Thetownend.com

Retiring at the end of the season.

Shame injuries hampered him as he was superb for England when younger and will always be a legend in my eyes, best English striker for a hell of a long time. Seems a top bloke as well so wish him well in the future

Thought he had retired years ago soapy tit wank

Shame he didint recover from his injuries. even though he lost his pace, if he had stayed fit he would still have been banging em in.

Fantastic player who got unfair amounts of stick. Model professional to boot.

That goal against the Argies in '98 was beyond belief.

It's strange the amount of stick he got. It's as though a lot of people somehow blamed him for his injuries.

real shame, one of our few genuinely world class players.

had the best strike rate (goals to chances) in the premiership during his time at newcastle despite losing his pace.

don't blow it all on the horses

To be fair from speaking to the Newcastle fans I know it was more to do with the fact that he showed next to no interest in playing for them for the final 2 years he was there.

How could he when he was injured?

He wasn't injured for all that time, it was really a deal that neither party seemed to want but hey ho thats life.

Tha fact that he went to Man U after blotted his copybook for me anyway.

Quality player in his day. Shame his career was so short.

His move to Real madrid was the start of the end of his career. Real shame and a proper precautionary tale to other English/British young guns. (Looking at you Bale)

Couldn't disagree more.

Think more young English players should spend time playing abroad, would do them a world of good as players and people. Hardly Owen's fault Madrid didn't play him, he always scored when he did. 13 goals and he only started 18 league games.

I always thought he was the type of player that relied on his pace, and once that went he was a shadow of the player he was before.

The biggest shame for him was that he lost too much of his productive time to injury.


That said, he is a very wealthy young man with lots to look forward too, and Good Luck to him.

I agree that playing abroad for the right team, at the right time, is a good idea for certain people. But going to a team where you know you're probably going to act as a bench warmer because they offer you a better wage is just such a ridiculous notion in the world of modern football. I'm not saying that's why Owen went, but there's definitely a case of native talent being wasted via transfers to teams that don't play them. It's more my opinion that big-money transfers are not always as great as they seem to be- although that problem does seem to have moved on a little now thankfully.

For Owen though, his injuries at Newcastle were the kicker. Being out for 18 months at that point in his career was a shame.

I kind of see what you're saying, but I think there's as much - if not more - of a danger of "native talent being wasted via transfers to teams that don't play them" in the Premier League itself without worrying about the odd player spending a few years in Spain.

Did it really help Scott Parker, Shaun Wright Phillips, Scott Sinclair or Adam Johnson to go to Chelsea/Man City?

D'oh, not being clear today. I was trying to say that it doesn't matter whether the team is at home or abroad, if you are playing somewhere you love, getting games every week, and have no real reason to move other than for a(n even) bigger wage, just because the big money offer is there doesn't mean you should take it.

All the examples you've said are fantastic, Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair probably the 'worst' culprits if you see what I mean. Get stars in their eyes and ignore the fact they're going to be sat on the bench or worse week after week.

Good point regarding Sinclair. Had a terrific season last year at Swansea & has now completely stagnated his own development in return for £'s. Nobody to blame but himself I'm afraid.

A phenomenal talent at one stage.

It's a shame he didn't have a second season at Madrid, I think he could have kicked on from there.

I am sure he wont be blaming himself at all for picking up three times the wedge he was on previously.

All the players mentioned are PRO.....that means they pick up the biggest wages whatever...nothing else matters......unless of course you have already earned enough to not be bothered.

That's what bugs me though....I understand its a career to them but surely they must prefer winning.

Lots of ifs and buts but if Sinclair had stayed at Swansea then his bank balance would be lower but he'd probably have a League Cup winners medal.

In 10, 15, 20 years time what would you rather have to show and look back on, to tell kids about. More money or a winners medal...

A great player will still be a great player even when injury has ruined there pace. Owen was one dimensional. Good finisher and quick, when the quick had gone there was fuck all left.

I think most top division professionals will have earned more than enough in half a season.

In our eyes for sure......have you never heard of that last big money move?

Most top division professionals tend to sneak one in.