Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by _AXL_

would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the memories he has brought to me ... his re-signing which he declared that it is christmas for him everyday and he wouldnt mind playing for pool even if he did not get paid ...

LFC is scheduled to do pre-season in HK in Jul ... just a pity that Fowler wouldn't be around by then. In any case, I'd be flying to HK to party with the boys.

REDS TO PLAY IN ASIA TROPHY
Paul Eaton 10 May 2007

Liverpool have announced plans to take part in this summer's Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong as part of their pre-season preparations.
The Reds will take on the Hong Kong FA Cup winners on July 24 and then either Portsmouth or Fulham on July 27.

"We know that we have a lot of fans in Hong Kong and are looking forward to playing in front of them again," said boss Rafael Benitez.

"I'm sure they will give us wonderful support and we will do our best to win the Barclays Asia Trophy for them."

The games will be played in the 40,000 Hong Kong Stadium and all matches will be screened live by SKY Sports.

The full schedule of games is as follows:

July 24 2007

Portsmouth v Fulham 6pm (11am UK time)
Liverpool v Hong Kong FA Cup winners 8.15pm (1.15pm UK time)

July 27 2007

3rd/4th place play off 6pm (11am UK time)
Final 8.15pm (1.15pm UK time)

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The Barclays Premiership has a fantastic following across East Asia, and nowhere more so than in Hong Kong. This is a great opportunity for those fans who follow our competition week in week out to experience what a Barclays Premiership game is like in the flesh.

"We have three fantastic clubs who will be putting out strong teams and aiming to win this increasingly prestigious trophy, and I am sure the winners of the Hong Kong FA Cup will be determined to compete."

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by Cum_Luver

feel the same here.
it will be a great n fantastic move, to reture the 23 number as in american sports for a legend.

That's all American bullshit ... another way to make sure t-shirts continue to get sold after that particular player has left the scene.
Just think about it, Fowler won't be the one player in LFC (just think Gerrard, Carra, Hyypia, etc) who deserved to have their numbers retired ... so, mathematically, how soon would we be out of numbers for new players to wear on their back??

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by rahl

There's a lot of politics at the youth set up it seems. Heighway had a go at Houllier a while back (whom he called "strange" - not that I would violently agree with that) and he's come and lashed at Rafa taking over when he himself left. Resigned or forced out?

I do think the youth squads need a shakeup in terms of producing the goods - it's not impossible to produce good defenders for instance. Perhaps Rafa will change the policy at that level, remains to be seen. Hopefully we can see results in a season or two.

Heighway has been a great servant to the club, just like Fowler ... as the youth team coach for the last 20 years, he has indeed brought up great local players including Gerrard, Carra, Fowler, Owen, etc. But like you said, all good things also have to come to an end, some time or another.
As for Benitez to actually wanna be actively involved in youth policy matters ... where results are not instantaneous & actually requires years before they get upgraded to the first team, I see that as a pledge from him that he wants to remain at the helm of the LFC footballing set-up for a very very long time to come. That's a good sign ... & when EPL #19 gets pocketed, I'm sure we're gonna continue bagging them titles for decades to come.

[KLKOOL]

Originally Posted by KingEros

LFC is scheduled to do pre-season in HK in Jul ... just a pity that Fowler wouldn't be around by then. In any case, I'd be flying to HK to party with the boys.

Damn... almmost missed that. Thanks for the info. I guess I will be going to

[adamking80]

Originally Posted by KLKOOL

Nope... taking players from other EPL clubs would not be the correct strategy. We need players better than what we, and our competitors have. Buying these players will only serve as backup for our current players, is Benni Maccarthy better than the strikers we have ??? Nope. How about Gamst Pederson ??? Nope. Are they better than Drogba, Ronaldo, Essien, Henry, Rooney, etc ??? Nope.

i'm not sure about benni... he is already past his prime in my humble opinion... most can get another 1-2 good season out of him...

but bro, you sure gamst pederson not better than our mark 'speedy'-only gonzalez or aurelio?!? he excites me the way kewell does in his leeds days... plus his crosses are almost beckham-ish... e.g. the cross he made to maccarthy for the goal against blackburn few days ago... pure class... can dribble plus deadly at free-kicks... and if you do notice, he tracks back too... good for pool if he and kewell slogs it out for a spot on left midfield...

[rahl]

Originally Posted by KLKOOL

Nope... taking players from other EPL clubs would not be the correct strategy. We need players better than what we, and our competitors have. Buying these players will only serve as backup for our current players, is Benni Maccarthy better than the strikers we have ??? Nope. How about Gamst Pederson ??? Nope. Are they better than Drogba, Ronaldo, Essien, Henry, Rooney, etc ??? Nope.

What a brilliant argument.

I for one would go one further than bro AXL and take players from the championship sides in England or lower divisions in Spain or Brazil if they are good enough. In the meantime, you can hang out $30 million for a Shevchenko or Rooney.

[rahl]

Originally Posted by KingEros

As for Benitez to actually wanna be actively involved in youth policy matters ... where results are not instantaneous & actually requires years before they get upgraded to the first team, I see that as a pledge from him that he wants to remain at the helm of the LFC footballing set-up for a very very long time to come. That's a good sign ... & when EPL #19 gets pocketed, I'm sure we're gonna continue bagging them titles for decades to come.

It seems the old boys are being edged out and Heighway is yet another. Lee is gone and Thompson long before him.

Well, another consequence of moving forward with the modern game...

From the official site, seems like Ablett (Reserve Team Manager) is the only former player left. Is Kenny a director or something? The site doesn't say it (everytime I look for something serious on the site, I realise even more how piss it is).

Rafael Benitez - Manager
Pako Ayestaran - Assistant Manager
Alex Miller - First Team Coach
Gary Ablett - Reserve Team Manager
Hughie McAuley - Reserve Team Coach
Jose Ochotorena - Goalkeeping Coach
Frank McParland - Joint Chief Scout
Eduardo Macia - Joint Chief Scout
Mark Waller - Club Doctor
Rob Price - Senior Physiotherapist
Louise Fawcett - Physiotherapist
Chris Morgan - Physiotherapist
Victor Salinas - Physiotherapist
Antonio Gomez - Fitness Coach
Paul Small - Masseur
Graham Carter - Kit Manager
John Wright - Kit Man
Dave McDonough - Technical Analyst

[KLKOOL]

Originally Posted by adamking80

but bro, you sure gamst pederson not better than our mark 'speedy'-only gonzalez or aurelio?!? ...

I am quite sure I would rather promote someone from our academy rather than poach from Blackburn.

An above average player in a average team always looks good. When a big club buys them and plays them, they seldom look so good anymore. A certain evershit player bought by Real to replace Makelele come to mind.

Most of our backup players would find an immediate guarateed first team foot ball in Blackburn.

[KLKOOL]

Originally Posted by rahl

What a brilliant argument.

I for one would go one further than bro AXL and take players from the championship sides in England or lower divisions in Spain or Brazil if they are good enough. In the meantime, you can hang out $30 million for a Shevchenko or Rooney.

Yeah, most countries have good youth leagues as well. The latest signing by Rafa looks brilliant and well along these lines.

[MichaelHui]

Originally Posted by KingEros

Well, quoting Benitez ...

"He is the captain of the Brazil under-20 side and won the Golden Boot in his country last year so we know he has quality and we also believe he has the mentality and the character you need to do well in England.
He can play as a holding midfielder but he can also get from box to box and so I am looking forward to seeing him score goals for Liverpool in the future."

it going to be interesting where Rafa is going to play him will we see any of this three leaving Anfield Mascherano, Xabi and Sissoko

[MichaelHui]

Originally Posted by adamking80

Robbie Fowler has confirmed today that his contract at Liverpool will not be extended beyond this season.



'I just hope I can finish with a few goals and a Champions League final win. That will be the perfect way to end the season for me.'

''GOD' will never walk alone... LFC should retire the number 23 shirt in his memory...

Well the "God" will leave us with a Champions League final win.
Hail "THE GOD"

[adamking80]

Originally Posted by KLKOOL

Yeah, most countries have good youth leagues as well. The latest signing by Rafa looks brilliant and well along these lines.

i think we should reserve our judgement on this issue... shouldn't throw the "brilliant" term around just yet without even seeing him kick a ball "live"...

remember pongolle and le tallec?!? 1st and 2nd top goalscorer in youth world cup... latter being golden ball(MVP) winner... had me salivating... became huge disappointment...

for pederson, at least he has proven he can cut it in the EPL... i HAVE been following him and his displays... here are his merits:

1.) can dribble... 15/20
2.) can cross... 18/20
3.) quick... 15/20
4.) free-kicks, whewww... 18/20
5.) track backs (in my opinion, this is the benchmark for a good wide midfielder...)
6.) scores goals and even against scums, blue noses and arses...

what else could i ask more for? only downside is maybe he is just a bit skinny... could be a target for rough tactics...

speaking on defence of baldie bluenose, i respect him as a player... he is a fine player, no doubt... he didn't cut it at real cos imo, different league, different style, different country, so many things could be happening off field and not only on it... so i still rate him as a player...

in pederson's case, smae league only different team... risk minimised relatively... don't think we can use noth cases as comparison cos the conditions are different...

then again, like chicks, my meat might be your poison... the ratings above are based on my opinion only... if i'm really that good, i'd be manager of liverpool instead of rafa right?!?

YNWA all!!!

[KLKOOL]

adamking80; right. In Rafa we trust. If he thought Lucas is good enough for Pool, great. If he think Gamst is not, also his decision.

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by rahl

It seems the old boys are being edged out and Heighway is yet another. Lee is gone and Thompson long before him.

Heighway is an old man retired from active service ... that he now throw tantrums at Benitez for meddling with the "empire" he set up in the Youth Academy over 20 years is really uncalled for & ungentlemanly, in my humble opinion. Something like Mahathir making noise about the Badawi regime.

As for Thompson, no way he would have been allowed to stay ... he was Houllier through & through, it was also becoz of a squirmish between him & Fowler that Houllier couldn't wait to offload God. As for Lee, Benitez saw him as an asset & offered for him to stay on ... but Sammy thought it was better to move on & let Benitez set the house rules properly.

IMHO, Sammy Lee will be coming back later on as LFC manager later on ... YES, I think he's that good.
Another one for such considerations is Steve Nicol ... that's provided he wants to return to England, after settling in US & making a name for himself as the head coach of the New England Revelution.

Originally Posted by rahl

seems like Ablett (Reserve Team Manager) is the only former player left. Is Kenny a director or something?

Where Ablett is concerned, it's more a coincidence ... he didn't come through the ranks, you see.
In his playing career, he ended with playing for Everton ... it was also there that he got his first opportunities in coaching. Benitez didn't look him up ... in fact, it was becoz the Spaniard who took charge of the reserve team got homesick & decided to return home, before Benitez placed a classified ad seeking a replacement coach for the reserve team.
Well, Ablett passed the interviews with flying colours, based on his works in the Everton youth set-up ... & the rest is history.

Why you even think Kenny could be a director, I simply have no idea ...
First of all, during David Moore's era, I've not read about it ... by now, after the club is totally in American hands, he lagi has no chance to be a director.

[KingEros]

ROBBIE FOWLER, KOP GOD - WE SALUTE YOU
Mark Platt 12 May 2007

On the eve of Robbie Fowler's final appearance at Anfield, Liverpoolfc.tv pay tribute to the Reds' striking legend.

It's not for nothing that Robbie Fowler is known as God by those on the Kop. One of the most revered figures in Liverpool's recent history, Fowler is also one of the most naturally gifted goalscorers to have graced the famous red shirt.

His striking exploits are already the stuff of legend and his halo will never slip in the eyes of the fans who have adored him for so long.

Since scoring on his debut against Fulham in a 1993 League Cup tie, Fowler has enjoyed a long-running love affair with Kopites that has never wavered and shows no sign of abating.

A boyhood Evertonian, he switched allegiances when joining the club's 'centre of excellence' at the age of 11. Even at that tender age, his vast potential was there for all to see as he ripped up scoring records and made a name for himself at local schoolboy level.

A host of clubs sought his coveted signature but Liverpool made the successful swoop. It was the late Jim Aspinall who is rightly credited with persuading him to sign for the 'enemy' and it must rank has one of the most important this club has ever made.

Fowler rose through the ranks as expected and those in the know knew the Reds had a special talent in their midst. In April 1992 his progress was rewarded with a professional contract and the following January he appeared on a senior teamsheet for the first time when named as one of the substitutes in a third round FA Cup replay at home to Bolton.

An infamous 2-0 defeat to the lower league Trotters that night was proof that Liverpool needed a player like Fowler in the team but then boss Graeme Souness managed to resist the temptation to blood him until two months into the following season.

With the Reds still struggling for goals, Souey handed his highly-rated rookie striker a start at Craven Cottage and was rewarded with a debut goal. In the return at Anfield, Fowler famously netted all five in a 5-0 win and a star was born.

An instinctive goal-poacher, he claimed his first league match ball after just five senior outings and ended the season as Liverpool's top scorer with 18. Excited Kopites viewed his arrival on the first team scene as divine intervention from up above and he certainly answered their prayers in the years that followed.

His first full season in the limelight saw his reputation blossom from promising youngster to fully-fledged superstar, this rapid elevation no doubt aided by a fastest-ever Premiership hat-trick against Arsenal, a Coca-Cola Cup winners medal and the PFA Young Player of the Year accolade.

He also topped the Anfield goalscoring charts again, breaching the 30 mark for the first time, and the so-called 'Toxteth Terror' was suddenly one of football's most feared finishers.

What Fowler lacked in pace and height he made up with an uncanny ability to sniff out goals. No opposition net was safe when he was in the vicinity of the penalty box. Close-range tap-ins or long-range super strikes, the 'Growler' was wonderfully adept at both and, as the goals flew in by the bucket-load, his stock rose higher and higher.

In 1995/96 he plundered over 30 goals for the second successive season, made his full England debut and comfortably retained his Young Player of the Year award. He outshone Eric Cantona on his over-hyped 'return', much to the chagrin of Sky TV no doubt, and fired the Reds to an FA Cup Final appearance at Wembley.

Four goals at home to Middlesbrough in December 1996 saw him hit the milestone figure of 100 goals for the Reds quicker than striking mentor Ian Rush, while another 30-goal haul the following season took Liverpool to the closest they've been to a 19th League Championship.

The classic 'local boy made good', Fowler's popularity among the fans was at a scale not seen since Kenny Dalglish was in his pomp. To them, he could do wrong, even if his infamous 'Spice Boy' image of the time brought him some unwanted off-field attention.

Controversy seemed to follow him on the field also during the late nineties but his faithful flock stood by him through the bad times. A lovable rogue, Fowler never forgot where he came from and in 1997 famously went public with his support for the sacked Merseyside Dockers during a UEFA Cup tie against Brann Bergen.

Two serious injuries then forced him to endure a lengthy and frustrating spell on the sidelines, which coincided with the emergence of Michael Owen. But although Fowler temporarily lost his 'golden boy' status, Owen could never boast the same kind of rapport with the Liverpool crowd and it was no secret who they favoured most.

With Gerard Houllier in sole charge Fowler encountered more problems and found himself a victim of the Frenchman's controversial rotation policy. He may no longer have been guaranteed a regular starting place but Houllier was well aware of his importance to the squad in terms of team spirit and handed him the captain's armband as a result.

In February 2001, Fowler scored a spectacular goal on Liverpool's first visit to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and became the first Reds skipper to lift a trophy in six years as Birmingham were beaten on penalties in the Worthington Cup Final.

It was to be the first leg of an unprecedented cup treble that season and Fowler also figured in the FA and UEFA Cup Final, coming off the bench in both and netting in the latter. Four days after the drama of Dortmund he was on the scoresheet again as Champions League qualification was clinched for the first time.

But despite these goalscoring heroics, speculation that Houllier wanted to sell him refused to disappear and in November 2001 the unthinkable happened; Fowler was offloaded to Leeds, against his will, in a record-busting transfer.

To say the Kop was shaken by this would be a gross understatement. Letters of protest flooded the local press and even the massive fee received failed to soften the blow.

When Fowler failed to set the world alight at Leeds and then Manchester City the anger at his sale subsided slightly but the general consensus remained that he was suffering from a broken heart at being forced out of his beloved club. He remained a big Reds fan and even travelled to Istanbul to watch the 2005 Champions League Final.

Talk of him returning occasionally popped up in the sports pages but was always shrugged off as pure fabrication. Until January 2006 that is; when Liverpool's prodigal son sensationally returned to a hero's reception.

His free transfer capture from Manchester City delighted Kopites. Fowler, himself, admitted it was a dream come true and it warmed the hearts of everyone when he finally pulled a red shirt once again.

His second spell at Anfield was never going to be as glorious as the first but over the past two seasons supporters have been treated to occasional glimpses of his past magic.

During the summer of 2006 Rafa Benitez extended his contract until the end of the current campaign and now the end of an memorable era is nigh.

But as he prepares to bid the Kop an emotional final farewell on Sunday maybe there could be one more glorious chapter of the remarkable Robbie Fowler story to be written.

Whatever the future holds, it's hard to envisage him being loved by the fans more than he already is but with a Champions League Final in the land of the Gods to come, who knows?

There could be no more fitting finale, that's for sure.