Rumour Mill: Crouch in Owen Swap?

[liveabiglife]

Just heard from a colleague that TalkSport are reporting a straight swap - Crouch for Owen. Personally think it's unlikely, but if true would be awesome, and Rafa's dodgy rotation policy may actually help Owen stay fit. Could be great for morale - old boys back together again - and a Torres/Owen strike partnership would be immense, imo. Any ideas how true this may be, or is it just mere hopeful speculation?

[Magic8Ball]

Interesting:

How would Owen cope with not being first choice?

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Just heard from a colleague that TalkSport ....... Any ideas how true this may be,....

you've probably answered your own question in the asking

[honourablegeorge]

Doubt it, somehow. Would Owen accept a place on the bench? Is he the type to partner Torres? No to both, for me.

[pipnasty]

Owen is gone - let it go

[beejay]

That'll be the wino Alan Brazil or his idiot sidekick Moose putting 2 & 2 together because their big story this morning is the club v country row between Michael & Fat Sam

[liveabiglife]

Owen is gone - let it go

 

I think you are right, and it's not so much about yearning for Owen as wanting shot of Crouch, who I have never rated as being as good as he is held out to be by so many; I'd take Owen over Crouch any day, and if the rumours of 20 million quid to spend are right, then at least that would leave that in tact to stregthen the defense and grab a decent centre back to give us some depth there.

 

I dunno, hust seems like we are lacking a spark - something to gel the team, and maybe someone with a Liverpool history, a bit of flair and some experience may just settle things down? Who knows. I'm sure there are better options, but whether we could get any of them is another story. My lad reckons Kaka would be the ideal solution

[Guest Kaizer]

To swap a goalscoring striker with a non goalscoring striker, well I dont know its a though one.

[Beardsley]

And there's me thinking our rehab center already was filled with injured players...

[Magic8Ball]

I think you are right, and it's not so much about yearning for Owen as wanting shot of Crouch, who I have never rated as being as good as he is held out to be by so many; I'd take Owen over Crouch any day, and if the rumours of 20 million quid to spend are right, then at least that would leave that in tact to stregthen the defense and grab a decent centre back to give us some depth there.

 

I dunno, hust seems like we are lacking a spark - something to gel the team, and maybe someone with a Liverpool history, a bit of flair and some experience may just settle things down? Who knows. I'm sure there are better options, but whether we could get any of them is another story. My lad reckons Kaka would be the ideal solution

 

To swap a goalscoring striker with a non goalscoring striker, well I dont know its a though one

 

from this league I would pick Anelka to partner Torres

if we're buying from Spain D Milito (sp) seen him a few times and he knows where the net is

Other options include Klose

 

I'm not sure all this talk (on other forums) about Huntelaar is really justified especially considering most dutch strikers dont do well over here ( Berkamp excluded)

 

There is a growing feeling ( it seems ) we should move Babel up to striker and find a LW/RW to replace him ... I'm undecided on that.

Edited October 9, 2007 by Magic8Ball

[honourablegeorge]

Aye, that Van Nistelrooy was a disaster.

[psl]

Would be delighted were it to happen but can't see it. Wonder how much Owen is available for in January.

[John am Rhein]

It'll be worth bringing Owen back just for 'ceremonial' reasons. Having our best striker since Ian Rush back at the club can only boost morale.

 

Bring him home Rafa!

[Rimbeux]

Just heard from a colleague that TalkSport are reporting a straight swap - Crouch for Owen. Personally think it's unlikely, but if true would be awesome, and Rafa's dodgy rotation policy may actually help Owen stay fit. Could be great for morale - old boys back together again - and a Torres/Owen strike partnership would be immense, imo. Any ideas how true this may be, or is it just mere hopeful speculation?

 

 

No it wouldn't, not unless you want the superior player doing most of his work outside the box, dropping deep and on the flanks. Not sure Owen would deal with the bench role too well.

 

Would be a good deal for Newcastle, seeing as he could have gone for £9m odd in the summer (maybe even £6m next summer as it seems to be a clause that lowers in value 12-9-6?), and Crouch should fetch more than that. Would be a goood deal for us too if Owen was happy to not be first choice and be a Solskjaer(with the same impact from the bench), prepared to take a cut, and could stay fit.

[johngibo YPC]

My lad reckons Kaka would be the ideal solution

 

i think your lad might be on to something

[alias75]

We can get maybe 12-15 million for Crouch at the moment, Owen isnt worth that, i think we can sell Crouch and use the money better. Owen unfortunately is far too injury prone now and while im sure he'll still get his share of goals i just see him slowly getting worse and worse.

 

Think we need a proper number 10 to play with Torres

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Interesting:

How would Owen cope with not being first choice?

 

Judging from his decision to leave us and the desire he showed in spain on the pitch, I would think Owen would much prefer to fight for a spot at a big club than be a regular at a smaller one.

 

btw, PLTBT.

[Beardsley]

It'll be worth bringing Owen back just for 'ceremonial' reasons. Having our best striker since Ian Rush back at the club can only boost morale.

 

Bring him home Rafa!

 

 

That would be Robbie Fowler

[Magic8Ball]

We can get maybe 12-15 million for Crouch at the moment, Owen isnt worth that, i think we can sell Crouch and use the money better. Owen unfortunately is far too injury prone now and while im sure he'll still get his share of goals i just see him slowly getting worse and worse.

 

Think we need a proper number 10 to play with Torres

Are you sure we could get that for Crouch? -- in the summer there was talk of that, ever since the price has been 8m in the media. Personally I would take the 12m+ and go hunting for the right partner for Torres, failing that getting a top class winger

[liveabiglife]

No it wouldn't, not unless you want the superior player doing most of his work outside the box, dropping deep and on the flanks.

 

Take your point - I was thinking more along the lines of Babel and Benayoun on the wings to push upfield, letting Gerrard play up the field and letting the pace and finishing of Torres and Owen terrorize the box. Could even play three up front against some teams with Voronin and Kuyt sitting off to play that role outside the box.

 

I may be way off in that, but that was my thinking - which could be the reason I am an accountant not a football manager, of course

[Guest Kaizer]

Owen`s injury problems should off course stop such a deal from ever happen, but even with the problems he have had since joining Newcastle his record for them is superb in a goals pr game ratio.

 

Owen:

05/06: 11(10+1) - 7 goals

06/07: 3(3+0) - 0 goals

07/08: 6(3+3) - 2 goals

Total: 20(16+4) - 9 goals

 

Crouch:

05/06: 32(27+5) - 8(6) goals, Soccernet still dont list Crouch with the two goals he was gifted from the dubious goal panel.

06/07: 32(19+13) - 9 goals

07/08: 3(1+2) - 0 goals

Total: 67(47+20) - 17(15) goals

[D.Boon]

I would have thought Newcastle was perfect for Owen.

 

They cover him in cotton wool so he is always fit for England.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Owen`s injury problems should off course stop such a deal from ever happen, but even with the problems he have had since joining Newcastle his record for them is superb in a goals pr game ratio.

 

Bring in him alongside kewell - much better to be looking at the missing pieces of the premiership jigsaw on the treatment table than beyond the horizon.

[Rimbeux]

We can get maybe 12-15 million for Crouch at the moment, Owen isnt worth that, i think we can sell Crouch and use the money better. Owen unfortunately is far too injury prone now and while im sure he'll still get his share of goals i just see him slowly getting worse and worse.

 

Think we need a proper number 10 to play with Torres

 

Aye

 

 

Judging from his decision to leave us and the desire he showed in spain on the pitch, I would think Owen would much prefer to fight for a spot at a big club than be a regular at a smaller one.

 

btw, PLTBT.

 

How long did he tough it out at Real before leaving to a third tier club as No1 striker?

 

 

 

Take your point - I was thinking more along the lines of Babel and Benayoun on the wings to push upfield, letting Gerrard play up the field and letting the pace and finishing of Torres and Owen terrorize the box. Could even play three up front against some teams with Voronin and Kuyt sitting off to play that role outside the box.

 

I may be way off in that, but that was my thinking - which could be the reason I am an accountant not a football manager, of course

 

 

I'm just thinking abut the way we play, how Owen has played with strike partners over the years, and how best to use Torres.

 

We like to havce one striker drop into midfield to link play and pull wide (Utd like to have two!). Torres can do that, did it a lot for AM, but the manager has told him he wants him in and around the box. Owen is Owen, and aside from not having the game to play 2nd striker, I dont think he'd have any interest in doing so, no surprise he plays best with those prepared to play second fiddle. What he and any number nine ideally wants is a partner to pull defenders out of the way, create space, and play them in.

 

I wouldn't mind Owen as an impact player, or deputy for Torres, but I'm just not sure his status would sit well with that role.

[John am Rhein]

That would be Robbie Fowler

 

No. Owen was better.