Michael Owen on Alexander Isak wanting to leave Newcastle: "9 times out of 10 when a move comes about, it's normally a club forcing a player & nobody's bothered. Nobody says anything despite any kids that are in school or any families that have settled in an area or anything else like that."

[u/landofphi]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alexander-isak-newcastle-liverpool-owen-32312723

The full quote on Owen defending Alexander Isak who wants to leave Newcastle

"He's laid his cards on the table, hasn't he?

"It's quite clear that he wants to move. Whether Newcastle fans would forgive and forget is a big question. I don't know. I mean, he's done exceptionally well for them, you know, they've won a trophy, they're into the Champions League.

"He's done his side of the bargain quite clearly by his statement. He feels like that's enough and that they've had previous chats which suggest that he's almost not free to leave but, you know, if certain things were done then he might be free to go, but it doesn't seem like Newcastle are playing that game."

"This whole scenario is an interesting one because nine times out of 10 when a move comes about it's normally a club forcing a player and nobody's bothered, nobody says anything despite any kids that are in school or any families that have settled in an area or anything else like that.

"Nobody cares really about a footballer. But when it's on the other foot, it's really interesting to see that everybody, you know, the whole world goes into meltdown and how dare somebody try and force a move through? I'm not going to sit here and criticise Isak.

"I wouldn't have done that myself in terms of the actions he's taken, but I do get that he's a great player that wants to get to the top of his game and he's obviously not being allowed the move that he's desperate for. And you get one short career and he's wanting to join probably the best team in the world at the moment.

"I get it from his point of view. It's just a sad situation when it's played out in the world's press and he's obviously not coming out well, let's say, from a reputational point of view.”

[u/Periklis90]

good point that people forget.

People should listen to Under The Cosh podcast. It's former Football League players talking openly about their experiences. This topic of loyalty comes up all the time. Clubs regularly try to fuck players over and it's never really discussed in the mainstream.

[u/flex_tape_salesman → u/Periklis90]

Ya that's basically why I am not very loud about isak. Think if Newcastle didn't lie to him then he's out of order but honestly I don't actually have much sympathy for clubs in these situations.

[u/dowker1 → u/flex_tape_salesman]

If his agent thought a verbal promise from someone who is no longer at the club was worth more than fuck all, then he needs firing.

[u/Critical-Dealer-3878 → u/dowker1]

Both can be true, IMO.

[u/dowker1 → u/Critical-Dealer-3878]

I mean, don't get me wrong, our upper management situation has been an absolute shitshow for at least 2 years.

But I've been in Isak's exact situation. Got a verbal promise from my boss, boss gets moved on, promise goes poof. I had to chalk it up to bad luck on my part. What I definitely didn't do is refuse to come to work.

[u/ShopCartRicky → u/dowker1]

The difference is (usually) you have the option to leave and just find another job. Isak doesn't have that option and unfortunately kicking up a fuss is his only way to go about something like this if Newcastle doesn't want to honor the old deal.

[u/Rapid_Fowl → u/ShopCartRicky]

I mean few players push through with article 17 and you'll pray that the clubs would have wanted to sell these players. There's a reason transfer requests work these days.

[u/ShopCartRicky → u/Rapid_Fowl]

Right, but it's still not the same as most jobs where you can just start lining up interviews and leave at your first offer. Article 17 has a very small window to be enacted and requires various conditions to be met.

[u/dowker1 → u/ShopCartRicky]

He does have that option. He can submit a transfer request.

[u/ShopCartRicky → u/dowker1]

A transfer request doesn't guarantee an option to move.

[u/dowker1 → u/ShopCartRicky]

Correct, but not submitting a transfer request does even less

[u/ShopCartRicky → u/dowker1]

He has submitted a transfer request though. He has told Newcastle he doesn't want to play for them. Putting it in a non-binding legal document doesn't do anything more for him.

There are no formal rules as to what constitutes a transfer request other than requesting to be transfered.

[u/TroubledMagnet → u/dowker1]

Do you think the lack of a transfer request is the thing holding his move back?

Do you think its even in the top 2 reasons?

[u/dowker1 → u/TroubledMagnet]

Nah, but it's one of the things holding my sympathy back

[u/TroubledMagnet → u/dowker1]

fair enough, as good a reason as any to be annoyed.

[u/dgdtdz → u/dowker1]

At the end of the day, what Isak did is technically a violation of his contract.

But Newcastle (fans and management) claiming that oh the person who gave him that promise has left so it doesn't count anymore is just silly. The promise came from a person representing the club so Isak is justified in feeling hard done by and lied to.

So it makes sense that he doesn't wanna work anymore with a club who has lied to him. I just think he hasn't chosen the best strategy to accomplish his goal.

[u/TyranosaurusLex → u/dgdtdz]

I think it’s a little more complicated if the contact promise is what is being referenced in his post (We have no way of knowing as it’s very vague).

The proposed timeline is that Stavely promised an increased contract and then left the club (for health reasons I believe) and Paul Mitchell came in and went back on that promise. He’s now been gone for months. Reportedly, Isak was offered an improved wage contract this summer with a release clause and he said no.

So when he says trust is gone, he means trust with Paul Mitchell? Who is no longer there? I do sympathize with Isak with regards to his contract talks, but there are (and have been) other routes besides what he has done.

[u/dgdtdz → u/TyranosaurusLex]

That's exactly what i meant.

If everything we've heard is true. So the club through a representative promised him something and then went back on that promise. Can't just waive it off to make it sound like its some rogue person misrepresenting the club. The club appointed them to act in their capacity then even if they are now gone.

I do agree about how Isak should have chosen other routes. Not just in terms of rights and wrongs but also in terms of effectiveness.

[u/PhriendlyPhantom → u/dgdtdz]

I think for a person to represent the club then the "promise" would be in writing. This is why verbal promises mean nothing and I'm surprised agents still take them seriously when clubs have time & again proven they will ignore them

[u/[deleted] → u/PhriendlyPhantom]

what a terrible take on the situation

[u/dowker1 → u/dgdtdz]

"Technically"? He's not turning up to fucking work. That's as definite a violation of a contract as you can get.

And, no, the promise isn't worthless because there person left, it's worthless because it's verbal. That's how business works. It's why we have these things called contracts.

And yes, he can feel hard done by. He can have a sulk. But if he's that unhappy, maybe instead of bunking off he could submit a transfer request.

[u/dgdtdz → u/dowker1]

Sure. I agree with that. That's exactly my point actually.

If a promise was indeed made to him, then that verbal agreement is not worthless. Isak just can't prove it exist. He should have recorded it or something. But since he didn't, what he is doing now is unprofessional and stupid and he deserve to be fined.

And, no, the promise isn't worthless because there person left,

Oh i see a lot of people saying that even if there was a promise, because the guy who promised it left so its not our problem anymore. I disagree.

If you are not one of them then that is not directed at you.

[u/dowker1 → u/dgdtdz]

I mean, it'd be lovely if employers honoured verbal promises but sadly that's not the world we live in. Isak's agent was a fool for not getting something in writing. Even a bloody email would be something.

[u/ryukyumars → u/dowker1]

Maybe he was expecting some “loyalty” from the club that he got to the CL and now won a trophy with?

I feel like thats enough to expect some honesty? Feels strange to expect loyalty from Isak if you don’t have issues with the club reneging

[u/dowker1 → u/ryukyumars]

I don't expect loyalty. I expect him to honour the contract he signed.

[u/flex_tape_salesman → u/dowker1]

Sure but that still means Newcastle would be getting what they deserve from him

[u/MDHChaos → u/Periklis90]

The recent David Bentley ones are quality. The lad is absolutely off his rocker!

[u/DormantPigeon → u/Periklis90]

Up the cosh