ichael Owen's arrival at Manchester United represents the latest act of "genius" on Sir Alex Ferguson's part. That is Rob Lee's view of the most unexpected transfer this summer and Owen's former England team-mate is far from alone in that view.
Lee, who has watched many of Owen's recent struggles in a Newcastle United shirt, is as well placed as anyone to assess a move which has astonished much of the football world. "It's a piece of genius management," he said. "Getting Michael for free on what I'm sure will essentially be a pay-as-you-play basis is very, very, good business. It's no gamble."
Even so Manchester United fans are largely underwhelmed at the prospect of Owen replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. "Of course Michael can't do what Ronaldo does," Lee added. "Ronaldo is the best in the world and as close as anyone to being indispensable but in one-on-one situations, Michael is a better finisher. Sir Alex has lost the player who got the bulk of United's goals, many of them great goals, but he is replacing him with someone capable of scoring once every two games."
Peter Taylor, who coached Owen during his days as a member of Glenn Hoddle's England staff, does not demur. "United create so many chances it wouldn't surprise me if Michael is the Premier League's top scorer next year. And I'm sure he'll be on the plane to South Africa [for the World Cup] next summer. Sir Alex has been very clever."
Owen's critics are keen to remind everyone that the injury-plagued 29-year-old has not scored since January and failed to prevent Newcastle's relegation. "But Michael needs chances and no one at Newcastle was creating any," Lee added. "The ones I saw fall his way always seemed to be ricochets. But at United he might get eight openings in some games."
კუნ აგუეროა ტუ ვიღაც შიბლა, ეხლა მაგაში გადახდილი 50 მილიონი ხომ აშკარა რისკია. შორს ეგ სირი დაივერი ინგლისიდან
"He hit it," wrote Sir Alex Ferguson of one particularly vicious Alan Shearer finish against Poland in 1996, "as if he wanted to kill it."
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Manchester United Supporters' Association, The Red Devils
