Michael Owen & Alan Shearer: New book sparks Twitter row

[MenInG]

Michael Owen's new book has ignited a row on social media between the former England striker and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

One of the more cutting lines in the book includes Owen's claim that his transfer from Real Madrid to the Magpies in 2005 was a "downward step" and the one move he "really regrets".

The pair exchanged barbed tweets as the story broke on Tuesday - but what is the background of their feud?

'I couldn't wait to retire'

In Reboot - My Life, My Time, which is being serialised in the Daily Mirror, Owen also goes into detail about his relationship with Newcastle's fans during an injury-hit spell with the club, which ended with him joining Manchester United after the Magpies' relegation to the Championship in 2009.

"I should have followed my gut instincts, I didn't want to go there - my heart was set on a return to Liverpool," said Owen - who had left Anfield for Real in 2004 - of his move to St James' Park.

The 39-year-old former England captain also claimed Newcastle were "only a big club in the sense that it has a lot of fans and a big stadium". Ouch.

Match of the Day pundit Shearer, the Magpies' record goalscorer, responded on social media.

Tweeting a clip of Owen telling BT Sport in 2018 that he "couldn't wait to retire for the final six or seven years" of his career, Shearer posted: "Yes, Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120K a week."

Newcastle's relegation in 2009 appears to be the catalyst for the pair's strained relationship, according to Owen's book.

Shearer was interim manager at the time and, going into the final day of the season, the Magpies needed at least a draw at Aston Villa or their 16-season spell in the Premier League would come to an end.

Owen claims he was not fully fit but, with Villa 1-0 up through Damien Duff's own goal, the striker came on as a substitute in the 66th minute.

Newcastle could not find a response and were condemned to the Championship, and Owen alleges Shearer was "seething" with him and insinuated the player "had an eye on my next contract", with his existing deal about to run out.

"I felt I was being made a scapegoat," said Owen.

"When you analyse it, it all makes sense. Shearer's record as manager in the last eight games of that 2008-09 season was dire: lost five, drew two, won one."

Of his 49-year-old former England team-mate, Owen added: "Alan Shearer and I still haven't talked this out face to face and that's a shame because, as I've said many, many times, we were very good friends."

He then goes on to explain he had been part of an extensive interview with BT Sport in 2018 where he had touched upon his experiences with injury in his career and was taken aback by how Shearer had "started sniping about it on Twitter".


Owen claims he had a text conversation with Shearer following this tweet where he offered an explanation after Shearer had said Newcastle fans would be "unimpressed to hear he didn't enjoy playing there".

"It went, as I suspected, precisely nowhere," he added.

Gary Lineker, who hosts Match of the Day alongside Shearer as well as working with Owen on BT Sport, later acted as peacemaker as the spat continued.

"There appears to be a bit of history here? I like you both so don't want to pick sides," he tweeted.

Michael Owen's new book has ignited a row on social media between the former England striker and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

One of the more cutting lines in the book includes Owen's claim that his transfer from Real Madrid to the Magpies in 2005 was a "downward step" and the one move he "really regrets".

The pair exchanged barbed tweets as the story broke on Tuesday - but what is the background of their feud?

'I couldn't wait to retire'
In Reboot - My Life, My Time, which is being serialised in the Daily Mirror, Owen also goes into detail about his relationship with Newcastle's fans during an injury-hit spell with the club, which ended with him joining Manchester United after the Magpies' relegation to the Championship in 2009.

"I should have followed my gut instincts, I didn't want to go there - my heart was set on a return to Liverpool," said Owen - who had left Anfield for Real in 2004 - of his move to St James' Park.

The 39-year-old former England captain also claimed Newcastle were "only a big club in the sense that it has a lot of fans and a big stadium". Ouch.

Match of the Day pundit Shearer, the Magpies' record goalscorer, responded on social media.

Tweeting a clip of Owen telling BT Sport in 2018 that he "couldn't wait to retire for the final six or seven years" of his career, Shearer posted: "Yes, Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120K a week."



Newcastle's relegation in 2009 appears to be the catalyst for the pair's strained relationship, according to Owen's book.

Shearer was interim manager at the time and, going into the final day of the season, the Magpies needed at least a draw at Aston Villa or their 16-season spell in the Premier League would come to an end.

Owen claims he was not fully fit but, with Villa 1-0 up through Damien Duff's own goal, the striker came on as a substitute in the 66th minute.

Newcastle could not find a response and were condemned to the Championship, and Owen alleges Shearer was "seething" with him and insinuated the player "had an eye on my next contract", with his existing deal about to run out.

"I felt I was being made a scapegoat," said Owen.

"When you analyse it, it all makes sense. Shearer's record as manager in the last eight games of that 2008-09 season was dire: lost five, drew two, won one."

Of his 49-year-old former England team-mate, Owen added: "Alan Shearer and I still haven't talked this out face to face and that's a shame because, as I've said many, many times, we were very good friends."

He then goes on to explain he had been part of an extensive interview with BT Sport in 2018 where he had touched upon his experiences with injury in his career and was taken aback by how Shearer had "started sniping about it on Twitter".

Owen claims he had a text conversation with Shearer following this tweet where he offered an explanation after Shearer had said Newcastle fans would be "unimpressed to hear he didn't enjoy playing there".

"It went, as I suspected, precisely nowhere," he added.

Gary Lineker, who hosts Match of the Day alongside Shearer as well as working with Owen on BT Sport, later acted as peacemaker as the spat continued.

"There appears to be a bit of history here? I like you both so don't want to pick sides," he tweeted.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49564379

 

[Firebat]

I feel like Owen went quite overboard in his comments about Newcastle, really was asking for these kind of reactions in my opinion. Still, he shut Shearer up good )

 

[KingKhanWC]

Was reading this earlier. Owen is trying to sell more copies of his book. To suggest Shearer was/is not loyal to Newcastsle is a bizzare thing to say. Alan Shearer is the greatest striker in PL history, ahead of Aguero, Salah, Henry, Berkamp, Ronaldo and the rest. He did not join Man Utd to join Newcastle.

 

[Mamoon]

Who takes Michael Owen seriously anyway. His comments about a fantastic club like Newcastle shows that he is both ignorant and disrespectful.

And the only move he needs to regret is leaving Liverpool for Madrid. He was Liverpool’s golden boy before he decided to warm the bench for Ronaldo and Raul.

 

[finalfantasy7]

he has made some comments on Beckham and capello

 

[PakLFC]

Michael Owen's autobiography "Reboot"

In his soon to be published autobiography "Reboot" Michael Owen has upset many people it seems in particular Newcastle fans where his book is banned I believe. "'Newcastle aren't a big club and their fans are deluded' is a fair enough statement when they have won nothing at all, as the city only has one club I guess that is the only thing "big" about them.

He also calls Alan Shearer a poor manager and feels he was made the scapegoat when Newcastle were relegated in 2006. According to him the two have not spoken for decades.

Michael tells us how he was "desperate" for a return to Liverpool after spending one year at Real Madrid. The problem was that Liverpool having sold him for £18 million were only offering £10 million that was much fewer then Newcastle were. Only other offers at the time were from Hull City and Everton. Michael never received the same love from the fans that a Robbie Fowler or Steven Gerrard did most likely as he was not a born scouser. Unlike most other Liverpool fans I do not at all hate him for spending a year with Man Utd at all seeing we did not want him at the time. If Paul Ince can play for Man Utd followed by Liverpool some years later then so can Michael Owen. It is time for Liverpool to respect the legend that was Michael Owen just that don't ever call Man Utd "we" when commentating.

 

[MenInG]

Former England striker Michael Owen's row with Alan Shearer and criticism of David Beckham have spiced up the international break.

Owen was criticised by Shearer for comments he made in his new book about joining Newcastle United, before he hit back by questioning his former club and international team-mate's loyalty to the Magpies.

In his new book, Reboot - My Life, My Time, Owen says he still holds some resentment towards Beckham for getting sent off in a World Cup last-16 match against Argentina in 1998, which England lost on penalties.

BBC Sport asked Owen to name his best England XI - since his debut in 1998. The 39-year-old didn't pick himself, but read on to see whether Shearer and Beckham made the cut - and have your say at the end of the article.


Formation & manager
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle
Glenn Hoddle managed England at the 1998 World Cup in France
I would definitely go for a 3-5-2 because for a long time now England players have suited that formation. Look at Euro 96 under Terry Venables and in France at the 1998 World Cup, when we were a brilliant team and probably should've gone further, with Glenn Hoddle as manager. Then we went through a bit of a disastrous period and it coincided with 4-4-2 and variations of it.

I remember playing for the England team and we had Paul Scholes as a left midfielder and things like that. It was strikingly obvious that 3-5-2 is the formation that we should have adopted and who knows how far we would have gone in certain eras?

At the last World Cup, Gareth Southgate went back to 3-5-2, so we are suited to it. Glenn Hoddle would be the manager, no question, because he plays 3-5-2 as well.


Goalkeeper - David Seaman
David Seaman
This is probably an area where we haven't been at our strongest for some years. I would say David Seaman is the best goalkeeper over the past couple of decades. He was a very safe pair of hands. At Euro 96 he excelled. He was a top-class goalkeeper.

On pure ability, someone like David James has got more - but Seaman's consistency is what made him a very good goalkeeper. I was only with him for a small period but he was a calming influence.

Seaman for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain
1988-2002 75 72 1


Defenders - Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry

Sol Campbell: Sol was an excellent player. He had pace, strength and a great reading of the game. I'd say he wasn't as good on the ball as the other two but, in terms of defending, not much got past him. He was very brave, very good in the air and could score goals from set-pieces. He was as solid as a rock as a centre-half.

He is reasonably serious but you can have a joke with Sol as well. Everyone's different. When you meet up with England there are normally 23 players, so you don't get everyone alike. He certainly could defend and rose to the big occasion.

Campbell for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1996-2007 73 67 3 1
Rio Ferdinand: If you are talking about classy players then one of the first people you think about is Rio Ferdinand. He was the Rolls-Royce of the footballing game really. He made everything look effortless, a little bit like Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk now in that it's almost like he is not even trying and is in second gear all the time. He could've easily played in midfield, he was that good on the ball. He was exceptional.

He wasn't one of those that used to lunge his body in and make a great block on the line like John Terry. Every single performance was measured and composed - nine out of 10 all the time. He scored in the second round against Denmark at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea - but it was definitely an own goal and I tease him about it all the time.

He didn't score too many goals and, if I could criticise Rio in one way, it was probably that. I don't think coming up for corners and sticking his head in where it hurts was his forte but, in terms of everything else, he was a well-oiled machine.

Ferdinand for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1997-2011 81 75 7 3


John Terry: John was an amazing player. He didn't possess pace but you never saw him get caught out. A great reader of the game, left foot, right foot - just a joy to watch. You would train with him and he would almost take your breath away how good he was for a centre-half. I'm not being patronising to centre-halves but, in general, they were not as good on the ball as he was.

John would throw his body into everything. He would block, he would win every header. He was just a really aggressive centre-back who was brilliant on the ball. Sometimes I think he was under-rated. He was absolutely outstanding.

He was definitely one of the bubblier characters, certainly a leader. He was always talking and encouraging and, in the changing room before games, he was the loudest voice.

Terry for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
2003-2012 78 77 34 6
Wing-backs - David Beckham, Ashley Cole

David Beckham: It was difficult to leave Gary Neville out because he was fantastic. But I'm going to put David Beckham in because, well, just look at his England record, his caps and some of his great moments. Of course, he was a very famous person off the pitch but, in the dressing room and around the squad, he was one of the lads.

He perfected a skill that was quite unique at the time - the way he crossed the ball; the way he had that shape of whip and dip. He had almost a top-spinning bend on his free-kicks and corners. He wanted to take a touch and cross it quickly, which is all you want as a centre-forward.

In my book, I praise him to high heaven but if I asked you if David Beckham did the right thing in 1998 by kicking someone what would you say? Of course he didn't. He got sent off. It wasn't my fault, the fans' or yours. He made a mistake.

All I said in the book is that he made a mistake and that harmed our chances - it did. However, that doesn't mean he's not a great player and isn't going to get in my team.

Beckham for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1996-2009 115 101 59 17
Ashley Cole: Ashley Cole was regarded at one time as probably the best left-back in the world. Everybody remembers the time he marked Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2004 European Championship - he was just outstanding in that game.

He was that modern day wing-back: a brilliant defender who can also get forward. He had the energy and legs to be able to do that, and wing-back probably suited him as well. He was talkative without being in your face. He wasn't the John Terry-leader style, but he was certainly reasonably vocal. He was an absolute pleasure in the squad.

Cole for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
2001-2014 107 106 1 0


Midfielders - Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard: I played with some great players - Zinedine Zidane was off the scale in terms of natural ability - but, if I was playing the biggest game of my life tomorrow, the first person I'd probably take into battle would be Stevie. He could do everything. He was massive, his stride was huge and he just used to devour ground.

He was too big and too strong for his opponents, an amazing passer of the ball, he could dribble, score goals, defend, tackle and head. There wasn't anything really that he couldn't do. The only thing you could expose him with is if you ask him to sit in midfield because he's just too good for it.

I can't give him any higher praise than that.

We were big mates. I joined Liverpool at 11 and we played in the same team right the way through. We just grew up playing alongside each other. We know each other's games possibly more so than anyone else. We had that sixth sense between us. I think he's genuinely one of the best England payers to have lived.

Gerrard for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
2000-2014 114 110 38 21


Paul Scholes: Everyone says Paul is a genius of a player and he played on a different level to most. You've got to really understand the game and the nuances of disguise to play well with Scholesy, because he is forever looking the other way. You think he has not seen you and then he whips one around the corner into your feet.

You've just got to be on you toes with Scholesy. He is thinking a step ahead of most people - and you could make him look a bad player because he will end up giving the ball away as you are dreaming about something else!

He was supremely gifted, scored goals and had a radar of a pass. He was so unassuming. He was always first off the training ground at the end. Once I finished training, I was wanting to get in the shower, have my lunch and get home - but by the time I had got into the dressing room, Scholesy had already had a shower and gone. He was quite elusive.

Scholes for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1997-2004 66 64 0 14

Frank Lampard: Frank's goalscoring record is phenomenal. To have a midfielder scoring that amount of goals is very rare and, for that alone, he gets in my team. He deserves the highest praise for dedication and getting the absolute most out of his career, rather like Beckham in many ways.

He practised and practised. While you have got Scholes, who is just a natural genius born to play football, you've got people like Frank and David who were there after training hitting balls and perfecting their skills.

Unfortunately, loads of people questioned whether the Lampard-Gerrard partnership could work together, and it was probably because they were both too good. It was too tempting for them to get forward that we didn't have as much discipline in the centre of midfield.

If we had an extra body, like a Scholesy, then I think they would have flourished - Scholesy almost sitting and playing the quarter-back role and then Frank and Steven, who just love to get forward and score goals. That three would've been brilliant.

Lampard for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1999-2014 106 89 8 29
Strikers - Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer

Wayne Rooney: I guess the main centre-forward mantle for England passed from Alan Shearer to me to Wayne Rooney. I had the pleasure of playing with Alan, but then, as he got a bit older, I took over the shirt and had it for a few years. Then this young lad called Wayne Rooney started coming on the scene and I played second fiddle to him for a while before fading into the wilderness.

When Wayne came into the squad I saw a little bit of myself in him in terms of him being fearless. His first training session, when he was only a pup, he was chipping the goalkeepers and things like that. Even though you can do it you tend to be a bit more respectful to senior England players, but he was just so naive and such a free spirit that it almost left you with your mouth open thinking: "Wow, the confidence of this kid".

He could back it up with performances. He was a brilliant player and has gone on to break the goalscoring record for England. He's very talented, a good goalscorer and he had loads of ability outside the box as well - he could assist as well as score.

Rooney for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
2003-2018 120 109 22 53
Alan Shearer: When I was growing up I would've been looking at Alan thinking: "What a player". I managed to muscle my way into the team to play alongside him at the 1998 World Cup and then played with him up front at the European Championship in 2000 as well. We scored plenty of goals together.

He was then a big influence in me going to Newcastle United and we were big mates at that point. On the big stage, if you're thinking, "I need someone to finish or take a penalty", he had absolute nerves of steel. He had a huge amount of self-belief and confidence.

In recent years, you can't mention England centre-forwards in general without mentioning him.

Shearer for England England career Caps Games started Started as captain Goals
1992-2000 63 61 33 30


https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49619178