Keegan remarkably realistic about Owen
It’s easy to see why Keegan is well-liked - he’s articulate, he’s forthright, he gets people excited and he’s as realistic as they come.
Keegan on Owen:
“Look around football and look what’s happening, and I’m afraid a club and a manager not wanting a player to go sometimes is not enough.I think I can honestly say that if it comes to January, the chances are he won’t be staying, but I don’t think it will get there.”
Owen doesn’t want to stay because he wants titles, but it’s more a question of any big club in England wanting him and being able to afford his wages, which is tough because Chelsea are chock-full of strikers, Liverpool and Arsenal don’t seem willing to spend the dosh on wages and United already have two midgets playing up front.
Newcastle have to do everything they can to keep Owen - he’s a fantastic asset. The thing is, the moment he starts playing well you know someone will be knocking on the door asking about him. I wouldn’t be surprised if the sticking point in the new contract is a buy-out clause that Owen wants inserted and the club isn’t willing to allow.
Hopefully Newcastle can get in some players to improve the squad before the transfer deadline is up.
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I’d just like to say that, amid all the sensationalism and rubbish written on football nowadays, it’s refreshing to come across a site that writes balanced and sensible stuff.
Quite a few of us on the (Newcastle) forum I use have noticed and commented on this recently. Good stuff.
Keegan’s a top bloke. Not perfect, but thoroughly genuine and football would be a better place if there were more like him.
Great shout Ahmed. Ah luv KK, like. Like you say, he’s very forthright and a breath of fresh air in the age of spin. Owen is a tough one. His scoring record is brilliant but his fitness is a real concern. I can’t see one of the top for coming in for him, save maybe the blues (just to get him off the pitch so no one else can have him). I want Owen to stay, but we can’t pay silly wages for one man and not the rest. It’ll just lead to resentment. This sort of thing may have been behind Milner’s departure (of course, Milner is a long ways from Owen’s ability). When the likes of Smith are pulling in 65K/wk and contributing nowt I can see how that might unsettle players. However, considering that milner makes more in 2 weeks than I make in a YEAR (!!!!) none of these tossers have any room to complain.