Around the turn of the millennium, he was the face of excellence, scoring countless fantastic goals and leading Liverpool to silverware in both the League Cup and the UEFA Cup. His brilliance was at it's peak in an FA Cup in which he managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the final by scoring twice against Arsenal during the dying minutes, winning the tournament to much acclaim. Indeed, it seemed as though Owen could do no wrong.
His descent since then has been alarming, to say the least. Owen's departure coincided with Benitez's arrival, but the season he laboured through at Real Madrid ultimately proved to be fruitless. The time he has most recently spent with Newcastle has been coloured with nothing but negatives, from constant nagging injuries to dropping out of the starting England team. The culmination of this all was Newcastle's relegation this past campaign, which appeared to many as a sign of Owen's impotency, as he couldn't save his team from this greatest of disappointments.
Over the span of this transfer season, there has been intense speculation as to what club Owen would end up playing for in the 09/10 Season. Aston Villa and Everton were names that were thrown about, but Hull City were also serious contenders, a fact which some found ruthless humor in. But no, Owen has signed for the most unlikely of clubs: last season's Premier League champions Manchester United.
It is nothing but good news for Owen himself. From a footballing perspective, at this point he really has nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing for the current champions. He will go to the club with very little pressure on him, as no one can possibly expect him to fill the void left by the industrious Carlos Tevez or Ronaldo who, bratty demeanor and silly theatrics aside, is a terrific footballer. Nor will he likely be expected to play in every game or for a full ninety minutes at a time, at least at first. This leaves him in the unique position of having to rebuild any sort of prestige for himself essentially from the ground up. It will be a difficult task and one he may very well fail at, but a couple of weeks ago, I doubt he would have even dreamed of having the opportunity to do such work at a Big Four club.
It is nothing but good news for Owen himself. From a footballing perspective, at this point he really has nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing for the current champions. He will go to the club with very little pressure on him, as no one can possibly expect him to fill the void left by the industrious Carlos Tevez or Ronaldo who, bratty demeanor and silly theatrics aside, is a terrific footballer. Nor will he likely be expected to play in every game or for a full ninety minutes at a time, at least at first. This leaves him in the unique position of having to rebuild any sort of prestige for himself essentially from the ground up. It will be a difficult task and one he may very well fail at, but a couple of weeks ago, I doubt he would have even dreamed of having the opportunity to do such work at a Big Four club.
The only possible detriment for Owen from this move is the very possible (and indeed, probable) loss of respect he will suffer from many of his formerly adoring Liverpool fans. To a great deal of them, Michael Owen playing in a United shirt will seem to them an act of base treachery. Owen will have considered this however, and has clearly come to the conclusion that this is a consequence he can accept in the cause of bettering himself as a footballer.
With all of the possible benefits to Owen noted, it must be said that at Manchester United's end of the deal, this to me has the feel of nothing but an act of true desperation. There can be no arguing that so far in the transfer season, things have not gone United's way. They have lost not only Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, but have also been hugely unsuccessful in landing a big signing of their own, even with the extra £80m generated by Ronaldo's departure. It will be a slap in the face to Ferguson that Karim Benzema is also Real Madrid-bound along with Ronaldo. The signing of former Wigan winger Antonio Valencia will do little to assuage the sting of sleight Sir Alex must be feeling now, a pain he is largely unused to.
To me, Michael Owen looks like a low-risk acquisition by a club that has lost out on the signatures of the players they really had an interest in. He appears a consolation procurement, one that has a vague chance of success, but one that will not be fussed over if it does not end up being worth the time. This is a far cry from the atmosphere that would have been generated around Benzema if he had ended up at Old Trafford. In the end, this bit of business will be entirely what Owen makes of it. Whether he is successful as a Red Devil or not however, there cannot be any argument that he was brought in only after Sir Alex Ferguson's other targets weren't acquired.
To me, Michael Owen looks like a low-risk acquisition by a club that has lost out on the signatures of the players they really had an interest in. He appears a consolation procurement, one that has a vague chance of success, but one that will not be fussed over if it does not end up being worth the time. This is a far cry from the atmosphere that would have been generated around Benzema if he had ended up at Old Trafford. In the end, this bit of business will be entirely what Owen makes of it. Whether he is successful as a Red Devil or not however, there cannot be any argument that he was brought in only after Sir Alex Ferguson's other targets weren't acquired.