fyds

Ok, I'm sitting here minding my own business etc, with no more idea than anyone else what is happening with Owen apart from what our logical conclusions tell us. Then, I get an e-mail - took me about ten minutes to work out it was from a lad who downloaded some of the clips and screensavers I put up a few weeks back - never met him, have talked on MSN briefly and he says he is a 2nd tier football and cricket writer(could have been photographer) for a National paper in the UK and as yet I have no reason to disbelieve him, though as such up to now I haven't tried to speculate as to whether he is anyone I/we have heard of. Anyway, he says he's in Monaco to cover the CL draw and our game tomorrow. This is the rather short e-mail: Like I said, can't vouch for or against the lad and it may be genuine, may be a wind-up...I have no idea if these people were even there as I only have a radio and no telly at hand, so I know Gerrard was there but that's it. However, thought I'd share for the hell of it. Maybe someone here is in a better position to say on this?

As ever, Souness is kidding himself.

As they don't clash positionally, (Sissoko is really the holding midfielder ala Hamann), why would we drop any of them?

I do believe that clever bloke Benitez sees Owen as a solution to that.

He has said he would, if the worst came to the worst and get this bit - if a deal could not be finalised in time with LIVERPOOL - go to Newcastle for ONE YEAR on a LOAN deal, but is not interested in a permanent move there. In the end, it does not matter who bids what - a club can only sell a player to a club he is happy to go to, they cannot force him to go anywhere, all they can do is say 'fine - rot on the bench or the ressies' and he's too expensive for that, especially as they have to pay for the Baptista and Robinho deals. They will - unless Owen personally changes his mind - unlikely after his very deliberate and calculated statement - have to sell him to the club he wants to go to (LIVERPOOL) in such a way that they don't lose face - in my opinion, this will be most likely achieved by using the 'undisclosed fee' ploy, which Liverpool would be happy to go along with. The club do not OWN the player - just his contract and registration - so they can not sell him to a random buyer as if he were chattel - those days are gone. They could try and make life difficult for him and us but in the end would just make it more difficult on themselves.

We don't need to - Artmedia Bratislava can do that job! (They really do sound like some PC warehouse company don't they?

What makes you think Real will make the final?

Back on the menu - apparently we have registered our interest with him and Bolton. I believe we may (based on various e-mails I was sent) get him on a monstrously low fee. Could addition to the squad if so. RM sorted for now?

Please, Magneto - I like your posts but I'm an old fart - no more txt spk - use english! Yes - Dave got married in a Kilt - but he had a right to it, as he has scottish ancestry and his surname isn't Burpanjammer and he's not from Arkansas. So we forgive him. Posts merged: A very salient point - 'what if' is the bain of many of our lives, but when your top-end primary career lasts 12-15 years if you're lucky and good enough, 'what if's' keep you awake at night - ask Gerrard....his 'what if's' were quietened by events in Istanbul, and what a smirk he had when we went through yesterday.

Thanks Dave It's so easy to be seduced or blinded by the headlines or acres of speculative print on this issue that we forget what our own factual memories and good sense tell us. We really have to stop thinking of SSN's planet football affiliated approach as being gospel. They say 'Newcastle edge closer to signing the striker they have been chasing all summer' (do they mean Anelka?) when in fact Owen's own statement makes it clear they are further away than they have ever been. I'm also very glad to see you're so confident on this along with RP, Softy and the others.

Everyone makes mistakes - in doing this, he id admitting to them. There are married couples out there who have tried a trial seperation, or even were one party has had a fling with someone else only to find it deeply unsatisfying and have come back together to be happier than they ever were. If you were Michael Owen you would not have left Liverpool. If I were Michael Owen I would not have left Liverpool. We're not, however. Thank God, ID, Karma or evolution (if you read the General) and count ourselves lucky that he has had the brains to work this out for himself.

In which case you better have a few free days on your hands... Owen met Perez and basically told him he wants to sort out a deal to go back to Liverpool asap. Perez agreed - what else could he do? WE have a first option (if I recall at a lower asking price) and they still owe us half his fee. Perz is a c*** but not stupid - he knows that as it stands, the only chance he has of off-loading Owen on a permanent deal is to Liverpool - as often stated, his first, second and third choice. Owen has clearly said he's not interested in any permanent deal at Newcastle - but will make do with a one year loan if a deal with Liverpool cannot be finalised before the deadline. That speaks volumes. Why should Rafa therefore comment publicly on Owen? He knows what the player wants and doubtless has done for a long time, so why does he need to go public? Madrid know this - and their concern in his lack of public statements on the matter only serve to sow doubt in their minds as to how much he wants him - exactly what any sensible negotiator would want to achieve - why seem too eager? Carra and Gerrard at the very least also know what he wants - in fact, what he is desperate for - they are in touch most days by mobile, Carra has said as much before now. If Rafa wants him - and I for one think his little grins and silences - not to mention his trip out to Portugal to talk to the players last year when Owen was still on the books and in his plans - speak volumes, then the board (many of whom would love to see him return, Moores is a big fan and a friend (remember the Sky documentary?) - will come up with the money - is this why we have not spent as much as we thought we would? However - they will naturally like to pay as little as possible and will play it to the wire - they know sorting a deal with Michael himself will take a few nanoseconds (this time). I think he's coming home...possibly sooner rather than later after today's various announcements.

..and we may well be looking for all we know - but you're right, we look short, stevie's niggle not withstanding. There is one possibility...Rafa may give his full backing to Biscan to make a real name for himself. I think he may pull it off too.

Understood by whom, exactly? Unattributable speculation shocker...