Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ace Ventura** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:36 pm

7_Kewell wrote: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.

It is a valid point your making as Rafa has highlighted fitness as a main issue.
But i think it might just be a ploy to get even more out of Robbie.
You are correct in saying that he looks tired possibly shattered around the 70 minute mark in games, but i cant see why thats a major problem, if he stays next season it will not be as number 1 so he will only be starting games every now and then.
We also dont seem to have suffered bringing him off in the latter region of games, its an ideal time to make a change anyway imo, and Luis Garcia is ideal to take his place nearing the end of games.
We all expect a top class younger striker.
But based on what he has showed so far Robbie deserves a year as one of our 3rd or 4th choice strikers.
If he surprises us all and gets fit enough to play full games, then that would just be a bonus imo.

by **Kukilon** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:04 pm

Rafa has made up his mind. Now he is just trying to get the best out of God. He will stay for sure.

by **Sabre** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:29 pm

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.

First of all, I hadn't written in this thread, because my answer is "Yes, needless to say, he should stay".

Second of all, I disagree that quote. It's simply not true. Rafa asks the forwards to do a great and demanding job, and he systematically makes a sub of one of the forwards at min 65-70, which, by the way it's a typical minute to make a sub.

After giving everything in 75 minutes, it's normal to bring a fresh pair of legs to the pitch, and I think Rafa has done that with every striker of the team. Stating that Fowler is not able to play 90 minutes is plainly wrong, IMHO.

by **redsince2001** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:41 pm

we sud not even be having this conversation........fowler sud have had a new contract on the table by now........Why Rafa ,WHY?

by **ivor_the_injun** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:50 pm

As has already been said - Robbie's only started 7 games since arriving. You simply can't expect him to be at peak fitness in that time.

That said, he's definitely moving in the right direction, and I personally think he's been capable of 90 mins for a month or so now.

I wouldn't be unduly concerned about the quotes from Rafa - he's basically saying the same thing that he implied by only giving him a temporary contract in the first place.

Good luck to any manager, not just Rafa, that thinks they can find a comparable quality player for less money than would be required to keep Robbie on at LFC. It's just not possible.

by **Pedro O'Maradona** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:09 pm

Id say he will get a contract...Rafa did something similar with didi hamman last year...(anyone over 30 has to prove themselves...etc etc)

by **brenitez** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:33 pm

would this topic even have been opened if god's disallowed goals had been allowed? personally i think two of the three should have counted, thus giving robbie 5 goals in around the same number of starts which is a far better strike ratio than our other strikers could dream of.

WE NEED A NATURAL GOALSCORER!...... oh yeah we've got one!

by **dawson99** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:39 pm

the way rafa is talking tho he already knows what hes gonna do next season and it doesnt seem to involve robbie. of course chances are that im reading into it totally wrong. rafa has said he knows how good robbie is but he wants someone younger and faster

by **Pedro O'Maradona** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:07 pm

dawson99 wrote:the way rafa is talking tho he already knows what hes gonna do next season and it doesnt seem to involve robbie. of course chances are that im reading into it totally wrong. rafa has said he knows how good robbie is but he wants someone younger and faster

maybe, but he is saying if i could get 3 24 year old speedy, clinical goalscorers he would try and get them.....are they actually out there though?...i think he knows what robbies limitations are and also his strengths and he is waiting to see if there is a better option out there.....then again its all about what transfer options are open to him during the off season.....

by **7_Kewell** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:15 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:
7_Kewell wrote: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.

It is a valid point your making as Rafa has highlighted fitness as a main issue.
But i think it might just be a ploy to get even more out of Robbie.
You are correct in saying that he looks tired possibly shattered around the 70 minute mark in games, but i cant see why thats a major problem, if he stays next season it will not be as number 1 so he will only be starting games every now and then.
We also dont seem to have suffered bringing him off in the latter region of games, its an ideal time to make a change anyway imo, and Luis Garcia is ideal to take his place nearing the end of games.
We all expect a top class younger striker.
But based on what he has showed so far Robbie deserves a year as one of our 3rd or 4th choice strikers.
If he surprises us all and gets fit enough to play full games, then that would just be a bonus imo.

I agree. He could play a part as an impact player. But the more i look at Rafa's comments, the more it seems he isn't willing to have ANYONE in his team who cannot play 90 mins whenever he sees fit. Maybe i'm wrong, but if Fowler doesn't get fit by May, he won't get a contract.

by **ivor_the_injun** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:33 pm

I think people are reading too much into all this.

We already know that Rafa's actively pursuing Aurelio and Paletta. I'd be stunned if he wasn't after at least one right mid, if not two. Unless a huge amount of money arrives very soon indeed, there's simply no way that he'll then have enough money for three quality new strikers.

Crouch will obviously stay, but there's no way that Cisse, Morientes or Pongolle can be classed as ahead of Fowler in the pecking order, even based on Robbie's current fitness. And even with two new strikers at the club, there's still room for Robbie.

Honestly, no matter which angle you look at it, Robbie Fowler should be in the squad next season. I'm positive Rafa knows this, and is being deliberately ambiguous to try and get a positive reaction out of him.

by **vlady16.1** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:07 am

ivor, i agree with you -- if he wasn't to be offered a contract why is he starting?

i also have an interesting theory -- everyone is talking about robbie but nobody is talking about the chelski game. is this a coincidence??? i think not. also rafa needs a right side mid -- add that other fashionable spaniard and we're talking <20 mill add a 1st rate striker <15mill and look at the money there 2 more strikers and we're into romanesque money

face it its 1 maybe 2 strikers and 1 maybe 2 right mids and face it the right side is killing us

robbie is back unless he eats too many curries and doesn't show "he wants it" for a whole season-- methinks he is already signed and they are using it as a smokescreen for a big move

by **mk4195421** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:14 am

as things are turning up now, rafa won't have a choice - robbie's getting resigned.

by **The Manhattan Project** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:59 am

Since he came back, morale seems to be high.

Good feelings are all around.

He should stay. He deserves a new contract.

by **Espionage** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:33 am

vlady16.1 wrote:methinks he is already signed and they are using it as a smokescreen for a big move

I like the sound of this, Rafa is always very shrewd in the transfer market and i think that a ploy like this is up his alley.

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Robbie fowler - 1 YEAR CONTRACT TO BE SIGNED NEXT WEEK

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