I think Crabhead is referring to Owen running down his contract at Liverpool and joining Madrid at a cut-price deal, rather than him leaving Madrid. Hence the "mercenary" tag.

Same deal as MacManaman then. He played for Liverpool a long time and still they couldn't challenge for league. You can't blame him for wanting to play at the top level and Real Madrid were the biggest club in the world then. Can you really say that given the chance you wouldn't jump at the chance to play in a team with Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo and Beckham? You only get one career and Owen didn't want to waste it in the Uefa Cup when he could do better.

It's not that he left us for a bigger club, but that he ran his contract done purposely knowing that Madrid probably wouldn't pay £20+million for him. We got £8million and Antonio bloody Nunez for him.

That said, we should have sold him earlier if he wasn't signing. Parry's fault as usual.

What choice did he have if he wanted to move to a bigger club and no one was offering enough money. He could of gone on strike, been a jerk about it like Anelka or something but he kept playing and scoring. Liverpool surely knew he wanted to leave but did nothing about it.

Well whatever the case he sold the club out for his career (which backfired...), so the club (read: fans) aren't going to like him for it are they?

They should think a bit more sensibly and put things in perspective. A player like Owen was a top farward at one time and with only one career he wanted to have it alongside the best players of his era in Figo, Raul, Zidane and Ronaldo winning Champions League and La Liga titles. No shame in that.

Well it's not a desirable way of acting. But i did say we (/Parry) were to blame for not having him signed.

You can't expect people to be happy with him for screwing us over to benefit his career, though. Even if it is to better his career. He didn't have to do it (i.e. could've gotten to the top by other methods), but was ultimately selfish.

He tried to stick it out with Liverpool though but they weren't getting closer to the league.

How much would you bet on that?

I'm willing to bet as much as you are able to put up G_Man

Anyway, playing Alves behind Ronaldo would be absolute suicide, it'll never happen in a million years.

I reckon Neville will play less than 30 games next season. Id put 50 pound on it

Well, that's very circumstancial. Anyone can fall to injury at any time but I guarantee you that he will not miss many games if any at all due to a decline in ability.

Just feel Brown has did very well and cant see Neville getting back in straight away

Nevilles the captain though, would that mean a change in the captaincy G_Man

I feel so after all he has been out for a while and Ferdinand has did well as captain

Should give Scholes the armband more often.

Honestly, i can't remember ever seeing Paul Scholes speak on a football pitch. Doesn't strike me as the leader type.

He talks, he just doesn't make outbursts, he says what needs to be said and let's his ability do the rest.

I read a brilliant quote from Sir Alex a while ago when asked about Scholes and the captaincy, it went along the lines of "I think he'd see it as more of a punishment than a reward"