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Could this be Arsene Wenger’s Last Season at Arsenal?
Arsene Wenger may be one fifth place finish away from the end of his reign as Arsenal manager.
This time last year such a statement would have been laughed at, but is it really inconceivable that the Arsenal fan’s faith in Wenger would be permanently fractured should his young squad who he has for so long talked up fail to claim a Champions League spot? It’s certainly not getting any easier for him. Big spending Manchester City may feel they have the firepower to blast into the top four this season, with Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham also targeting the spot as their ultimate goal.
In Wenger’s own mind though his young team is in transition, on the cusp of being one of his greatest sides. But as time goes by he’s finding fewer and fewer people willing to go along with this project, including the players. He’s put a lot of effort into the development of Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas, but may find the two jumping ship before the final pieces of his master plan have been put into place.
Despite almost universal calls to sign some established players, Wenger’s only piece of business so far this summer has been to sign defender Thomas Vermaelen, who at 23 is young for a centre back. The Frenchman has always been reluctant to spend big sums on single players, but in a summer where all the top clubs are targeting massive signings, Arsenal need a big name to establish some buzz around the club again, and convince his employers, the fans and the players that they can challenge for honours this season.
There were certain other factors to Arsenal’s season that were out of Wenger’s control. Long term injuries to key players, dissent in the dressing room, fans getting on player’s backs. But in football more often than not you create your own destiny, and fault inevitably should be, and will be, saddled with the manager.
Wenger’s philosophy isn’t without merit. There were moments last season when we got glimpses of a side capable of great things. I fully expect players like Samir Nasri, Carlos Vela, Johan Djourou and Theo Walcott to continue to improve over the coming season, and Andrei Arshavin certainly looks like a fan favourite in the making.
But unless Wenger concedes his talented young players need some older heads to play alongside, the groundwork he has laid for Arsenal’s future will become worthless. A fifth place finish would mean losing their better players, and Arsenal may consider ending their relationship with the man who has guided them to so many glories.
“Could this be Arsene Wenger’s Last Season at Arsenal?” was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.
Chelsea Reject Audacious £30m Manchester City Bid!
Money men get carried away again!
The Rumour
Manchester City last night had a £30million bid for England captain John Terry rejected, as Chelsea told them he is not for sale at any price. Stamford Bridge officials released a statement exclusively to Sportsmail after confirming that a bid had been made in …
Liverpool Set to Make £9m Move for “New Alonso”: Good Up and Coming Playmaker
Benitez sets sights on impressive youngster causing a stir in Serie A!
The Rumour
Napoli star Marek Hamsik is in the sights of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
The Times says Hamsik will come into consideration should Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso complete his move to Real Madrid.
Hamsik, a Slovakia playmaker, was top scorer in …
Arsenal Prepared for Incredible £65m Double Star Raid!
Not very likely to say the least!
Arsene Wenger: Not amused!
The Rumour
AC Milan don’t want just adebayor but also Cesc Fabregas and they are going to make an official bid for the Arsenal captain as well as for the want away striker.
It has already been reported in the UK and …
Manchester United sign Michael Owen - the good, the bad and the insane
It’s official - Manchester United have signed the 29 year old, former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker and free agent Michael Owen on a two year contract.
The whole world is talking about it, and barring a dramatic setback on the doctor’s table (he’s too short on all accounts, gaffer), Michael Owen should sign for Manchester United on a free transfer in the next few days.
The purported move brings with it ridicule, surprise, anger and more ridicule disguised as laughter - surely United are not left to scrape the bottom of the barrel with an over-the-hill striker no one wants?
But who decides that Michael Owen is ‘finished’? The folks at Newcastle (who despite their best efforts couldn’t put together a midfield good enough to supply him with anything at all)? The folks at Liverpool (who sorely missed Owen until they signed Torres)? The folks at Real Madrid (where he had a better goals to minutes ratio than any other Madrid player)? The fans? The press? The same people who heaped unrealistic expectations on him to ’save’ Newcastle, then rounded on him when he couldn’t?
On the other hand, this could be the bargain of the season if Owen goes on to score 15 goals and like Larsson, Solskjaer and Blanc before him, provides the team with the experience off the pitch that they need? For all of Manchester United’s awesome play over the last three years, you can’t help but notice that their most prolific striker has just left the building and Owen, for better or for worse, is still a better ‘finisher’ than Rooney and gives a different option to the team than Berbatov.
Reports suggest that Owen will be on a limited, basic salary plus a heavy bonuses for playing games and scoring goals. And as some people have already pointed out, his injury record at Newcastle has been more a case of mismanagement than the player being ‘injury-prone’ - and at United he will get the time and attention he needs to get back to full fitness. At least we know he’s mentally stronger than one Louis Saha.
The outstanding fan favourite for this summer was Karim Benzema, but that boy has had his mind set to go to Real Madrid since last summer. Huntelaar is another fan favourite, and there have been reports that United have made an offer for the player, but so far there has been little to suggest that United would move for him - indeed they had the time and reason to move for him last summer but didn’t do so.
So if Benzema isn’t available and Huntelaar isn’t in the picture, who else would you pick? Aguero? Unproven and outrageously expensive, and lacks the height and clinical finishing that United are looking for. In fact apart from Torres and Benzema you’d be hard-pressed to find a quality striker sharing the same attributes - pace, height, good finishing and excellent temperament on the pitch.
Ferguson has made a habit of avoiding buying ‘trophy’ players for the sake of it (that’s Madrid’s job - remember van der Vaart?) - he sticks to the plan and before the summer started he would have highlighted the players United needed and also the backup plan in case United didn’t get their men.
Like it or not, Michael Owen is part of the backup plan. It doesn’t work in the man’s favour that he’s been trashed by the press for the last year or so, but he’s younger than Larsson and Solskjaer were when they played at United as ’support’ strikers and he’s bound to do as good a job, if not better (remember, those two were lauded for their influence on the younger players).
Here’s what it comes down to - there’s an expectation in the media that United will make a big signing to compensate for the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez. However, this team isn’t built on knee-jerk signings but bringing in players that genuinely improve the team and are able to grow as players during their time at United. We’re not always going to get our way with transfers (taxes, weather and Real Madrid will see to that) but we can still bring in quality players that can help us win more titles.
This summer seems to have shades of 06/07 - when United lost Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid and only signed Michael Carrick to shore up a weakened midfield. Carrick has since then grown into the sort of player Ferguson can build his whole midfield around. Owen isn’t a glamour signing, and he’s not going to be a starter either, but he does improve the squad, and however insane that sounds, a fit Owen is a better bet for scoring a goal than a fit Carlos Tevez.
Having said that, I hope Ferguson signs someone else as well.
Bonus #1: The Michael Owen brochure.
Bonus#2: Sir Alex: If I don’t end Michael Owen’s career for good, who will?
“Manchester United sign Michael Owen - the good, the bad and the insane” was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.
Deschamps Making Moves At Marseille
In his debut season as the club’s manager Didier Deschamps is already making moves to ensure success in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
On June 29, 2009 the first year manager made his first move in this year’s summer transfer window by acquiring Argentinian Lucho (Luis) Gonzalez for a club record $25 million from the Portugeuse champions FC Porto. The four year deal is said to be finalized by Sunday July 5, 2009 pending a medical examination.
Though this is a great addition to club there are some concerns about the health of Gonzalez. In April during a champions league match against Manchester United Gonzalez tore the meniscus in his left knee, but the club still has high hopes the he will recover and sign soon enough to begin practice with the rest of the team this weekend. The mid-fielder Gonzalez scored 32 times in 111 appearences for FC Porto and has 6 goals and 43 caps for the Argentinian national team.
This seems to be a step in the right direction for Deschamps as manager at Marseille. Deschamps was part of the 1993 Europa League Championship squad with Marseille so with that being said he should know a thing or two about what it takes to be a successful team and it seems the re-building of the squad isn’t over yet.
As of July 2, 2009 the French club’s website has also reported the club had reached agreements for defenders Souleymane Diawara and Edouard Cissé. These transfers remaining subject to the players undergoing the usual medical checkup. Diawara who is coming from last year’s Ligue 1 Champions Bordeaux and with his fast pace and great on the ball physicality he will surely be a great defensive weapon for the club.
It seems Deschamps is a preparing for another run at the league championship this season with only one thing in sight, lifting the cup when its all said and done.
“Deschamps Making Moves At Marseille” was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.
Manchester United Set to Confirm Michael Owen Signing: Good bit of Business or Sheer Madness?
So It wasn’t a joke after all!
Manchester United are in talks to sign former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen, BBC Sport understands.
The 29-year-old, who is out of contract at Newcastle, did not return for pre-season training after his deal with the Magpies ran out in June.
Owen has been linked …
The Future is Bright, The Future is Azzurrini
As the Azzurri floundered and failed in South Africa, it was left to the Azzurrini to provide the Italian nation with something at cheer about or at the very least restore some national pride, which they managed to do, and even more so if it weren’t for the great German machine.
Heading to the European U21 Championships in Sweden, the Italy U21 side were the favourites, along with England and Spain U21’s. Boasting an unbeaten qualifying record and an impressive group of youngsters, more of whom have been tried and tested this season in Serie A, the omens looked positive for the Azzurrini, who have won this tournament a record five times.
Several of coach Pierluigi Casiraghi’s players have this season broken through in for their respective Serie A clubs, Marco Motta has made the right-back slot at AS Roma his own, Domenico Criscito and Salvatore Bocchetti are stalwarts of the Genoa defence, Claudio Marchisio has shown for Juventus he can dominate a midfield, while the front trio of Sebastian Giovinco, Robert Acquafresca and Mario Balotelli are a fearsome prospect for any defence in Europe.
In a group that contained hosts Sweden, Serbia and Belarus, a semi-final place was all but assured for the Azzurrini, however a nil-nil draw with Serbia in the opening game may have led to some furrowing of eyebrows among the Italian nation. But, the positive from an opening day performance were that this U21 side looked a very exciting prospect coupled with some truly excellent players.
In the following game against Sweden the Italian defence held firm against an extremely talented Swedish attack, containing Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonin. A ten man Italy triumphed two-one, with two goals from Balotelli and Acquafresca assuring the Azzurrini of victory. Then a brace from Acquafresca propelled Italy from one-nil down to Belarus, to victory and subsequent first place in the final Group standings. A semi-final with unfancied Germany awaited.
Earlier in the day England played Sweden, and produced game of the tournament. Sweden coming back from three-nil down, only to lose on a penalty shootout. Italy vs. Germany had a lot to live up to.
Maybe lacking in goals the second semi-final was an enthralling game. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer pulled off a string of top class, if unconventional saves as Italy totally dominated from start to finish, with only a momentary lapse that eventually cost them the match. Andreas Beck’s forty-eighth minute strike meant Germany would play England in the final.
Undeservingly the Azzurrini were dumped out of the competition. However, the performances of many Azzurrini throughout the tournament were a joy to behold.
The first to spring to mind has to be Giovinco, he terrorised defences in each match and unlucky not to get on the score sheet at all. It is clear from his performances, the ‘Atomic Ant’ is best used as a trequartista, operating just behind a front two. His incisive passing, endless running and eye for the unexpected led to him picking holes in all the defensive lines put in front of him. His attacking partners, Balotelli and Acquafresca had differing tournaments. Balotelli showed his amazing potential and tremendous skill, but also his fiery temper and ungainly attitude. Acquafresca on the other hand had a relatively successful tournament, bagging three goals and a man of the match performance against Belarus.
The midfield of Marchisio, Paolo De Cegile and Luca Cigarini demonstrated the benefits of a well balance centre. Combining defensive solidity and organisation with drive and creativity. Luca Cigarini being the standout pupil. His passing range, vision and set pieces distinct highlights, described as an heir apparent to Andrea Pirlo and on this evidence he is surly the only viable candidate.
For me, most praise must go to the defence. Andrea Consigli, Bochetti, Criscito, Marco Andreoli and Marco Motta were the most solid unit of the championship. Andreoli and Bocchetti were imperious as a defensive pairing, both acting as this own version on the ‘Berlin Wall’ they laid the solid foundation for many an Italy attack. Criscito was showing the form that has been with him all season. But it was Marco Motta who stole the show throughout the Azzurrini journey. Bombing down the right flank like a man possessed, as if single handedly wanting to claim the title for Italy. As team captain, showed authority and leadership, while containing opponent’s advances with precision timing and composure. This boy man (as Sir Paul would say) given a few years is certain to be attracting the interest of Real Madrid, who seem intent on buying the worlds best.
As the Confederations Cup left Italy desperate for any glimmer of hope internationally, a full-scale fireworks display blazed in Scandinavia. A few of these players could and should have been present in South Africa, where many others will most definitely be close to Marcelo Lippi’s thoughts. The future is bright, the future is Azzurri.
“The Future is Bright, The Future is Azzurrini” was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.
Transfer Rumors (2 July 09): Michael Owen close to shock Man United move, Manchester City fail in £30m bid for Chelsea’s Terry, Tottenham must go to £12m for Lille’s Bastos, and more
Talk about being handed a career lifeline. Instead of getting one last go in the Premier League with Everton, Aston Villa, or Hull City, former Liverpool star Michael Owen is reportedly getting the golden opportunity of golden opportunities to get his last hurrah at the top.
If you’re one of the people who hit up your favorite sportsbook and bet on Owen to land at Manchester United before the odds were slashed yesterday, then you’re looking like a genius right now, though you might need to hold off on your celebrations until everything’s official and we can add him to our summer transfer lists.
Of course, there’s a lot more news to talk about besides Owen’s potential return to the northwest, and we’ve got the Owen news and much more in this morning’s roundup.
England
Owen To Ink Manchester United Deal
After Manchester United ‘missed out’ on Lyon’s Karim Benzema, there were, as expected, many stories on Thursday devoted to United’s striker search.
Well, it looks like United are going to land a high-profile forward.
Villa? (Tribal Football)
Aguero? (The Mirror)
Huntelaar? (Tribal Football)
Fabiano? (Tribal Football)
Maybe, maybe, maybe, and maybe, but if one of them does come to Old Trafford, they’ll be coming in the door after none other than Michael Owen - if the former Liverpool star passes his medical, that is.
Analysis: Some are going to say that United are being desperate after losing Ronaldo and Tevez and missing out on Benzema, but this is a move that makes perfect sense. To say the least, you can do a lot worse than Owen, even if he is injury-prone and nearing 30. If Owen can stay and take advantage of a golden opportunity, it’ll pay dividends for both parties. Owen can earn an extended contract past the initial one-year deal, and United could come out saving a lot of money.
If it works, Sir Alex Ferguson will look like a genius. If it doesn’t, then it’ll be an opportunity missed for Owen, but it won’t cost United financially. Besides, this doesn’t exactly rule them out of the hunt for another scoring option, because United still do have a hole to fill, and it could well put United’s focus now on Aguero, who’d fill more of a support role for Rooney/Owen/Berbatov. At any rate, this is a low-risk move for someone who, despite the unflattering injury history, is a proven commodity in the Premier League and in Europe.
Chelsea Reject Man City’s Terry Bid
Chelsea have rejected Manchester City’s £30m bid for club and England captain John Terry. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Well hey, no harm in trying, right?
Spurs Must Pay Up For Bastos
If Tottenham want to land Lille star Michel Bastos, they’re going to have to pay £12m to land the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Judging by the way he played last season, when he scored 14 league goals and assisted on 11 more, he’s well worth the £12m.
Everton Move For Dempsey?
Everton could make a move for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey. Dempsey has a year left o his current contract, and he’s turned down Fulham’s offer of a new two-year deal. (The Sun)
Analysis: Dempsey showed just what he’s capable of in scoring three goals in his last three matches at the Confederations Cup, and that performance might have pushed his value up some if Fulham do open up the possibility of selling him this summer. But with him shaping up to be a big part of Fulham’s plans once again, I think they’ll try to hold on to him and do their best to work out a new deal.
Aston Villa Linked With Berg
Aston Villa are the latest club to be linked with FC Groningen striker Marcus Berg. The 22-year-old Swede could be available for £8.5m. (Tribal Football)
Analysis: Villa do need to add some scoring options, and Groningen’s asking price for Berg is well within their budget.
Birmingham Make Vieira Offer
Birmingham have made a final offer of £100k per week to Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira. (The Sun)
Analysis: The money’s nice, but at this point in his career, I’m not sure Vieira would be all that interested in playing for a club in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Wigan Sign Thomas
Wigan have signed Honduran midfielder Hendry Thomas from Deportivo Olimpia on a three-year deal. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: If the successes of bringing Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa to Wigan are any indication, then this one will be another job well done for Wigan.
Sunderland Eye Hunt and Suazo
Sunderland are eying moves for Reading star Stephen Hunt and Moterrey’s Chilean striker Humberto Suazo. (The Sun)
Analysis: With Tottenham reportedly looking for way too much for Darren Bent, Suazo could be a cheaper but equally as productive (or more productive) option. He’s basically scored for fun wherever he’s been the last several years, and Sunderland could certainly use someone with that kind of eye for goal. It’d also be good to add someone who could set up opportunities for him, and that’s where Hunt comes in. Might be more of a battle for Hunt, with Everton also having been linked with him, but that’s what acting quickly is for.
Spain
Ribery Pleads For Real Move
It’s not as if it was a big secret already, but Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery has a Real Madrid move in his sights. Unfortunately, Bayern don’t feel the same way about a Real move that Ribery does, and if words from general manager Uli Hoeness (Sky Sports) don’t emphasize it enough, then Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s words (Sky Sports) should pour even more cold water on Ribery’s hopes.
Analysis: He’ll end up there eventually. Is another big, big-money signing in the cards for Real this summer? That might be asking a little much, but hopefully he has the patience to wait it out until next summer.
France
Lyon Want Van Nistelrooy
Lyon are eying Real Madrid’s Ruud van Nistelrooy as an option to replace the recently-departed Karim Benzema. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Wouldn’t be a bad move for van Nistelrooy, because I think he could tear it up in Ligue 1 if he comes back well from his injury. But as is the case with Huntelaar and Wesley Sneijder, he may want to stay and be a part of Real’s new-look team, even if they don’t exactly want/need him around.
Germany
Ba Out, Ruiz In At Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim forward Demba Ba , and the club could look to replace him with KAA Gent hit-man Bryan Ruiz. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Not easy to replace a scorer like Mario Gomez, but Ba showed he knows his way around goal by netting 14 times in his first Bundesliga campaign last season. Ruiz won’t have to worry about shouldering the scoring load all of next season, with Vedad Ibisevic set to return after his season was ended by a knee injury in January and attackers Carlos Eduardo and Sejad Salihovic capable of chipping with goals on a regular basis.
France
Rennes To Land Bangoura
Rennes are set to land Dynamo Kiev forward Ismael Bangoura. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Rennes needed to add a forward this summer after not having a lot in the way of real firepower last season, and they’re filling that need well with Bangoura. He was one of the leading scorers in the Ukrainian Premier League each of the past two seasons, but before that, he was one of the leading scorers in Ligue 1 in the 2006/07 season, when he scored 12 goals for Le Mans.
Turkey
Galatasaray Sign Keita
Galatasaray have signed Lyon flop Abdul Kader Keita for €9m. (BBC Sport)
Analysis: Big loss for Lyon in the end, but at least they were able to get a little more than half of what they wasted on him.
Greece
Panathinaikos Offer Cruz
Panathinaikos are set to make offer former Inter Milan striker Julio Cruz a contract worth €3.5m per year. (Transfer Market Web)
Analysis: Cruz spent the last nine seasons in Italy, and he could see the appeal in a new challenge at this point in his career. But in the end, I think he’ll ink with either Fiorentina or Napoli.
“Transfer Rumors (2 July 09): Michael Owen close to shock Man United move, Manchester City fail in £30m bid for Chelsea’s Terry, Tottenham must go to £12m for Lille’s Bastos, and more” was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.
Owen worth Man Utd gamble
Sir Alex Ferguson placed his faith in something he trusts far more than a glossy brochure when he picked up the phone and offered Michael Owen a new home at Manchester United.
Owen’s management team produced the 32-page magazine advertising their client’s qualities - aspirational, cool, devoted and sincere to name but four - and delivered a slick reminder of why he was once one of football’s genuine superstars.
Ferguson does not do brochures to buy players. Pure instinct and the love of a punt is often enough and the shock pursuit of Owen, mocked only days ago when Hull City and Stoke City declared an interest, is a prime example.
United’s vast budget, helped by £80m from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo, lets Ferguson shop at the sharp end of the market - but also gives him the opportunity to take the odd chance. Owen falls neatly into that bracket as prospective targets Karim Benzema, David Villa and Franck Ribery go elsewhere.
So is this a sign of desperation creeping into United’s transfer dealings or another piece of inspiration from the gambler Ferguson?
Ferguson has got form for the maverick deal. Eric Cantona was not a regular at Leeds United when Ferguson took him across the M62 and elevated him to Old Trafford’s legends.
Laurent Blanc was an itch Ferguson simply had to scratch and that was not a huge success, but Teddy Sheringham came late to Old Trafford and cleaned up on silverware, while the veteran Henrik Larsson made a contribution when he joined United on loan from Helsingborg in December 2006.
Blanc and Larsson were players Ferguson had long wanted at Old Trafford and it was source of regret that he only got his hands on them in the twilight of their careers. Owen has tempted him before, but now he feels the time and price is right.
As I noted in an earlier blog, Owen represents a gamble worth taking and his wages are not prohibitive when lesser talents will be going for just as much this summer.
The shock of this story is Owen’s destination. Hull and Stoke were never serious options, but Everton and Aston Villa were - only for United to come out of left field on Thursday afternoon.
So who gets what from this transfer? And will certain other clubs come to regret leaving the field free for Ferguson to set up a deal that comes as a surprise, even to the supposedly unshockable Premier League community?
For Owen, this is a staggering opportunity that he could never have imagined being placed in front of him when he trudged off Villa Park after another fruitless cameo appearance for Newcastle United as they dropped into the Championship.
And yet, for all the shockwaves this move will cause, Owen will not turn turn up at Old Trafford believing Ferguson has done him a good turn. He will feel he can benefit Manchester United just as much as they can benefit him.
He has an iron shield of self-belief and has never lost the conviction that his rightful place is at a top four club with aspirations of winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
If anyone doubts that, then they do not know Michael Owen. Single-minded barely does him justice and those who speculated that he had lost his love of football were equally wrong-headed.
This is what made him extraordinary at 16 and will fuel him when he walks into Old Trafford.
He is unlikely to worry about his status with Liverpool’s fans if he puts pen to paper with rivals United, even though a return to Anfield has probably always been his preferred option, especially when he left Real Madrid.
Owen still has influential supporters inside Liverpool’s dressing room who would like to see him back at Anfield, but manager Rafael Benitez has remained unmoved on Owen.
It is a view shaped when he left for Spain at the start of his reign in 2004 and refused to hold out for a move back to Anfield when Newcastle came calling 12 months later - a decision rightly based on the player’s fears of missing the next summer’s World Cup.
Owen will see United as the perfect platform for one last stab at persuaduing Fabio Capello that he is worthy of consideration for England’s World Cup campaign in South Africa next summer.
And he could hardly have asked for a better stage to demonstrate that he should still play a part with England, especially with Wayne Rooney in tandem at club level. Try as you might, it is impossible to detect a downside in this deal for Owen.
United’s reasoning will come under closer scrutiny - but Ferguson’s move is based on both need and logic as well as his own gut feeling.
Manchester United supporters expecting the arrival of world superstars may need convincing that Owen is the direction they should be heading in. Owen will split opinion, but goals shape verdicts and if he hits the mark early all previous allegiances and injuries will be forgotten.
Ferguson has watched United’s potency decreased by the departure of Ronaldo and, to a much lesser extent, Carlos Tevez. Owen may have lost the searing pace of his youth, but his goalscoring record when fit still stands up to serious examination.
And as someone who watched United regularly last season, if there was one element missing from the squad that deservedly claimed a third successive Premier League title, it was a ruthless, killer instinct. Owen will never lose that and the pragmatist in Ferguson tells him that, even at 29, he can add an extra dimension to United.
If United create chances, which they do with regularity, Owen is still as good as anyone around at converting them if he is playing and this will have been the final reckoning for Ferguson, who will tailor his role and appearances to draw the best out of such an accomplioshed marksman.
Owen’s fitness will be the question mark over the deal, but Ferguson’s medical team have mastered such things before and it is unlikely he will be thrust into United’s side as a regular.
The striker was being mocked for his failure to attract serious interest only days ago. It does not get more serious than Manchester United - so do not bet against Owen having the last laugh.
For Owen, the deal is a huge victory. For United and Ferguson it represents a gamble - but it is a gamble based on some sound footballing logic and one that others might yet regret not taking.