Brian Reade 7th January 2006
OWEN'S KOP BOO - BOYS MIGHT HAVE A POINT I WAS gobsmacked to hear boos rain down from the Kop during Michael Owen's Boxing Day return to Anfield.
Gobsmacked because old boys are usually welcomed back with open arms there, especially ho me-grown legends who've only had good things to say about the club once they've left.
Speaking to a couple of the boo-boys (who were very much in the minority) the explanation I got was that Owen had messed Liverpool around for two summers because all that concerns him is his bank account and England.
Their logic being he ditched Liverpool for the Galactico cash then wanted out of Madrid when he felt his England place was at risk through being stuck on the bench.
He snubbed Anfield again when Rafa Benitez failed to guarantee him a startingplace, preferring Newcastle because they of fered a shop window to fen d of f any challengers to his England shirt, thus keeping his sponsors happy, and him rich.
Even if there's some truth in that I still found the boos undignified and unjustified. Until a Geordie mate rang this week, in such an apoplectic state I thought his tattoos would blow off, after he'd heard this response from Owen to breaking his toe.
"It's disappointing but everyone gets their fair share. If there's any consolation I've got plenty of time before the World Cup."
"Why the **** wasn't he saying: 'I'm gutted for Newcastle and the fans. They spent £16m on me, pay me £105,000 a week, it's the third time I've been out through injury already this season, and I'm desperate to pay them back by scoring the goals that will get them up the table'. Why the **** was he thinking of England and not us?"
And I had to say, he had a point. As, it seems, might the Anfield boo-boys.
