The move of Michael Owen from Newcastle United to Manchester last Summer was unexpected and surprising, mainly due to Michael’s injury prone history.
Many experts were left confused by the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson. After Ronaldo’s transfer, most people expected that a big name would automatically pop in to the latest Manchester United soccer apparel to replace him. however, Manchester United got Luis Valencia from Wigan and Michael Owen. A player who for the past five years has been beset by injury problem after injury problem and who was not only struggling for fitness, but form too. The fact that he is a former Liverpool player only adds insult to injury. Their were a few unhappy faces from Manchester United fans when the transfer was announced.
When the finer details of the agreement were released it became clear that Alex Ferguson had, as always had a plan. Owen was on a pay as you play deal at Old Trafford and Ferguson intended to use him sporadically from the bench and in the team. He did not have to hold the whole team up with his striking abilities, he is being used from the bench when the team needs him.
Not the best start Owen would have wanted at Manchester United, only featuring in a few games as a late substitute. However his role in the team seemed apparent when he was called in on the Manchester United derby game against Manchester City scoring the last minute winning goal. This goal was expected to kick start more involvement from Owen in the team, their was even talk about a place in the England soccer team if he could find consistent goals.
Things however have not worked out that way for Owen. Another two goals has given Owen four this season from 18 games, which is not great statically despite the fact that in many games he was a substitute, Doubt is starting to spread on Alex Fergusons decision to transfer Michael Owen and how long he has left in the team.
It seems highly unlikely that Owen will make it back onto the England squad. Fabio Capello has repeatedly reiterated the need for players to be fit and playing regularly in order to play.Over the past few years Owen has managed to be neither of these things. However it should be known that Capello doesn’t seem to apply this rule to all of England’s strikers, Emile Heskey seems certain to make the squad regardless of consistence and performance of Aston Villa.
The high point of the experiment so far has been Owen’s last minute goal against City.It will be highly unlikely for Alex Ferguson to continue the agreement with Michael Owen unless the former English striker can find form and consistency in the remainder of the season, much in the way youngster Darron Gibson is doing. Whether Owen has the ability and level of fitness to do that remains questionable and as such, it seems likely that Sir Alex Ferguson’s gamble, in the long run, may not pay off.
