Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[KingEros]

FOWLER WEEK: TONY BARRETT ON ROBBIE
Tony Barrett 02 July 2007

The first time I set eyes on Robbie Fowler he was just 11-years-old and his surname wasn't even Fowler.

As a kid he was Robbie Ryder and everyone involved in kids football in Liverpool had heard of him. There was a huge buzz about him. He played for a team called Thorvald - a team which no other team in the city could live with - and Robbie was the star player.

I have to admit though that the first time I saw 'God' I was a non-believer. I was watching a mate of mine playing an under-11s game on Botanic Park and Thorvald were playing on the next pitch.

At half-time in the game I was watching, I walked over to have a look at Thorvald. Just to see for myself if this Robbie Ryder kid was as good as people were saying.
As usual, Thorvald were administering a hiding to some poor team who simply couldn't get near them. But it was their right winger, a lad called Franny Tierney whom I'd played with in Liverpool schoolboy trials, who really caught my eye.

Franny was electric - probably the most talented young footballer I've ever seen - and as was always the case, he was pulling the opposition leftback to bits. Ryder, by comparison, wasn't doing much. He just seemed to be loitering in and around the box, not getting too involved in the build up and, at times, he looked too small and weak to make a big impression.

Thorvald ended up winning 4-0 and Ryder got two. Both were tap-ins from about a yard and I can remember saying to my mate that I didn't think he was anywhere near as good as people were making out.

Thankfully, Liverpool had scouts who knew quite a bit more about what makes a top class centre forward than I did.

A couple of Sundays later I was back at Botanic Park and my mate's team were playing Thorvald. It turned out to be a massacre as Thorvald won 26-0. And that's not a misprint; they really did score 26 goals without reply.

Ryder got 16 of them and my mate blamed me.

"Thought you said he was no good?" he shouted at me as he trudged off the pitch.

"He's alright," I replied. "But he doesn't get to play against you every week, does he?''

I'm pretty sure Robbie was already training with Liverpool by this time and he was definitely a fixture in the Liverpool Schoolboys team. Clearly there were those who hadn't needed to see him score 16 in a single outing to realise what a class act he was.

It would be another six years before I saw Ryder in action again and, by the time I did, he had become known as Robbie Fowler and he came with a very, very big reputation which had been forged with Liverpool schoolboys, England under-18s and Liverpool reserves.
Graeme Souness picked Fowler for the Liverpool first team in a Coca Cola Cup tie at Fulham and those of us who made the trip to London on a cold night in autumn were given a taste of what was to come as the 18-year-old scored a typical poachers goal.

It was his performance in the second-leg which made the rest of the country sit up and take notice though. Fowler struck five times to leave the Fulham defence looking like a kids' team's back four on Botanic Park.

After that he was asked if he'd ever scored more than five and he said: "Yeah, I scored 16 once."

The newspapers set out to find the team he'd scored 16 goals against and one of the Sundays ended up tracking down the lad who'd been in goal that fateful day. They got hold of him and took him down to Melwood to be reunited with Robbie. True to form, Fowler gave him a bit of stick when he got there, but he also gave him a load of training gear and made sure the newspaper looked after his 'victim' with a few bob for his troubles.

It's impossible to overstate just how popular Fowler was with the Liverpool fans at this time. His love affair with the Kop was so intense that only the one with Kenny Dalglish stands comparison in the modern era.

And it wasn't just down to his goals. There was a cheekiness about Fowler that most local fans could identify with and that endeared him to us even more. Even when he messed up, he did so for the right reasons. His infamous goal celebration against Everton may have been ill-advised but most Liverpool fans would love to do something similar given the opportunity. And his abuse of Graeme Le Saux may have been immature and out of order but at least he'd picked the right target to wind up.

Then there was the time he scored against Brann Bergen in a Cup Winners Cup tie at Anfield and lifted his Liverpool shirt to show off a t-shirt displaying his solidarity with the sacked Liverpool dockworkers.

True to form, he was fined by UEFA for his actions but it was a price well worth paying for Fowler as not only had he raised awareness of the disgraceful way 500 workers had been treated by their employers, it also inadvertently led to his status as a local folk hero being set in stone.

It wasn't just about public displays either. Speak to dockers who manned the picket lines during their lengthy dispute and they will readily tell you about Fowler and his great mate Steve McManaman regularly helping them out with donations.

Both Fowler and McManaman kept it quiet. They weren't doing it for publicity but Liverpool being the village that it is, word soon got out and they got the respect they so richly deserved for doing the right thing by their working class comrades and for not forgetting their roots.

Another thing that endeared Fowler to Kopites was he was so hated by fans of our biggest rivals, largely because he had a knack of scoring against them and then celebrating in front of them. Even after he left Liverpool he was still doing it.
Who can forget the five fingers he raised to Man United supporters in honour of Liverpool's quintet of European Cup wins when he scored for City in the Manchester derby? Or the head smacking celebration he did as he ran the length of the Bullens Road after scoring at Goodison?

The more they hated Fowler, the more we loved him.

Hero status can be too easily awarded in modern football but in Fowler's case he undoubtedly earned it - through his goals, his genius, his generosity and, not forgetting, his pranks.

There are those who say Robbie Fowler is the greatest natural finisher they have ever seen and the highest tribute I can pay him is to say there is nothing to choose between him and Ian Rush.

Had Fowler been lucky enough to play alongside Kenny Dalglish he would no doubt have added another 100 or more goals to his Liverpool total. He really was that good.

In his prime, before injuries took their toll, he pretty much guaranteed goals. Right-foot strikes, left-foot shots, headers, volleys, scorchers from distance, tap-ins from a yard out and flukes off his backside - Fowler could do the lot.

Not bad for a kid who started off on Botanic Park and didn't look that good!

A tribute to the best LFC servant for the last 15 years ... a multi-millionaire in no uncertain terms, this great guy is still looking to play football. What undying love ...

[Cummon]

Fernando Torres is due to have a medical today after Liverpool finally reached agreement on a club record transfer that will cost them a staggering £47million.
Despite claims that Atletico Madrid were holding out for the £27m escape clause in Torres's contract, the fee for the Spain striker has been set at around £20m, with Luis Garcia moving in the opposite direction for £4m.

But with the 23-year old's contract worth £90,000 a week over six years, Liverpool's overall outlay will be £47m for the high-profile signing Rafa Benitez demanded in the immediate aftermath of his side's Champions League Final defeat by AC Milan just over a month ago.

Homegrown crowd favourite Torres was putting together a farewell message to disgruntled Atletico fans before flying to Merseyside for a medical and an Anfield press conference that could take place tomorrow.

Now Benitez is closing in on another significant transfer breakthrough after dramatic developments in his pursuit of Gabriel Heinze.

The Liverpool manager was wary of strong interest in Heinze from Real Madrid and Manchester United's reluctance to sell to one of their main Premiership rivals, but he was told yesterday that the Argentina defender favoured a move to Anfield.

Heinze, who is keen to remain in the Premiership and is attracted by the prospect of a regular starting place under Benitez, began the process of winning United round by sending his agent to Old Trafford yesterday to make his feelings known.

Liverpool are more than willing to meet an asking price of around £5m, while Heinze could yet scupper any resistance from United by buying out the two years left on his contract.

It would cost him £4.5m, but he would then be a free agent and could recoup the sum in the form of a signing-on fee from Liverpool.

As United came under growing pressure to sanction the first transfer between the clubs since Phil Chisnall left Old Trafford for Anfield in 1964, Liverpool were preparing to hand Torres the No 9 shirt vacated by Robbie Fowler after finally winning a battle of wills over the length of the Spaniard's contract

[evilspawnsss]

Updated: July 2, 2007
'Torres ready to sign for Reds'

Liverpool are believed to have settled personal terms with Spain striker Fernando Torres while Luis Garcia is heading back to his homeland.



Liverpool sources have insisted that there is no conflict over wages with the 23-year-old Atletico Madrid star, as had been claimed, and he has verbally accepted around £90,000 a week.


That will put him on a par with Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso, but short of Steven Gerrard's £120,000-a-week new contract.


Liverpool are so confident that Torres will now complete his signing when he returns from holiday that they have let Luis Garcia join Atletico for around £4million.


The two deals are not officially linked but Liverpool will now see their agreed fee of £26.5m for Torres cut to £21.5m now Luis Garcia has returned to a club he spent a season with earlier in his career.

From soccernet

[Luckytime]

Latest from BBC news.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 3 July 2007, 07:10 GMT 08:10 UK

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Torres to complete Liverpool move
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer



Torres scored 14 goals last season for Atletico
Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is poised to fly into Liverpool to undergo a medical on Tuesday before completing a £26.5m switch to Anfield.

Torres, 23, could even be paraded as a Liverpool player as early as Wednesday after completing formalities.

Liverpool have agreed a club record deal with Atletico and BBC Sport understands the Spain striker will sign a six-year contract.

The Reds will then target Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.

Villarreal's Diego Forlan has been lined up to replace the departing Torres in a £14.2m deal, while the Anfield club have recouped some of their outlay by agreeing to sell Luis Garcia to Atletico for £4.5m.

Once the Torres deal is done, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will increase his efforts to seal a shock deal for 29-year-old Argentine Heinze.

It may prove complicated, however, with fierce rivals Liverpool and United notoriously reluctant to sell players to each other.

But it is understood the Merseysiders have been given enough encouragement from Heinze's camp to pursue their interest.

606: DEBATE
I for one am excited about Torres, even for £26.5m

HC

Liverpool officials are playing their cards close to their chest on the Torres deal, a move that shatters their previous club record, the £14m paid to Auxerre for Djibril Cisse three seasons ago.

But it now appears only the formalities remain after Torres cut short his holiday to return to Madrid to prepare to say an emotional farewell to Atletico's fans.

Spanish international Garcia is expected to sign for Atletico on Tuesday, although that deal is independent of the Torres move.

Atletico are reluctant to sell but Torres is keen to link up with Benitez.

Benitez wanted to land Torres to provide a spearhead for an assault on the title - and also allow Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to demonstrate their own financial commitment to his plans.

Torres has been consistently linked with a move to England, particularly with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Liverpool will now win the race.

He will join fellow countrymen Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso, as well as boss Benitez, at Anfield.

[Luckytime]

From The Independent news in UK.

Reds set to follow Torres signing with £6m deal for Heinze
By Andy Hunter
Published: 03 July 2007
Liverpool will this week respond to Rafael Benitez's demands for ambition in the transfer market by following the club record purchase of Fernando Torres with an audacious attempt to lure Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United.

Liverpool's manager has identified Heinze as the man to bring resilience to the left back at Anfield and, despite overtures from Italy and Spain for the Argentine, plus the problems in a transfer between the fiercest rivals in English football, is confident a deal worth £6m can be struck.

Benitez began to explore the first direct transfer from Old Trafford to Anfield in 43 years last week and has been encouraged by the response from Heinze's representatives to instruct Liverpool's hierarchy to prepare a formal bid.

While the Argentina international, 28, has expressed an interest in a move to Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid, and United would prefer him to move abroad, those clubs are yet to register an offer, and Liverpool's bid will enable Ferguson to reclaim much of the £6.9m paid to Paris Saint-Germain in 2004 and swell his funds for a new striker.

Heinze lost his first team place to Patrice Evra last season and has struggled to find the form he showed before a knee ligament injury against Villarreal in 2005. He has promised a decision on his return from the Copa America.

Liverpool's main transfer priority remains Atletico Madrid striker the Torres, who is expected to seal a £27m move in the next few days, having cut short a holiday to return to Madrid yesterday. Both the fee and personal terms have been agreed. Although he had been holding out for a four-year contract, the Spain international is expected to sign a six-year deal that will increase his £60,000 a week wage at Atletico to £90,000.

Atletico have signed the former United forward Diego Forlan for £14m from Villarreal and will today complete the £5m-rated transfer of Luis Garcia from Liverpool. Although both parties insist Garcia is not a makeweight in the Torres transfer, his departure will leave Liverpool with a bill of around £22m for Atletico's captain.

Robbie Fowler said he has had no offers since being released

[sniperboy]

Originally Posted by Luckytime

The Reds will then target Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.

Once the Torres deal is done, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will increase his efforts to seal a shock deal for 29-year-old Argentine Heinze.

Getting Heinze "bean" is a bit old for my liking as he's played for the our bitter rival.

[Luckytime]

See Torres goals....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1779

[evilspawnsss]

Hope he can do so in liverpool hee hee

[coolfire69]

Originally Posted by KingEros

A tribute to the best LFC servant for the last 15 years ... a multi-millionaire in no uncertain terms, this great guy is still looking to play football. What undying love ... [/B]

Amen... Give praise to "GOD"...

[qw2op]

TORRES PASSES REDS MEDICAL
Jimmy Rice 03 July 2007



Liverpool Football Club has announced Spanish striker Fernando Torres has passed a medical ahead of his proposed move from Atletico Madrid.
The 23-year-old is now expected to put pen to paper on Wednesday before being unveiled to the media.

A club spokesman said: "The player has passed a medical. All the agreements are now in place and he will put pen to paper on the deal on Wednesday."

Torres scored 82 goals in 214 appearances for Atletico, while for Spain he's bagged 14 in 40.


source: liverpoolfc.tv link

[qw2op]

Fernando Torres
Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is understood to be on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical before completing a club record £26.5m transfer to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old Spain international is believed to have agreed personal terms worth £90,000 per week in wages, and could be unveiled as a Liverpool player on Wednesday after completing formalities on a six-year contract.


Early Years

Born in the Fuenlabrada neighbourhood of Madrid, traditionally Real Madrid territory, Fernando grew up in the red and white of Atlético. From the age of six football became really important to the young Fernando thanks to a TV programme called ‘Oliver and Benji’.

It was a cartoon series in which a group of boys start playing football for fun, and end up as professionals. After the show Fernando and his elder brother would go out and play football. He liked to imagine himself as a professional footballer like the kids in the series.

He played in goal until one day he got a couple of teeth knocked out by the ball and decided that his career between the sticks was finished.

By the age of nine he was hooked as an Atlético fan after being taken on a trip to the trophy room at the Vicente Calderón stadium by his grandfather.

Later on, as a tall, thin, 11-year-old, he went for a trial at Atlético Madrid. “He showed intelligence, explosive pace and bravery. He did not think football like a child would,” said Manolo Rangel, the coach who became his mentor.

“Training was a game, and the matches were fun, that was the part of my life when I most enjoyed playing football” explained Torres.

He rose through the various youth levels, and in 2001 played for Spain at the under-16 European Championships in England. He finished the tournament as top scorer and was voted player of the tournament. At the time, Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson was apparently informed of Torres' talent by a scout. Robson, however, decided against a move for the Spaniard. Torres quickly proceeded to represent the Atlético youth team and was then called up to the first team.


Rise To Fame

He made his first team debut on May 27th 2001 at El Calderón against Leganes, becoming the youngest player ever to have played for the club. He scored his first goal the following week against Albacete. The season however was to end on a sour note, as Atlético missed out on promotion to the Primera Liga on goal difference. They were promoted the following season.

The 2002-2003 season saw Atlético back in the top division and Fernando made the step up effortlessly. His first season in the top-flight saw him score 13 goals. He put in particularly impressive performances against Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona to make people sit up and take notice of him. In his second season in the Primera Liga he scored 19 goals and has been Atlético Madrid’s top scorer in every season since.

Such was the reputation he built up, that other clubs started to show an interest in the youngster. Torres has admitted that he turned down the chance to join Chelsea after the end of the 2005-06 season of La Liga.


National Team

In November 2001, Torres played in the Under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. In July 2002, he played in the Under-19 European Championships in Norway, a tournament Spain won. Torres was both top scorer and Player of the Tournament. He made his debut for the Under-21 national team in 2003. On September 6, 2003, Torres progressed to make his debut for the senior national team against Portugal. His first goal for Spain came against Italy on April 28, 2004.

He played for Spain at the Euro 2004 Championships, which saw Spain eliminated in the group stages by Portugal and eventual winners Greece.

At his first ever appearance in a World Cup finals at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Torres scored the final goal in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine with a volley. In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia, in the 76th minute for Spain to take a 2-1 lead, and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th minute, to complete Spain’s comeback from 1-0 down to 3-1 winners.

In Spain's third group match against Saudi Arabia, he came on as a substitute for José Antonio Reyes in the 70th minute. Torres became the first player in the tournament to score three goals. Torres started the round of 16 match against France, but after initially taking the lead, Spain went on to lose 3-1 and were knocked out of the tournament.

The Spanish national team coach, Luis Aragonés, commented that Torres "never scores two goals the same," referring to his versatility and remarkable keenness on the pitch.

Torres was dropped from the team for a friendly versus Romania in November 2006, but returned to the national side for the friendly against England in February 2007, a 1-0 win for Spain.


Technical Skills

Torres is a quick, skilful, powerful centre forward, who is unlike most Spanish strikers. He is often compared to Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry. Above all he is a goal scorer. He can lead the attack on his own, but is also adept at working with a partner. He is good in the air and scores goals from many areas.

However, Luis Aragonés, the Spain head coach, said recently that Torres “still has a poor first touch and doesn’t finish well.” Despite fitting the profile other major clubs are looking for, he has often been second on many lists of potential targets for major European clubs.

But Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been determined I his pursuit of the player this summer.


Did You Know?

Torres is nicknamed ‘El Niño’ (The Kid) because of his youthful face.
He is the youngest player to have captained Atlético Madrid (aged 19).


Particulars

Name: Fernando José Torres Sanz
Date of birth: 20th March 1984 (Madrid)
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 78kg
Position: Striker


Season-by-Season Club Career: League Appearances (& Goals)

2002-2003 Atlético Madrid 29 (13)
2003-2004 Atlético Madrid 35 (19)
2004-2005 Atlético Madrid 38 (16)
2005-2006 Atlético Madrid 36 (13)
2006-2007 Atlético Madrid 35 (14)


Mathew Burt

source: goal.com

[Hugo168]

Originally Posted by qw2op

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is understood to be on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical before completing a club record £26.5m transfer to Liverpool.

The 23-year-old Spain international is believed to have agreed personal terms worth £90,000 per week in wages, and could be unveiled as a Liverpool player on Wednesday after completing formalities on a six-year contract.

cool so young and a good addition to the LFC family hope he scores well

[breastlover]

After purchases of striker, I think we need to buy wingers.

[Luckytime]

Is Torres Liverpool's missing link?
Premiership | Liverpool
by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 03 July 2007


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fernando Torres is being painted as the final piece in Liverpool's jigsaw - a puzzle that remains incomplete after 17 title-free years at Anfield.

"The final piece of the jigsaw" is a phrase that has become synonymous with Liverpool in an era when they have failed to win the trophy they covet most.

The pieces have been assembled by a succession of managers, only for men like Graeme Souness, Roy Evans and latterly Gerard Houllier to find another crucial bit had gone astray.

Boss Benitez has suffered a similar fate, despite successes in the Champions League and the FA Cup.

The list is endless - Paul Ince, Stan Collymore, Harry Kewell and Djibril Cisse to name but a few.

Now Torres is poised to take on the cursed mantle, complete with a huge £26.5m transfer fee and a lavish six-year contact to match.

The 23-year-old Spain striker will be under pressure to deliver - but this deal has as much riding on it for Benitez as it has for Liverpool.

Benitez has cited a lack of funds and an inability to compete for A-list stars as reasons for his failure to get anywhere near the Premiership pace-setters.

He made his most pointed accusations in what appeared to be a fit of pique after the Champions League final defeat against AC Milan in Athens in May.

It is a claim which will draw gales of laughter from some clubs, given the scale of investment handed to him by Liverpool's board in the last three seasons - much of it spent on very ordinary players.

It is also a claim he can never make again - not when new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have broken Liverpool's transfer record in such emphatic style.

The arrival of Torres is as much a defining test of Benitez's title credentials as it is of the young Spanish striker's glowing reputation.

There can be no more excuses if they fail to threaten Manchester United and Chelsea this season.

Torres is A-list and expensive; a symbol of the sort of player Benitez claims has been out of his reach before.

Now he has got him, bought and paid for in a record-breaking manner, he can no longer use finance as his shield against expectations.

And yet, despite his undoubted quality, Torres comes with an element of risk as well as an expensive price tag.

He is powerful, athletic, proven in Spain, if not beyond, and able to play as a lone striker as well as in a partnership.

But he is untested in the Premier League and is so costly that inevitably huge pressure will be placed upon him.

Benitez must hope he does not suffer the same fate as Fernando Morientes, who arrived at Anfield amid much fanfare.

He was a failure, skulking back to Spain quick-smart complaining that defenders in the top flight had the affrontery to tackle him. And tackle him quite hard.

Torres is the identikit of the sort of player Liverpool need to add to a miserly defence and an array of midfield talent.

If he comes off he could actually be, well, the last piece of the jigsaw.

Liverpool lost points and games they should have won last season because they were essentially a blunt instrument in attack.

Craig Bellamy has not been up to the job and, while Dirk Kuyt may have a heart as big as a bucket, he is hardly ruthless operator in front of goal.

Peter Crouch remains Liverpool's most reliable striker, but Benitez would not trust him with a starting place in the Champions League final.

Torres must come up with the goals his price tag demands - and this is because the stakes are as high for Benitez as they are for Liverpool.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by Luckytime

Torres must come up with the goals his price tag demands - and this is because the stakes are as high for Benitez as they are for Liverpool.

so beside nani and anderson, torres will be the player to watch come the new season. i like to think that the purchase price is not just for his goals but also for his super intelligence as a player on the field.