Does Bascombe only do Liverpool stories in the NOTW?

[alias75]

Cos they have a story by him about Michael Owen in tomorrows paper!

[Stevie H]

i'd imagine that bascombe's liverpool expertise is why he got the gig. when that happens they tend to get one focus, yeah.

[alias75]

Ok havent read that paper since my Sunday paper round days which is a long time ago. Guy on talksport this morning from the NOTW and they were talking about the January window and Michael Owen was mentioned. He said he didnt want to say too much because Bascombe was running a story about Michael Owen and his potential next club tomorrow.

 

Probably makes sense given the fee, and Torres' problems at the moment whatever people say about Owen he will score goals.

[Sion]

Probably makes sense given the fee, and Torres' problems at the moment whatever people say about Owen he will score goals.

 

I hope it's usual Bascombe rubbish, I would be against it, as would a lot of reds I imagine. A@A would probably explode

[TheLa]

He's better than Keane.

[Stevie H]

Ok havent read that paper since my Sunday paper round days which is a long time ago. Guy on talksport this morning from the NOTW and they were talking about the January window and Michael Owen was mentioned. He said he didnt want to say too much because Bascombe was running a story about Michael Owen and his potential next club tomorrow.

 

Probably makes sense given the fee, and Torres' problems at the moment whatever people say about Owen he will score goals.

sounds a lot like torres injured = 2 + 2. they never link us with benzema or diego, do they? always some hasbeen crocked cash-hungry welsh dwarf.

[Stevie H]

I hope it's usual Bascombe rubbish, I would be against it, as would a lot of reds I imagine. A@A would probably explode

who on here wouldn't pay ten million pound for that though?

[johngibo YPC]

I hope it's usual Bascombe rubbish, I would be against it, as would a lot of reds I imagine. A@A would probably explode

 

worth buying him for that alone

I think Bascombe is officially corespondent for the North West

[Zoob]

Man, I wish I could get paid for writing a story saying Owen is going to Liverpool in Jan. Obviously it's the kind of thing that might happen. Given that there's a view that Rafa doesn't think too much of Owen, there's probably a greater chance that it won't happen, but getting paid for running a big sunday EXCLUSIVE: Owen to Liverpool.... wow, that's the easy life.

[Sion]

It makes perfect sense, our main striker is having problems with his fitness, so buy Owen, nothing could go wrong there.

[alias75]

We are short of proven goalscorers in the team, i guess it depends a lot on whether Owens next move will be one where he expects to play all the time or not because he would be a sub most of the time here.

 

But given we're talking about maybe £2 million for somebody thats always scored goals at a time when our main striker is having injury problems it does make sense.

 

We all know what Carra and Gerrard think of Owen maybe they've persuaded Rafa.

 

But i would have thought Owen's next move will be to a club where he starts most of the time.

[muleskinner]

I don't think the owners would sanction another £4million pound a year + player at the moment.

[Sion]

But given we're talking about maybe £2 million for somebody

 

what about wages?

[alias75]

what about wages?

 

wouldnt be surprised to see a couple of fringe players shipped out in January which would free up some money in wages.

 

Benayoun and Pennant the obvious candidates.

[Big E]

The whole issue is that we need someone who can play alone if Torres isn't fit, or we're forced to play 442. and that's not Owen. When Torres is fit Keane would be a better partner. Keane/Owen as a partnership might be ok, but we'd effectively only need owen when Torres isn't fit.

 

Heskey would make more sense tactically if Torres is injured, though we'd never score all season.

 

Babel needs to get a go against WHU in a 442 with Keane. When the alternative is 451 with Keane up top, what have we got to lose?

[anny road]

The whole issue is that we need someone who can play alone if Torres isn't fit, or we're forced to play 442. and that's not Owen. When Torres is fit Keane would be a better partner. Keane/Owen as a partnership might be ok, but we'd effectively only need owen when Torres isn't fit.

 

Heskey would make more sense tactically if Torres is injured, though we'd never score all season.

 

Babel needs to get a go against WHU in a 442 with Keane. When the alternative is 451 with Keane up top, what have we got to lose?

 

 

Babel doesnt need to get a go at all

[Stevie H]

The whole issue is that we need someone who can play alone if Torres isn't fit, or we're forced to play 442. and that's not Owen. When Torres is fit Keane would be a better partner. Keane/Owen as a partnership might be ok, but we'd effectively only need owen when Torres isn't fit.

 

Heskey would make more sense tactically if Torres is injured, though we'd never score all season.

 

Babel needs to get a go against WHU in a 442 with Keane. When the alternative is 451 with Keane up top, what have we got to lose?

i think babel alongside keane would be a disaster right now.

[Benzo-13]

Nothing wrong with bringing Owen back in my book.

You want to be the best than you've got to get the best and he's a brilliant but fragile finisher.

He'd work with Keane and Torres too plus his old No.10 shirt is free..

 

Plus he could shoot us to the double.

 

[Frosty Jack]

I'd have owen back, he's remained reasonably fit this season and has scored 6 goals in a s*** team.

[Mike]

I'd have owen back, he's remained reasonably fit this season and has scored 6 goals in a s*** team.

unquestionably

[Joxer]

If we could sign and play him right now then Id say yeah deffo.

But given that by Jan 1st we could have Fernando back banging in the goals and fully fit for the remainder of the season like last year then id be more maybeish, if ya get me?

[growler]

I'd take him. Valuable in europe with the 4+4 rule too, not to mention he will be hungry to get into the world cup 2010. Give him a 2 year contract, so we can get rid if we want.

[CaptainXabi]

Forget Owen. With Real's latest loss Bascombe will probably go with "Yanks flog Rafa to Madrid, compensation fee to cover interest".

[stressederic]

Bascombe's two stories:

 

MICHAEL OWEN CAN KOP MOVE

Newcastle fear he'll go to Anfield in £2m January move

 

 

HEADING OUT - Michael Owen could be leaving Newcastle in January

By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 29/11/2008

 

NEWCASTLE fear Michael Owen will not be able to resist a £2million cut-price January return to Liverpool.

 

The former Kop hero is weighing up his options as he enters the last six months of his St James’ Park contract.

 

 

Liverpool are doing no more than monitoring his position at this stage. But as the Merseysiders look to bolster their attack after a succession of worrying hamstring injuries to Fernando Torres, the emotional lure could tug Owen back.

 

 

The main question is whether Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is fully convinced the 27-year-old is the answer as he seeks to maintain his New Year title surge.

 

 

Benitez is considering several alternatives, including another ex-Reds striker, Emile Heskey.

 

 

He can be sure the money would be made available to bring Owen back to Liverpool and may see it as risk worth taking.

 

Spend

The Anfield giants would be able to negotiate a vast cut in salary for the striker given his ties to the area.

 

 

Benitez plans to ship out winger Jermaine Pennant in the January transfer window, which will give him the opportunity to raise funds.

 

 

 

RAFA BENITEZ - plans

The Anfield boss said: “I don’t know how much I can spend because we have not really talked about it.

 

 

“It could be OK if I bring nobody in but I might be able to sell some players. It depends on the interest.”

 

 

Owen, who struck a staggering 118 League goals in 216 games for Liverpool, has made no secret of his lingering loyalty to the Merseysiders. Several clubs — including Everton, Spurs and Manchester City — are also planning a move when the transfer window opens. But Liverpool would have the upper hand.

 

 

Newcastle’s own financial problems have meant a new deal for Owen has never been a viable option and now needs the challenge of Champions League football to revive his England career.

 

 

Benitez has also promised to ease the fears of the Anfield four sweating on their futures — as soon as he pens his own new deal.

 

 

Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa are all approaching the end of their current contracts and Benitez said: “The first thing we want to talk about is my contract.

 

Future

 

“Once we finalise this we can talk about the future. We have more than a couple of players that we have to decide about for the future.”

 

 

Meanwhile, Gianfranco Zola has hailed Jamie Carragher as one of the best defenders in the game.

 

 

The West Ham boss said: “Carragher is as important to Liverpool as Steven Gerrard. As a defender, he is always there. He is clever and has saved results for them.”

 

and

 

RAFA BENITEZ NEW DEAL

Liverpool boss to sign two-year contract extension by Christmas

 

 

RAFA BENITEZ - agreement

 

By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 29/11/2008

 

RAFA BENITEZ will reject Real Madrid for a third time to sign a two-year extension to his deal at Liverpool.

The Kop boss this week told the Anfield board he would rather stay than go — despite renewed interest from the Spanish giants.

 

Now Spaniard Benitez is closing in on an agreement that will keep him on Merseyside until at least 2012.

 

Following talks with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, both parties are confident a deal will be struck before Christmas.

 

Plan

Benitez said: “My advisers were in contact with them and we are waiting for a new contract right now. Sooner rather than later we will have another communication.”

 

The deal represents an extraordinary turnaround for the Spanish coach, who was on the brink of being sacked 12 months ago.

 

The owners’ eagerness to tie down Benitez is directly related to their plan to sell the Anfield club.

 

They are searching for a buyer and have been advised that the uncertainty over the manager’s position makes Liverpool unattractive.

 

Hicks and Gillett know they must sell before July because of their £350million debt — and key players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will also be in line for deals in 2009.

 

Impact

Skipper Gerrard will have two years left on his contract this summer and wants to commit his future to Liverpool for life.

 

And star striker Torres will need to be rewarded for his impact to fend off the prospect of big-money bids.

 

Hicks and Gillett will not have the cash to make any significant financial commitments while their stadium plans are on hold.

 

The transfer budget will also be decided by Reds’ on-field displays — assisted this week by the £10m assured from their Champions League progress.

[Scapegoat]

Owen? 27? Hmmmm.

 

I'd rather Crespo.

Edited November 30, 2008 by Scapegoat