Owen's Cunning Move

The transfer that I have the most interest in this year is not the mega money moving of Messrs Ronaldo and Kaka, but the intriguing situation of Michael Owen. I admit from the start that Owen is a player that I rate very highly, for several reasons, some not so obvious as others.

Owen is two years younger than me, and when he burst onto the scene it may have been a shock to the general public but as a player of similar age and one who devoured all type of football news and gossip. I had heard of him. Mainly because an ex team mate of mine played against him when Owen scored what he still believes to be his best ever goal. A mazy run from kick off dribbling around every Scottish player he could find,taking their lunch money from them, and pulling down there shorts then slotting it home. It was a complete piss take. It looked like an edition of Billy Whizz when he tied the ball to his boots, or used superglue. This was at U15 level.

With some players you can just tell. Simple as that you look at them and they do one thing and you think "You can't coach that" with his goal against Argentina it was not his dribble, or finish that stood out. It was his first touch, that outside of the boot caress that took him into full stride and on his way to super stardom. ONE TOUCH. And that is why I find his move to Man Utd so interesting.

Owen WILL score goals. FACT. Look at his C.V it shows around a goal every two games. For the best teams in the world (Newcastle excluded obviously) and I believe he will score plenty at Man Utd. His fitness is the key, as is well documented, but for me it seems a very sensible gamble, risk paying the wages of a proven goalscorer, or splash the cash and end up with a Seba Veron (or dare I say it a Berbatov?)

Owen started playing in the tail end of the Spice Boys era, Armani Suits and inflated egos. He played with John Barnes at a time when football was about to go BOOM. He played when the average punter could still relate (if only a little) to the men on the pitch. Those days are gone. Owen inspired people because you thought "Look at him, he is a normal lad" not some pampered pussy.

I think Fergie has pulled a shrewd move, I look forward to watching this develop over the season.And nothing would make me smile more than if he banged one in at the KOP!