Kenny Dalglish Won't Be Delivering the Module: English Premiership 2011-12

xp Are the Olympics really regarded as meh? Surely a player would rather win an Olympic gold than a Carling Cup?

Heard Whelan on the radio this morning saying he wouldn't stand in the way of Martinez going to "Liverpool, or a big club".

When, if ever, etc...

He will not shut up, that guy.

That would be insane

I'm not suggesting he would just get sacked. Obviously they want to pick up £15-£20M and then reinvest it in the team. There would probably be a shitstorm from the fans if they just announced he was being sold, so they'd have to have a replacement already lined up. They would probably also want the new manager installed first and let him identify the replacement. But I wouldn't be surprised if he went at some point this summer.

I meant it'd be insane not to keep him. He's the one top-class player we have now, pending Lucas and Reina returning to form. It would be such an admission of defeat to sell him, even if a bid came in at double that amount.

woop woop: Brendan Rodgers turns down interview for Liverpool manager's job...

Some managers don't realise when their star might be at its highest. If Rodgers ends up fighting relegation next season his "they play great football" pats on the head will dissipate and he'll be back in the Holloway bracket.

Owen and Fowler had a similar strike rate at Liverpool over a similar span of time (about eight seasons in the first team), but Robbie is far more revered, right? Post-Liverpool, Owen has only played 138 games in eight seasons, scoring 44 goals; Fowler didn't play all that much more football in the eight seasons after he left L'pool either - 156 games*, 46 goals. (* - incl that spell back at Anfield, stopping short of his Aussie twilight years).

Rogers has shown he can organise a defence though, at home at any rate. A lot of "can play a bit" promoted sides can't - see West Brom at any given season up until Woy.

All these guys need at least another club under their belts in between taking on a job like Liverpool. Doing something great at a team like Villa first would be a better stepping stone.

Would love to see Solskjaer managing in the Premiership but being thrown straight into it would probably be a bad idea at this point.

Amazed that Fowler has played more. Poor Mikey. Also, any idea how many of Owen's post-Liverpool appearances have been starts?

was gonna say his madrid strike rate was a lot better than 'pretty decent'

suarez is great but it's such a time of flux it's hard to say what would be a disaster or not. apart from martinez.

fowler was way better than owen btw. so much more skilled.

Would love to see Solskjaer managing in the Premiership but being thrown straight into it would probably be a bad idea at this point.

Yeah, especially as managing Villa is a bit of a thankless task at the moment.

Owen and Fowler had a similar strike rate at Liverpool over a similar span of time

But both were past their peak a while before they left. For the 2-3 years when each of them were at their best, Fowler was more impressive - wasn't he? I seem to remember a season when Fowler, Cole & Shearer were all banging in a tonne of goals - I don't recall Owen ever being *that* prolific (like, he might have got 20 but not 30?).

owen won more in probably a worse team, but was a bit one-trick- nerveless speedster. Fowler had amazing talent, i'm still discovering classic goals he scored on highlights reels and premiership years etc.

i don't think suarez is the player lfc need (hard to put my finger on it tbh), but i don't think 15m is enough for him either.

fowler was way better than owen btw. so much more skilled.

Different class altogether. In a few years, Owen will be just be some guy who scored a lot of goals, like Les Ferdinand or Bob Latchford or som'b'dy.

How very dare you.

and fowler will just be another outrageously talented fuckwit, tbf, peaked at 23 and was p much done by 25/6?

Neither of them are going down in history tbh

fowler had such a range of goals, owen was figured out, to an extent, as the years went on. fowler was great in the air, fiendish shot, could score with both feet. so weird how england were so bloated with amazing strikers in that era that he barely got a look in, some of the 6th/7th choices back then would waltz into the team today.

Fowler will... in Liverpool... admittedly not that difficult (xp)

Remember when Owen booted Ronny Johnsen in the air at Old Trafford? That seems souncharacteristic now, and even at the time.

still think it's mad that owen is only 6 months older than me

and i'm not going to be retiring for another 38 years

some of the 6th/7th choices back then would waltz into the team today

Yeah it's weird ... there was such dissatisfaction with Fowler or Cole too. 'Unable to play at the top level' and so forth. I like Houellebecq, but him looking like a virtually automatic pick is a bit concerning.

and you have even more poker debts

xp

At least Andre Villas Boas is older than you.

I know I'm not in any position to comment, but a list of England centre forwards of the past 15 years would make amusing reading

^ please poll this

Then we can poll the Scottish ones for an entire thread of "ffs, Iwelumo" shouty caps lock.

tbf tho I think Jay Bothroyd was only a substitute

England strikers 1997-2012

Nugent wins for best goal.

I like Houellebecq, but him looking like a virtually automatic pick is a bit concerning.

Sturridge has not gone to Euro 2012. But seriously, what happened to him in the latter part of the season? I haven't been paying attention.

Killed a pigeon on the way in.

xp

Sturridge had 3 goals since Jan iirc. And NEVER passes the fucking ball.

Never bought into the hype anyway

is he still at city?

Pigeon?

Sturridge had 3 goals since Jan iirc. And NEVER passes the fucking ball.

― pandemic, Friday, 18 May 2012 11:19 (43 minutes ago) Bookmark

what's defoe like at passing? oh yeah wait it's completely irrelevant.

fowler certainly more talented than owen, owen a ~marginally~ more effective (unplayable) weapon although strikerates comparable

what i like about the question is the legacy factor - owen despite being european footballer of the year ffs will always be a joke now whereas fowler was and remains folkloric - certainly going by my (londoner) childhood he created a generation of new liverpool fans who still have him down as fave ever player

Different class altogether. In a few years, Owen will be just be some guy who scored a lot of goals, like Les Ferdinand or Bob Latchford or som'b'dy.

― Charles Kennedy Jumped Up, He Called 'Oh No'. (Tom D.), Friday, 18 May 2012 10:45 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

How very dare you.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 18 May 2012 10:48 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

x 2

sir les was way better than drogba grumble grumble

I feel bad for Owen because I always liked him, but he's such an easy target for some reason. He always gives the impression of being incredibly slow-witted. I'm trying to imagine going for a few drinks with him, and failing. I bet Fowler'd be more fun.

xpost any excuse to watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFX2a626OE

i wonder what owen's career would be like now if rafa hadnt refused him after madrid (and if he hadnt had the wc injury obv)

It's quite sad reading him say in a recent interview that his best years were his teens, and he's been operating on 2/3rds power ever since because of a botched hamstring operation.

lol crooksy goes for the black striker every single time no matter what, if it was a little finish he'd have said ian wright darren bent

otm there though

Sturridge had 3 goals since Jan iirc. And NEVER passes the fucking ball.

― pandemic, Friday, 18 May 2012 11:19 (43 minutes ago) Bookmark

what's defoe like at passing? oh yeah wait it's completely irrelevant.

― r|t|c, Friday, May 18, 2012 11:04 AM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Bollocks!
Sturridge plays on the right most of the time. Knowing when to pass the ball pretty important imo.

once again, he is a pure striker plonked out on the wing

I have a book of all Tottenham players and the Crooksy entry begins by recalling that someone called him "BLACK MAGIC IN THE BOX".