Liverpool FC Forum

[7_Kewell]

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.

Fowler cannot play a 90 min match yet and he's been here for 4 months.  Hence Rafa is worried.  everytime he has started a match, he's had to be taken off because he's knackered by the 65-70 min mark.  I'm not looking to get dragged into another pointless argument but Fowler is 31 and he's nowhere near the fitness of Sheringham who is 40.

Fowler's football ability is not in question.  It's his current inability to play a full match that is causing Rafa to worry.

[bigmick]

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.

A typically good post Luke. Also, I forgot about Pongolle and agree he will leave for around 2.5 million.

[7_Kewell]

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.

A typically good post Luke. Also, I forgot about Pongolle and agree he will leave for around 2.5 million.

shame he never fitted in really.  Often showed moments of brilliance.

[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.

Fowler cannot play a 90 min match yet and he's been here for 4 months.  Hence Rafa is worried.  everytime he has started a match, he's had to be taken off because he's knackered by the 65-70 min mark.  I'm not looking to get dragged into another pointless argument but Fowler is 31 and he's nowhere near the fitness of Sheringham who is 40.

Fowler's football ability is not in question.  It's his current inability to play a full match that is causing Rafa to worry.

Again - he's been out for a hell of a long time, and pre-seasons are where core fitness is gained.

[Cool Hand Luke]

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.

On the topic of players leaving, I think Rafa will try to shift out a lot more players than that, but most of them are effectively inactive for us anyway:

Kirkland
Whitbread
Medjani
Diao
Potter
Cheyrou
Le Tallec
Mellor
Pongolle
Foy
Morientes
Cisse
Warnock/Troare - If we bring in a new left back then I think both will leave, if not than just Troare.

Houllier’s days have left us with a surplus of players that are of no use to us. Hopefully Rafa will be able to shift all the players that he needs too and free up some space on the wage bill, this should put us on a better finical footing.

[Judge]

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 .

aye warnocks cool. i really think that cisse will be off loaded, probably to spurs or maybe marseille

[Lando_Griffin]

I doubt we'll be doing business with Spurs, Judgey boy.

The tan-less Umpah Loompah Jol won't stop spitting his massive dummy out long enough.

[7_Kewell]

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.

Fowler cannot play a 90 min match yet and he's been here for 4 months.  Hence Rafa is worried.  everytime he has started a match, he's had to be taken off because he's knackered by the 65-70 min mark.  I'm not looking to get dragged into another pointless argument but Fowler is 31 and he's nowhere near the fitness of Sheringham who is 40.

Fowler's football ability is not in question.  It's his current inability to play a full match that is causing Rafa to worry.

Again - he's been out for a hell of a long time, and pre-seasons are where core fitness is gained.

I agree.  However, if he doesn't gain fitness through pre-season, that means we only have a player who can only play 80% of a match and that (judging from his comments) isn't good enough for Rafa.

[Judge]

I doubt we'll be doing business with Spurs, Judgey boy.

The tan-less Umpah Loompah Jol won't stop spitting his massive dummy out long enough.

jol and cisse have things in common, they both shrug their shoulders alot 

[stmichael]

some guy just phoned in on the radio saying that not only should fowler be kept on at liverpool, sven should be looking at taking him as a fifth striker to the world cup.

[Morth]

Hey, he would give England options in that he can hold the ball and play other strikers through.  Also he does have the experience.

Having said that, I very much doubt he'd get a bye in.

[HacksawJimDuggin]

Not a bad shout as England are a wee bit short in that department. Especially with Owen nowhere near 100% fit.

[Paul C]

Not a bad shout as England are a wee bit short in that department. Especially with Owen nowhere near 100% fit.

You'll be supprised how quick he'll recover to play in the world cup!! 

[7_Kewell]

Not a bad shout as England are a wee bit short in that department. Especially with Owen nowhere near 100% fit.

You'll be supprised how quick he'll recover to play in the world cup!! 

and how quickly he'll be saying "i need to be playing in the Champions League" after the world cup...

[redsince2001]

Not a bad shout as England are a wee bit short in that department. Especially with Owen nowhere near 100% fit.

You'll be supprised how quick he'll recover to play in the world cup!! 

and how quickly he'll be saying "i need to be playing in the Champions League" after the world cup...

one of the reasons i dont want him to return here...