Liverpool Won't Execise Its 1st Option On Owen

[Guest Picard]

Well, according to this journo anway.......

 

 

 

Owen's patience wears thin

 

Simon Talbot in Madrid

Tuesday January 18, 2005

The Guardian

 

Michael Owen yesterday voiced his impatience with Real Madrid for the first time since his move to Spain last summer. He has scored more goals per minute than any other player in Spain yet he starts virtually every game on the bench, unable to find a way past the untouchable galácticos.

 

Asked about speculation linking him with a move to Birmingham or Newcastle, Owen responded: "It is inevitable when somebody doesn't play. It's easy to put two and two together and come up with a few different clubs; that's only natural. It is only because I haven't been in the starting XI for a month or two now." Yesterday Newcastle said they would not be moving for the England striker.

 

But Owen failed to quash the speculation entirely. Asked: "You're staying here, aren't you?" he replied: "Well, in an ideal world I want to succeed here, play as much as I can and score many goals."

 

However, Madrid has not, as Owen admitted, proved an ideal world. He has started only seven league games, yet has scored seven goals, one every 110 minutes, compared to Ronaldo on 11 and, more significantly, Raúl - scorer of just four in the league despite starting all but one match.

 

If Owen were to be sold Liverpool have first option but it is understood his former club will not exercise it.

 

Having again scored as a substitute against Real Zaragoza on Sunday, Owen said: "I want to improve the situation. I want to be in the starting XI. I will never be happy on the bench. Maybe if I played a little bit more I would have scored more goals as well.

 

"I had a good run of games, six or seven, when I was in the starting XI - that seems quite a while ago now - and I want to play. I don't enjoy sitting on the bench.

 

"[but] I'm not downhearted. It's nothing I've done that has dropped me back a step or two. When the first manager came in I was a sub and gradually played more and more. Then with the second manager it was exactly the same. [Now] it starts from scratch again.

 

"I have to impress him. If I don't play well now I don't think he will be watching the tapes of when I did play well."

 

So far, Owen has played well. "I am happy [with how I've played]," he said. "I have scored nine in all competitions. Hopefully I can do that again and get near 20 - that would be a very good season."

 

He denied that he and Ronaldo are not compatible. "I've scored goals, and so has he, when we've played together. Ronaldo deserves a place in the team." Aware the logical extension of this was "unlike Raúl", Owen quickly added: "Please don't misinterpret me, because there is Raúl as well."

 

Raúl is the man Owen must dislodge. At any normal club he already would have done.

[fyds]

Understood by whom, exactly? Unattributable speculation shocker...

[Lee W]

Still can't believe that folk actually think these highly-publicised 'options' are worth one iota.

 

And as for this gem:

 

Asked about speculation linking him with a move to Birmingham or Newcastle

 

Old story this but still feckin' hilarious

[robfar1]

Owen left the board with no option but to sell him in the summer. He was not going to sign a new contract and p1ssed the club about for months and months. I personally enjoy seeing him looking miserable on the bench and can see him doing it a hell of a lot more when they sign more strikers which they inevitably will. f*** 'im.

[Guest HarrowRed]

I have heard that Owen will go to Italy after he has finished in Spain and then come back to England - though I am not sure to what club