Rob W 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) The Truth Behind Owen Switch - Bascombe Article « on: Today at 03:06:13 PM » Reply with quote http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...me_page.htmlThe truth behind Owen switch Aug 31 2005 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo MICHAEL OWEN sat in his north Wales mansion desperately waiting for the Anfield cavalry to arrive yesterday. Sadly for him, and thousands of Liverpool supporters desperate to see his return, the Reds were already in the process of retreating from the pursuit of his signature. Instead, their former striker was dragged, kicking and screaming towards a clause-ridden Newcastle contract. This was not supposed to be the final scene of the summer's most captivating transfer saga. Even as Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd announced Owen's imminent arrival, the Geordies risked serious embarrassment. With the St James' Park medical team due to arrive at his north Wales home to complete the formalities, Owen was still waiting for the call from the Anfield hierarchy. When it came around 11am yesterday morning, the conversation between Owen and Rick Parry confirmed his fears. Liverpool had neither the cash, nor the will, to spend more than £12m to buy him back. Real Madrid said that wasn't enough while Newcastle's £16m offer was on the table. For Liverpool to sign Owen, he had to publicly reject their offer and reiterate he'd only go to Anfield. Sending an SOS to Anfield was fine, but without a white flag, surrendering any intention to join Newcastle, it was hopeless. Sadly, this was a concession Owen felt he couldn't take without a definite assurance his ambition to join Liverpool would be realised. Liverpool are stunned Owen opted for the Newcastle option given his doubts about the move. They feel had he held his nerve and flatly rejected a switch North East, Madrid's stance may have softened over the next 24 hours. When faced with a similar situation a week ago, Milan Baros publicly rebuffed any interest from Lyon and joined Aston Villa for a smaller fee. Fernando Morientes took the same stance last January when in the wake of Liverpool interest, Newcastle offered more. Liverpool wanted Owen to repeat Baros and Morientes' tactics. If the Geordies thought they were chasing a lost cause, they'd have to withdraw their bid. The Reds could then continue negotiations with the Spanish giants in a stronger position. For Liverpool to sign Owen, it had to be a one horse race. For Owen, the risk was too great. Time was running out. He was told by Madrid there was no prospect of a deal with Liverpool and if he didn't go to Newcastle, he'd be on the sidelines until January. Edited August 31, 2005 by Rob W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34413 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Citric journalism. Bitter as owt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) If the tables were turned it would probably be the same tbh. Still looks like Phil Thompson wrote it. Edited August 31, 2005 by Sima Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagpole corner 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Havent pasted the full article mate. To be honest, it contains a lot of spin, particularly the end but goes along with everything I've heard and read over the last few weeks in terms of how the transfer panned out. Edited August 31, 2005 by flagpole corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 rest of article he shadow of the World Cup loomed large. It seems international ambition overrides a burning desire to return to Anfield and the next six months couldn't be sacrificed. Owen was determined to maintain contact with Newcastle as a back-up option, but by courting their attention he created a fundamental flaw in Rafael Benitez's plan to get him. After some horrendous advice, he was even pictured meeting Newcastle officials. Hardly the actions of a man trying to send a signal to Real Madrid he didn't fancy moving to St James' Park.. As Owen strolled around a Northumberland estate on Monday night, he was inadvertently knifing his and Liverpool ' s ambitions through the heart. Having been set a morning deadline to make his decision, he returned to north Wales resigned to moving to Newcastle. On Tuesday morning, he was having second thoughts and made a series of frantic phone calls to Anfield officials. Unlike the recent Steven Gerrard case, however, there was nothing Liverpool could do to reassure Owen a u-turn would definitely put him back in a red shirt. They wanted him to reject Newcastle, but this would only trigger the beginning of more negotiating with Madrid. Benitez's policy throughout the transfer was based partly on brinkmanship, bluff, and also a test of Owen's much publicised desperation to come home. The Liverpool boss wasn't convinced by the private messages delivered via friends or journalists. He demanded a statement from Owen, although when it arrived it hardly dripped with enthusiasm. Owen's advisors elected to show their client as all things to all men, tellingly citing World Cup ambition above any fervent desire to join Liverpool. Newcastle's £16m was then instantly made public, deflecting attention from Owen's understated 'come and get me plea' to his former employers. Madrid refused to negotiate with Liverpool unless they matched Newcastle's offer. The loan deal Liverpool wanted was now out of the question. As long as Owen rejected Newcastle, the Reds were in the driving seat. Benitez and Parry met Owen on Monday. There was no clause in a Liverpool contract. Personal terms were not an issue. Difficult negotiations with Madrid were. Owen was told to reject Newcastle. Instead, he and his advisor Tony Stephens headed north. For all the sense of deflation at losing a player of Owen's calibre to Newcastle, few will argue the Reds should have matched such a ridiculous offer. Indeed, the only winners in this saga are Madrid. They've earned 100 per cent profit on a player who wouldn't have played for them this year. Liverpool have shown their status as European champions hasn't given them the financial muscle to outbid lowly Premiership rivals. Owen has joined a club against his judgment, despite admitting a week ago he wouldn't do so. As for Newcastle, they've agreed a strange contract which isn't exactly what it says on the label. In a year's time, Owen can leave St James' Park for a fee somewhere in the region of what Liverpool were prepared to pay. The Geordies are laughing now, but they might be celebrating the most expensive loan deal in football history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34413 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Anyone stupid enough to think that we would have a release clause for half of what we've just paid shouldn't have a job writing for the Beano, never mind a local rag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Half Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elric 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 "you jokkkkkkccckkckckckin??????" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Yawn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico martin 84 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? 24978[/snapback] this is Newcastle we're talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut 9 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 What's half of free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? 24978[/snapback] Liverpool Echo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut 9 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They'll have been gutted watching the interview today then when it was confirmed there was no get-out clause as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_NUFC 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Bitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagpole corner 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? 24978[/snapback] What bit is so bad? Ignore the talk of a release clause or the digs at Newcastle. He's basically saying -We wanted Owen and michael wanted us. -LFC & Owen were in agreement (some say he had agreed to take a pay cut) -We were trying to play poker with Madrid -Owen issued his statement last week in a bid to lower real's asking price but it backfired and worked in real's favour as it showed owen was desperate to leave and would goto newcastle as a last resort -We wouldn't cough up the cash, Owen didn't want to wait till January so went to Newcastle. sounds reasnoable to me. If he said no flat out to Newcastle he would've been a reds player (again said by Bascombe) but he was so desperate to leave Madrid for his world cup ambitions and his family, that he wasn't prepared to gamble. Edited August 31, 2005 by flagpole corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They'll have been gutted watching the interview today then when it was confirmed there was no get-out clause as well. 24988[/snapback] I wouldn't be surprised if there was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico martin 84 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They'll have been gutted watching the interview today then when it was confirmed there was no get-out clause as well. 24988[/snapback] was this confirmed though? or is it just wishful thinking by us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They aren't getting Simao now as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? 24978[/snapback] What bit is so bad? Ignore the talk of a release clause or the digs at Newcastle. He's basically saying -We wanted Owen and michael wanted us. -LFC & Owen were in agreement (some say he had agreed to take a pay cut) -We were trying to play poker with Madrid -Owen issued his statement last week in a bid to lower real's asking price but it backfired and worked in real's favour as it showed owen was desperate to leave and would goto newcastle as a last resort -We wouldn't cough up the cash, Owen didn't want to wait till January so went to Newcastle. sounds reasnoable to me. If he said no flat out to Newcastle he would've been a reds player (again said by Bascombe) but he was so desperate to leave Madrid for his world cup ambitions and his family, that he wasn't prepared to gamble. 24990[/snapback] precisley It shows just how certain 'Pool were that when push came to shove Owen would risk everything to go back to them.................... and they'd then try and twist Real into letting go for £ 8 million Owen knows the guys at Real better than they did and playing for Real 's 4th team was a genuine possibility in his mind....................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico martin 84 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They aren't getting Simao now as well 24995[/snapback] well that's good anyway, best not to let anything to soften the blow of them losing their favourite son Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 They'll just use their European Cup triumph tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 3977 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 There may be some truth in some of the background but the twist put on it is the juice of a billion lemons. Fucking love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagpole corner 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Fuck me, is that for real? A piss take shirley? 24978[/snapback] What bit is so bad? Ignore the talk of a release clause or the digs at Newcastle. He's basically saying -We wanted Owen and michael wanted us. -LFC & Owen were in agreement (some say he had agreed to take a pay cut) -We were trying to play poker with Madrid -Owen issued his statement last week in a bid to lower real's asking price but it backfired and worked in real's favour as it showed owen was desperate to leave and would goto newcastle as a last resort -We wouldn't cough up the cash, Owen didn't want to wait till January so went to Newcastle. sounds reasnoable to me. If he said no flat out to Newcastle he would've been a reds player (again said by Bascombe) but he was so desperate to leave Madrid for his world cup ambitions and his family, that he wasn't prepared to gamble. 24990[/snapback] precisley It shows just how certain 'Pool were that when push came to shove Owen would risk everything to go back to them.................... and they'd then try and twist Real into letting go for £ 8 million 24999[/snapback] Probably based on assurances from owen himself. His family and friends all knew about him coming back. Gerrard's daft "He's the best striker in the league" and "I'd hate to see him at another club" comments show this. They apparently met at Carra's house on monday too with owen's dad also on the scene. I mean, the papers seemed to take Rafa's word for gospel but there has been talk in the city of owen coming back for weeks. It was almost seemed as nailed on and to be fair, it wasn't far off till Owen "lost his bottle" as some say (explored other options which is far enough). The article from Bascombe contains spin and a bit of bitterness but if the roles were reversed it would be exactly the same and the bare bones of the article seems quite accurate to me. You guys are on a high and the bit at the bottom will stick out like a sore thumb so fair enough but I just see that as a bit of nonsense neither here nor there. Given what has been said and written for the last few weeks, it's the most accurate representation of the transfer I've seen, which is what the article's purpose is. IMO anyway. Edited August 31, 2005 by flagpole corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Nothing will beat Phil Thompson saying "Sorry lads, you're second choice on SSN last night" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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