Liverpool FC Forum

[taff]

Cant really argue with that except I reckon Carson will stay although on loan and I can see Warnock staying as well although a loan spell to a premiership club would IMO be a good move for him.

Morientes I still like but can see him going

[bigmick]

I’ve been mildly impressed with Fowler upon his return. 

My apologies sir I didn't realise you had tramped the road to Damascus with such enthusiasm  I don't mean to nit-pick either but I would contest whether Sheringham and Bergkamp actually could play ninety minutes at full tilt every week.
Still it's only a minor point and I broadly agree with your original post. It'd be as a bench man for me aswell, with a one year contract.

[Lando_Griffin]

Most people with any intelligence realise that a good pre-season is that foundation of good fitness levels, and if Fowler gets one, he will be just as fit as the other strikers. (Fit - not "as fast").

[stmichael]

Most people with any intelligence realise that a good pre-season is that foundation of good fitness levels, and if Fowler gets one, he will be just as fit as the other strikers. (Fit - not "as fast").

Took the words out of my mouth there Lando.

It takes a pre-season and a run of matches to reach fitness, not a sporadic few games off the back of a long term injury. That's why most Man City fans weren't that concerned when he left.

[woof woof !]

i expect a massive clear out in the summer, but no panic buying by rafa.

I don't know about a massive clear-out Judgy mate but for sure, there will be a turnover, both to make some space and to generate some funds.
Going through the squad off the top of my head, i would expect the following to be offloaded and have guessed the fees.
              Dudek/Carson 1 million.
              Traore           1 million.
              Warnock        2 million.
              Whitbread      300k.
              Morientes       2.5 million.

As I've said in previous posts to many peoples dismay I expect Cisse to be kept on, if for no other reason that nobody will want him at the end of the season. There is also the add on that he can, of a fashion, play wide-right. His career is alarmingly beginning to resemble that of his illustrious predecessor as Liverpools worst ever signing, El-Hadji Diouff.

Wouldn't be suprised if Cisse is still with come next season . But am gobsmacked to see that you include Warnock in your "clearance sale" . I rate the lad and at 24 (?) expect him to have a many more seasons with us .

[laza]

I still think a buyer could be found for Cisse back in France..........though i expect when it happens we are all going to have a very big cry about the price tag
I have a funny feeling Traroe isnt going anyway as he seems to fit into Rafa having cheap cover for several different positions  (though more then happy to be proved wrong on that one)

[bigmick]

It also takes resistance to stay off the ale in the first two weeks of pre-season aswell. Different if you're 21 and can run it off in a week of pre-season blitz but as some of us know, putting a couple of pounds on is a damn sight harder than getting 'em off again once you get over 30. The days of blokes like Fowler and Ruddock rolling in for pre-season a stone heavier than they were six weeks ago are long gone.
Robbie probably needs to commit to a tea-total lifestyle and a healthy diet to emulate his predecessors of elder statesmen in top-flight football. I know by the way that he's not exactly past it at his age, but injuries have reduced his body capability to that of a guy in his mid-thirties in my opinion.

[7_Kewell]

It also takes resistance to stay off the ale in the first two weeks of pre-season aswell. Different if you're 21 and can run it off in a week of pre-season blitz but as some of us know, putting a couple of pounds on is a damn sight harder than getting 'em off again once you get over 30. The days of blokes like Fowler and Ruddock rolling in for pre-season a stone heavier than they were six weeks ago are long gone.
Robbie probably needs to commit to a tea-total lifestyle and a healthy diet to emulate his predecessors of elder statesmen in top-flight football. I know by the way that he's not exactly past it at his age, but injuries have reduced his body capability to that of a guy in his mid-thirties in my opinion.

i think Rafa originally wanted to wait until after the pre-season to decide on a contract but Fowler said he couldn't wait that long.  Understandable really because if Rafa said no, he'd be stuck without at a club.

[HacksawJimDuggin]

I agree with the comment that this is very good management from Rafa. He is not one to talk about players contract situation in public so why change for Fowler. I believe that Rafa is waiting for confirmation from the board re: Investment in the 1st team squad. Once he knows what he has to spend he will decide on who stays and who goes. No point in planning a mass clearout if he has no cash to replace them!!

Rafa is a strick task master and he is setting his stall out. He is clearly giving Robbie the opportunity to shine and I think Robbie has/will prove his worth between now and the end of the season. I believe Fowler will be there next year.

[bigmick]

Wouldn't be suprised if Cisse is still with come next season . But am gobsmacked to see that you include Warnock in your "clearance sale" . I rate the lad and at 24 (?) expect him to have a many more seasons with us .

It's just a hunch Woofa and I quite like the lad myself. I am though unconvinced that he is quite good enough to hold down a place at a top-club, and the news that Rafa is looking at Aurelio would be unlikely to spell the end of Riise's Anfield career.
Warnock is a committed and talented player, but I just wonder whether he posesses the positional nouse to really step up to the plate. Too often for my liking he ball-watches and/or tucks in at the wrong time. Fair play to anybody who really rates him as being top class and I haven't seen him often enough to absolutely certain, but my feeling is that he isn't quite upto it, despite having all the heart in the World.

[taff]

Wouldn't be suprised if Cisse is still with come next season . But am gobsmacked to see that you include Warnock in your "clearance sale" . I rate the lad and at 24 (?) expect him to have a many more seasons with us .

It's just a hunch Woofa and I quite like the lad myself. I am though unconvinced that he is quite good enough to hold down a place at a top-club, and the news that Rafa is looking at Aurelio would be unlikely to spell the end of Riise's Anfield career.
Warnock is a committed and talented player, but I just wonder whether he posesses the positional nouse to really step up to the plate. Too often for my liking he ball-watches and/or tucks in at the wrong time. Fair play to anybody who really rates him as being top class and I haven't seen him often enough to absolutely certain, but my feeling is that he isn't quite upto it, despite having all the heart in the World.

I think th eloan option as he probably needs a run of games.  When he has played it has been good and loads of potential but he could definitely do with a season of games under his belt but realistically he wont get it at Anfield.

Maybe one of the promoted teams or a mid table team,  look at Richardson at West Brom as an example.

[Lando_Griffin]

You mention Sheringham and Bergkamp, but both of these players can play 90mins at full pace.

Hahahaha! 

That's a good one mate.

Sheringham has started 14 matches this season in all competitions, and been a sub 11 times. Scored 7 goals.

Bergkamp has 12 starts and 15 sub appearances. He's scored 2 goals.

Fowler has started 7 games, and been used as a sub 5 times, scoring 3 goals. He has been on the way back from serious injuries, and has had a gruelling fitness program to contend with.


You, 7_Kewell, make absolutely no sense.

[woof woof !]

Wouldn't be suprised if Cisse is still with come next season . But am gobsmacked to see that you include Warnock in your "clearance sale" . I rate the lad and at 24 (?) expect him to have a many more seasons with us .

It's just a hunch Woofa and I quite like the lad myself. I am though unconvinced that he is quite good enough to hold down a place at a top-club, and the news that Rafa is looking at Aurelio would be unlikely to spell the end of Riise's Anfield career.
Warnock is a committed and talented player, but I just wonder whether he posesses the positional nouse to really step up to the plate. Too often for my liking he ball-watches and/or tucks in at the wrong time. Fair play to anybody who really rates him as being top class and I haven't seen him often enough to absolutely certain, but my feeling is that he isn't quite upto it, despite having all the heart in the World.

See where you're coming from on that Mick and as things stand ,I tend to agree . I do however feel that Warnock has the potential to be outstanding for us at left back ,certainly he has a lot to learn but can only do that if given more opportunity . Warnock and Riise make a good pairing down the left , both aware of defensive duties ,able to interchange .It's a pity Kewell has been playing so well .        

[SouthCoastShankly]

Just like to refer to Rafas comments regarding Fowler and his chances of staying (BBC Sport)

"Robbie is top class, no doubt about it, but you also need pace and stamina levels if you want to win trophies.

"We are really happy with him because he is working so hard. But we have to know exactly how many top-class players we need and if he could be the top-class one we are looking for.

Robbie knows he needs to improve some things because he wasn't playing for some time

"It's not that we don't believe in him but this is a big club and we need to look at different players as well.

"It's really important to have players of the passion he has so it is all in the balance.

"We need to put all those things together and weigh them up before we decide.

"Robbie knows he needs to improve some things because he wasn't playing for some time and this is another level again."


I think Robbies fitness is a definite concern of Rafas, not the only one but a concern still.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I personally think that Fowler is worth a 1 year extension providing we are not counting on him to play regularly and be the main goal scorer, we definitely need someone in addition to him.

It is clear to see that Fowler will always struggle with fitness whether he gets a full pre-season or not. He can not be expected to play 2 games a week on a regular basis, with the injuries he has had, time spent not playing football, weight problems, lifestyle issues, etc, no matter how hard he tries he will not be able to maintain a high enough fitness level to be considered a first team player at this level. You can see that after 45 minutes of running he is about ready to keel over and be buried, and a full-pre-season would help but not completely remedy the situation.

Fowler recently said he is willing to “live like a monk” in order to earn a contract, if he wants earn a contract he will have to live like a monk, period. He is not a natural athlete and years of abuse to his body and bad luck with injuries have clearly taken their toll. If he wants to stay here he will have to train hard, totally abandon binge drinking, eat well, be in bed by a reasonable hour and generally take care of himself, and not just now, it will have to be for as long as he wants to play at this level. If he can make these promises to Rafa than he should stay, my guess is that Rafa will have a very blunt talk with him and ask him if he can maintain this sort of lifestyle and focus his life around looking after himself, and my gut feeling tells me that he will stay here next year.

If Rafa could bring in 2 quality strikers then I would support any potential decision to not extend Fowlers contract. But that is a big “IF”, it is hard enough to find 1 quality striker, what are the chances that we could find 2, unless they are like buses. Also we must consider the budget, if we are bringing in a quality right winger and a quality striker, what are the chances we will have enough money left over to buy another quality striker?

Cisse and Morientes must leave in my opinion. That leaves, New Striker, Crouch, and either Fowler or a new striker, plus Garcia and other who can play off a main striker. That is enough options in my opinion, also I thing Pongolle will leave as well.