Just some questions about Fowler.

[Rushian]

I just think that Ged didn't rate him, made it obvious to Robbie and Robbie, as a proud lad, took it badly. Did Ged treat Robbie badly? IMO, yes, he did. Did Thommo? Regrettably, tes. As Houllier's "stooge", he fell into treating Fowler badly as well. By then, they'd lost the pulse of the club and it's fans, and Robbie was a victim of this.

 

Fowler's attitude was dreadful long before he left the club. Houllier/Thompson didn't "lose the pulse of the club" then - it was another year before the cracks started to appear.

[hideNseek]

Not bothered anymore tbh. Wanted GED gone long before he finally did and it's all worked out well for Liverpool FC, Robbie and GED.

[realtarragona]

I thought he came across as quite bitter and tried to blame everyone else but himself.

[Guest redfromtubebar]

I`m a huge Robbie Fowler fan but I really wish I did not read his book.

 

There were some bits about Houllier in which I thought he was really stretching the truth. The stuff about Houllier trying to force Michael Owen out the club etc just doesn't ring true. How Houllier was really unpopular and didn't know what he was doing and all that. It goes against statements made by both Carra and Gerrard where they both seem to have a lot of respect for their former boss.

 

One point that Robbie has made repeatedly is about how he was dropped after scoring a hat trick. Except he wasn't at all, he started the next match. I think it was a European game but cannot remember who the opposition were.

[aka Dus]

Not bothered anymore tbh. Wanted GED gone long before he finally did and it's all worked out well for Liverpool FC, Robbie and GED.

 

I agree with you 90%.

 

But all fans still think/hope that when players talk about people/colleagues in general terms its basically recycling dressing room tittle tattle. So they'll never get bored of it.

[Guest Jack Bauer]

I don't have much time for Houllier anymore, but I think Robbie came over a tad bitter since it was a time when it looked like we were on the up.

[John Barnes Testicles]

I'm about 100 pages in - 100 pages of apologizing for making money, that is.

[njr]

I'm about 100 pages in - 100 pages of apologizing for making money, that is.

 

It is a bit better than that, it was clear that Fowler was forced out. Houllier never had a clue about substitutes. Also some of his buys were awful, unlike Rafa when they are awful they are moved on.

 

As footballers autobiographies goes it wasn't bad.

[Guest Red Flame]

It's a poorly written book motivated by anger and revenge.

 

Fowler as an athlete was fast becoming a spent force when Houllier arrived. Robbie's attitude was also p*ss-poor and it meant there was no way back to the halcyon days once the juggernaut turned into the cul-de-sac.

 

The irony is that Houllier's fate was similar to Robbie's; a sad and steady decline into atrophy as he stubbornly tried to justify several calamitous decisions.

[njr]

It's a poorly written book motivated by anger and revenge.

 

Fowler as an athlete was fast becoming a spent force when Houllier arrived. Robbie's attitude was also p*ss-poor and it meant there was no way back to the halcyon days once the juggernaut turned into the cul-de-sac.

 

The irony is that Houllier's fate was similar to Robbie's; a sad and steady decline into atrophy as he stubbornly tried to justify several calamitous decisions.

 

Robbie has lost the pace he had, but still has the instincts. How old was Robbie when he left and his goal scoring record for Leeds wasn't poor, surely it was the managers duty to motivate him ?

 

Interesting that we have got him back on a new contract, and presumably will rely on him next year, if he is such a spent force.

[Nerik]

Rpbbie was to blame for a lot of what went on. I think that he did not take nicely to the new rules etc. that Houllier enforced. His criticism of Thommo is well OTT too. Yes Houllier and Thommo did not treat him ideally e.g. Gary Mac's SMS to Robbie Keane accidentally sent to Fowler, but Fowler's attitude was not good. WTF did he expect from GH if he was leaving insulting messages on his answer phone when Liverpool lost a game. He did the same with Hoddle in the England set up. Fowler was talented, still is. He just thought that a lot of the hard work was done and that he had proved himself under Evans and that he did not need what Houllier was imposing. He was wrong and whilst he did not admit it he still came close to resigning under GH in 2003 and jumped at the chance this year.

[Guest Red Flame]

Robbie has lost the pace he had, but still has the instincts. How old was Robbie when he left and his goal scoring record for Leeds wasn't poor, surely it was the managers duty to motivate him ?

 

Interesting that we have got him back on a new contract, and presumably will rely on him next year, if he is such a spent force.

Do you really think that if Liverpool had the money they would have looked twice at Fowler? You must have your head in the clouds. Happily for both Liverpool and Fowler share the same desperation. But it is a desperation. That's why he was bought at the tail end of last season.

 

I too have a romantic view of Fowler's ability. In my daydreams too he is still the phenomenal talent of years gone by. Truth is, he isn't. We are squeezing the last bits of toothpaste out of the tube.

 

It is NOT the solely the manager's job to motivate anyone. The main job lies with the player himself. Fowler's attitude had gone flabby long before his body started to follow suit. Thompson and Houllier rightly or wrongly (and it is a close call) decided that he was not the same player anymore and wanted him moved on.

 

Fowler's poor attitude continued at Leeds and Citeh because he had lost heart to add to the suffocating ennui that had taken root at Anfield several years before. The saving grace in Life for Fowler is that due to Liverpool's desperate circumstances of limited resources and a fast fading strike force with Morientes and Cisse, he has been handed a chance to put the things right that HE undid at Liverpool the first time round.

[anny road]

imo it's a crap book

 

I have never underrstood why people have bad feelings towards Ged...he didnt fail on purpose, it didnt work out....but he gave his all and gave us some really good times, ultimately he fell short...

 

Why people say they dont have much time for him, or dont like him I c an never understand......is it becuase he didnt win us the title? weird? Do people not like Evans for the same reason?

 

strange

[richt71]

imo it's a crap book

 

I have never underrstood why people have bad feelings towards Ged...he didnt fail on purpose, it didnt work out....but he gave his all and gave us some really good times, ultimately he fell short...

 

Why people say they dont have much time for him, or dont like him I c an never understand......is it becuase he didnt win us the title? weird? Do people not like Evans for the same reason?

 

strange

 

..and nearly lost his life managing us!

[Earl Hafler]

The decision to sell Fowler was a very good one.

The decision to re-sign Fowler was a good one.

[Molby]

It is a bit better than that, it was clear that Fowler was forced out. Houllier never had a clue about substitutes. Also some of his buys were awful, unlike Rafa when they are awful they are moved on.

 

As footballers autobiographies goes it wasn't bad.

 

 

Ridiculous revisionism

 

 

aye, as daft as I've heard in a long time

 

 

whoever this idiot is, he needs to have a word with himself

[njr]

Ridiculous revisionism

 

As houllier's reign is finished, what else can you do but look back. As an idle thought maybe you could mention a game when Houllier's use of substitutes made a difference ? Houllier had a lot of good points, I was genuinely sad to see him go, but Rafa has shown so far what a true manager can do rather than a coach.

 

 

aye, as daft as I've heard in a long time

whoever this idiot is, he needs to have a word with himself

 

Obviously reading isn't your strong point - Houllier had many good attributes as a Manager, probably stopped a little too long, but with Rafa, it shows what a top manager can do.

[Will]

As an idle thought maybe you could mention a game when Houllier's use of substitutes made a difference ?

 

Leeds Unied in the FA Cup in 2001

[njr]

Leeds Unied in the FA Cup in 2001

 

Quick look at the game, Fowler rebounded off the post - he had been on all the time. Barmby puts in the rebound hardly inspirational. Second goal Emile Heskey who had started.

[Kahnee]

One point that Robbie has made repeatedly is about how he was dropped after scoring a hat trick. Except he wasn't at all, he started the next match. I think it was a European game but cannot remember who the opposition were.

 

Scored three against Leicester, wasn't in the squad to face Boavista

[Will]

Scored three against Leicester, wasn't in the squad to face Boavista

 

 

He played the full 90 against Boavista

[Kahnee]

 

He played the full 90 against Boavista

 

You're quite right - I misread the team sheet on the Offal

 

As you where...

[Extraordinary Swindle]

There were some bits about Houllier in which I thought he was really stretching the truth. The stuff about Houllier trying to force Michael Owen out the club etc just doesn't ring true.

Chris Bascombe has said that Houllier was trying to do the same thing to Owen as had been done to Fowler in terms of only wanting to see bad press for the player. That's when Bascombe started to turn against Houllier.

[jariiiiiiiiiise]

Robbie has lost the pace he had, but still has the instincts. How old was Robbie when he left and his goal scoring record for Leeds wasn't poor, surely it was the managers duty to motivate him ?

 

Interesting that we have got him back on a new contract, and presumably will rely on him next year, if he is such a spent force.

robbies scoring record at leeds was poor when you take into account he scored 5 goals in one game

[Cacofonix the Bard]

Have to say I did think substitutions was one of the main areas where you could criticise GH for most of his reign. Not saying he didn't make some very astute subs from time to time, however I just never felt like he was able to change the pattern of play around in the way Rafa is.

 

I agree with that. Often seemed to make his moves 10 minute too late didn't he?

Edited July 3, 2006 by Aritro