I blogged yesterday about how Owen and West Ham would be the perfect fit and the response has been interesting. In the "old days", lets say 12 months ago, the idea of signing Owen would have met with universal approbation. Here is the fox in the box we need, a proven goal scorer still with a 50% chance of making it into the World Cup squad. Instead, though not quite met with derision, the idea has received a pretty much comprehensive thumbs down from those cats whose owners have expressed a preference.
Is this an indication of how far we have come? Do we now feel so confident about our management team that we don't feel we need to add Owen's experience? Do we have such trust in Nani that we believe he will unearth a gem, a striker for the here and now and the future, rather than a striker of the yesteryear, maybe now and very unlikely for too much longer into the future?
Or has the injury blight clouded our thinking? Have Ljungberg, Dyer, Beano and Gabbidon frightened us into not taking a risk, no matter what the potential benefits?
If anybody can get him fit, Owen will score goals and those goals will win matches. I see him as the sort of player who can turn a Villa into a top 4 team, who could fire Everton to a European trophy, a player who could transform us from nearly men to the real deal. It is a risk, a huge gamble, but if you want to hit the lottery jackpot, you have to trust to your luck and buy a ticket - leaving the money in the building society will only pay 1%. It is safe but in real terms, your "investment" is losing money. If we don't sign him, a competitor will, and if Owen scores the goals that fire that rival to glory, how sick will we feel?
Tristan or Owen? Given we have Cole and Ashton, I know who I would rather have. Di Michele or Owen? Four goals and a court appearance reportedly booked for October 4 tells me who my money would be on. Owen or Sears? Come on, you cannot be searsious! (Sorry, couldn't resist that pun!) Owen or a Nani spot? Now there is the rub!
So is the rejection of the Owen idea confidence or cowardice? I understand the arguments against but most have sounded a cautionary note rather than reflected the bullish confidence we need if we are to push on to the next level. The team is good but we need a catalyst, a player who would make a statement, a player that makes others sit up and think, "Bloody hell, West Ham, who would have thought it." Savio may be that man next season, that was supposed to be the effect when we bought him. Owen is not the Bellyache that one poster compared him to, Owen is class.
How far have we come and how far do we really want to go? I would buy the lottery ticket personally and if it doesn't win, screw it up and think, well at least I was in the draw. And the bonus ball? Number 10!
7 comments:
i wouldnt mind him aslong as it is a pay as u play kinda thing. been proved that deano and cole cant play 2gether and deano will be 1st choice striker at this point in time wen he gets fit. owen would be perfect 2 play with him. plus none of the other strikers can do much so y not i say
I think that it would be a massive gamble to have another injury prone player, our squad has already suffered the consequences over the last few seasons.
I'm not for a second doubting Owen's quality, and that he could be an important squad memmber in any top 6 side.
I don't think it will happen though, because I don't see us buying English based players any more. I know the modern game and the average modern Premiership teamis built upon international players, but I think it's sad.
I suspect that Owen will end up at a Fulham or Wigan or Bolton.
we've taken on dixon, whose career was written off, due to injury. owen would raise the profile of the club esp if we get into europe, good 4 potential buyers. capello, like most england managers spends alot of time at upton park. cole ha sbeen compared to hesky - owens fav partnership.
owen looks good in a red strip.
I know owen has struggled this season but my god sign for wet spam, You have lost the plot author.
So who will he join 1615? He wants to stay in England so...
Hammersfan I think most people think Owen needs us more than we need him. I know it seems strange to say that but you have to look at how the club has moved on under Zola.
Its no secret that Capello is a big fan of Zola's and Green, Parker, Upson and Cole have all recieved England call ups this season so Owen knows good performances will be noticed with us.
As a natural goal poacher Owen can fit in alongside Cole, Deano or Tristan so is likely to get his game next season.
WestHams football would suit him too as we have players in Parker, Collison, Nobel and others who can play a good ball in behind for him to run on to.
We also have a very good backroom who have done superb work raising the fitness level of our team, we may have a long injury list but they were injuries for the most part sustained on the pitch so Owen could expect to benefit and possibly prove doubters wrong about him being injury prone or past it.
Combine all that with the fact that any player would love to play for Zola and we are a very attractive option for Owen.
On the other side he is still a major name and in no way is he likely to be willing to take a pay for play contract. A better option would be to give him a basic in line with the rest of the senior players and an incentivised bonus structure based on games played and goals scored as well as a share of merchandising for items bearing his likeness or his jersey sales.
Will he be willing to move to London is a big issue, he may not be in the plans of the top 4 but he will not be short of offers.
Owen is a big family man so convincing them to move south may be a stumbling block.
If all of these issues could be worked out I think he would be a fantastic signing for us.
Owen fits into the same category as Upson, Dyer and Parker for me; a good player with fitness issues. Curbishley bought those players because the only way he could get quality in our then position was to take a risk on their fitness. We are no longer in that position, but other club's are which is why he will not be available on a pay as you play deal. If he was I would take him, but we've moved on and if he does it will not be to Upton Park.
Post a Comment