by Parkinson » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:56 am
Back to the footballing aspect of this transfer saga, I believe the injury prone Owen would suit Manchester United's system a whole lot better than he would our own. I could only envisage Owen doing some kind of job for us if goals were required in the last fifteen minutes of any given match. If though Torres was out for a lengthy period of time where a replcement was needed I don't see the injury prone Owen playing the lone striker position adequately enough. I don't think that is Owen's game, he is to small and to slow now to pull off an adequate replacement for Torres for any given period of time. He'd probably do okay holding the ball up and bringing others into play but Kuyt can do that! Owen will have adapted his game somewaht due to his injuries of the hamstrings therefore making him a good and experianced goal poacher. His movement in the box would be great but considering we're not a side yet who produce enough quality down the flanks on a regular basis I think this would be to the detriment of Owens game as he would thrive on service from wide postions. Gerrard is our main supplier to Torres to play him through balls and Torres himeslf is able to turn, shimmey and beat a man where as Owen isn't.
In Manchester United's system Owen would probably play upfront with a partner and this would suit his own game aswell as without disrupting their system. Where as I feel to accomodate Owen in our team we'd have to play two upfront, I had been a reader on these boards prior to my registration and I know that the rotation concept around here is a bit of a taboo subject. By getting the most out of Owen we'd have to rotate our midfield and strikers positions which is something many on here wouldn't approve of. At Old trafford they won't have to worry about chopping and changing their system, Owen would fit in.
Then there is the big risk factor of the injury prone Owen an even bigger risk factor than Harry Kewell in my opinion and and player now who is past his best would not be worth the finacial or footballing risk in my opinion.
Rafa maybe on the look out for a player who would suit the lone striker role alot better without disturbing the system too much Drogba, Carew type players target men if you like. Or a player in the ilk of Villa who would better suit that role than Owen. Personally I do not think we have missed a tric,k Owen he would not guarentee us anything apart from a few goals perhaps and a shed load of injuries and wages to boot, that in itself won't make us go from challenegers to champions, we need more than a few goals here and a treatment table there. Fergie can have him he's better suited to them in more ways than one.
Last edited by
Parkinson on Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:00 am, edited 1 time in total.