Robert Bernard Fowler

[R A Softlad]

Didn't get a look in over Christmas, has he played his last game for Liverpool or is he injured or summat?

[Benitez]

he played yesterday

[Nerik]

He played for 5 mins plus injury-time yesterday. I expect to see him play the Lge Cup game and possibly come on as a sub in the FA Cup game.

[lawrie]

he came on as sub yesterday

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I know we have had this discussion many times, but why is middle name 'Bernard' mentioned ?

[Earl Hafler]

I know we have had this discussion many times, but why is middle name 'Bernard' mentioned ?

He was created by Richard Curtis ?

[jon_hall]

Didn't get a look in over Christmas, has he played his last game for Liverpool or is he injured or summat?

 

Bloody OOCers

[R A Softlad]

he played yesterday

 

I know but with 4 games in a week you'd expect him to play more than 5 of a possible 360 minutes... I hope he does play v Arsenal in one of the games and Watford.

[McBain]

Provided he's not after a move i think he'll stay till the summer. Cant see Rafa wanting to lessen his options at this stage

[G Richards]

A five minute hat-trick against Arsenal would be welcome, but those days seem to be behind us now.

 

Robbie will only get a few bits and bobs here and there now. League Cup and a few late sub appearances when the game is already won. I can't really see him having the hunger to play lower down, so I can honestly see him retiring in the summer. I hope I'm not writing him off too soon, but I think that will be the way of it.

[dorgie]

I'm amazed Newcastle haven't bid £10m for him yet.

[Bootle Buck]

You would have to think that Rafa doesn't really think he is worth playing from the start or coming on with many minutes to play in the league. Surely somewhere over the holiday period with four games and an injury to Bellamy he would have had more than 5 minutes.

[Guest Scot]

He's a backup player who'll get time when we don't have Kuyt, Crouch or Bellamy available/fit. He's a Scouse Pongo for now.

[Mike]

a ceremonial striker if you like

[Guest Scot]

a ceremonial striker if you like

 

 

Bring me my ermine!

[betterman]

A five minute hat-trick against Arsenal would be welcome, but those days seem to be behind us now.

 

Robbie will only get a few bits and bobs here and there now. League Cup and a few late sub appearances when the game is already won. I can't really see him having the hunger to play lower down, so I can honestly see him retiring in the summer. I hope I'm not writing him off too soon, but I think that will be the way of it.

 

Could well be. I wouldn't like to write him off either, but much as I'd love to see him come out and show us all what made him great if I see his name in the starting XI my heart will sink, he's just not up to it anymore, besides the bits and bobs you mentioned.

[Poolfrog]

He played for 5 mins plus injury-time yesterday. I expect to see him play the Lge Cup game and possibly come on as a sub in the FA Cup game.

If he makes the bench in the FA Cup game he'll only get 5 minutes if, like yesterday, we're 3 goals up. It's obvious he can't cut it and will not be given another contract

[Chili Palmer]

I'm amazed Newcastle haven't bid £10m for him yet.

 

Someone else has to make a bid of £250K first, then they swoop in with the £10m one. Clever people run that club ya' know!

Edited January 2, 2007 by Kieran

[Frosty Jack]

a ceremonial striker if you like

 

 

Some ceremonial strikers in action

[Guest levandier]

Interesting comments from Rafa in this article:

 

Comments on Fowler towards bottom

 

 

Benitez said it was important all his strikers continued to work to improve their game although for players like Robbie Fowler, a late substitute against Wanderers, goalscoring came a lot easier.

 

"He (Crouch) had a two other chances and it was a pity because the goalkeeper did well," said Benitez.

 

"You can do the same (work at finishing) with Robbie and maybe it is not necessary. Sometimes it is the talent of the players.

 

 

So if Rafa clearly recognizes that Robbie is a natural goalscorer (and has been mentioned, most LFC players interviewed on fc.tv would include him in their best 5), why isn't he getting more minutes???

[smicer07]

Because he's too fat and slow to get into the positions to finish? I dunno.

[Dule]

Because Fowlers overall contribution cannot match that of the other strikers.

 

Robbie is a great finisher, we all know that. But he just looks like he is a yard of pace all of this season.

[Coyler]

I wonder what the reactions from some of the locals would be on here if any other striker of ours was stubbornly overweight and off the pace and described by Jamie Carragher in an interview as being "the worst trainer at the club"?

 

"Taking the piss"? "Not treating the jersey with respect"? "Thinks he's made it now he's got his move to Liverpool"? "Neil Ruddock"?

[fred milne]

I wonder what the reactions from some of the locals would be on here if any other striker of ours was stubbornly overweight and off the pace and described by Jamie Carragher in an interview as being "the worst trainer at the club"?

His lack of condition is a joke. If he got himself in shape then at the very least he could offer us what Solksjaer offers Utd.

 

I'll be staggered if Rafa doesn't bin him off before the start of next season.

Edited January 5, 2007 by fred milne

[Poolfrog]

I wonder what the reactions from some of the locals would be on here if any other striker of ours was stubbornly overweight and off the pace and described by Jamie Carragher in an interview as being "the worst trainer at the club"?

 

"Taking the piss"? "Not treating the jersey with respect"? "Thinks he's made it now he's got his move to Liverpool"? "Neil Ruddock"?

You're 100% right. The excuse of his apologists is that boyhood Evertonian Fowler "loves the club" so basically his presence is all that is required. The fact that he appears uninterested and is clearly way, way past his best doesn't seem to matter. You might recall the laughable suggestion last year that he should have gone to the World Cup with England. It's a classic example of the Emperor's new clothes with Fowler I'm afraid.