Whilst these pages have been full of discussion on the relative merits of Owen's ability, goal scoring record, better than Baros, how would he play with Alonso etc.
The thought has ocurred that the only reason we will really miss Micheal Owen is for his marketability.
Micheal Owen was the only name in Liverpool Football Club that is known worldwide both inside and outside football circles. The lad had that rare combination of football success together with a remarkably clean wholesome image that appealed accross the world.
Steven Gerrard in footballing terms would be greater loss than Owen, but in sheer magnetisim and the ability to project the name of LFC worldwide, Owen is a major loss to the prospective finances of the club. Obviously, there is no immediate and tangible way of placing a value on what we have lost, but I would suggest that it will be considerably more than it would cost us to buy him back.
That in the end may be the only reason that we might like to have him back from RM. If he were able to return with his reputation undiminished and still playing for England he could still be worth a lot in marketing terms for LFC and I don't just mean shirt sales, I mean serious 'big money' sponsorship and endorsement opportunities for the club.
Have our management got the right balance to handle the juxtaposition between on-field ability and off-field marketability ?