Michael Owen - You Could Sense The Relief

Monday March 24th, 2008 by Ed Harrison· 47 Comments

Michael Owen was relieved and very upbeat today, when he talked the the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

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Michael Owen - making his mark as captain

Michael was made captain by Kevin Keegan as soon as Kevin took over the club again, and Michael has played very well since scoring 4 of Newcastle’s 6 goals.

He has also turned out to be a much better captain than we thought and has set a great example to his colleagues by his phenomenal work rate on the field.

And Michael held a huddle for the team just before the kick off, and of course we’d like to know what was said, but whatever it was, it was good because the lads played well as a team, and showed good spirit and fighting qualities, and some good skill too. If they need a huddle before every game to produce the good, then so be it.

Michael told the Evening Chronicle:

“I am really enjoying it. Obviously, it was tough at the start – just the same as it was for the manager.” “The boss came in and appointed me, and we almost started new roles together. It was a tough assignment straight away with Arsenal away twice and, since then, Liverpool and Manchester United.”

“We’ve had some tough games, but the victory over Fulham was the manager’s first win, and my first win as captain.” “It is a monkey off our backs, so to speak. We had a tough start with the fixtures, but now, hopefully, we can go on a little run.”

“When you are getting beaten and lacking confidence, you tend to have more meetings.” “When you’re winning, you don’t want to touch anything. We’ve had our fair share of chats over the weeks, and we’ve set some goals.”

“We knew this was a big week. We felt we needed a minimum of four points out of our last two games, and before the game I just reminded everyone that we had got one point from Birmingham City, and got half the job done. This was a tougher job.”

“You could sense the relief, not only among the fans, but also the players, staff and everyone.” “When you win like this, it’s a cracking feeling. You can go home for a meal with the missus and not go to bed with a sore head.”

“Obviously, we had a bit of a game plan. We were at home, and we wanted to ask questions of Fulham.” “It was similar to Birmingham away, but it was the other way around.” “For the first 20-25 minutes I thought we were fantastic.” “We scored a goal, created a few chances, and I should have scored with a header.”

“Then they got a foothold in the game, and that’s often the way.” “The second half was a bit better, but we’re not by any means playing to our capabilities.”

“Two-nil was a great result, and we don’t care how we play as long as we get results like that.”

It’s very simple what Newcastle fans want to see from now until the end of the season, and that’s the lads playing more to their capabilities with some fight and heart. That’s all Newcastle fans have ever ask of their players.

But when they produce that type of performance, like on Saturday, a win is often the result, and the fans go home happy.

We just want to have more of the same, that’s all.

Comments welcome.

Tags: Newcastle News · Michael Owen

47 responses so far ↓

1 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 16:05

good words from owen, im hungover, anyone knw a good cure?
2 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 16:10

Hair of the DOG that bit ya’!..
3 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 16:18

i would try that mate but ive got to drive later. also it just delays the hangover so that when it comes it 10x worse
4 Reb // Mar 24, 2008 at 17:38

Gatorade or some other vitamin & nutrient reinforced drink, according to the doctor in my family — a hangover is the result of dehydration and an imbalance of vitamins leftover from the body having to burn off the alcohol. Gatorade and a hamburger does it for me, most times.

Isn’t Owen away with England currently? Wonder when he gave the interview. Speaking of England, if Owen plays — especially if it’s near 90 minutes — should Keegan risk him against Spurs? Not much recovery time, and it might not be worth risking an injury because he’s knackered. The more important matches v. Reading and Sunderland are still to come, after all.

He’s captain, and has (touch wood) been fit and played every minute of Keegan’s current reign as manager — but I’m just not sure if Owen should play 180 minutes in 3 or 4 days time. A moot point if he’s not deployed for England, of course.
5 ToonKing // Mar 24, 2008 at 17:45

damn, your right Reb. We shouldn’t risk him…..

Man i hate international football so much…….
6 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 17:51

gatorade. love that stuff shame we cant get it over in england.

anyone know if its snowing in newcastle? just wanting to go thru to town and i dont wana get stuck coming home, up in alnwick its canny heavy but the sun is out
7 Graham // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:04

Leo - the suns out in Newcastle too shining over St. James Park with no sign of snow.
8 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:08

nice one graham cheers
9 Cockney Magpie // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:11

Gatorade just makes me fink of The Waterboy film lol.

Owen probably wont get a full 90 for england anyway
10 Nick C // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:12

Leo, next time u go out, get yourself to asda and buy some “dinks” from the pharmacy. Take 3 b4 you start drinking and make sure u take 3 b4 u kip. U will be amazed the next day!!!
11 Reb // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:17

Forgot there’s not Gatorade in England…I’ve lived over in America too long. Any sports drink would likely do, or so I am told.
12 Cockney Magpie // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:19

heres a little tip for future reference Leo but a little bit too late now but after a night on the lash b4 ya hit the sack take 2 paracetemols and drink a pint of water, trust me since iv been doin tht iv neva had a hangover (apart from wen ya so wrecked ya forget obviously)
13 Graham // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:21

Leo if you’re still there i would stay where you are mate. Its just turned and Nanook of the North has just knocked at the door asking if we can put him up for the night!

Honestly it changed from the sun splitting the skies to Ice Staion Zebra in 5 mins
14 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:26

i think i will risk it haha. driven in worse.

2 years ago at home to fulham when the game was called off, pretty sure it was fulham
15 Leo // Mar 24, 2008 at 18:27

ive tried the paracetamol thing, but its the hard thing remembering to do it when uve had a skin full. i might try ‘dinks’ sounds expensive tho haha
16 Tommyy // Mar 24, 2008 at 19:00

Is it still snowin out?
17 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 20:10

If KK has 50m to spend then he can have a punt at a few players

What would Hamburg do if KK said i’ll give you £35m on the spot for Kompany and Van der vaart

if they say shove it then you move on and try for lesser players, but if they say yes then you try and persuade the players to join

The only reason the players would turn us down I feel is other bigger and better clubs bidding as well as both can play in a better club and league and Newcastle still have a lot of appeal despite the last couple of seasons.

I know i keep on giving different names every day but im just so excited and i cant wait until the season ends and we can see who KK brings in, Its going to be a very interesting summer and i know we are all probably miles off anyway! but whoever he gets even if i dont like the players i will have 100% support for KKs decisions he doesnt get much wrong and He already has most of the lads playing near their best and will improve the younger lads drastically.

LONG LIVE THE KING
18 Charlie Bucket // Mar 24, 2008 at 20:17

Anyone reckon we could get Roque Santa Cruz?
19 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 20:24

—
20 Cockney Magpie // Mar 24, 2008 at 20:24

i think we could but probably for alot more thn the pennies Blackburn paid 4 him tho
21 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 20:36

—————–Given———————

—–Beye—Taylor—Kompany—Bridge—–

—-Bullard—–Carrick—–Van Der Vaart—-

—-Owen——Viduka——Martins—–

£50 to start with

Sell Smith to Mackems for £4m, Ameobi to Boro for £1m and N’Zogbia to Spurs for £8m and Rozenhal to Lazio for £3m give Carr, Cacapa and Geremi free transfers and take what you can for Duff that would be £66 million to spend.

£35m double deal for Kompany and Van der vaart

£15m for Carrick

£6m for Bridge

£3m for Bullard

=£58m spent so 5 million bribe to Hamburgs Board members to let the players leave and 3 million bribe to Ferguson to let Carrick leave

And with Milner and Lua Lua in the squad we could switch to 442 easily.

KK read this and make it happen and Wise earn your money you southern ponce.
22 ronaldeano // Mar 24, 2008 at 21:16

lol! well said Craigg mate i couldent agree more
23 GP // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:04

Isn’t VDV heading off to Chelsea?
24 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:05

This Would be our A team:

—————–Given———————

—–Beye—Taylor—Kompany—Bridge—–

—-Bullard—–Carrick—–Van Der Vaart—-

—-Owen——Viduka——Martins—–

And we could change systems to 442 or play a similar 433 to Chelsea or Man Utd with two wingers instead of three Central Strikers

This would be our B team:

—————–Harper———————

—–Ramage—Faye—Edgar—Enrique—–

—-Barton—–Butt—–Emre—-

—-Lua Lua——Carroll—–Milner—

Top Side and lots of Different players who could rotate depending on the opposition

What do you lot think??

Tom_Toon that Chikaoui to boro rumour is gathering pace!!
25 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:06

Probably but Grant is going so we could try and nick him before they make an offer
26 CJ // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:08

I would go for Huddlestone Pandev Brown and would personally pay for Carr and Smith’s flight tickets to a Tibetin protest.
27 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:11

I would piss myself into an early grave if Sunderland sign Smith and Carr
28 CJ // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:13

Craigg it would be our best bit of transfer business since Big Al signed.
29 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:14

I’d go for Arshavin & Pandev, & have Harper in goal!..Defo have VDV & Bridge…Not sure about Carrick…Bullard’s butt ugly, he is good tho’(Ha!)…But have a go for Ribery!..Oh yea, he’s butt ugly, he is good tho’(Ha!)…
30 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:15

I think there would be more people gather outside SJP than when Shearer signed if it did happen!
31 CJ // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:16

I am not having a go at KK but only 10 days or so ago KK was in the paper saying nobody’s contract will be getting sorted out until the summer but today he is in the paper saying Owen should be giving a contract immediately i wonder what Martins and Taylor think of this.
32 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:20

Yea cj, but y’gotta take anything printed in the rags with a sack full of salt mate!..
33 CRAIGG // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:23

CJ i thought exactly the Same thing when i first saw it as well

What happened to looking after your own Taylor and Ramage are academy boys and both are out of contract in the foreseeable future and KK told them both to wait until the end of the season. We need to get Oba a new long term contract without a buy out clause and most importantly:

I dont know if anyone has noticed but we are risking Stephen Carr going on a free transfer this summer, Ive heard Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter are all monitoring the situation closely.
34 Reading Mag // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:03

Leo, you can get Gatorade e in the UK under Britvic, only know as taking on their business.

My god thought I was going to have a heart attack sat at 4:30, until Micky popped up. Seriously I was so stressed.
35 Tom_Toon // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:05

A good cm would instantly transform our team.
36 Premiership Vids // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:08

Owen still seems to be missing a lot of sitters, like the free header against Fulham, but I guess we can expect them to be in the back of the net once his confidence is restored, also the lack of quality service is a facture.
37 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:13

Ed…Thanx for putting plenty of articles up mate…It’s getting so i don’t even have to bother goin’ to other media sites at all, which i like, a lot!..They haven’t got a good word to say about us between them!..So, thanx again man, keep up the great work!..
38 Tom_Toon // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:15

Ed - You need sponsors and i know a few people wont be happy, but me personally and i expect the majority of others would be happy to pay a smallish subscription fee if you are short of funds.
39 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:18

P vids, tbh man, that ’sitter’ Owen missed was hard to finish, it came from a really steep angle…Very difficult to convert…But i think y’right about confidence tho’, the more it grows, the better we get!..
…Ho’way the Lads!..
40 CJ // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:23

Ed i would help you out but i bet i am more skint than you get Mike Ashley’s number from someone at the club he surely cannot be skint and would help you out when i see Ashley i am tempted to ask him for a few quid myself.
41 Punk Skunk // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:39

I’d rather pay Ed than murdoch et al…That’s for sure!..Tbh tho’ i haven’t bought a rag for…… ever, really!..CONSUMER POWER!..
42 m. // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:36

i’m really afraid of buying another guivarc’h, marcelino, hugo viana, boumsong, alan smith this summer… f***in shite, this always happens
43 ObaFan2 // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:33

http://download.howden.press.net/actim/PremOver_index_top100.pdf

Not one Toon player in the top 100 !
44 ELFER // Mar 25, 2008 at 8:18

first of all my tipps if you have a bad day after…well I eat a lot of gherkins when I come home and drink 3-5 glasses of whater…it is a wonder recipe, trust me

ok well, then I started laughing loud on the comments of “CRAIGG” - but then I realised that you propably mean what you write…so this is nonsense becouse first of all we will never get Van der Vaart (he will go to spain) and most important will this lead us into the same siutation we already had…

no, we need additional players and I’m not sure we should really let players go without replacing them accordingly! One of our main problems was that we had (again) too many injured players! So first strenghten our CB (bring in a real leader) and then strengthen our boxplay in midfield. After that start improving maybe wingers and fullbacks (bring in some backup for LB,RW). If there’s still money replace SMITH and AMEOBI with GOMIS?
45 Steve_48 // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:31

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article955798.ece

More cr*p from the red tops this morning lads, would not even wipe my @rse on it
46 CRAIGG // Mar 25, 2008 at 13:17

Elfer what is said was Hamburg can only turn us down and I think they would take a huge ammount of money for those players, I also added that the players obviously would more than likely turn us down but we have the finance to at least try, and where is the proof that they are going to spain it could be paper talk, The same papers that have had us two new managers since KK came back and had us buying michael Dawson if we have the money we can try the same as Liverpool jumped in on torres in front of Man Utd, Barcelona, Inter etc. He could have gone to a much better side but Rafa got him there mostly down to his spanish links, Wheres the harm in trying KK ias a very persuasive man and even boro have gone for Chikauoi who if you listen to tom_toon is Peles lovechild.

Yes you are right its crazy over the top ambition, they will not come but i dont see the harm in trying as there is no proof that all those top clubs are going to buy these players the media expects it.
47 Tom_Toon // Mar 25, 2008 at 17:00

Chikhaoui is going to Hamburg to replace van der Vaart when he leaves!