da aviator aposta：
da cassino： When Michael Owen popped up to equalise for Manchester United at the weekend it made me question whether his decision to join the Red Devils was the right one for his career. Although making several appearances from the bench this season, it was only his second start for United since a League Cup tie against Scunthorpe – where he was on the score sheet twice. So has Owen wasted his exceptional scoring talent by joining United rather than joining another Premier League club that would’ve seen him play regular first team football?
Any player can be forgiven for wanting to join Manchester United if they’re interested in them and this was the case when Owen joined Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2009. However, he was strongly linked to joining the likes of Hull City, Stoke City and even Wigan Athletic to name a few before Sir Alex Ferguson came in for him. In hindsight, Owen probably expected to have started more games, especially this season where he seems to be the 5th choice striker with the likes of youngsters, Javier Hernandez and Federico Marcheda being more favourable behind Rooney and Berbatov.
Although Ferguson can be forgiven for wanting to give these young forwards as much first team appearances as they can get in order for them to develop, he may be overlooking the experience and skill that Owen brings to the game. It’s already been highlighted in the past that he has lost his pace that made him electric during his Liverpool career, but he still possesses a strikers instinct for finding the back of the net.
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The player’s ambitions have been questioned however, with his reported love for horse racing and being one of the richest Footballers in the world suggests a lack of desire to play week-in-week out for the likes of a Stoke or Wigan in order to prove his critics wrong. Although he’d have more chance of playing time for these teams, at least at United he can add to his winning medals. And when a player’s career ends it’s the medals that really show for something – just ask former United and Blackburn Rovers defender, David May.
Although Owen may now be given more starts by Ferguson, considering the current form of Rooney, there is a question over his fitness. In his debut season for United, Owen played an important role as a back-up striker like scoring the winning goal in stoppage time against City, a hat-trick in the Champions League away to Wolfsberg and scoring in last year’s League Cup final against Villa. But the latter game was the end to his season when that reoccurring hamstring injury needed surgery once again.
On the bright side, Owen has been without any serious injuries this season and if he continues to contribute when called upon by Ferguson, perhaps he will gain more minutes on the pitch. If so then his move to Manchester United could be seen as a good one, having a main part in their continued success. However, his contract is set to expire at the end of the season so perhaps Owen could look elsewhere to finish his career – I for one hope that Owen is given a chance to show he can still produce goals at the top level rather than drift out warming up the bench at United.
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