Should Newcastle give in to striker’s wage demands?
by stresster on July 26th, 2008
| 325 words |
Last season, Michael Owen started to finally pay back the £16 million that Newcastle paid for him three years ago. However, the fact remains that the England striker has only made 37 league starts for the Magpies since joining for Real Madrid, something that Kevin Keegan will be anxious to redress this term. There is also the nagging issue of Owen’s contract, which could see the player walk out on a free if the club aren’t careful.
The Guardian report that Newcastle have until next summer to improve their contract offer, or risk losing their star man for nothing. You might think that Owen would be happy to collect £105,000 a week for the next few years on Tyneside, considering the number of appearances he’s made to date, but football doesn’t work like that. United now have to decide whether the former Liverpool hotshot is worth holding on to.
Although the 28-year-old would rather stay at Newcastle, he knows he is likely to receive a larger wage offer elsewhere if he leaves on a Bosman and as a result he and his advisers are negotiating from a position of considerable strength.
Newcastle’s owner, Mike Ashley, is keen to reduce wages but Owen does not see why he should take a pay cut after proving his worth with 10 goals in 19 games at the end of last season. The club, though, are mindful that their £16m signing from Real Madrid has played only 47 games for them in three years because of injuries.
If I were the Newcastle owner, I would tell Owen to take it or leave it. The player will be 29 next summer and if he’s been blighted by injuries in the past couple of seasons, it’s more than likely that they will occur again. True, the Magpies might not get any money for the forward, but they will get shot of his horrendous wage demands and can build towards the future instead.
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Tagged Under: kevin keegan, michael owen., mike ashley, Newcastle FC
nodrog - July 26th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Overated, overpayed and will probably be injured for most of the season. Sell him now whilst we may get something for him.
Bathing Ape - July 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Unfortunately it is a reality of todays fortues at Newcastle that we will struggle to attract of Owens caliber, so letting him go for nothing would be something like waving a white flag and finaaly surrendering to the mediocrity that the nations press seem determined to condemn us to. This is a huge season for Newcastle United, we fans aren’t expecting silverware (although it wouldn’t go amiss), we are however expecting a much improved performance on last seasons showing. The pressure of a the crowd this season will not fall on the manager, as they have in the past, this season they are more likely to fall those in power should they not provide the resource required to give us the improvement which is required. Some of what we read sounds understandable and even admirable (not giving in to Aimars wage demands etc..), but in a situation like Owens, a proven premier league performer, the chequebook does need to rule.
At a time when fee’s of £18m for Robbie Keane (always a poor mans Owen) and £25m for Berbatov (cant score away from home and has suprisingly few assists) I would ask, how could Newcastle replace Owen should he be allowed to leave?
Nick Dryden - July 26th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Adebayor is on 35K a week. I rest my case.
Owen obviously has absolutely no conscience about all the time he has missed and still being paid a fortune.
Poor lamb being asked to survive on 80k a week.
GET RID.
He has no loyalty even though he is captain. Owen has shown his true colours. He is already one of the richest people in Britain and still the greed and selfishness shines through.
Spurt - July 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I’m Spurs, but agree with above, he’s being paid now on memories…..finished
wozza - July 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
As a toon fan living on the south coast i don’t get sucked in to the hype. Ashley is trying to turn Newcastle into a football club but the only team Owen cares about is team Owen inc. He was keeping the sick bench warm at Liverpool, Madrid and now Newcastle. The only reason he signed for us is cos Benitez didn’t want him. If he and Capello have wised up to him then so should we.
Bathing Ape - July 26th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
So…..from what I gather, you all read the Sun and have decided to share their opinion without giving it much (if any) thought, and then decided to comment on it as if you were all the bastard children of Shaun Custis…..how predictable and dull.
Chicago Toon Army - July 26th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Bathing Ape-Your “Bang On” mate.This is indeed a big season for the TOON, and the fans will back Keegan to the hilt, (Deranged, Deluded or just Mental),we love KK.However, Mike Ashley and his Southern entourage, well it might get a bit hot!!.Will Mike Ashley be with the “Away Support” come Old Trafford-I don’t think so somehow!!
As for “Loyalty”,it doesn’t exist anymore in the top divisions.
Soccerly.com - July 26th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Sell him Owen. If i were the owner or Kev, i would do that. I would value Owen to be in 10 to 15 M pounds.
jeff - July 27th, 2008 at 2:11 am
why o why make owen captain, whats that about - has he got a really loud sargeant majors voice to direct the team from the bench/treatment room/villa in spain or wherever!! fucking stupid decision! from a fucking stupid manager who in reality has achieved bugger all anywhere as a manager, close but no cigar, not good enough for a club like newcastle, another season of struggling and at best mid table, get rid of dickhead ashley and keegen and owen and start listening to the fans who keep the club ticking over,
Tomspud - July 27th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Sorry to invade your space but im also a spurs fan ,and although no doubting how good he was hes just a prime example of todays footballers. If real people had spent that much time on the sick theyd of lost their jobs, makes me sick.