Do you think Fowler has played his last game?

[Molby]

especially with someone like Rafa in charge, I think that's it now, he simply won't entertain forwards with zero ability to run channels or consistently hold up the ball, unless finances allow for a tactical rethink about the way we shape up to play

 

he was okay for the first twenty but then his legs couldn't keep up with his brain

 

such a shame he didn't look after himself/Houllier treated him like a dog and f***ed up his career - chose your version according to your view of the world and level of intelligence

 

I have had it in for Robbie for years but the minute he came back it was all forgotten and I was really excited to see him on the pitch, and willing him to do well - such a shame that his career should end now when he could have gone on for another 3 years at least, like Dalglish or Beardsley, who looked after themselves properly

 

mirrors my own footie career actually

[Mike]

the shame is when you see his innate ability in the way he took his goal last night.

the tragedy is that that genius is not married to the body of an athlete.

[Hugh]

He's scored in most of the games he's played in this season. If anything I think he should be getting a run in the side.

[RafaShanks]

No, he hasn't played his last game for us.

 

He's proved time and time again, since he rejoined us that he is still a lethal finisher, even though his fitness is not up to scratch.

 

Perfect player to have on the bench when we need to get a goal.

 

Still our most clinical finisher for me, by a country mile.

[Knox_Harrington]

Think he may have made his last start unless we have some meaningless home game at the end of the season or a real injury crisis.

[muleskinner]

He's gone completely fitness wise, he won't start again barring injury IMO. Looked absolutely f***ed after an hour last night.

[Molby]

No, he hasn't played his last game for us.

 

He's proved time and time again, since he rejoined us that he is still a lethal finisher, even though his fitness is not up to scratch.

 

Perfect player to have on the bench when we need to get a goal.

 

Still our most clinical finisher for me, by a country mile.

 

 

that's an understandable view

 

but in that case why does he hardly ever even make the bench, especially given the fact that we miss chances for fun?

 

it's to do with how Rafa sets our stall out as much as Robbie's level of fitness vs his level of ability

 

just think of what the other three contribute in terms of build up play

[Guest Scot]

Not his last game, maybe but it's his last season I expect

[downunder]

I was always anti him coming back, thought he was past it, etc.

 

Then we sign and him and he did reasonably well last season, I thought maybe I was wrong and he can still do a job. Then this season he has disappointed again, I think we were wrong to give him a contract for this season. He can still finish but just can't get into the positions regularly enough to score.

[Guest Kev]

Not his last game, maybe but it's his last season I expect

 

I hope Robbie gets a run, he's by far and away our most clinical finisher. But I agree and think this will be his last season.

[gkmacca]

Hilarious. Pass badly, and he won't look great. Rewind years ago. Same thing. Give him a run out, get him sharp, get him decent service and he'll score. Will he get another season? Probably not. But he isn't the spent force some claim.

[slapnuts]

I hope Robbie gets a run, he's by far and away our most clinical finisher. But I agree and think this will be his last season.

 

 

I think Sami is, BOOM! his header last night

 

Crouchy would have missed that fecker.

 

Plus get that Paletta on the wing. He cant defend but he sure whips a mean cross in

[Hightown Phil]

He's scored in most of the games he's played in this season. If anything I think he should be getting a run in the side.

 

He proved last night though, why he isn't, shouldn't and won't.

[Cam]

The game is becoming more about athletism, pace & power - almost Basketball-like. Fowler was like a statue but he wasn't the only one. I looked at the bench, saw the two leading candidates to save us as Alonso & Crouch and thought "feck, they'd make the team slower". Give it 3 years and even Gerrard will be a dinosaur.

[Koller49]

Hilarious. Pass badly, and he won't look great. Rewind years ago. Same thing. Give him a run out, get him sharp, get him decent service and he'll score. Will he get another season? Probably not. But he isn't the spent force some claim.

 

I'd agree with that.

 

Hows he going to build fitness if he only plays one full competitive match every month and a bit?

 

Give him a run.

 

Goals to starts this season he's done better than most.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Koller49

[Bootle Buck]

The game is becoming more about athletism, pace & power - almost Basketball-like. Fowler was like a statue but he wasn't the only one. I looked at the bench, saw the two leading candidates to save us as Alonso & Crouch and thought "feck, they'd make the team slower". Give it 3 years and even Gerrard will be a dinosaur.

 

His job is to score goals not sprint all over the field. How many times lately have balls been delived into the box with Kuyt and Crouch nowhere near them. Robbie can still find the net in most games he plays. I would use him to come off the bench at least.

[Cobs]

He can still finish but just can't get into the positions regularly enough to score.

disagree with that.

 

He's clearly way short fitness-wise to do the sort of leg work around the pitch that you get from Kuyt/Bellamy but as well as scoring last night he made 2 fine little 5 yard runs in the box losing his marker only for Bellamy to fail to cut it back to him on both occasions. That's his game now, he's a goal poacher and whilst i don't see him starting many games cos he can't hack 90 minutes he's still a good option off the bench to have.

[Guest truered]

Not his last game, maybe but it's his last season I expect

Agreed Scot, but what a player he was eh

[Cam]

Yep. But what a player he should have been.

[Guest AnfieldGrass]

 

I hope Robbie gets a run, he's by far and away our most clinical finisher. But I agree and think this will be his last season.

 

You on the piss again Kev?

 

Fowler is one of the great finishers, but that is not enough to make up for the fact his body is past its use by date. He looked like an old man out there against the Arsenal young'uns. Sorry, but I can't see him starting another match, maybe off the bench as cover for an injury. We can and should do better in the summer. I'd rather have Owen return as he still has the spark and a lot to prove. Henry will be a red next season anyway, DIC will frk out for him and when we win the CL again and the a*** win f*** all he'll finally realise where he belongs.

[McBain]

I'd agree with that.

 

Hows he going to build fitness if he only plays one full competitive match every month and a bit?

 

Give him a run.

 

Goals to starts this season he's done better than most.

 

Fitness and match fitness aren't the same thing though. It wasn't that he didn't look sharp it was that he looked like he couldn't run more than 10 yards without wheezing. He's not been injured much this season which means he's been in constant training.

 

Given we're out of both cups I wouldn't be surprised if players like Robbie and Dudek moved on now and players like Guthrie and Peltier went out on loan. There's little need for them now

[Coyler]

He was a passenger after the first quarter of the match. It was pretty pathetic to look at.