January 7
Five reasons to forget about Robbie Fowler 

By Tommy Smith/Liverpool Echo

Some Liverpudlians continue to have an unhealthy preoccupation with Robbie Fowler.

I found myself answering more letters of doom and gloom in the Football Echo on Saturday.

Sentiments included things like 'it was the worst piece of business since Leeds sold Eric Cantona to Manchester United' and 'Robbie will come back to haunt us'.

That theme continued at Anfield itself on Saturday. In the middle of a crucial FA Cup clash against Birmingham, the Brummie supporters taunted us at one stage by chanting just two words: ROBBIE FOWLER.

So what did a small section of Reds in the Main Stand do? Applaud them!

To use a phrase from an old TV series. Listen to me carefully. I will say this only once.

Robbie has gone. He's not coming back. No amount of whinging and moaning and wringing of the hands is going to change that. To continually bang on about his controversial departure is actually playing into the hands of Leeds United.

And what do you think it does for the Liverpool strikers charged with the task of keeping the Reds focused and on track in both cup and league? Absolutely nothing.

If ever there was a club in this country that never looked back it was Liverpool. Bill Shankly would not allow it. Nor would Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. Once you've gone, you've gone.

More than that, when you were out of the team and injured you were the equivalent of the Invisible Man. The only people who mattered were those going out on the day wearing that red shirt. It stood us in good stead then. It will stand us in good stead now.

And in this case it has nothing to do with tradition. It's actually to do with the fact that in European Footballer of the Year Michael Owen we have the main man when it comes to goals in English football. He plundered another two on Saturday to crush Birmingham City.

Gerard Houllier has also pulled off a coup with the capture of Nicolas Anelka, another who was on target against the Midlanders and a man who can clearly make goals as well as take them.

I salute Houllier and Phil Thompson for not sitting on the Fowler cash or resting on their laurels. They have replaced Fowler with a top class forward and backed that up by also bringing young Czech international Milan Baros into the fold.

No Liverpudlian wants to undermine what Robbie Fowler achieved in a red shirt. He was magnificent when he was at his best. But the simple fact of the matter is that over the past year he rarely hit the heights for Liverpool. And we should nail this myth that he somehow didn't get his chance.

He had more games than Owen in this spell. He certainly had more of a chance than Jari Litmanen and played only slightly fewer games than Emile Heskey.

Let's put it this way. I'm excited by the potential that is the mix of Owen, Anelka, Heskey, Litmanen and Baros. I'd maybe like to see a bit more of Litmanen at times.

Owen scored with his right and his left against Birmingham. He, for one, looked absolutely determined to prove that life goes on without Robbie.

So let's stop wallowing in this self pity and get on with it.

December 3
Fowler Snr lifts lid on deal

TEAMtalk

Robbie Fowler's father has confirmed that Liverpool did not offer his son a new contract before he left Anfield to join Leeds United last week. 

In a letter to the Liverpool Echo, Robbie Fowler Snr said he felt he should correct reports in the media claiming that contract talks between the club and his son broke down. Instead he said, no contract was ever offered. 

"I would like to publicly express my appreciation for the kindness and letters of support given to my son in his career at Liverpool. I feel it is necessary however to correct, as his father, the record of recent events. 

"Firstly he did not turn down an improved contract. The media on several occasions reported contract talks had broken down. Quite simply they had never even started. A contract was not initially offered. 

"Selections seemed to suggest he wasn't wanted. The well documented transfer talks with Chelsea did not help matters. Though aware of them he was not interested but determined to fight for a place." 

Paying tribute to the fans, Robbie Snr added: "During this time he has thrived enormously on the response from the fans, but they can't and must not pick the side." 

He also revealed that Robbie never wanted to leave Liverpool, but felt that it was in his best interests to pursue a career elsewhere in a bid to play first-team football and improve his match fitness. 

"Most importantly, he did not want to leave Liverpool for a superior side, but felt his career was on hold. Match sharpness, which fans are right to comment on, was lacking. Robbie has said this himself. Clearly he was not able to develop this aspect of his game as he would have wished." 

He added that Robbie left Anfield with no ill feeling towards the club, and thanked them for the chance they handed Robbie as a youngster: "We are totally aware that no-one is bigger than the club itself and he goes with obvious sadness. He has made many friends at all club levels and leaves without problems or recrimination with anyone or any aspect of the club. 

"As his father I would like to thank Liverpool Football Club for giving him the opportunity to realise a dream. Thanks also to the many friends I have made through Liverpool FC. Your thoughts and good wishes are much appreciated." 

November 30
Thompson thanks Fowler for honesty

By Håvard Finstad/Football Broadcast

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson was happy that Robbie Fowler was fair enough to say that he would like a move away from the club.

Instead of dragging things out and eventually leave on a Bosman-transfer like for example Steve McManaman and Sol Campbell have done in the past, Fowler declared that he'd like to move on. 

Thompson said: "We thank him for that because it could have dragged on a lot longer. He wanted to seek a new challenge. You have to remember that and I respect that decision. 

"We had to do things very quickly. Players who get into the final two years of their contract and won't sign again...it becomes very difficult." 

Thompson also said that the transfer fee was higher than the reported £11M. 

"The fee was more than £11million. I know that is an issue but I won't go any further into that," he explained.

November 30
Fowler: I needed a new challenge

Ananova 

Robbie Fowler has admitted that he left Liverpool for Leeds because he needed a new challenge.

He was unveiled at a packed press conference where he explained why he had left Anfield.

Fowler is expected to make his Leeds debut at Fulham on Sunday.

"It was fairly obvious how things have panned out," said Fowler on the end of his Liverpool affair.

"Things haven't gone well for me, and I needed a new challenge.

"Leeds United are as good as any club in Europe. When you look at the squad it is good and young. In the years to come they will be a major team."

Fowler denied he has been told he will be an automatic first-team choice and says he will battle it out with Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Robbie Keane for a place in the side.

"No one has a divine right to play, and I am no different," he said.

"I have been at Liverpool a long time. They were always magnificent to me. Despite what people say I left Liverpool on good terms with every player and all the staff. It is a new challenge and one I needed.

"The manager David O'Leary has told me what he wants. I have been impressed with everything the chairman and the manager have said. I am coming to a good club."

Asked if one reason behind his decision was the prospect of playing in the World Cup, Fowler said: "The World Cup was an influence. It is hard when three players at one club are fighting for two places.

"With me, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey all trying to get into the team it made it more difficult for me with England.

"It is a challenge. Leeds have offered me a chance and I feel as though I will be given a better chance here.

"No one at Liverpool has said any bad things about me. This team is going places. That suits me."

Fowler, asked if he had said goodbye to his former team-mates, said: "The move happened so quickly. I have had no time to say goodbye. Hopefully I can go back and say my goodbyes to the staff and the players at Liverpool."

Thor Zakariassen ©