Liverpool FC Forum

by **metalhead** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:37 pm

Well.. I know maybe its early to talk about robbie's future.. but I think Rafa gave a hint today about his future at the club

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BENITEZ: FOWLER BEST FINISHER WE HAVE
Jimmy Rice 26 February 2007
Rafa Benitez hailed Robbie Fowler as the best finisher at the club following his brace in the 4-0 win over Sheffield United.
The striker netted two first-half penalties to take his tally for the season to seven.

Benitez said: "He's a really good finisher, still the best we have, and I sometimes think that if we could have Bellamy running at defenders and carrying the ball 20 yards, then turning into Fowler with the goal in sight, it would be perfect.

"If you create chances for him, you know you can rely on his finishing and that is a very important quality to have.

"We have four very good strikers, all with different skills. You can make the most of Crouch's aerial ability, Kuyt works hard between the lines and Bellamy runs behind defences.

"Robbie operates in and around the box and, of course, he snaps up chances.

"We can talk about Robbie's future at a later date, but if he scores every time he plays over the next few months, you never know.

"You need a regular supply of goals from someone and if Robbie is not with us next season we will have to look for another like him. It will not be easy, but it is clear we would need someone with the same qualities."

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Well.. what are your thoughts? will he or not be given a new contract?

I think with Voronin coming to anfield, one of our strikers will have to go and to see Fowler leave would be indeed really sad.

I think we really need him to stay, and as Rafa said he is the best finisher in the squad and his match to goal ratio is fantastic! Maybe he cant play the full ninty minutes but he still can produce the goals we are craving for and add more attacking composure. so I'm hopeful for Rafa to give him more games and give him a new contract.

by **Smeg** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:13 pm

7 in 7 starts, scored 2 and set one up on saturday. He still has the best finish, awareness and possession skills of all our strikers.

But kewell7 still reckons hes a blert im guessing

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:20 pm

He would need more opportunities than he has been getting to play and lots more goals to get a new contract. I honestly don't think he has a chance. Rafa will move on, especially as he now has money to spend. Great player though Robbie was hes not the same threat now, and I wouldn't want to see him becoming another Zenden, someone who we hope wont get a game. I would love to see him leave on a high though, maybe scoring the winner in the CL final.

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:41 pm

s@int wrote:He would need more opportunities than he has been getting to play and lots more goals to get a new contract. I honestly don't think he has a chance. Rafa will move on, especially as he now has money to spend. Great player though Robbie was hes not the same threat now, and I wouldn't want to see him becoming another Zenden, someone who we hope wont get a game. I would love to see him leave on a high though, maybe scoring the winner in the CL final.

As much as it pains me to say it, I agree mate. Like many, I still think Robbie has the ability at this level and still think he offers something important to the team. The question is, though, how many chances is he realistically going to get in the coming season with this Ukrainian coming in and with Rafa itching to spend the Yanks' money?

He rarely makes the bench as it is when the other 3 strikers are fit so he's not even available to come on to change a game with that clinical finishing of his. Sadly, the writing's on the wall. Rafa rates him, but only to a point and will not bow to sentiment to give Robbie more minutes. If he's struggling to make the bench under Rafa now--and he is--then it'll be the end of the road this season. It'll be a sad, sad day when Robbie leaves the club again and, unfortunately, I think that day is on the horizon. :down:

by **Marianne** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:43 pm

ROBBIE FOWLER WAS AT OUR UNI BAR ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOR A PRIVATE FUNCTION!!! (JOHN MOORES UNI, AIGBURTH)!!!!

by **RUSHIE#9** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:00 pm

If we really want to bring the title back to Anfield then there can't really be any room for sentimentality and that would be the real reason for keeping Robbie here past the end of this season. He proved on Saturday that he can still put the ball away and still put the ball in the right places to allow others to score but to stand up to the rigours of a full premiership season is just too big an ask I believe. It's obvious with the signing of Voronin one striker is going and with all of that money supposedly burning a hole in Rafa's pocket we may see a 2nd striker arrive in the summer. Naturally all of this casts further doubt over Robbie's future and maybe one of the other strikers as well.
Overall I think the final few months of this season are going to be Fowlers last few at Liverpool and hopefully he can sign off in a much more fitting way than he was allowed last time.

by **metalhead** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:08 pm

We can talk about Robbie's future at a later date, but if he scores every time he plays over the next few months, you never know.

ok.. I agree with most of you here, but I don't know I still have hope that he may end up signing a new contract.

I think Rafa's quotes in here means that he will be given more opportunities in the future to prove himself and if he can score (which im really confident he can because he is a wonderful goal poacher) then I'll be a 100% sure he will get a new contract.

so I'm going to keep my hopes up.

by **el_stinger** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:20 pm

I don't think that Robbie will necessarily leave the club if he is not offered an extension on his contract. I imagine that if this is really his last season, he would not want to finish his career at another club, and he will retire being a Liverpool player. I think that's the most graceful finish to his illustrious career. I believe Rafa might keep him in the backroom in some capacity, for morale, or even coaching the kids, but he will never leave the club. Robbie has a lot to give to LFC, and even if he isn't playing for us, he will defo be working for the cause.

by **peterc1992** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:20 pm

I agree,he is the best finisher we have and probably one of the best in the world.If he lost a few pounds he could still be class,but do we need him,really in all fairness if we played him against the likes of barca we would be hockeyed.We should get rid of him and bring in someone else,or maybe we could keep him but he will never be a regular again.Hes a legend and hes god but he nots good enough for liverpool standard now.

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:52 pm

I actually think that if two of our strikers suddenly got crocked, Robbie would come in and net a hatful between now and the end of the season.

Bottom line is that Rafa wants a different kind of all-round contribution, and with that in mind he's down the pecking order. And unless injuries mean he's suddenly starting, he's going to get little or no chance to impress.

In other words, Saturday may actually turn out to be Robbie's last start for the club. Pains me to say it, but with us only active in two competitions, I think we'll see Rafa choosing from his favourite 13 or 14 players most weeks. And Fowler's not amongst that group.

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:21 pm

Rafa did a great thing when he brought Robbie back to the club, he righted a wrong and if this is his last season with us then i hope they announce it before the seasons over so we can give him a heroes send-off.

by **Fowler_E7** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:31 am

ivor_the_injun wrote:I actually think that if two of our strikers suddenly got crocked, Robbie would come in and net a hatful between now and the end of the season.

Bottom line is that Rafa wants a different kind of all-round contribution, and with that in mind he's down the pecking order. And unless injuries mean he's suddenly starting, he's going to get little or no chance to impress.

In other words, Saturday may actually turn out to be Robbie's last start for the club. Pains me to say it, but with us only active in two competitions, I think we'll see Rafa choosing from his favourite 13 or 14 players most weeks. And Fowler's not amongst that group.

agree completly, i think Rafa rates Robbie as a goalscorer, but he dosnt use those types of strikers. Fowlers dosnt run around closing down players, his game is about attacking and scoring goals and creating. He dosnt know the art of defending. Thats obvioulsy not what rafa wants.

Personally i really beleive he can still score a ton of goals for this team, his scoring ratio proves that, and probably so does Rafa, but that isnt enough for Benitez i think, he wants hard work and defending from the front, something Robbie dosnt do.

by **Reg** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:19 am

Robbie has already taken his place alongside Rushie and Kenny as one of the greats but thats half the problem isnt it?

If the other strikers were as good as Rafa says they are (..........) we wouldnt need an ageing Robbie to prop them up would we? Hey, I dont mind keeping him for another 3 seasons - what an ambassador, but I'd rather leave the future of the club to a bunch of younger, hungrier Robbie Fowlers, Michael Own's and Ian Rush's.

by **The Manhattan Project** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:20 am

I would prefer him to stay at the club and train the youth players as strikers.

by **hello_red** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:45 am

i agree, he needs to join up as a coach at the academy. teaching the youngsters as soon as they get here the art of scoring!

robbie is the best artist around when it comes to scoring goals and if he can get a coaching job thats ace! you cant teach someone to be a great goal scorer but he can teach his technique, learning from robbie, his technique, would only benefit us in decades to come.

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