Liverpool FC Forum

[el_stinger]

Reina is banned

[DZed]

i know but i want him to be in so badly!

[el_stinger]

You can't have him he's banned.

Anyway, I'd put Carson in goal instead of Dudek from now on, he is too volatile in goal at the moment, especially after fouling a striker in the box. I don't care if he never touched him or not, he never got the ball, it was always going to be a pen.

My team vs. Wigan

            Carson
Finnan Carra Hyypia Riise

Garcia Hamman Sissoko Kewell

              Alonso

                      Morientes (1st half, sub for Fowler 2nd Half)

[Fernando Morientes > 19 <]

I would also like to see a partnership of Fowler and Cissé

[Leonmc0708]

Me and our kid had a conversation last night about the weight of expectation currently on Robbies shoulders.

Many in the boozer last night felt his introduction was what was needed, but I felt he changed very little when he came on.

With the lack of goals lately, many people are building up their hopes with Robbie, and I fear he will not live up to many peoples expectations.

He has been brought in as no risker, a possibility, not as a season changing signing.

I fear for the day he has a full 90 or starts and does not score, as the same fickle fans who now slate Crouch despite excl;aiming his virtues earlier in the season will round on Robbie.

[ivor_the_injun]

Last night he was given nothing to work with Leon, so I don't buy into the idea that he's not up to the job.

On the contrary, I think we need to start putting some responsibility on his shoulders. Coming on for a cameo for the last 20-30mins every other game isn't going to bring his fitness level up, and his sharpness in the box will be aided no end by throwing the lad on from the start. If he tires, take him off, but at the moment he's getting to the end of the game having barely broken sweat, so we're basically wasting him.

Robbie Fowler will score goals for us, but he can only do that if a) he's on the pitch, and b) if we get the ball to him in dangerous areas. If he fluffs chance after chance, fans will have every right to talk about the wisdom of bringing him in, but for me the side have let him down with an almost complete lack of supply in and around the box.

[Leonmc0708]

Maybe you misunderstood my point.

I dont think that he is not up to it, I just worry that too many people are putting too much hope in him scoring every game from now till the end of the season to get us that second spot.

[bigmick]

Too much expectation of Fowler? Definately and it's impossible to resist. Guilty as charged and lock me up Guv'. Fickle? well I was one of the guys who said buy Crouch. I was also one of the guys who stuck up for him when he couldn't score. I'm now advocating a spell on the bench. I think he and the team needs it. I'm a bit more knee-jerky than some I'll admit but I'm not saying sell, Im just saying rest.
Morientes I've said from very early on won't do it for us and will be astonished if he proves me wrong. Cisse we all know about but I'm up for giving him a go again.
Thing is we have two choices it seems to me. We either pick a front two and stick with them for five or six games come what may, show a lttle faith and allow them to reach an understanding. If Rafa does this I guess we are looking at Morientes and Crouch carrying on. Choice two is that we come to the conclusion that we are currently lacking in potency and try something new. This is my favoured option and I'd start with the other two, Fowler and Cisse. It probably is expecting too much of Robbie to think he can complete a full game, but I'm absolutely convinced he would contribute more than Morientes is right now.

[ivor_the_injun]

On the contrary Leon, I think Robbie's as good a provider in and around the box as we have in the squad, and given the right supply he'll set up plenty for Crouch and Cisse. He's never been just an out-and-out goalscorer - he's far more intelligent than that.

Given a run of starts, I can see him linking up with midfield and bringing others into the game in a way that Crouch and Morientes have completely failed to do in recent games. He's excellent on the ball, and his clever touches and short passing game are tailor-made to encourage Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia and Kewell into goalscoring areas.

[Leonmc0708]

Mick, I too am guilty as chrged, and the key has been thrown away, I just fear the expectation and dissapointment if not fulfilled means the fans look at Robbies signing as a failure if he scores 5-10 and we finish 3rd or 4th.

Not personal to you fella.

[bigmick]

I definately think some of the younger fans will expect too much. Jesus if they hear us older ones going on about him so much you can't blame 'em for thinking we have signed Ronaldhino on a free. I sensed a smidgeon of "WTF is all the fuss about" in a post by Sting' earlier and you can't really blame him. Ultimately IMHO and thinking with the head a bit, Robbie is only ever going to be an impact bench player for us. But right now, I'd stick him in for a couple which might at least let Cisse put the other two under a bit of pressure.

[woof woof !]

Not convinced that Cisse would have the awareness to anticipate Fowlers thinking . I'd rather have a go with Fowler and Garcia . This my leave us short of an "arial" threat but at the moment our big fella's up front look about as threatening as a pair of weather balloons.

[andy_g]

i wouldn't worry about fowler and garcia offering little arial threat, woof. garcia is a much better headrer of the ball than crouchy and has the goals to show for it - the spectacular physical height isn't everything. i'd be interested in seeeing how these two played aswell - garcia is the closest current thing to a litmanen and i used to love him and robbie together.

[bigmick]

Fowler and Garcia would be interesting. They would of course offer next to nothing in terms of aerial or pace threat but are both as tricky as a box of frogs. Feck it, give it a go. Lets face it, any partnership which wins the odd throw in and has a shot a half is a massive improvement.

[woof woof !]

Option B .

Rafa could of course give Cisse what he really wants i.e stick him up front on his own with his only instruction being "forget the rest of the team , go for goal ! "   String five across the middle to pick up the pieces .  We might then at least return to keeping clean sheets .