Owen. Dumb ass is all that comes to mind with Owen's move. Did he really think..? I have read from you guys his agent is a right SOB but this proves it.

LFC Forever.. Like I said a zilllion threads ago, he could have been in a small company with the greats at Liverpool but threw it all away.

[sarabella]

He may be on his way back...

http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Rest_of_Europe/page_109_81899.shtml

[Matt Clark]

I hope you lot do better work with your ladies than you do in this thread. Talk about premature ...

[JigaMann]

The question is, "If he were to come back, would he have a huge support from the fans?" Personally, I wouldn't kick his butt as everyone is entitled to a mistake, or two, and deserves a second chance. However, if Robbie were to come back I'd definitely meet him at the airport instead of Mke.

[danielmak]

He may be on his way back...

http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Rest_of_Europe/page_109_81899.shtml

Or on his way to Juve (but who isn't rumored to be on their way to Turin?):

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct7d.html