Owen Dossier - Was It Necessary?

By Tyne-Talk
June 20 2009

Michael Owen's 32 page dossier is laid bare by the Daily Mail today, promoting the 29 year old as "good looking" and "stylish" as well as prominent figure in any Premier League team's campaign next season, but also stating that had Newcastle United remained in the Premier League, under the management of Alan Shearer he probably would have stayed at the club.

The striker is "hungry to be playing well and scoring goals......and he is now seeking the right opportunity to remind people why he was once crowned European Footballer of the Year".

Owen, who by his standards did not have a great season last season and has spent much of his Newcastle career receiving treatment to injuries, has published several pages dismissing the media reports suggesting his love of racing got in the way of his career or that he lacks desire. A half a page is also dedicated to proving that the former Real Madrid and Liverpool player is not injury prone, but merely experienced a part of his career which was dominated by a specific injury.

Owen remains a good player, but did he really need to sell himself like a holiday in order to attract a club? The gist of the brochure lays blame at his more midfield role last season due to a relegation battle for the lack of goal scoring opportunities he had. This is understandable and witnessed by every other club in the Premier League but was it really necessary to keep repeating it throughout?

The stats look good, the "public appeal" photos, commercial value and the sponsorship deals remain impressive, but ultimately a player like Michael Owen should not feel the need to advertise himself to others in such a manner, his on pitch performance should say fair more than any 32 page document available in English, Spanish and Italian reiterating his career from the beginning until the present day where he is currently out of contract with no club lined up to take him on board.