By Tyne-Talk
January 19 2008

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has hit back at reports suggesting his professional relationship with Michael Owen is not great by naming him captain for Newcastle's match against Bolton this evening. Owen criticised Keegan's tactical decisons from when he was managing England, in his book Owen wrote the following: "I felt deep resentment against Keegan himself. I felt that his mistake in changing the team unnecessarily contributed to the result.

Obviously no slight is intended against Emile Heskey who took my place, it's just that there was simply no need to take me off.

Keegan tried to explain himself - he told me not to worry and said I had played well. His explanation was that he had wanted to try a different type of striker.

That outing was an indication of what was to come for Owen during Keegan's reign and he was soon left taking regular knocks to his confidence from his international manager.

He seemed the complete package. But it was for some players, it wasn't for me, In all the post-match debriefs, he made a point of saying I needed to improve this or that aspect of my game.

Suddenly, at the pre-Romania meeting, he set off on a 20-minute lecture just on me. 'Michael - if I was any other manager, you would not be playing tomorrow. You've not shown enough yet and you've got to improve or we'll have to change. The only reason I'm keeping faith is that I know you can do better'.

I came out of the whole three weeks thinking, is it me - am I the problem? In fact I was thinking too much. If he had said, 'your pace scares everyone to death and you're a terrific finisher, so if you could just do these things as well (drop off and show for the ball)' then I would love the man.

From the start, it would have helped if Keegan had done more to encourage me and keep my confidence up. Instead, he subbed me early in games throughout the tournament and forced me to do things on the training ground that I wasn't capable of doing.

I am fierce about wanting to improve and if anyone can refine my game I will listen, but he wanted me to do things I didn't want to do and will never do again, because I'm not the type of player he was wanting me to be."

This adds to constant specualtion that Owen will leave Newcastle United at any given opportunity, Shearer recently support his former team-mate:

"He is happy here. His family are happy here. He loves playing for Newcastle. He wants to get out and score goals. He wants people to create chances for him and if people do that there is no one better at taking those chances.

He needs a regular run in the side because of the injuries he's had and if he can do that then perhaps it might just give him the opportunity to show the fans that he does really like it here and is enjoying it here because that's the only way that that's going to happen.

I have no fear about him being driven away from the club.

My fear is that I keep hearing people saying that he doesn't want to be here and it doesn't help when there are headlines around that he has played more times for England than Newcastle.

What he wants to do it have a long run in the team, score loads of goals for Newcastle and then perhaps everyone might love him."

Keegan who replaced former manager Sam Allardyce this week was quick to settle the gossips and gave the following statement at yesterdays press conference:

"Michael Owen is a big player with a great goal scoring record.

I think he's entitled to his opinion, but I'm looking forward to working with him, I have no problem with that."

Keegan then told the Evening Chronicle:

"Not only will Michael be playing, but I'll make him captain. That tells you what I think about him. He is the right guy to lead us. I know people will try and make stuff about his book but people who know me know it won't bother me."

The Match Ahead

Newcastle go into this Premier League clash on the back of a 4-1 victory against Stoke City in the FA Cup replay midweek. Bolton go to St James' Park having lost 5 of their last 6 games and are yet to win a game away from home this season.

They will be look set to be without Gavin McCan who injured picked upi an injury last weekend and will miss El-Hadji Diouf and Abdoulaye Meite who are both on international duty. They will however welcome new boys Gretar Steinsson and Matt Taylor after signing them in the week.

Newcastle see Emre, Alan Smith and Nicky Butt sidelined as they all serve suspensions, and Habib Beye, Geremi, Abdoulaye Faye and Martins are all away on international duty.

Keegan is without Joey Barton who is still unavailable as part of this bail conditions, and Peter Ramage who is forced out with a knee injury.

Keegan has just 12 senior players to choose from.

Newcastle: Given, Harper, Carr, N'Zogbia, Enrique, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Taylor, Edgar, Milner, Duff, LuaLua, Viduka, Owen, Carroll.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, J O'Brien, A O'Brien, Gardner, Michalik, Steinsson, Taylor, Campo, Cohen, Guthrie, Nolan, Davies, Giannakopoulos, McCann, Samuel, Wilhelmsson, Braaten, Alonso, Al Habsi.

Captain Owen & The Match Ahead v Bolton

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 19/01/2008 16:33

TyneTalk
19/01/2008 16:33

Captain Owen & The Match Ahead v Bolton

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MissC
19/01/2008 16:47

Firstly I apologise if you see and "w"'s missing- the key on my laptop isnt working properly.

SO - captain on merit or on the back of paper gossip?>

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Rob-15-92
19/01/2008 21:46

Owen is awful and Martins is away on ACN! Sell Owen buy Berbato!

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i!
20/01/2008 12:25

Quote:

Carys
Firstly I apologise if you see and "w"'s missing- the key on my laptop isnt working properly.

How did you type that w?
And I think we might finally get something out of Owen under keeping, and if not we might as well cut our losses.

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MissC
20/01/2008 13:31

It works normally but sometimes it has a tantrum

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amos2000
20/01/2008 13:41

I've always preferred Martins to be honest. His finishing isn't as good but in that season under Roeder he did score quite well, and given an appropriate striking partner (ie tall, good in the air, strong, decent passing, like Viduka but not fat and lazy) and a proper run in the team, and tell him he's first choice in his position instead of a backup for someone who doesn't really give a @#$%&, he'd do well. Also he's young, they can work on his shooting, and I don't remember him having any serious injuries.

Owen's career has been riddled with injuries or serious goal droughts, and I honestly don't think he wants to work with either the toon or Keegan. If they could get the best out of him he'd be ace - but I don't think they will. So sell him and buy someone to partner Martins, and an AMC to feed them both. And a RW and CB of course.

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amos2000
20/01/2008 13:44

...of course, if Smith could be groomed back into the player he used to be, he'd be ace alongside Martins - committed, good heading, passing, shooting.

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