The last thing that Alex Ferguson's signing of Michael Owen is is a gamble. He was out of contract with a relegated club for the love of God. Owen has shown himself to be something of a mercenary over the years and he was always going to be available to either the highest bidder or the lure of major trophies. Ferguson has gotten him cheap and he won't break United even if he never plays so it's no skin off Fergie's neck one way or the other.
For Mickey Owen the only other suitors were Hull City and Stoke City, who it turns out Michael wouldn't play for all the money in the world. The poor guy hasn't looked fit since about 1998 and it really has been a shame to see a player who burst onto the scene with such a swagger to fade away as he has done these past few years. It happens to a lot of great strikers. They suffer an injury or two and they're never really the same player again. It happened to Robbie Fowler and there is a real danger of it happening to Fernando Torres.
The one thing Ferguson does know is that if he gets Owen fit, he will score goals. He always has. It certainly won't do him any harm being out of the arctic North of England where players seem to spend more time injured than fit. One thing that is certain is that the Michael Owen of yore is no more. He will no longer terrorise defences and if he plays like he did for Newcastle last season he'll be lucky if he even gets to tear it up with the reserves.
Nevertheless the signing of Owen represents a massive coup for Ferguson if only because it once again gives him the opportunity to stick the boot into Liverpool. It wouldn't surprise me if that was the only reason he signed him Owen. After all only a week ago the general consensus was that he was finished.
There escaping the impression that Liverpool have been caught napping on this one. It might well be that Rafa didn't want Owen back because of the circumstances in which he left in the summer of 2004. How's that for loyalty? The Liverpool fans being as gullible as they are still idolise the man and there can be no doubt that Owen signing for Man U will be a blow to their morale going into the new season.
On the other hand, it is just the good news story United fans want to hear after the sale of Ronaldo. He's obviously no replacement but it is always nice to have such an exceptional goalscorer join your ranks. Liverpool could certainly use one.
Conversely had Owen signed for Liverpool, they would have gotten the boost while United fans were still down on their luck. It wouldn't have cost Rafa anything in the scheme of things because I'm sure that commercially Owen would have paid for himself plus like Fowler's return in 2006, a sentimental Owen would surely have jumped at the chance especially on the cusp of a mounting a real title challenge next season.
Every time Owen scores for Man U next season will be a double blow for Liverpool fans who will see it as both a betrayal and a goal lost. Owen is still one of the few natural goalscorers in the Premier League (Defoe possibly the only other) and surely Ferguson won't try to do an Alan Smith on him.
Liverpool fans will be reeling from the shock of this move while for United it just offers further proof that they are the smarter club and the better team. It's not the first time Liverpool have been found wanting in the transfer market and it's a lethargy which they've displayed since the early 90's losing out to United commercially, in trophies and now the signing of Owen is just the salt in the wounds.
Let the psychological warfare begin. Latest Score: Ferguson 1 Benitez 0.
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