Owen Bemused by Booing?!

Manchester United striker Michael Owen says he was disappointed after being booed by Newcastle fans during Tuesday's 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

The former Magpies man was jeered when he came on after 81 minutes.

Owen said on Twitter: "Got a poor reception off the home fans which was disappointing. Was desperate to score!"

"Knew I would get booed as that's what a lot of fans do but if they knew the facts then they may have a different opinion."

Owen joined Newcastle from Real Madrid for £16m in 2005 and scored 30 goals in 79 appearances in an injury-hit four years on Tyneside.

The England striker was unable to prevent Newcastle being relegated to the Championship in 2009 and left the club that summer to join Manchester United on a free transfer.

MICHAEL OWEN CAREER



* Manchester United: 44 appearances 13 goals
* Newcastle United: 79 appearances 30 goals
* Real Madrid: 40 appearances 14 goals
* Liverpool: 297 appearances 158 goals
* England: 89 caps 40 goals

After Tuesday's match, Owen, 31, hit back at negative comments from Magpies' fans, saying (hereafter all quotes are reported verbatim): "From what most of you Newcastle fans are saying you should be pleased I left the club! If i had known that earlier I could have left sooner!

"For the record, I tried my best in every game for Newcastle. Under KK (Kevin Keegan) I played well and i'll never forget the 2 I scored against Sunderland (on 20 April 2008).

"When I meet Newcastle or Liverpool fans they all respect what I've done for their clubs. In stadiums it changes, 1 boo and the rest follow.

"By the way, im not looking for sympathy. As long as my family don't boo me when I walk through the door I couldn't care less!!!"

Owen had expected a difficult reception on his return to St James' Park, saying prior to the game: "What a day, it's even sunny here in Newcastle! Looking forward to seeing old friends but I doubt the fans will give me a warm reception!"

The result meant Manchester United missed the chance to open up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League table - with Arsenal seven points behind with a game in hand.

Owen added: "Disappointing result but credit to Newcastle, they played well and put us under plenty of pressure especially in the first half an hour."

But after the game, Owen, who has more than 120,000 followers on Twitter, was involved in a frank exchange with the Daily Mirror's chief sports writer Oliver Holt on the social networking site.

Owen and Holt's Twitter exchange in full:

Holt: "Honest question then Michael: why don't you tell them the facts?"

Owen: "I try to answer most questions Ollie but can't be bothered* being a back page story so some things don't need to be said!"

*The BBC has substituted "bothered" for the word Michael Owen actually used

Holt: "Fair enough, Michael. But I think sometimes if fans and journalists knew facts, there would be more sympathy with players."

Owen: "Fair point. The relationship between players and media is poor and needs improving as the people who suffer are fans."

Holt: "Probably worse now between media and players than back in 97-98 when you burst on to scene. More contact then, I think."

Owen: "If papers printed what is actually said then i think players would talk to you more openly. I know I would."

Holt: "You have spent a lot of your career writing for our newspapers, though Michael, both tabloids and broadsheets."

Owen: "It's the sensationalising of headlines that annoys most players. It makes us look like clowns when most lads are normal."

Holt: "Headlines are a problem for a lot of writers, too. Comes down to trusting a journalist to look after you, I suppose."

Owen: "But I made sure I had headline approval! My point is, the articles are fine, it's the headlines that make us look stupid."

Holt: "Agreed. Think we are at a point where writers need to fight for right headline to ensure bit of trust with player spoken to"

Owen: "And there is my point. The trust just isn't there hence the relationship between players and journalists is non existent."

Holt: "Players and media stuck in bad cycle now. Understand why trust has broken down but less contact is making things worse. Part of problem is no contact. GNev (Gary Neville) said journos should stay in England hotel so we'd have to face you after bad piece."

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This is why i hate him. He has abosolutely no idea why we hate him and how much he let us down with his performances. He's a money grabbing piece of Poopie.

79 appearnaces in 4 years is a shocker, he was only ever at Newcastle to keep his England place, which backfired due to Injury, but even when he was fit he looked like he was holding back for England all the time, can't blame him for injuries but I always felt his heart was never in it at St James, he is an unlucky boy though, he left Liverpool to win the Champions League with Real Madrid, the season he left guess who won the CL lol

think owen deserves some respect for what he has done in his career - he is one of the best strikers england has ever produced and for that should never be booed

it is not about whether he is liked by Newcastle fans as i understand things did not go as everyone wanted after he had signed but he should be respected as true great of the game for his goalscoring record alone which stacks up against the best wherever the he has been and for that he should be exempt from booing

it is similar to Ricky Ponting being jeered at cricket grounds - Legends should noytt be booed

Money grabbing, disrespectful assholes should be booed in my opinion. Owen did nothing to support this club despite the backing we showed him.

Wakers thats one load a nonsense man, he was a good striker but hardly worth the glowing testimonial you've given him, I also don't think he'd get near the top 10 of best English strikers, he wouldn't even move to our near Newcastle during his 4 year stint, I've always liked Owen coz i met him and he seems like a nice guy but a legend? I'd hardly think so

He was injured a lot and did ok when he played. He was a money grabber when he went to Newcastle that's the only reason he joined but was paraded like a hero. Why boo him now don't get it.

The only reason he joined was to secure his England place, it wasn't down to the cash altho he got a kings ransom

Well it's not like Newcastle are giving massive wages to him alone.
Collocini, Gutierrez, Smith, Barton, Nolan, Butt, and even Kluivert were all given massive wages and what have those figures from past and present done? Nothing. Perhaps Newcastle should invest in some decent, low cost players rather than spending millions on rubbish.

BigPhil wrote:Well it's not like Newcastle are giving massive wages to him alone.
Collocini, Gutierrez, Smith, Barton, Nolan, Butt, and even Kluivert were all given massive wages and what have those figures from past and present done? Nothing. Perhaps Newcastle should invest in some decent, low cost players rather than spending millions on rubbish.

All those players you've named, bar Kluivert, all still play for the club, have made more appearances and actually want to play for the club. Kluivert never got a chance and was shipped out.

As for buying low cost players who want to play for the club....... Nolan, Williamson, Enrique, Tiote, Lovenkrands, Guthrie, Gosling, Simpson. The total cost of them was probably less than what we paid for Owen. Our last big money spend was Colo, and he's been immense for the last 2 seasons.

Also, Barton, Nolan etc all took wage drops when we went down.

King Beer wrote:

BigPhil wrote:Well it's not like Newcastle are giving massive wages to him alone.
Collocini, Gutierrez, Smith, Barton, Nolan, Butt, and even Kluivert were all given massive wages and what have those figures from past and present done? Nothing. Perhaps Newcastle should invest in some decent, low cost players rather than spending millions on rubbish.

All those players you've named, bar Kluivert, all still play for the club, have made more appearances and actually want to play for the club. Kluivert never got a chance and was shipped out.

As for buying low cost players who want to play for the club....... Nolan, Williamson, Enrique, Tiote, Lovenkrands, Guthrie, Gosling, Simpson. The total cost of them was probably less than what we paid for Owen. Our last big money spend was Colo, and he's been immense for the last 2 seasons.

Also, Barton, Nolan etc all took wage drops when we went down.

Kluivert played his role and Barton and Collocini have played brilliantly this season.

Liam_Main4 wrote:

King Beer wrote:

BigPhil wrote:Well it's not like Newcastle are giving massive wages to him alone.
Collocini, Gutierrez, Smith, Barton, Nolan, Butt, and even Kluivert were all given massive wages and what have those figures from past and present done? Nothing. Perhaps Newcastle should invest in some decent, low cost players rather than spending millions on rubbish.

All those players you've named, bar Kluivert, all still play for the club, have made more appearances and actually want to play for the club. Kluivert never got a chance and was shipped out.

As for buying low cost players who want to play for the club....... Nolan, Williamson, Enrique, Tiote, Lovenkrands, Guthrie, Gosling, Simpson. The total cost of them was probably less than what we paid for Owen. Our last big money spend was Colo, and he's been immense for the last 2 seasons.

Also, Barton, Nolan etc all took wage drops when we went down.

Kluivert played his role and Barton and Collocini have played brilliantly this season.

I was a massive fan of Kluivert and had hoped we'd sign him for years. Always remember his goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup.

It's a good job they've played well considering the wages they get paid. Perhaps they should continue with this young talent instead of wasting money like they have done in the past.

the-gaffer wrote:The only reason he joined was to secure his England place, it wasn't down to the cash altho he got a kings ransom

Nonsense was interested in nothing but the money why else would he have went to Newcastle. First team football may have been an issue but the main reason was the money always is.

You really haven't got a clue, he was told he wasn't going to be first choice and it was the World Cup the next summer, a few clubs where linked to him for £11m then out of the blue Newcastle bid £17m for him and no-one else would match it. World Cup season and it was Newcastle or the bench, less of the 'nonesense' pish when its obvious I know what I'm talking about, the reason he is considered a money grabber has nothing to do with his actual signing!

He didn't need to be told he wasn't going to be first choice he wasn't good enough to get a game week in and week out.
So Newcastle didn't offer him more money in wages than other clubs who were interested?
Clearly not pish and I clearly do know what I'm talking about. Why would you go to Newcastle ahead of the clubs who were in better positions?

Gaffer is right.

Liverpool bid £11 million for him and he was all set to join until Sheppard stuck in the £16m bid. Real told him they wouldn't do business with Liverpool.

Owen even stated in his press conference that it wasn't his first choice.

Newcastle matched his wages at Madrid, Liverpool weren't prepared to do that. If Owen really wanted to go to Liverpool he could have dug his heels in and forced the issue. He didn't because Newcastle splashed the cash. Yes he wanted his place back in the England team but main reason it was Newcastle was money.

You dont get it do you? He never had the option to go to Liverpool or anyone else because no other club would match Newcastles bid, it was Newcastle or the Real bench, and for the record to say he wasn't good enough is very inacurate, despite being used as a sub for most of the season he still managed 16 goals including one in El Classico, Raul was picked on reputation more than form that season

Everyone knows when a player wants to leave 9/10 times he goes. He didn't need to go to Newcastle he could have dug his heels in but didn't because of the money on offer from Newcastle.
I say he wasn't good enough because he wasn't as good as Reals front 2 of Ronaldo and Raul. He did well for Real but was never going to be a first team pick because of the quality they had.