There are, apparently, lots of rumours doing the rounds in Liverpool about Stevie's marriage having broken down, him living away from his family, and negotiating a summer transfer to Milan. I don't know how true any of this is, although it would certainly explain his glum demeanour and generally poor play this season.
But anyway, how would you all feel if this were true? I'd be sad, obviously, at losing one of the greatest (perhaps THE greatest) Liverpool player I've ever had the privilege of watching, especially if he were to leave without ever winning the league here, and for such personally distressing reasons.
On a football level, however, I wonder if it might prove a blessing in disguise. I'm not letting one bad season cloud my judgment here, nor kidding myself that Gerrard has been anything other than our most inspirational player for years and years.
But he has been so dominant that sometimes you get the impression everyone else is afraid to take the initiative themselves. He has also, I think most people would agree, been a less than perfect captain. And finally, two of our most recent high-profile, big-money signings have failed (Keane and Aquilani), seemingly because both occupy positions a little too close to Gerrard's. I do wonder: if he's no longer there, will we finally buy a proper no10 AND a proper creative CM (or see if Aquilani can fill the latter role)? Will we play with more freedom, be less reliant on one or two players?
Sometimes (cf Everton after Rooney, Arsenal after Henry) teams seem oddly liberated when their most totemic player is sold. Could that be the case for us, or am I fooling myself - and will losing our captain and best player be the final nail in LFC's coffin?
But anyway, how would you all feel if this were true? I'd be sad, obviously, at losing one of the greatest (perhaps THE greatest) Liverpool player I've ever had the privilege of watching, especially if he were to leave without ever winning the league here, and for such personally distressing reasons.
On a football level, however, I wonder if it might prove a blessing in disguise. I'm not letting one bad season cloud my judgment here, nor kidding myself that Gerrard has been anything other than our most inspirational player for years and years.
But he has been so dominant that sometimes you get the impression everyone else is afraid to take the initiative themselves. He has also, I think most people would agree, been a less than perfect captain. And finally, two of our most recent high-profile, big-money signings have failed (Keane and Aquilani), seemingly because both occupy positions a little too close to Gerrard's. I do wonder: if he's no longer there, will we finally buy a proper no10 AND a proper creative CM (or see if Aquilani can fill the latter role)? Will we play with more freedom, be less reliant on one or two players?
Sometimes (cf Everton after Rooney, Arsenal after Henry) teams seem oddly liberated when their most totemic player is sold. Could that be the case for us, or am I fooling myself - and will losing our captain and best player be the final nail in LFC's coffin?
