Would you sign Michael Owen?

[Miyazaki]

Undoubtedly when fit, he is little short of a footballing genius, can head the ball, cool under pressure and an excellent finisher.

However, he has spent most of the last 4 years on the treatment table, demands exorbitant wages and has lost most of the pace that defined his early career.

He has about 3 weeks left on his contract and no doubt many clubs will be weighing up whether to offer him a contract. Would you?

[BlackCountryBob]

If I were a manager at one of the smaller (sorry) clubs like Wigan or Pompey then no because he would be a constant source of distraction and would detract from the squad cohesion which enables teams like that to survive. With his injury problems, he will always be playing catchup to prove his name and carry the team to success.

However, at a larger club where he would not be the main star and the focus of attention but just another player, I would give him a rolling 1 year contract or a pay as you play deal. I think he would fit well at a club like ManU or Chelsea in such terms because with the pressure off him to carry the entire squad on his back, he could really focus on his play and I think would get his form back very quickly.

On a bosman, why not give him a try, if it doesn't work out then you have lost nothing but if he gets his form back then he is one of the best finishers in the game and you look even more like a managerial genius.

[DJT75]

A good manager would still get the best out of him, if fit for any period of time. Even Kinnear managed to recognise his footballing brain & played him successfully in a deeper role. Now he's on a bosman I would.

I also think England need him fit & back playing to somewhere near his capabilities for the World Cup, our squad is far too thin on strikers. He may not have done much in an England shirt the last few occassions he's played but he scores goals in that shirt, loads of them.

[JonnyConcrete]

Voted yes but I support Forest so any player of his calibre would do, injury prone or not.

[RMCF]

Voted no.

He's crocked, and has been for far too long.

Too expensive to spend most of the season watching his team rather than playing.

And even when he does play, a shadow of his former self.

[FZR400RRSP]

I, as a Tottenham supporter, would take him.
But there would have to be provisos.

Firstly, no fee.
Secondly, not on £100k a week.

His injury thing is more complex, but perhaps not insurmountable.
Remember Woodgate at Newcastle?
Barely played?
Transfers to Tottenham and plays just about every game this season?

Something wrong with Newcastle's training/physio, perhaps?

[enablerbro1]

If I worked for Vodafone I'd sign Owen up to a 24 month contract, £50 a month, unlimited texts and 1000 minutes to any network (or some such). His money's as good as anyones. I'd also try and convince him to buy the insurance too.

[jabintendo]

I also agree that newcastle's medical staff has something to do with his fitness, but i think he can still score goals. I would personally sign him to a pay as you play deal.

[lostinspace]

I voted no. He's too expensive to take a gamble on-there's no guarantee you will ever get him fit enough to terrorise defences again.
Maybe a lowe division club could take a gamble on a pay per goal basis, but certainly not Premiership.
It's a shame because at one point he would have been the forst name on the England team sheet.
His greatest weapon was his speed, which has gone. It would be a bit like signing beckhams left foot.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by bowfer

I, as a Tottenham supporter, would take him.
But there would have to be provisos.

Firstly, no fee.
Secondly, not on £100k a week.

His injury thing is more complex, but perhaps not insurmountable.
Remember Woodgate at Newcastle?
Barely played?
Transfers to Tottenham and plays just about every game this season?

Something wrong with Newcastle's training/physio, perhaps?

Totally agree - Spurs fan here too. I'd take him with no fee and an acceptable wage or on a "play and pay" system.

If anybody can get him back on his feet (excuse the pun) it's Harry R.

[Rorifett]

Originally Posted by Kieron

Totally agree - Spurs fan here too. I'd take him with no fee and an acceptable wage or on a "play and pay" system.

If anybody can get him back on his feet (excuse the pun) it's David Moyes.

Fixed.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by lostinspace

His greatest weapon was his speed, which has gone. It would be a bit like signing beckhams left foot.

He's probably still pretty rapid, just not as quick as some younger..

[Dony]

As a Spurs fan I voted no.

I don't think his heart is in it any more and with us already having 2 pint sized strikers as it is, we don't need another.

[LFC_SL]

I voted no

Because he is not able to maintain fitness long enough before injury strikes

And because he would not accept £30k a week

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Dony

I don't think his heart is in it any more .

That is the main problem. He needs a club & a manager that will reinvent his love for the game