Could it be a blesiing in disguise if Fowler doesn't

[HeWonItFromBrock]

get a new contract in the summer?

 

He could retire if he wanted having finished his career scoring goals at Liverpool and finishing his "unfinished business". We have had the chance to hail God again.

 

It could turn sour next year if there are other younger strikers who are bank on form and scoring goals, and Fowler doesn't get a look in - he could become this year's Hamman with sightings less frequent that Lord Lucan.

[Cobs]

He's only just 31, dunno why he'd want to retire - he looks like he''s loving the game at the moment.

 

I think it'd be a mistake to let him go in the summer.

[Mike]

no harm in giving him a hamann style contract for a season +1

[Swipe]

He's only just 31, dunno why he'd want to retire - he looks like he''s loving the game at the moment.

 

I think it'd be a mistake to let him go in the summer.

 

I agree. He could simply take Nando's place in the squad, and he'd cost nowt.

[AE]

no harm in giving him a hamann style contract for a season +1

 

Until we are 1-0 down at home with Robbie on the bench and the crowd boo Rafa's decision to bring on Kewell / Owen / another....

[Falconhoof]

Don't think there's any doubt at all that he'll be offered a contract.

Should be a 12 month contract at his age and fitness record.

[Mike]

cisses place surely

 

were getting two wingers in summer i imagine + a striker with pace who can actually play the game

[cymrococh]

Why do people keep talking about Owen as if he's nailed on? Absolute delusion.

[Swipe]

cisses place surely

 

were getting two wingers in summer i imagine + a striker with pace who can actually play the game

 

He's more like Morientes though.

 

Keep Robbie, and get two more strikers i reckon

[cymrococh]

i'll give into Carusos sick desires he's been emailing with for the past 2 years if Owen signs.

Michael Owen come on down!

[genghis]

 

However, I'll be more livid than a Cobra in a shredder if Robbie doesn't get a contract but either of those two are still here.

 

LMFAO

[smokescreen]

Well in theory just say that Rafa has his eye on a particular striker and wants to sign them. But he needs to reduce the wage bill first. He tries to offload Cisse and can't. He tries to offload Morientes and can't. He doesn't have to offer Robbie a new deal which while it may be smallest saving would still be a saving and reduce the bill. He would then be free to get this new striker in. This may not benefit the club as much as say getting rid of one of the other two, but could still benefit the club if you know what I mean.

 

Basically, I'm just pointing out that in theory Robbie is the easiest striker to get rid of this summer from a practical point of view because we don't have to find a new home for him - the onus is on Robbie. With the other two, the onus would be on us.

See my post above - we save on his wages. Might not be as big a saving as getting rid of the others but it would be a saving all the same. If you can't get rid of the other two then cuts are going to have to be made somewhere is all.

 

Fair enough, but I would be surprised if we couldnt get rid of both Cisse and Nando if we wanted to. We'd have to take a loss sure, but their wages are also bound to be higher than Robbies, so...

[G Richards]

Fowler should stay as he offers a low cost goal threat. We need 4 strikers, and there is a very strong case for keeping Robbie as one of the four. Crouch should probably stay too, and 2 new strikers brought in to replace Cisse/Mori. We'll take a big loss on the last two, but that's what we'll have to do to progress as we need.

 

I hope we can sign Aguero and one of Torres/Kuyt. I don't know how feasible that would be, but I'd be very happy if we could.

[jimmylibel]

Fair enough, but I would be surprised if we couldnt get rid of both Cisse and Nando if we wanted to. We'd have to take a loss sure, but their wages are also bound to be higher than Robbies, so...

 

Believe it or not that's why I think they'll be more difficult to offload - we will probably have to subsidise their wages. Which may not present much of a saving. Which might mean we'd be better off keeping them.

 

This is very, very much just a 'what if' as I was saying but it's not implausible. It's the same reason we haven't been able to get rid of Cheyrou as of yet.

[realtarragona]

I'm not sure we do need four out and out strikers. Especially if you consider the fact that the likes of Kewell and Gerrard will almost certainly play off a striker next season more often, because of Gonzalez and the impact of Sissoko. Not sure how you could do that and keep all your strikers happy.

 

Anyway, I thought it was nailed on that Fowler would sign a new contract but after those comments by Rafa, I'm not quite as confident. Maybe he'll sign one main striker and only keep Fowler if his other targets are too expensive.

[Cobs]

Believe it or not that's why I think they'll be more difficult to offload - we will probably have to subsidise their wages. Which may not present much of a saving. Which might mean we'd be better off keeping them.

 

This is very, very much just a 'what if' as I was saying but it's not implausible. It's the same reason we haven't been able to get rid of Cheyrou as of yet.

we're a football club, we wont be better off by selling better players than we're keeping

[jimmylibel]

we're a football club, we wont be better off by selling better players than we're keeping

 

I only meant financially, financially better off. As I already explained it COULD be the case that we need to make room on the wage bill to bring in new players this summer and we might not make much of a saving by subsidising Cisse or Moro's wages elsewhere. That's all.

 

Personally I want Cisse and Moro gone in the summer as I think we need better options. I'm in two minds about Robbie staying at the moment.