Fowler joining Cardiff

[Red_Polo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6281850.stm

Fowler agrees to sign for Cardiff

Robbie Fowler has agreed to join Cardiff on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old striker was released by Liverpool at the end of last season and has rejected moves to Leicester City and Sydney FC in Australia's A-League.

Fowler will be re-united with Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, who was in charge at Leeds when he signed from Liverpool for £11m in November 2001.

He is expected to be officially unveiled at a news conference in Cardiff early next week.

Sydney FC had hoped to lure Fowler, and chief executive George Perry said: "We're bitterly disappointed but we're satisfied we did everything we could to persuade Robbie to come.

"Robbie was tremendously impressed by what he saw in Sydney but he's chosen to go elsewhere."

Fowler travelled to Sydney for talks and admitted he had been hugely impressed with the set-up.

The former England striker's representative George Scott said: "He was incredibly impressed with them and the city. The only thing against them is that Robbie is a Premiership player and he is used to Premiership money.

"The Premiership is unique in terms of the crazy money it generates and there is nothing in the world that replicates it, not even Spain. That money is well beyond Sydney and the Australian league and we know that.

"It is really a battle between money and quality of life and believe me, quality of life counts for a lot of money. All the money in the world is not going to buy your family's happiness."

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale was quoted on Liverpool's website as saying: "We have offered an attractive package and are hopeful Robbie will decide to come.

"Obviously I know Robbie from his days at Leeds and he's an outstanding finisher and outstanding footballer."

Fowler made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 1993, scoring 171 goals in 330 games before joining Leeds for £11m in 2001 and then Manchester City for £6m in 2003.

Fowler returned for a second spell at Anfield in January 2006, although his starting appearances were limited.

[Marky]

Good luck at your new club Robbie.

[nebbers]

Great stuff. He can tap up Aaron Ramsey while he's there.

Fowler, Sinclair, new stadium it's like Christmas on the bob bank.

[ineednewfootwear]

delighted for him, he's a liverpool legend and always will be.

what's the bet's we draw cardiff in one of the cups this year!!

[Shaggy]

Kevin Ratcliffe on Fowler's move

Former Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6909944.stm

Robbie Fowler's arrival at Ninian Park is a major coup for Dave Jones and Cardiff City.

Fowler might have to adjust a little bit to the pace and style of play in the Championship, but I think the move will suit him.

I certainly enjoyed my time with Cardiff when I joined them from Everton back in 1993. I maybe knew a bit more about the club than Fowler does, but I can't see him having any problems settling in.



Robbie Fowler
He's the wrong side of 30 now so Cardiff have to play to his strengths

The fans will certainly give him a great welcome because his record speaks for itself - and he's still a fantastic finisher, there is no doubt about that.

I know he's lost that little bit of sharpness, but he's still got that Premiership quality.

For me, he's one of the best finishers the British game has seen over the last 10 to 15 years.

He's reached a stage in his career now where I think he was looking to step down a division, but it was important for him to join a club with potential and looking to go places.

And although Cardiff have put a great financial package to get him, I don't think money is the reason he's coming to Ninian Park.

Obviously he's talked to the people in charge at Cardiff and he's liked what he's seen and what he's heard.

Cardiff have been looking to replace Michael Chopra after selling him to Sunderland, but I don't think Fowler will fill the same role.

He's a totally different player to Chopra. He's more of a natural goalscorer and he's done it at the top level.

Chopra is still unproven at that level, although he could yet become a great player in the Premiership.

But with Robbie you're getting a proven goalscorer.

He's the wrong side of 30 now so Cardiff have to play to his strengths. They need him inside the box, that's where he'll score the goals.

There is a danger for strikers in their 30s to drop deeper and deeper instead of leading the line.

He needs to be on the shoulder of the last defender. If he's not, then he hasn't got the pace to get himself into the box to hurt the opposition.

Cardiff are also still being strongly linked with a move for Francis Jeffers, and he could be more of a straight replacement for Chopra.

He's a little bit more lively than Robbie but not as prolific as a goalscorer. He will get you goals but he's been dogged by injuries over the last few years.

I think he still hasn't proved himself at the top level. He's got the potential but he hasn't yet fulfilled it.

[Marky]

I hope Cardiff are on the box a fair few times this season so we can keep taps on how Robbie gets on..
Shame Chopra has left them, Fowler would have been the perfect foil for him and vice-versa.

[Boogs]

Robbie mugs off Neville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyIa2O7msqo

Oh to have a young Robbie playing for us now..

[Crazy-Horse]

At the Wellington Phoenix versus Sydney FC Game in Wellington this afternoon. As the visitors came onto the pitch, the chant started "Robbie's gone to Cardiff!".

Sydney needed him as well, going down 0-3 in this pre-season game.

[kurtangle01]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2120787.ece

Ridsdale's up to his old tricks. He'll bankrupt Cardiff next. £25,000 a week and a luxury house.

[Shaggy]

****ing joke. Will Ridsdale never learn?

[kurtangle01]

****ing joke. Will Ridsdale never learn?

I think he just an arsehole who'll never learn. I still can't believe Robbie's signed to play for one of Ridsdales clubs again.

[Shaggy]

He shouldn't be allowed to have anything to do with football clubs after what he did to Leeds. I hate Leeds and I laugh at them floundering in 'League One', but you have to feel just a teeny bit sorry for them. Not much, but a bit. He ****ed them over good and proper with his unrivalled ineptitude and 'living the dream' bollocks. He's a fantasist.

[kurtangle01]

He shouldn't be allowed to have anything to do with football clubs after what he did to Leeds. I hate Leeds and I laugh at them floundering in 'League One', but you have to feel just a teeny bit sorry for them. Not much, but a bit. He ****ed them over good and proper with his unrivalled ineptitude and 'living the dream' bollocks. He's a fantasist.

Spot on, mate. I work with a Leeds fan and enjoy nothing more than ripping the ****e out of him and their current plight after the years of abuse I used to get off him. I do feel a bit sorry for them because that guy well and truely shafted them.

Living the dream? WTF did they win under his regime?

He doesn't look like he's learned either. I love Robbie but £25 grand a week and a luxury house for him is to much at this stage of his career. Especially for a Championship club.

[Taffy]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle2120787.ece

Ridsdale's up to his old tricks. He'll bankrupt Cardiff next. £25,000 a week and a luxury house.

That's been laughted at by Dave Jones the other day! Total boll0x apparently.

[Rocket]

just spoken to a few Cardiff fans in work, its not going down all that well.

i'm far more excited than they are.