F.O.C?

Old Trafford,Manchester
Semi finals of the UEFA Champions League-Manchester United Vs AC Milan
Score:Manchester United 0 AC Milan 1
85th minute

The Man United players appear to be tired already as fans worldwide are praying for a super-sub to come out from the bench and salvage their European dreams for this season.Who do you think so they would want at that time?

(a) Some 18 year old youngster from the academy with little first team experience
(b) A first team regular who's main duty all this while never included coming out from the
bench to save his team from elimination

or

(c) A proven goalscorer with world class techincal abilities and has the second highest goal tally for his country and scored 24 goals in Europe already.





Unless your a hater or someone who's mental ability to make decision has been jeopardized by a fall you had when you were young,the choice is obvious.Any team would want to have a proven goalscorer with world class techniques to be on their team list especially for big games where big moments are required from big players.In my opinion,Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to sign the often-crocked Michael Owen is best described as one with no risk involved.If Owen plays and scores,he will be paid accordingly and if he doesnt,Fergei can just offload him to Carrington Town or something for maybe 500 000 pounds and it will still be a profit.Even if there is risk,it would be just a small matter of Fergei's reputation in transfer dealings.The basic wage United will be paying Owen and the amount of money United forked put to sign Owen (zero pounds) is not much than the amount United would be paying a 18 year old youngster who just graduated from their Academy.So,Im sure Fergei would have thought to himself that if he can keep Owen fit and just use him as a substitute,he would have have a brilliant goal poacher without having to pay a single penny.At a time when the transfer market is inflated(thankx to Real and City),Fergei has decided to swim against the tide and score without even digging into his pockets.Impressive when you consider he has a 100million to use and he still decides to look at things which cost nothing.To those who always wonder how Ferguson is a champion in mentality,this is surely it.Whether Owen becomes a hit or spends another season on the sidelines no one really knows but one thing is for sure,that if he keeps fit,he will score.

And so will Fergei.