[EN] Premier League 2005/06 (19 Viewers)
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Gill opens door for United Owen move
Monday, August 1st, 2005
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the green light to bid for Michael Owen and must now decide whether the England striker fits into his plans.
Ferguson already has four international strikers at his disposal in Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and Alan Smith.
There is also the prospect of Ole Gunner Solsjkaer returning to fitness this season, while David Bellion provides another option.
However Owen's scoring record at the highest level is proven, and United have indicated they would back Ferguson should he want to bring Owen back to the Premiership from Real Madrid.
United chief executive David Gill said: 'The money is there for Alex.
'If he identifies a talent that he thinks will improve the squad - and that is the crucial thing - the funds are available.
'The Glazers have said that if there is a big player out there who is available, then the money is there to go for him.
'We can still afford a lot of money for top players and at the same time we are also able to develop many of our own.'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was coy last night regarding Owen, neither firmly dismissing the possibility of Owen coming to Highbury nor stating that he was a prime target.
'At the moment I'm not looking for a striker. I'm looking at some other areas,' he said on Sky Sports. 'I have not made any approach for Michael Owen.'
While Madrid have yet to comment on Owen's future, the signings over the weekend of strikers Julio Baptista and Robinho at a cost approaching £40million have left him as the club's fifth-choice striker, behind the new arrivals plus Raul and Ronaldo.
Owen cost Madrid £8million last summer and they are expected to seek a profit, however United may be in a strong position if they are the only bidding club.
The 25-year-old knows he cannot afford to sit on the bench too long with the World Cup finals fast approaching, and there has also been reported interest from Liverpool and Newcastle, suggesting possible movement this week.
Meanwhile, Roberto Carlos has dismissed speculation that Raul might be the fall-guy following the arrival of Robinho and Baptista.
'We have signed good players but Raul is a Madrid great and is very important to the team,' said the Brazilian full-back. 'I do not believe that he is a substitute.'
soccernet.com
Monday, August 1st, 2005
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the green light to bid for Michael Owen and must now decide whether the England striker fits into his plans.
Ferguson already has four international strikers at his disposal in Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and Alan Smith.
There is also the prospect of Ole Gunner Solsjkaer returning to fitness this season, while David Bellion provides another option.
However Owen's scoring record at the highest level is proven, and United have indicated they would back Ferguson should he want to bring Owen back to the Premiership from Real Madrid.
United chief executive David Gill said: 'The money is there for Alex.
'If he identifies a talent that he thinks will improve the squad - and that is the crucial thing - the funds are available.
'The Glazers have said that if there is a big player out there who is available, then the money is there to go for him.
'We can still afford a lot of money for top players and at the same time we are also able to develop many of our own.'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was coy last night regarding Owen, neither firmly dismissing the possibility of Owen coming to Highbury nor stating that he was a prime target.
'At the moment I'm not looking for a striker. I'm looking at some other areas,' he said on Sky Sports. 'I have not made any approach for Michael Owen.'
While Madrid have yet to comment on Owen's future, the signings over the weekend of strikers Julio Baptista and Robinho at a cost approaching £40million have left him as the club's fifth-choice striker, behind the new arrivals plus Raul and Ronaldo.
Owen cost Madrid £8million last summer and they are expected to seek a profit, however United may be in a strong position if they are the only bidding club.
The 25-year-old knows he cannot afford to sit on the bench too long with the World Cup finals fast approaching, and there has also been reported interest from Liverpool and Newcastle, suggesting possible movement this week.
Meanwhile, Roberto Carlos has dismissed speculation that Raul might be the fall-guy following the arrival of Robinho and Baptista.
'We have signed good players but Raul is a Madrid great and is very important to the team,' said the Brazilian full-back. 'I do not believe that he is a substitute.'
soccernet.com
hmm, this is going to be one of those times im going to be brutally honest.
i dont believe arsenal will win the title this year. i dont think they'll show the usual dominance that has been expected of them off late. and i dont think they'll be playing with that typical arsenal style that noone can match. vieira was crucial for us, but he is getting old, and i dont know how long he can keep up what he has done day in day out for the last 9 years. that said, there had to be a time when the team was re-built. it had to come sooner or later, and it ended up being sooner. i reckon this coming season will be the base of whats to see of arsenal over hte next few years.
but arsenal is still a team of top quality, and they have an excellent coach that has done away with great players before and has come out better because of it (overmars, petit, anelka), so i do trust his judgement.
it'll be an interesting year. the squad is quite thin, so hope key players like freddy, henry and toure can keep injury free. also hope to see lots more of clichy this year.
i dont believe arsenal will win the title this year. i dont think they'll show the usual dominance that has been expected of them off late. and i dont think they'll be playing with that typical arsenal style that noone can match. vieira was crucial for us, but he is getting old, and i dont know how long he can keep up what he has done day in day out for the last 9 years. that said, there had to be a time when the team was re-built. it had to come sooner or later, and it ended up being sooner. i reckon this coming season will be the base of whats to see of arsenal over hte next few years.
but arsenal is still a team of top quality, and they have an excellent coach that has done away with great players before and has come out better because of it (overmars, petit, anelka), so i do trust his judgement.
it'll be an interesting year. the squad is quite thin, so hope key players like freddy, henry and toure can keep injury free. also hope to see lots more of clichy this year.
i dont see why u dont rate gilberto highly. the guy might snuff it when he ever gets a chance to score, but who the hell cares, he's a defensive mid fielder, and i think he does the job very well.
what everyone is forgetting is that kolo toure is a very versatile player, he can play anywhere on the pitch, and i really mean anywhere. in his first season at arsenal he was playing on the right wing, in freddy's position, and i've heard he can play center mid as well as the center back role he's had off late. so i wouldn't be surprised if he fills in from time to time, and lets campbell - senderos take over at the back
what everyone is forgetting is that kolo toure is a very versatile player, he can play anywhere on the pitch, and i really mean anywhere. in his first season at arsenal he was playing on the right wing, in freddy's position, and i've heard he can play center mid as well as the center back role he's had off late. so i wouldn't be surprised if he fills in from time to time, and lets campbell - senderos take over at the back
Ferguson seems to be experimenting with Smith in midfield. He's already said that he sees Rooney moving deeper as he matures (a la Scholes), Saha has been quite disappointing and Liam Miller is a (fairly defensive) midfielder.
Rossi may break through, and Solskjaer might possibly recover from two years of injuries to be what he was, but Owen would do Man Utd's squad no harm at all.
Rossi may break through, and Solskjaer might possibly recover from two years of injuries to be what he was, but Owen would do Man Utd's squad no harm at all.
He's hard to replace. Where do you get players like that? Either you find a gem of a youngster who actually comes good, or you spend silly money on a player who may not work out. Smith, Miller, Fletcher, O'Shea and more will all play there this year. I don't know if any of them will work out, but they'll find someone eventually. Clubs that big generally do.