Mr Fowler

[Shaggy]

exactly.

best starts/goals ratio of all our strikers

6 starts 5 goals. - Fowler
18 starts 10 goals - Crouch
20 starts 6 goals - Bellamy
22 starts 8 goals - Kuyt

Interesting stats. Bellamy's stats are as ****e as I'd expected, Kuyt's worse than I expected, Crouch's as good as I'd expected. As for Fowler, it's a good record but he's only really played in games against piss poor opposition, or dead rubbers.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

I am pretty sure the other 3 strikers have had their fair share of piss poor oppositions to play against as well.

Interesting stats. Bellamy's stats are as ****e as I'd expected, Kuyt's worse than I expected, Crouch's as good as I'd expected. As for Fowler, it's a good record but he's only really played in games against piss poor opposition, or dead rubbers.

[Shaggy]

I am pretty sure the other 3 strikers have had their fair share of piss poor oppositions to play against as well.

Eh? The point is Fowler has ONLY played against crap opposition and/or in League Cup (i.e reserve) games or dead CL rubbers. The others have all played in important Prem and European games against stiff opposition.

Those stats reveal what I maintain - Crouch, sadly, is still our best striker.

[Taffy]

Solskjaer can run though Taffy mate - Robbie is so unfit it's untrue. Did I once hear/read that his ankles were in such a bad way that they're the equivalent of a 60 year olds?

True.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

The point is, he did what a striker is suppose to do when he is called upon. He wasnt given much chances to play against better quality oppositions, was he? If you argue about the quality of the oppositions he faced, then you also have to take into account the quality of the teammates he has to play alongside when he is chosen to start.

[Shaggy]

The point is, he did what a striker is suppose to do when he is called upon. He wasnt given much chances to play against better quality oppositions, was he? If you argue about the quality of the oppositions he faced, then you also have to take into account the quality of the teammates he has to play alongside when he is chosen to start.

Fair point....ish.

I'm just amazed people think he should start. The bloke can't run and offers us nothing other than the ability to stick the ball in the net - you may laugh, but Benitez, as we know, wants more than that from his strikers. For much of the game the other night it was like playing with 10 men with Fowler up front.

It kills me saying all this cos he's a footballing hero of mine.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

I agree. He probably couldnt start every game week in week out. But he would be a useful option we can have on the bench at the very least.
The only chance of that happening now is if any of the other 3 strikers is out injured. Or....Rafa could try to copy Sheff Utd's Warnock style of not naming a substitute goalie so he can put another attacking option on the bench. He is a c*** alright but it is a good idea, how often is the sub goalie ever called upon, really.

Fair point....ish.

I'm just amazed people think he should start. The bloke can't run and offers us nothing other than the ability to stick the ball in the net - you may laugh, but Benitez, as we know, wants more than that from his strikers. For much of the game the other night it was like playing with 10 men with Fowler up front.

It kills me saying all this cos he's a footballing hero of mine.

[carheex]

I agree. He probably couldnt start every game week in week out. But he would be a useful option we can have on the bench at the very least.
The only chance of that happening now is if any of the other 3 strikers is out injured. Or....Rafa could try to copy Sheff Utd's Warnock style of not naming a substitute goalie so he can put another attacking option on the bench. He is a c*** alright but it is a good idea, how often is the sub goalie ever called upon, really.

maybe this is why we're after jagielka???

[glynner]

For me, Fowler should be useful coming from the bench. He's got the legs to at least play part of a game, and I'd rather see him come on if we are in need of a goal.