Liverpool Fans Share Their Owen Dilemma

Michael Owen's return to
Anfield for Jamie Carragher's
testimonial on Saturday
prompted a raucous debate
among Liverpool fans as to the
reception he should receive.
Owen is regarded by many as a
Reds legend after top scoring for
the club in seven consecutive
seasons. He also played a major
part in our treble-winning
season, including the goals
which won us the 2001 FA Cup.
However, the manner of his
transfer to Real Madrid and his
subsequent moves to Newcastle
and Manchester United left a
bitter taste in the mouths of
some fans.
His appearance in a red shirt this
weekend was met with a mixed
reaction at Anfield. Here's how
fans on the redandwhitekop
forum answered the 'To boo or
not to boo?' question prior to
the match.
TO BOO...
I understand the hatred, I do. I
felt sorry for him until he refused
to stick to his guns with Real
Madrid, and instead of sitting it
out for a few months (at worst)
and getting his supposedly
dream move back in the January,
he panicked and took the
Newcastle gig. I understood his
move to Real Madrid. We were
terrible back then and those kind
of jobs don't come up often, and
I firmly believe that Rafa had a
hand to play in him going as well.
I also know for a fact that he was
clamouring to get back to us
from the summer after he went
to Newcastle. And I don't blame
Rafa one bit for saying no. He
was great for us for a long time.
Those of you too young to know
how good he was week-in,
week-out missed a treat. He'll be
remembered for the two goals in
Cardiff, but I'll remember him
more for a cocky nerveless
teenager standing up to players
like Bruce, Pallister and Adams
and not budging an inch. He was
glorious for a few years and
carried the team and was the
silver lining to what at times was
nothing but cloud. And he was
never, ever appreciated here as
much as he deserved. No doubt
those who never took to him
then will use his behaviour now
and say, "See, I was right", but
maybe your attitude then led him
to be the way he is. Who knows?
But anyway, going to Manchester
United was just too far. I feel
nothing but a mild distaste for
him now. I don't really care that
he wanted to come to us, and
only chose them on the bounce.
He's a hired gun. A player whose
face rings a bell, but I scarcely
recognise. That all said: we will
embarass ourselves and do
ourselves a disservice by making
this a massive thing. Boo him
with a bit of humour in a
pantomime way and fair enough.
He's a player whose best years
were before he turned 21 and
we saw those years. Life has
punished him enough for
turning his back on us - we
simply don't need to do it.
BobbyDavro
I too was a big Owen fan (but
not as big a fan as Fowler) and
from the moment he scored that
wonder goal against Argentina
and he constantly talked about
playing abroad, I knew he would
never end his career with us.
When he single-handedly won
the FA Cup for us I was over the
moon, walking around proudly in
my Liverpool kit. Then he got off
to Madrid at the last minute -
after "reassuring" Reds that he
would sign a new contract -
leaving us short on strikers. I
was still willing to forgive him
after the year and was ready and
waiting to re-accept him back
into the Reds fold; then he ran
off to Newcastle because he
wanted to get back into the
England squad. Then at his
introduction, he claimed that
they [Newcastle] had the best
fans in the league, trying to kiss
up to them. Even after all his
injury issues at Newcastle, I felt
sorry for him and was
contemplating forgiving him but
then he did the ultimate betrayal
and joined the Mancs. That is
unforgivable!
Ramon
NOT TO BOO...
I don't get the hatred to be
honest. He chose Manchester
United over Stoke at the time. It
was obvious he was desperate
to come here, but Rafa didn't
want him. Which with hindsight
proved to be the right decision
as he's really only made cameo
appearances for United. Yeah it
was sickening to watch him
score that goal in the last min
against City and celebrate it. But
United probably felt the same
with Ince when he scored for us
against them and celebrated. The
consolation is that we all know
we got the best years out of
Owen. We know it, he knows it,
and United know it. Anyway, it's
Carra's day. And I think the
match-going fans will recognise
it as such.
TSC
As others have probably said,
there are more appropriate times
to boo Owen. Judas as he may
be, we shouldn't let our feelings
ruin what should be a day to
celebrate one of our most loyal
players - one of the most loyal
players in football these days. If
Owen has any decency at all, I
imagine the very irony of playing
a testimonial for a player he
came through the ranks with,
who's had success at the club
since he's gone and who will
likely have the love of most if not
all of the fans, will make him feel
bad enough already.
Redcap