Ferguson To Gamble On Owen

Michael Owen looks set to complete a move to Old Trafford, in what is undoubtedly the shock transfer move of the summer so far.

Given Owen’s injury record over the past few seasons, plus the alleged wages of £120,000+ involved in his contract at Newcastle, the move represents a gamble on Ferguson’s part.

While Owen’s goal record still stands up to solid scrutiny, his ability to chain together lengthy periods in a starting eleven has faltered badly in recent seasons. That will surely see Owen being utilised sparingly by the United boss – a fact that will cast serious doubt over the benefits of considering Owen for our fantasy lineups. Nevertheless, we’ll need consider Owen’s arrival carefully, particularly in regard to the output of both Rooney and Berbatov…

Owen made 21 starts for Newcastle last season, but still managed 8 goals. That was preceded by 5 goals in 24 starts in 2007/08. It’s likely that we’ll see a similar apperance record from Owen at United, as Ferguson utilises the former Liverpool striker as a Solskjaer-like figure, poised on the bench in times of need and handed two or three regular starts when form and fitness warrants his inclusion. That will bring him goals – maybe 12-15 – a figure that will offer fantasy profits for those managers who take the plunge at the right time. Predicting form and fitness will prove to be a lottery though and a task which I’m pretty sure many fantasy managers will be unlikley to take on with any real enthusiasm.

So, while Owen looks unlikely to figure highly on our pre-season shortlists, he could well feature as a short-term solution to our striking needs as the season progresses. What’s more signficant however, is the effect that his arrival will have on the returns of Berbatov and Rooney. Feguson will be looking for more from this pair in Ronaldo’s absence and us fantasy managers could well benefit from that. However, Owen will, at best, give Ferguson the opportunity to drop Rooney to a wider or deeper role and at worst, put both the England man and Berbatov under increased risk of rotation throughout the season. Yes there’s potential for assists as a result of Owen’s ruthless conversion of chances but will that cover the likey affect on both Rooney and Berbatov’s goal haul? I have my doubts.

Either way you look at it – I can’t see too much to get excited about from this later chaper in Owen’s career, except perhaps the reaction of Liverpool fans when he first gets paraded in a United shirt.