Benitez hints at Fowler exit

[Marky]

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has suggested that Robbie Fowler's age could prevent him being offered a permanent deal at Anfield.

Fowler only has a contract until the end of the season with the Reds but his performances have been deserving of a longer contract.

But at 31, Benitez is hinting that Fowler does not offer the pace or stamina that Liverpool need as a foil for Peter Crouch.

"We are really happy with Robbie and he is working really hard, but you need to know exactly how many top-class strikers you need to win trophies or if Robbie is that type of top-class striker," said Benitez.

"There is no doubt that Robbie is a top-class player, but you also need qualities in the team like pace and stamina if you want to win trophies. If you have a player like Robbie then you know what his qualities are, but you need to know what his performances will be like all season.

"It is not easy to find better players than Robbie. And it is difficult to find anyone with the passion he has for this club.

"But maybe you could find three top-class strikers who are 23 years of age and can score goals and have pace, and then you have to think. I have been talking to Robbie and we are not in a hurry, and he knows why. He knows he needs to improve and in which areas."

[Eth]

Rafa has handed Robbie his dream move home and it really is up to him to prove that he can stay - no passengers.

[carrsim]

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has suggested that Robbie Fowler's age could prevent him being offered a permanent deal at Anfield.

Fowler only has a contract until the end of the season with the Reds but his performances have been deserving of a longer contract.

But at 31, Benitez is hinting that Fowler does not offer the pace or stamina that Liverpool need as a foil for Peter Crouch.

"We are really happy with Robbie and he is working really hard, but you need to know exactly how many top-class strikers you need to win trophies or if Robbie is that type of top-class striker," said Benitez.

"There is no doubt that Robbie is a top-class player, but you also need qualities in the team like pace and stamina if you want to win trophies. If you have a player like Robbie then you know what his qualities are, but you need to know what his performances will be like all season.

"It is not easy to find better players than Robbie. And it is difficult to find anyone with the passion he has for this club.

"But maybe you could find three top-class strikers who are 23 years of age and can score goals and have pace, and then you have to think. I have been talking to Robbie and we are not in a hurry, and he knows why. He knows he needs to improve and in which areas."

unless he takes on some kind of coaching role i'd be amazed if robbie was with us for 07/08- especially if the takeover goes through by the summer window

the only reason he's still in my FM07 game until 2009 is cause he only wanted 10k a week and is a good captain of the stiffs.

[Guest]

Robbie has fitness problems and it's not his ability which has been questioned. For him to be firing on all cylinders he needs to have a run of 10-15 games in a row (or more). That's his usual self.

[Craig_H]

The different ways Rafa keeps trying to point out how 'good' Robbie is, is heartening. You can appreciate the manager's dillemma here.

Ultimately though, Fowler's not good enough and hasnt been for maybe 4 or 5 years.

Time to let him go, once this deal expires. I mean, what's the point?

He'd be better off dropping down a division and playing some football at a club where he can be more useful.

[Nic83]

He can and will be able to do some sort of job for us. He'll be happy to be fourth choice and his wages are hardly doing major damage to the club. Even if he were fifth choice it would be good to have him in case of a major injury dilemma.

[Red_Polo]

Looks less mobile this season than he did last season. Looks like this will be his final season, sad to see but at the same time am so glad he came back for his swansong.

[The_weatherman]

Erm....where did you see this, I´m sure this is from last season.....

[Red_Polo]

Yes I think it is

[Chris]

Erm....where did you see this, I´m sure this is from last season.....

Yep, its from about March or April I think. Defo old.

I remember the "23 year old pacey striker" comment which led to loads of people googling Torres, Bent etc to see if they were 23

[stringy]

April 06 its from.

Just came up on news now for some strange reason.

[REDSCOUSER]

news now are losing the plot. Re-hashed headlines ffs.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Rafa has handed Robbie his dream move home and it really is up to him to prove that he can stay - no passengers.

Id agree

[Morph]

In any case he's good for morale around the locker room and keeps the spirits up, so it depends how much Rafa wants to spend on keeping morale up basically.