Owen's Last Chance

So it’s official. Manchester United have signed Michael Owen: a ten year journey from Liverpool to Manchester, via Madrid and Newcastle. Owen’s arrival at Old Trafford is the last chance saloon for the out-of-favor England international looking to return to the frame ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Liverpool Owen scores past Barthez and United in 2001

Of course question marks remain about Owen’s fitness. His record of 71 appearances in four injury plagued seasons with Newcastle says it all. But given the right service, the boy wonder can still score the odd goal. Over those 71 appearances, Owen tallied 26 goals, no mean feat considering he was playing for a side that didn’t offer the crossing of a Giggs, the through balls of a Carrick and the knock-downs of a Berbatov.

Having sniffed around the Owen camp several times before, Sir Alex and the Man U hierarchy will argue the deal had now become a win-win situation. Even if the lad flops and spends his two year contract on the sidelines, they’ll say he was only ever signed on a free transfer. If he goes on to score bag loads of goals then the deal will be hailed as one of the greatest bargains in football history.

But what about the fans? You never like to see one of your old favorites play for anyone, let alone your arch-rivals. As we speak, Liverpool faithful around the world are peeling their Owen posters and stickers off their bedroom walls as chat rooms burst with traitor talk. But Michael isn’t the first to make the short journey up the M62. The last poor soul to play for both United and Liverpool was Paul Ince. If you can remember correctly, Ince was also the empty nut who was pictured in the Daily Express wearing a United jersey while still playing for West Ham. For the Liverpool fans out there grinding their teeth over the whole affair, at least Owen didn’t join Everton.