The New Rush & Dalglish? Souness Comments

By Matthew Jones
September 10 2005

Magpies boss Graeme Souness believes that Michael Owen and Alan Shearer can write their names in history books. Admittedly, a younger Sheaerer and Owen partnership would have been prefered, but as Souness says, "we've got the second best thing"

GRAEME SOUNESS:

"It's up there on paper with any partnership you want to name that's played in the history of English football.

"Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush will go down in the history books as one of the best partnerships - in terms of winning things - they might be the very best.

"But I don't think there are too many Premiership managers will relish coming up against Shearer and Owen.

"I think if you're a realist - Alan 35 and Michael approaching his best years - you're still hoping they're going to get lots of goals, but anyone with any intelligence would want a 30-year old Alan Shearer and a 20-year-old Michael Owen.

"But we've got the second best thing and I think any other Premier League manager would be delighted with that pairing as well.

"In everyone's eyes he [Owen] was not a failure in Madrid but deep down, given the personality he has, he'll think he has failed in Madrid which I think we can benefit from.

"The world of football doesn't think he has failed but I know deep down he still thinks he has a point to prove.

"His preparation hasn't been ideal. Ten days after we bought him was the first time he got the chance to meet his new team-mates (on Thursday).

"He doesn't do anything other than a warm down, and we've got an hour with him on Friday morning. Not great preparation."