Man U

[MaryDrummer]

Yeah he probably is too inexperienced and I would love to see Owen play up front with Rooney but Fergie doesn't seem to think Owen can start a game. That's why I said Diouf, probably more wishful thinking on my part! 4 4 2 with Park, don't think I've ever seen it done! lol

[DeLorean]

United have been playing their best football this season with 4-5-1 so I'm not sure why you want to inflict a 4-4-2 formation on them? They played 4-4-2 at Goodison and got tanked, 4-5-1 at the Emirates and San Siro and got their best results of the season, also 4-4-2 at Anfield earlier in the season and were well beaten. The simple fact of the matter is that they have only one striker who is worth having on the pitch at the moment but a lot of capable midfielders. 4-5-1 isn't necessarily a negative system, it just depends how it's applied. When United use it they have two very attack minded wingers, they have runners from the centre of midfield and also overlapping full backs. It used to annoy me when he played 4-5-1 last season/season before because they played Rooney on the left but it is definitely their best system with the current crop.

[shakermaker1982]

Man Utd haven't got the midfielders to play 4-4-2 anymore.

Poor second half performance Saturday and Rooney had a shocker.

[KK77]

likkle Michael Owen ruled out for the season.

[DeLorean]

likkle Michael Owen ruled out for the season.

Could be a bit of a loss should they go far in the Champions League. He wasn't getting an awful lot of game time anyway but his experience could have been useful in the run-in. At least he went out on a bit of a high scoring an important goal at the weekend and who knows he may end up the the PL and CL medals that alluded him at Liverpool.

[superfrank]

So his season's over, what did Man U fans make of him?

[KK77]

Could be a bit of a loss should they go far in the Champions League. He wasn't getting an awful lot of game time anyway but his experience could have been useful in the run-in. At least he went out on a bit of a high scoring an important goal at the weekend and who knows he may end up the the PL and CL medals that alluded him at Liverpool.

Alluded him by one season at Liverpool.
As the steward said to him the night of the Chelsea game in 05 as he made his way across from the ITV box "Sorry you left now Michael"!!!!!!! The pain must have been awful that night in Istanbul. Will he still get a CL medal if he's out injured if Man Utd win it????????

Might want to edit his brochure saying he isn't injury prone!!!

[De Town]

Meh, I thought he did alright tbh considering how much game time he got. Obviously he has lost the pace he had year ago but he certainly knew where the goal was and i'd much rather have him running onto a 1 on 1 than Berbatov. Scored some important goals too, the City winner being the most important obviously.

[DeLorean]

So his season's over, what did Man U fans make of him?

I think Ferguson realising that 4-5-1 was the system that best suited Rooney and United put a nail or two in his coffin. Had Rooney and Berbatov been part of a 4-4-2 system then Owen would have been a used substitute at least in every match. The fact that they went 4-5-1 meant Berbatov was first choice from the bench so it was difficult to fit Owen in. You couldn't agrue too much with his contribution when he did play, goals-wise at least which is how he's always going to be judged. The injury has come at a very bad time because I'm sure on the back of/and before tough Champions League games he would have got a run in some league games. Overall this injury has ensured that the signing won't be deemed a success, for this season at least, but as most people said at the time he signed it was a fairly risk free investment anyway.

[KK77]

I think Ferguson realising that 4-5-1 was the system that best suited Rooney and United but a nail or two in his coffin. Had Rooney and Berbatov been part of a 4-4-2 system then Owen would have been a used substitute at least in every match. The fact that they went 4-5-1 meant Berbatov was first choice from the bench so it was difficult to fit Owen in. You couldn't agrue too much with his contribution when he did play, goals-wise at least which is how he's always going to be judged. The injury has come at a very bad time because I'm sure on the back of/and before tough Champions League games he would have got a run in some league games. Overall this injury has ensured that the signing won't be deemed a success, for this season at least, but as most people said at the time he signed it was a fairly risk free investment anyway.

Will he still get a CL medal if he's out injured if Man Utd win it????????

Don't see how it was risk free. They are paying a player huge money who they knew was a crock from the start. What about the 50k a week and huge signing on fee he got? Does he give this up now or continue to spend it on the gee gees?

[DeLorean]

Alluded him by one season at Liverpool

Well there's no guarantees ye would have won it if he stayed.

As the steward said to him the night of the Chelsea game in 05 as he made his way across from the ITV box "Sorry you left now Michael"!!!!!!! The pain must have been awful that night in Istanbul. Will he still get a CL medal if he's out injured if Man Utd win it????????

Might want to edit his brochure saying he isn't injury prone!!!

You seem quite chuffed about the news Rafa, not surprising I suppose. I presume he would be entitled to a Champions League medal having played in all 6 group games and being part of the final squad. Open to correction though.

[DeLorean]

Don't see how it was risk free. They are paying a player huge money who they knew was a crock from the start. What about the 50k a week and huge signing on fee he got? Does he give this up now or continue to spend it on the gee gees?

I'd consider that fairly risk free to be honest, relatively speaking.

[KK77]

Well there's no guarantees ye would have won it if he stayed.



You seem quite chuffed about the news Rafa, not surprising I suppose. I presume he would be entitled to a Champions League medal having played in all 6 group games and being part of the final squad. Open to correction though.

Couldn't care less to be honest just joining in the discussion. You only get a medal if you are in the final squad. Do you expect him to be in the squad if they get there and he's injured?

[DeLorean]

Couldn't care less to be honest just joining in the discussion. You only get a medal if you are in the final squad. Do you expect him to be in the squad if they get there and he's injured?

Sorry I meant the Final squad that was selected after the group stage, not for the Final itself. I thought Keane & Scholes got medals in 99 even though they were suspended?

[KK77]

I'd consider that fairly risk free to be honest, relatively speaking.

I wouldn't myself but i would be prepared to wager a few quid that Fergie had already to decided to dispense with his services before the latest hamstring injury.

[KK77]

Sorry I meant the Final squad that was selected after the group stage, not for the Final itself. I thought Keane & Scholes got medals in 99 even though they were suspended?

You are probably right as i know Mellor did not get one in 2005 so the rule may have changed now.

[DeLorean]

I wouldn't myself but i would be prepared to wager a few quid that Fergie had already to decided to dispense with his services before the latest hamstring injury.

50,000 a week you say. For the full year that's 2.6m approx. It's not an awful lot to lose and his 9 goals could be the differnce between United winning trophies or not, certainly contributed heavily to the League Cup win and if United win the PL by a point or two that winner against City will look invaluable.

According to WikiAnswers the winning CL team receives 30 medals. Obviously the squad for the Final will each get one and presumably it's up to the club to give the rest to those most worthy. The fact that Owen has scored four goals in the competition I'd imagine he would get one. Just the small matter of winning it now!!

[DeLorean]

Better news about the other Owen

Macheda might prove useful also.

[KK77]

50,000 a week you say. For the full year that's 2.6m approx. It's not an awful lot to lose and his 9 goals could be the differnce between United winning trophies or not, certainly contributed heavily to the League Cup win and if United win the PL by a point or two that winner against City will look invaluable.

According to WikiAnswers the winning CL team receives 30 medals. Obviously the squad for the Final will each get one and presumably it's up to the club to give the rest to those most worthy. The fact that Owen has scored four goals in the competition I'd imagine he would get one. Just the small matter of winning it now!!

Big difference in having a medal to winning a medal but sure that's just my opinion.

As regards the other Owen i can't see him ever getting back to his best. Been out too long and the pace of the game in this day and age will be way too much for his knees. Would be nice to be wrong though as not nice to see a good honest decent pro being out so long.

[DeLorean]

Big difference in having a medal to winning a medal but sure that's just my opinion

I think it's safe to say that's everybody's opinion. He will have contributed though, however slight. I'm sure he'd still prefer it than being at Hull or Stoke, which were his options.

As regards the other Owen i can't see him ever getting back to his best. Been out too long and the pace of the game in this day and age will be way too much for his knees. Would be nice to be wrong though as not nice to see a good honest decent pro being out so long.

It will be a serious battle for him alright. Just glad that there's some hope of him playing again now anyway.