Liverpool FC Forum

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:40 am

Did rafa strangle Torres ? Or did he let him play his natural game ? when torres was playing with keane rafa let keane play his natural game ie just of the striker dropping deeper - but in my eyes gerrard is better there than keane . So if owen did arrive then rafa wold let him play his natural game and for me not sure if that would work with torres but who knows and tbh i cant see us ever finiding out anyway .

by **Petar** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:19 am

rafa like work horses... If he can become work horse,why not?

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:21 am

Is agger a work horse ? what about torres ? gerrard ? xabi ? pepe ? yossi ? reira ?

Kuyt is pretty much the main and one and only work horse .

by **DanAn** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:31 am

GYBS wrote:Is agger a work horse ? what about torres ? gerrard ? xabi ? pepe ? yossi ? reira ?

Kuyt is pretty much the main and one and only work horse .

Surely Masherano is the definition of a workhorse

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:33 am

DanAn wrote:
GYBS wrote:Is agger a work horse ? what about torres ? gerrard ? xabi ? pepe ? yossi ? reira ?

Kuyt is pretty much the main and one and only work horse .

Surely Masherano is the definition of a workhorse

nah i dont think he is mate - yeah he is defensive and does harras but wouldnt consider him a work horse . can see how he could easily be described as one thou

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:09 pm

Seven years ago yesterday Michael Owen was crowned European Footballer of the Year. Today, with his career at a crossroads, Paul Joyce asks if Rafa Benitez should let bygones be bygones...

IT was designed to nip in the bud any further enquiries, but Rafa Benitez’s blunt insistence at the start of this month that he was not interested in signing Michael Owen succeeded only in raising one more question: Why?

Why, when missed chances have been a recurring lament this season, would Liverpool not consider pepping up their title charge with a player whose happy knack of scoring goals remains undimmed?

Why, when money is tight, would the prospect of bringing a proven talent back to the club at a knockdown price not be worth further investigation?

Owen’s prevarication over a contract at Newcastle has become an issue for debate between managers and
chairmen at Everton, Manchester City and numerous other Premier League clubs.

Yet at Anfield the striker’s name is almost taboo – it is that of another old boy, Wigan’s Emile Heskey, that continues to keep the rumour mill busy.

“It is clear that we will not be signing Michael Owen,” said Benitez in the aftermath of the game with West Ham on December 1 when asked about the 29-year-old’s situation.

If there was one match during Liverpool’s recent patchy run of form that screamed out for a forward capable of dispatching just one of several chances, it was that goalless stalemate.

Perceived wisdom in the red half of Merseyside has it that the only thing preventing Liverpool from pulling clear of their rivals has been the absence of Fernando Torres.

Should that belief hold true, then a move for Owen would provide the perfect substitute in more ways than one if the Spaniard’s hamstrings suffer further pulls, tears and strains once he completes his recovery from his third such injury of the campaign.

Without Torres in the side, Liverpool do not boast the same threat largely because they do not possess anyone else who can stretch defences with his jet-heeled pace.

Owen would remedy that, while a record of nine goals in 10 starts this season for Newcastle suggests Sir Alex Ferguson and Luiz Felipe Scolari would shrink at the thought of that sort of firepower suddenly being added to Benitez’s armoury.

The last time that the championship was deposited in the Anfield trophy cabinet in 1990, it took an inspirational signing by Kenny Dalglish to keep the chasing pack at bay.

Ronnie Rosenthal may be for ever remembered for a glaring miss at Villa Park, but seven goals in the final eight matches of the season ensured his name in Mersey folklore for very different reasons.

For all Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear’s protestations that Owen will see out the final months of his contract at
St James’ Park, Benitez has an opportunity to pull off a similar masterstroke – or, at the very least, explore doing so.

There is, of course, history between Owen and Liverpool that stretches beyond the 158 goals he plundered in 297 games and, in particular, with Benitez.

The Spaniard’s first pre-season tour in charge in the summer of 2004 was scarred by constant questions about the future of Owen, who had been allowed to run his contract down towards its final year.

Owen repeatedly intimated he would sign a new deal, but merely omitted to say who it would be with. A move to Real Madrid on the very eve of the season has not been forgotten by Benitez, or forgiven.

Even then, had Owen held his nerve after a miserable season in Spain, he might already be wearing a Liverpool shirt.
Yet, so desperate was the forward for first-team football in order to ensure his place with England at the World Cup in 2006, he was prepared to indulge Newcastle.

A £16 million bid from them was far beyond what Liverpool were prepared to pay, especially given they had received just £8m and Antonio Nunez in the first place.

With his side top of the table and eyeing a first title success in almost two decades, Benitez should not necessarily let past events cloud his judgement.

Clearly, the cons of bringing Owen back relate to his financial demands, his fitness and how he would cope with not being first choice.

On the latter, his unflinching self-belief means that he would no doubt back himself to make such an impact as a substitute that the clamour for a starting role would be hard to ignore.

Money need not become an issue. Benitez can test just how much Owen would want to come back by offering him a £65,000-a-week, take-it-or-leave-it deal, for example. A fair wage given the player’s age and recent fitness levels.

He could even give Owen a taste of his own medicine by signing him and getting rid of him again in six months.
But maybe Benitez would do so with the Premier League title the latest shimmering addition to his impressive CV.

by **taff** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:21 pm

Thats a good post GYBS and hard to argue with it. Benitez could find himself in a win win situation, If he offered Owen a deal at 65,000 a week and Owen stalled then no Liverpool fan would give Owen any sympathy at all. Well maybe Stu the Dead :laugh:

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:24 pm

Sorry i cant take any credit for it mate - Paul Joyce wrote it . Think it would show what owen is about if the ball was put in his court

by **taff** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:38 pm

I agree. He is a class goalscorer but with doubts over his commitment to anything rather than Owen and england. If Rafa gets him at his terms then Owen by his nature will fight for his place and therefore score goals, and if Owen snubs Liverpool its all his fault. Rafa is in a complete flipside to his position with Owen in 2004

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:48 pm

Cant argue with that mate - would certainly see what owen really thinks and where his priorities lie

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:57 pm

Just been announced that Owen has been offered a new 3 year contract that he is ahppy with and expect him to sign it .

by **stmichael** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:08 pm

I'll be staggered if he stays at Newcastle. Even all the local press up here seem resigned to him leaving.

by **tubby** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:26 pm

The thing is the people cant slate Rafa for not wanting to get him whilst we are top of the table. But if come the end of the season we dont win the league and the difference was a few games not won people WILL then get on his case as all the factors seem to be right barring him actually wanting him here. I dont know where we will end up come May but I do know Rafas stubborness will be his downfall at LFC in one form or another.

by **neil** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:30 pm

jesus move on, he's :censored:

and playin where he should be, in the wilderness.

by **GYBS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:36 pm

If owen signs a new contract then there is sweet FA he can do about it .

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