The old Man Utd Thread

[fatbob]

There are definately loads of positives from the deal, so much depends on his fitness though. It'll be interesting to see how United's medical staff keep him going. Newcaslte are one of those clubs whose players always seem to be picking up injuries.

I've always liked him as a player, and was sad to see him phased out of the England setup; we've definately missed him as much as anyone for England over the past few years and never replaced him. I hope he does well and manages to get back into the team, although hes obviously unlikely to fullfill the same role of old.

Makes you think how different his career could have been, and indeed our club's recent history if he had come here 5 years ago instead of Toon.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens here, and as FATE says he will definately have a positive influence on the young strikers we have coming through, like I said earlier much like Sheringham did when he came in.

[DC]

Him and Rooney have always linked up so well

For England? I thought that was the complete opposite?

[ckny]

My mates think I'm delirious. Every time someone mentions Owen I break into laughter. I can't believe we've signed him. I have literally been saying for six months I would fucking love to see him in our colours. It's bizarre to see it happen though. Almost a 2003 feeling about the signing. I really, really hope it works. There's no fucking with his ability. Like Cole or Solskjaer, he's not the most talented player but he will get us goals and plenty of them. I'm so excited to see him play. It feels like we've signed Messi or something. I'm so excited!

[Poppalarge]

Him and Rooney have always linked up so well,

Except they haven't

Personally I think the deal United have him on is perfect, pay as you play and high on incentives. They really can't lose, Even if he is shit. Which is why you'll get no complaints from me.

[fatbob]

What are the specifics of the deal then officially?

All i've seen is that it is two years?

[bradigor]

So Michael Owen "Hope to earn an England recall", that explains his motivation for moving to you. Owen only thinks of Owen

[Gabzy]

Whatever floats his boat, man. As long as he's scoring the goals for us, he can be motivated by Ferguson's cock for all I care

[bradigor]

Whatever floats his boat, man. As long as he's scoring the goals for us, he can be motivated by Ferguson's cock for all I care

But will he be willing to get 'injuries' when international duty comes around?

[Mallet]

Do you think thats it now for the summer?

We've effectively seen Ronaldo and Tevez's position's filled if not the players themselves.

I'd like to see some more players come in, but I can't help thinking they won't. I still think we want another quality winger, a holding mid-fielder and possibly a full back.

Who do you go for though? I'd imagine that's the problem Fergie faces, especially as he'd have to pay silly money for anyone well known because off the Ronaldo money. I wouldn't be surprised if Fergie is looking to play some of the young, upcoming players alot more next season.

[barkbat]

He can try as hard as he can, and have the best percentages in the world, but if all he needs is one good tackle to be out for a few weeks like little Louis Saha, it'll all be in vain.

At least the finances make sense.

[BigShimmeryWall]

It would seem United are signing full back Alberto Massacci from Empoli, at least according to Massacci

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5414560,00.html

He's only 16 and hasn't played for Empoli yet so it's not exactly the biggest signing we'll make this summer but I'll be intrested to see how he develops at United although I've got mixed feelings on this as we need all the decent players we can get at Empoli, especially in defence.

[FATEone]

Except they haven't

Personally I think the deal United have him on is perfect, pay as you play and high on incentives. They really can't lose, Even if he is shit. Which is why you'll get no complaints from me.

Well in the 29 games they've played together they've scored 23 goals (Rooney 12, Owen 11) and these examples show they link up well, I couldn't even find footage of all the qualifiers they dealt with as a partnership.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZll4lDctU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIEvf7mA5I

[FATEone]

My mates think I'm delirious. Every time someone mentions Owen I break into laughter. I can't believe we've signed him. I have literally been saying for six months I would fucking love to see him in our colours. It's bizarre to see it happen though. Almost a 2003 feeling about the signing. I really, really hope it works. There's no fucking with his ability. Like Cole or Solskjaer, he's not the most talented player but he will get us goals and plenty of them. I'm so excited to see him play. It feels like we've signed Messi or something. I'm so excited!

He's way more talented than them two, good as they were.

[fatbob]

He's way more talented than them two, good as they were.

Yeah, I remember that goal against Brazil, the little drag forward is sublime.

The audacity of the second goal.

[BigShimmeryWall]

Yeah, I remember that goal against Brazil, the little drag forward is sublime.

Christ, I'd hate to think what would happen to his legs if he tried that now.

[Poppalarge]

Well in the 29 games they've played together they've scored 23 goals (Rooney 12, Owen 11) and these examples show they link up well, I couldn't even find footage of all the qualifiers they dealt with as a partnership.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZll4lDctU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIEvf7mA5I

I can't be arsed to dig up stats but I beleive that the general consensus is that they each ( roon and owen ) did a lot better when partnered with Heskey.

[squirtle]

So Michael Owen "Hope to earn an England recall", that explains his motivation for moving to you. Owen only thinks of Owen

This is really starting to annoy me now. I'm a Liverpool fan and have no beef with him signing for United. He's just a player after all. And as for Owen only think of Owen... Who the hell else should he be thinking of? I hope he does well. I really do (accept against us, of course ). I hope he get's an England call up because I still think he's the most potent goal threat that England have had in the last 10 years or so.

[bradigor]

This is really starting to annoy me now. I'm a Liverpool fan and have no beef with him signing for United. He's just a player after all. And as for Owen only think of Owen... Who the hell else should he be thinking of? I hope he does well. I really do (accept against us, of course ). I hope he get's an England call up because I still think he's the most potent goal threat that England have had in the last 10 years or so.

I have no beef with him signing for United, I really don't. His comments are what disappoint me. Owen was dead to me the day he went to Madrid after running his contract down. A week after assuring us (via .tv eSeason) that we needn't worry about the contract and that he would sign. No doubting Owen is a very good footballer, it is why we were so angry in the way he jibbed us off. Couldn't give an arse about his England career, purely as I don't give an arse about the national team anyway.

[DC Lemon]

I have no beef with him signing for United, I really don't. His comments are what disappoint me. Owen was dead to me the day he went to Madrid after running his contract down. A week after assuring us (via .tv eSeason) that we needn't worry about the contract and that he would sign. No doubting Owen is a very good footballer, it is why we were so angry in the way he jibbed us off. Couldn't give an arse about his England career, purely as I don't give an arse about the national team anyway.

Owen is an Everton supporter, what do you expect? He'll be sitting down with Rooney to discuss which one of them hates Liverpool FC the most this time next week.

[bradigor]

Owen is an Everton supporter, what do you expect? He'll be sitting down with Rooney to discuss which one of them hates Liverpool FC the most this time next week.

True.... By the way, do you guys still sing songs about hating Scousers, followed by singing about Rooney.

[fatbob]

I have no beef with him signing for United, I really don't. His comments are what disappoint me. Owen was dead to me the day he went to Madrid after running his contract down. A week after assuring us (via .tv eSeason) that we needn't worry about the contract and that he would sign. No doubting Owen is a very good footballer, it is why we were so angry in the way he jibbed us off. Couldn't give an arse about his England career, purely as I don't give an arse about the national team anyway.

Thing is, there are a million different circumstances which could make a player want to leave a club in such a way, ones which you or I could never possibly know about. We're outside looking down the chimney.

Owen is hardly unique in the ways he moved about, it seems that all th great players have at least flirted with wanting away, look at Gerrard. We at United have had enough of them. Give the guy a break, its long enough ago and he gave you his best years, probably being over-played too young at the same time which hasn't exactly helped his injury problems now.

[Rog]

I read today that Owen's basic salary is as low as £30k a week!

[Quote]

God, what a trooper. Agreeing to sit on the subs bench and injury table for only £30,000 a week?

Makes me proud of this country that does. The economy's going down the shitter but good ole' wonderboy St Micheal of England is right there in the trenches with us, making yet another unbelievable sacrifice.

[fatbob]

God, what a trooper. Agreeing to sit on the subs bench and injury table for only £30,000 a week?

Makes me proud of this country that does. The economy's going down the shitter but good ole' wonderboy St Micheal of England is right there in the trenches with us, making yet another unbelievable sacrifice.

Yeah, what a shit, he should go £20,000 a year, make a political statement about it.

Your criticising of his (relatively small for a footballer of his level) wage makes a nonsense of the whole 'footballers wages are too high argument'. Why not have a pop at the wages Ronaldo is on? The figures that City are bandying around of £300,000+ a week? Because you're having a go at a player with an argument that makes no sense in the context of the debate.

[aidey6]

He's way more talented than them two, good as they were.

Way more talented is pushing it, I'd have said way more loved by the media.....

It will be interesting to see how his hamstrings hold up next season, as we're one of the best counter-attacking teams in the Premiership...

I'd have hoped we'd have gone for someone like Fabiano, but it appears as though he heading for Milan....

[fatbob]

I'm not sure Fabiano is all that amazing to be honest, other than an brilliant season he had for Sevilla a couple of years back hes never scored that many goals cosistantly. Saying that he scored a couple of nice ones in South Africa.

Bare in mind that hes 28 now too and any fee would be pretty high, same for Villa and Eto'o.

[Rog]

Yeah, what a shit, he should go £20,000 a year, make a political statement about it.

Your criticising of his (relatively small for a footballer of his level) wage makes a nonsense of the whole 'footballers wages are too high argument'. Why not have a pop at the wages Ronaldo is on? The figures that City are bandying around of £300,000+ a week? Because you're having a go at a player with an argument that makes no sense in the context of the debate.

...except I'm not criticizing him. I think that, given the inflated salaries that footballers scrape by on and the fact that he's out of contract , a 3/4 paycut is as good a statement of intent as I would expect from any player.

[fatbob]

...except I'm not criticizing him. I think that, given the inflated salaries that footballers scrape by on and the fact that he's out of contract , a 3/4 paycut is as good a statement of intent as I would expect from any player.

I was talking to the guy a post above mine (maybe I should have quoted).

[Mallet]

Yeah, what a shit, he should go £20,000 a year, make a political statement about it.

Your criticising of his (relatively small for a footballer of his level) wage makes a nonsense of the whole 'footballers wages are too high argument'. Why not have a pop at the wages Ronaldo is on? The figures that City are bandying around of £300,000+ a week? Because you're having a go at a player with an argument that makes no sense in the context of the debate.

And why do people single out footballers? What about F1 drivers, the top golfers, movie and pop stars. Footballers aren't the only ones getting obscene wages while the economy crumbles around them.

Sure they earn too much but the World is fucked up in the way wealth is distributed regardless of what footballers get.

[FATEone]

I can't be arsed to dig up stats but I beleive that the general consensus is that they each ( roon and owen ) did a lot better when partnered with Heskey.

Wow would you mind representing me in court some time!? wtf.