I don't know what this really means, Michaels Owen's only spoken to Liverpool *for now* over the next few weeks he "expects" (has agreed terms with) his agents to come to him "with
various contract options
" so they can "sit down & consider
them" (note the plurality)
On Steven Gerrard (there I said it Steven Gerrard), while it's true that he was a driving force behind the team last season, one should always remember that...
1. It's not always been the case. In seasons like 2001/2 Gerrard & Owen did have injury worries didn't they? But though they did miss the odd game, Liverpool still finished second on the league & was a few minutes away from the Champions League semi-final. While a vital player even then, you can't say Steve "drove the team" singlehandedly; another good player would have easily replaced him & we'd still have finished second ahead of the then three-times-in-a-row champions Manchester United.
2. Last season Steve drove Liverpool, but a lot of it had to do with the playing formation which wasn't suiting other players (eg Kewell), some of the players were not given a chance (eg Baros) whereas some underperforming players (like Heskey) were still fielded. With the managerial/coaching department changed for a new pro-passing team ethic Benitez regime, even if SG wanted to stay, next term I don't expect LFC to be "driven" by an individual.
3.Next season, Baros could & should be on fire, expect Cisse to also tuck away the chances Heskey missed, it'll go a long way towards garnering points & closing in the gap with the dominant two & Chelsea. Lacking a 20+ goal poacher has been hindering the progress of LFC, Cisse & Baros have both said they look forward to playing for LFC next term, expect fireworks.
4. The sale of Gerrard will mean money for a couple of world class talent to plug the defensive & midfield frailities.
5.Benitez has spoken on the need for the team to play as a unit; next season expect not just flowing passing football, but also team spirit & a great work ethic, playing for the club & for each other. The era of a Liverpool that's based on a Gerrard that's "player of the year by a country mile" or an Owen that's heavily relied on for goals is a thing of the past now. Even if Benitez brings in Aimar, Ayala or some other world class signings as promised, we should know that Finnan, Murphy, Kewell, Baros, Cisse, Carragher, Riise, & others are part & parcel of a side that's not about the single individual- just as Valencia were blooding that Malian youngster Sissoko & happily benching Aimar where needs be, expect Semmy & John Welsh to also have a run in the team. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as the Dead Prez rhyme goes, we need to work for self like ants in a colony, we need a type of game that's based on the common need, where everyone works & everyone reaps the fruits. Selfish primma donnas should go to the Chelsea's of this world.
Conclusion: Owen & Gerrard should clearly let us know ASAP if they're leaving, we need to use money from their sale to replace with a few top signings so Benitez can use the pre-season to gauge his starting eleven & tactics for the new season. Come on Michael,
there should be a time limit.