Is Michael Owen Really A Gamble?

Many commentators have showered scorn on Michael Owen joining Manchester United and others have remarked that Sir Alex Ferguson has finally lost his touch in the transfer market.  I think it’s a great deal.  Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid for 80 million pounds and Kaka joined the same team for 56 million.  It’s rumoured that Real Madrid, trying to relaunch their Galatico brand, wanted the French striker, Franck Ribery and were offering the German club around 45 million for his services.

Michael Owen cost Manchester United nothing apart from his wages and no matter what you say about him, when he is fit he scores goals.  Not as fleet-footed as he was once was, Owen has developed into a classic goal poacher and the main reason he didn’t thrive at Newcastle was because they created so little chances for him.  Now playing alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, Owen should prosper at the opportunities that will be created for him.  He is still only 29, only a year or so older than the 56 million pounds worth of Kaka.  Owen has taken a drastic pay cut to join Manchester United and it’s nowhere near the £120,000 a week that the recently departed Carlos Tevez asked for.  And my money is on Owen to be more productive in front of goal than Tevez.

Before joining Newcastle, Owen had a season playing for Real Madrid where he was criminally underused.  He had to be satisfied with the substitute bench for many games but he still scored 14 goals.  For a short spell he formed a lethal scoring partnership with Brazil’s Ronaldo and supplied by the likes of David Beckham, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, his scoring ratio per minute he played was the best in La Liga that term.  He made his name with Liverpool and I’ve heard Liverpool fans express their anger at Owen signing for the ‘enemy’.  But Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez didn’t want him.  Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in and made an offer.  Was Owen going to say no?  It’s an incredible opportunity for him.

If he starts the season well at Old Trafford, Fabio Capello, the England manager, will be forced to look at him again and consider including him for next summer’s World Cup squad in South Africa.  Perhaps there he will get close to Bobby Charlton’s English scoring record of 49 goals.  At present he is on 40. 

I hope Michael Owen does perform well in United colours and prove his doubters wrong.