Fowler to play today?
Submitted by tony on Sun, 2007-03-18 12:44.
After beating Barcelona in the Champions league, we have not had a game for 12 days, but in that time we have slipped to 4th in the league, and now need goals today to help us keep the pressure on Arsenal, so , with Kuyt admitting himself he is not on his best form, should Robbie Fowler start todays game?
No one needs to be told about what Fowler can do, everyone knows that if you give him a goalscoring chance, he will put it in.
He has not been in the squad for Liverpool's last two games, but with Crouch out injured with a broken nose, Liverpool have 3 strikers to choose from, so who should play?
Kuyt has scored 10 goals in 30 games this season, Bellamy has 9 in 27 games, Crouch has 12 in 23, and Fowler has 7 goals in 7 games. (all excluding sub appearances).
Fowler's league goals have all been penalties (3), but, given the opportunities we have wasted this season we need a goalscorer. Bellamy provides pace, Kuyt works non stop for the team, but we need the ball in the back of the net, and having beat Villa convincingly at Anfield earlier in the season , we need to go there and get the win after Arsenal beat them 1-0.
Fowler paired with Bellamy today could do the business, what do you think?
Would you sell KUYT....
Q.. to all reds fans, who visit this site. if you was manager of LFC, would you sell kuyt in the summer 07, for 10m. I would. spurs, newcastle wud be happy to pay 10m for kuyt. he works hard for the team and he doesn't look like he is going to score 20 goals a season. he lacks pace, ain't a fox in the box. can't play off the last defender. i think a club like newcastle wud suit him. i wud luv to see strikers like torres, villa, eto, bent, at the club next season.
kuyt
for 10mil iwould sell him tommorow hes 26/27 now too old to change he is a workhorse malbranqe is like him only faster we need a striker not a gloryfied midfielder villa eto yes and 2 wingers vincente and alves get rid of pennant and zenden iwant to hear that song again you/ll never beat the reds when we were the best now is the time rafa to make this happen we want a team that lives up to are name our history its in your hands
kuyt
for 10mil iwould sell him tommorow hes 26/27 now too old to change he is a workhorse malbranqe is like him only faster we need a striker not a gloryfied midfielder villa eto yes and 2 wingers vincente and alves get rid of pennant and zenden iwant to hear that song again you/ll never beat the reds when we were the best now is the time rafa to make this happen we want a team that lives up to are name our history its in your hands
Not just yet
well topscout I hear ya but he has only been here for one season and his main problem is that he drops too deep, which I suspect is Rafa's instructions to him!!
I wouldn't sell him just yet because he's a strong center forward and if he stays up front in the box he will cause defenses worries and get some goals!
I'd rather crouch went because for all his height he is useless in the air and has no real physical strength
Crouch..keep him or sell him?
Yes Tyron26, i see where your coming from regarding kuyt ie he is still settling in, getting use to the PL etc. i just can't see kuyt scoring 20+ goals a season that is needed to win the PL.
I would keep crouch, as long as he is happy coming off the bench. he would not be in my starting 11. crouch is great coming off the bench, with 20/30min left and ur chasing the game. if ur pass n move style of football ain't working, then put crouch on and go route 1.
crouch
i wouldn't sell Kuyt he is a good player and i can see him being completely dedicated to the club and the fans throughout the years(hopefully) that he is with us.
I'd sell Crouch because as tyron26 says, he has no physical strength and he has no pace whatsoever.he is the lazy footballer to be at Liverpool in a very long time.when he comes off the bench he is sluggish and when he is starting it's as though he feels that he doesn't even have to try
I'd sell Pennant as well, i'm all for giving new players a good chance to perform but his selfish style of playing frustrates me to no end.
Pennant was only bought
Pennant was only bought because Rafa needed someone in that position on the right. It was thought that with his PL experience and being an English player he would have no problem settling in and would be ready from the get go. The truth is Pennant is a ponce and has no fight in him, he goes missing in the big games when you need a player of his pace to get past full backs and it seems like he can't cross a ball unless he has masses if space to run into (Space which he should be creating himself, but isn't). Don't get me started on Crouch, I have a pain in my arse giving out about him. Its plain and simple in his case, HE HAS NO RIGHT WHAT SO EVER TO PLAY FOR OUR CLUB AND WEAR THAT GLORIOUS RED SHIRT!!! The other three in the top four are laughing at Liverpool right now, we have a better defence and midfield than the other teams yet were left lagging behind because we don't convert chances. Kuyt 73 shots 34 on target 9 goals. Bellamy 50 shots 33 on target 7 goals. Crouch 50 shots 30 on target 6 goals. FOWLER 9 shots 5 on target 3 goals. Bellamy and Fowler have the best scoring ratio so they should play and it will give any prospective LFC striker a kick up the arse and let them know that in order to play for LFC you'd better perform.
disagree
True words but I'm not feeling the harsh criticism that pennant comes in for!
I think a few fans didn't want him at the club before he even came what with his previous record and the like but you know what?
On his day that kid is a flyer and could be something special for LFC if he is developed right and encouraged to reach his potential.
We may never know but right now I don't think that everything the club could do to develop him is being done.
You read about Martin jol and how he manages Lennon and it turns out he has extra dribbling practice and even skill practice .. i wonder if Pennant gets that under the current regime??
As for Crouch ... I won't even waste my time!
Crouch lack the fear factor.
Watching John Carew creating some problem for lfc defend ,throught not directly trouble the lfc defend but his presence cause both Carra and Agger some problem .Our very own Crouch is a similar big centre forward but it seem this season he fail to cause create the fear factor as last season.
I will say if there is any striker need to head for the exit ,he should be the first .Lfc need not only hardworking striker but striker who can create fear and uncertain to opponent .
Bellamy have done a good job with his pacy and movement.Lfc need another striker not only to scored goals but create problem for opponent not a crouch who get knock off the ball easily and head straight at goalkeeper .It not time to say forgive him, he work very hard .This excuse is becoming very irrating and inpractical .We must remember soccer is a ruthless game.
Keep the squad together
I think it's pointless getting rid of Crouch or Pennant. If you do they have to be replaced with new players who take time to settle and learn the team's tactics.
What we need this summer is 3 signings that will walk straight into the first team. That means Crouch, Pennant and co.. are on our bench and they know what to do when they come off the bench because they're settled at the club and among their team-mates.
Benitez can't keep bringing in too many players every season and then use the excuse about time to settle. The squad we have now is settled and only needs 3 new TOP players. Otherwise he may as well admit the squad he has built over 3 years isn't good enough and put his own judgement in doubt. The team isn't quite good enough at the moment, but surely the squad doesn't need major change.
cash
I'm all for the introduction of 3 truly world class players but after reading an interview with the new owners it was suggested that they won't be spending massive money come the summer!
Now we on this site have put the minimum transfer budget this summer at around 50 mill which it would seem is far more than the owners are looking to spend. So we can forget Quasemara and Eto etc ..
The only way we can probably buy big is if we sell a lot of the dead wood that the squad contains i.e Zendens / crouch / aurllio etc.
The reason for the reduced transfer kitty as sighted by the new owners is the new stadium and youth development, fair enough!!
But I think we've been down this road before in that Rafa hasn't always been the best bargain hunter ! Further more with the fantastic academy's of Chelski / assnil / manure ... how does he intend to poach the worlds top young footy stars with, lets face it, a 1 year old project??
I've a feeling Benitez might
I've a feeling Benitez might hit the road to Madrid if he isn't given enough transfer cash for big signings. He seems frustrated by the lack of cash. Surely the Americans will spend big in their first season at least? I wouldn't be surprised if Moores & Parry made another mistake there; the last double act we seen was Evans/Houllier and these things always start out rosy but end bitter.
It was also very strange the two Americans didn't even meet Benitez after the Barcelona game; I think this annoyed him. Although he flirts with Real Madrid a bit too much for my liking. I noticed an article by Ian Rush saying as much. He was the one telling Gerrard to end speculation all the time yet he doesn't seem to tell Real Madrid firmly enough he ain't interested. There's always talks behind the scenes it seems between his agent and Madrid.
I wouldn't be too distraught if he left for Madrid to be honest; as long as we got a serious manager like Marcello Lippi. I still have faith in Benitez getting very close to a title; but it's a thin faith.
flirty
my sentiments exactly!!
Rafa has his youngsters at the club and in fact he's introduce a good few of them! Out of common courtesy he needs to put his cards on the table and say 'NO or I'm considering the option' because it's a decision that will affect many others!
well 1Red1Pool it would seem that the take over itself used up a hell of a lot of their funds and the main focus of G&H is stadium development!
Possibly the Gafa would have 20-30mill and do you know why that wouldn't surprise me ?? Rick Parry is still chief executive and the way in which the G&H deal was rushed through on the 12th our will always be open to speculation.
In parrys credit however he over the last few weeks has remained very realistic over transfer funds and stadium capacity in that he's stated 20 plus mill for the summer and that the stadium wouldn't increase to 80 000 capacity which is wide of the mark!
£100 million to spend in the summer 07, then..........
rafa will stay and bring the PL trophy home to Anfield. rafa needs 100m to spend or he's off to Madrid. if he is given 20/30m to spend, plus the players he sells, he won't be here for next season. if the new owners want to keep rafa, bring success to the club, then they better release the funds so rafa can sign players like villa, eto, torress, alves, simao, andrade,bent, duff etc.
money
he wont get 100 mil 50 mil maybey plus the sale of crouch and afew others iam a fan of rafas and i want him to stay but we need a manager whos here for the long term he would be mad to leave and go to real madrid they are in decline and he wont get time there even if they give him aten year deal as soon as they get afew bad results he will be hounded his wife has told him this stay were your wanted rafa and were the best surppoters are buy simao alves and villa and be a winner
Cash Injection
I think we need more than 3 players that whats being touted about and finances need to be upped to about €100 million or even more. If we are to mount a serious challenge for the EPL next season(and thats a tried statement i've been saying for god knows how long), then we need players with class and quality, im talking about the likes of Villa, E'to, Kaka,even Bent or Anelka up front too.
But there also needs to be an exodus of players as well from the club, Crouch, who cant perform against the top teams, Zenden, a good squad player but lacks quality, Pennant who seems to be suffereing from a disease called "Kewellitis" an inability to perform on the pitch while languishing a fat pay packet!!!And dont get me started on Harry "Excuses" Kewell, hes had more injuries than i can care to remember, yeah he put in some good performances but he was just not consistent enough and now its time to offload him. There needs to be a serious clearout but progression of the club can only happen if we bring in the class and quality players that are needed to mount a serious challenge against Chelski and the Mancs next season. Also not forgetting Arsenal who i think will be the team to beat next season, after our sleep induced performance against Villa on Sunday, im not looking forward to the arrival of Arsenal at Anfield in our next league fixture.
Benitez
I've said before given this man's track record in the transfer market the new owners would be mad to give him a fiver to go shopping in Netto. Benitez has consistently said that if players do not want to come to Liverpool then he is not intrested. With the Real Madrid "comments/specualtion/rumours" it seems there is one rule for the players - another for the manager. I think he has been found wanting and he is starting to realise the situation. Already looking at options for his escape route in my opinion. You can buy everybody if the cash is there - but if you consistently select the wrong players, use the wrong tactics and only dream of European Glory - what`s the point.
5 live interview with hicks
Just listened to the interview, I think every Red needs to listen ....
Anyone for ..
Anyone for lionel Messi ??
Hasnt been mentioned with all the hype going on about the transfer budget ..just wondering what my fellow reds think about him?
pricey
Firstly morning all!
I haven't heard any noise about Lionel Messi but he would be a fantastic signing and would set the prem alight. But in all honesty I think Barca are planning for the future and after the Fabregas saga would rather pull out their teeth than loose the jewel in the Catalan crown!. Plus the huge transfer price they would slap on his head!
Transfer money & Rafa
My take on the current situation with Madrid etc. is that Rafa is using leverage(Madrid) to obtain some control over the direction the club is taking. Youth movement and buying new players for the current challenge for the league title.
He is a very smart man my friends don't forget the politics necessary in every club.
Now we will see how far from the tree the fruit falls!
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