Kelvin Leong and Ian Griffiths dissect the most bizarre transfer of the summer, Michael Owen to Manchester United.

Has Sir Alex Ferguson gone mad?

KL: No he hasn't gone mad in an instant. He has always been mad! But think about it for one second, Owen was on a free transfer and Fergie needed to plug the gap in attack. A weekly investment of 50,000 pounds won't burn a hole in the deep pockets of United.

Ferguson's take on it all is probably bring Owen in and give him a chance, if he fails to impress, ship him out at the end of the season.

What does the wily Scotsman have to lose? Fans and critics are already expecting the England hitman to be fail so if he goes on to score 20 goals next season, people will say it was another brilliant move by Ferguson.

Another tick to Fergie's resume. Not that he needs it.

IG: I would prefer to say slightly mad.

I agree with you that given the financial outlay the risk isn't that great. Owen, if he stays fit, will get you a decent haul of goals even if it will be against the Premier League lesser lights. In that sense, with Rooney and Berbatov set to become the first choice strikers (if Samuel Eto'o doesn't wing his way to OT) it is a sound investment.

However there's a bigger picture to all of this. You know, there's a saying that the best way to bury bad news is to announce something positive.

Fergie's disappointment at losing out on Karim Benzema to Real Madrid will have hurt the wily Scot immensely. What better way to stop all the sniping at both him and United than by making this incredible move for Owen?

Get those Manchester ambulances warmed up!

Will he be a success or a flop at Old Trafford?

KL: A three hour medical and he passed it.

Owen was in a wrong team at a wrong time with Newcastle United. It wasn't him not playing to his usual high standards but more the Magpies not being able to kick a ball straight for a start.

The entire team couldn't even string ten passes together moving forward!

At United, players like Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs know the sort of balls Owen likes to feed on and in any given match, he will get a handful of open chances to put the ball into the net.

Don't expect him to be Cristiano Ronaldo's successor. He is not brought into replace Ronaldo. He is brought in to give United another dimension in attack.

I predict a successful first season where Owen will get into double digits on the scoresheet.

IG: I think you are spot on there, but you can't just say that Owen passed a medical and that is that. Doing some stringent tests in a medical room is a walk in the park compared to having Hull City defenders snapping at your heels.

As I see it, a footballer's body is prone to injury at the best of times.

When you have been injured as much as Owen has, the likelihood that he will break down at some point of the season is very high.

Look, I've always admired Owen, but the big question is can he stay fit? Having said that, he'll be a massive hit with United's fans if he does the business - despite the obvious Liverpool link.

How will he fit into the system?

KL: Ferguson knows how to infuse a player into his system. He won't throw Owen into the deep end and expect the speedy striker to lead from day one.

Owen will be Ferguson's impact substitute from the bench. Very much in the mould of Carlos Tevez.

Once Owen rekindles his form with a bag of goals, that is when Fergie might start giving Owen more start-time and put him alongside Dimitar Berbatov to form a big-small partnership.

If that doesn't work out as well, Owen can be a good companion on the sidelines alongside Owen Hargreaves. 

IG: Purely and simply as a bit part player. There is no way that Owen will command a regular starting place.

As I said before, I see Rooney and Berbatov leading the line for United in key games, with Owen's time limited. Come games against Blackburn, Hull, Burnley and so, Owen will feature.

Owen's eye for goal is what he's been brought in for. With the free scoring Ronaldo gone, there was always going to be a need for more firepower.

The only duo that would work is, as Kelvin said, Berbatov and Owen. Big and small.

Will this move see Owen in the England squad for World Cup 2010?

KL: Definitely.

How many Newcastle games did Fabio Capello watch last season?

Owen in United colours will mean he is in the limelight every weekend.

The England manager will be inclined to monitor Owen even more closely and a recall to the Three Lions squad won't be far away.

Capello will be reminded by his astute team of assistants how devastating a partnership Owen formed with another renaissance player, Emile Heskey.

Not a bad option to have in South Africa alongside Peter Crouch, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe.

IG: No chance. I think the key thing here is the formation England play under Capello.

Like many big teams, the Three Lions adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Put simply, Owen has proved in the past that he simply cannot operate as a lone striker. Neither, it has to be said has Rooney, but at least he can drop back a play a little deeper - something the former Magpie cannot do either.

As if that wasn't bad enough - when has Owen last impressed for England? His last international goals were back in 2007, a year or so after he had a World Cup to forget.

I have it on good authority that Capello picked 43 players during last season, Owen's lone appearance was a dire 45 minutes against France. Enough said.

Finally, off tangent, United's new kit for the 2009/2010 season?

KL: Nice! The ‘V' cut down the chest makes it very retro and I feel it makes the entire look much more sharp and fearsome.

Something different from the boring full-red jerseys of the past three seasons.

IG: Horrible. It looks like it should be on a rugby league pitch.

By the way, did you know that the retro look is to commemorate 100 years at Old Trafford.