Robbie Fowler signs with North Queensland Fury

[gareth_thomas]

[quote author=Marquis link=topic=31061.msg796189#msg796189 date=1233722177]
I'm really surprised that he signed with Townsville.
It is a town that has a university, an army base, and nowt much else besides being close to the reef.

I suppose it could have been worse, he might have ended up in Adelaide.
[/quote]

HEY!!!!

Adelaide at least has a decent team with a decent following.

Townsville.. what the fuck for?

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=gareth_thomas link=topic=31061.msg797803#msg797803 date=1233802191]
[quote author=Marquis link=topic=31061.msg796189#msg796189 date=1233722177]
I'm really surprised that he signed with Townsville.
It is a town that has a university, an army base, and nowt much else besides being close to the reef.

I suppose it could have been worse, he might have ended up in Adelaide.
[/quote]

HEY!!!!

Adelaide at least has a decent team with a decent following.
[/quote]

It's still fucking shit.

 

[Roopy]

Has anybody seen Townsville and North Queensland lately?

It's absolutely flooded! Cyclones galore.

Get this ... a CROCODILE got run over by a car on a suburban street!

Welcome to OZ Robbie ;D

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797503#msg797503 date=1233788509]

Am I alone in finding this a bit sad? A striker of genius (I use that word quite deliberately) reduced to "Have boots, will travel"?

If you think the A-League standard is shit, you're way off the mark.

Ok its not Serie A, La Liga or EPL ... but it's still a damn competitive league.

Foreigners who have come here thinking it will be a walk in the park have quickly realised otherwise.

Juninho (formerly of Boro) found it very hard to be consistent here. A shoulder injury didn't help, but at the end of the season he has zero goals to his name.

The A-League has been a scouters dream for leagues such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.


[/quote]

I didn't realise managers in Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark & Norway dreamt of picking up average squad fillers with limited technical ability, really cheaply from a substandard League in Asia.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797503#msg797503 date=1233788509]

Am I alone in finding this a bit sad? A striker of genius (I use that word quite deliberately) reduced to "Have boots, will travel"?

If you think the A-League standard is shit, you're way off the mark.

Ok its not Serie A, La Liga or EPL ... but it's still a damn competitive league.

Foreigners who have come here thinking it will be a walk in the park have quickly realised otherwise.

Juninho (formerly of Boro) found it very hard to be consistent here. A shoulder injury didn't help, but at the end of the season he has zero goals to his name.

The A-League has been a scouters dream for leagues such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.


[/quote]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

The standard of the a-league in comparison to other major world leagues is appalling.

 

[Roopy]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg797824#msg797824 date=1233806529]
[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797503#msg797503 date=1233788509]

Am I alone in finding this a bit sad? A striker of genius (I use that word quite deliberately) reduced to "Have boots, will travel"?

If you think the A-League standard is shit, you're way off the mark.

Ok its not Serie A, La Liga or EPL ... but it's still a damn competitive league.

Foreigners who have come here thinking it will be a walk in the park have quickly realised otherwise.

Juninho (formerly of Boro) found it very hard to be consistent here. A shoulder injury didn't help, but at the end of the season he has zero goals to his name.

The A-League has been a scouters dream for leagues such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.


[/quote]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

The standard of the a-league in comparison to other major world leagues is appalling.
[/quote]

I said that it's definitely no where near EPL, Serie A, La Liga etc....

But it's proving to be a very good talent pool for decent leagues like Turkey and Holland.

But yeah, give it time, the league is 4 seasons over and is attracting some decent foreign players.

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797835#msg797835 date=1233807983]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg797824#msg797824 date=1233806529]
[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797503#msg797503 date=1233788509]

Am I alone in finding this a bit sad? A striker of genius (I use that word quite deliberately) reduced to "Have boots, will travel"?

If you think the A-League standard is shit, you're way off the mark.

Ok its not Serie A, La Liga or EPL ... but it's still a damn competitive league.

Foreigners who have come here thinking it will be a walk in the park have quickly realised otherwise.

Juninho (formerly of Boro) found it very hard to be consistent here. A shoulder injury didn't help, but at the end of the season he has zero goals to his name.

The A-League has been a scouters dream for leagues such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.


[/quote]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

The standard of the a-league in comparison to other major world leagues is appalling.
[/quote]

I said that it's definitely no where near EPL, Serie A, La Liga etc....

But it's proving to be a very good talent pool for decent leagues like Turkey and Holland.

But yeah, give it time, the league is 4 seasons over and is attracting some decent foreign players.




[/quote]

Is your definition of decent that of veteran footballers, in the final few years of their career and incapable of hacking it in a top League anywhere else in the world.

If it's not, I'd love to see a list of the top players currently in the A-League.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=31061.msg797836#msg797836 date=1233808156]
[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797835#msg797835 date=1233807983]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg797824#msg797824 date=1233806529]
[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797503#msg797503 date=1233788509]

Am I alone in finding this a bit sad? A striker of genius (I use that word quite deliberately) reduced to "Have boots, will travel"?

If you think the A-League standard is shit, you're way off the mark.

Ok its not Serie A, La Liga or EPL ... but it's still a damn competitive league.

Foreigners who have come here thinking it will be a walk in the park have quickly realised otherwise.

Juninho (formerly of Boro) found it very hard to be consistent here. A shoulder injury didn't help, but at the end of the season he has zero goals to his name.

The A-League has been a scouters dream for leagues such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.


[/quote]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

The standard of the a-league in comparison to other major world leagues is appalling.
[/quote]

I said that it's definitely no where near EPL, Serie A, La Liga etc....

But it's proving to be a very good talent pool for decent leagues like Turkey and Holland.

But yeah, give it time, the league is 4 seasons over and is attracting some decent foreign players.




[/quote]

Is your definition of decent that of veteran footballers, in the final few years of their career and incapable of hacking it in a top League anywhere else in the world.

If it's not, I'd love to see a list of the top players currently in the A-League.
[/quote]

There are some good players plying their trade here, make no mistake. But they're in the minority, and are totally overshadowed by the ageing has-beens you've mentioned, and the countless middling nothing players currently cluttering up most squads.

 

[Roopy]

Is your definition of decent that of veteran footballers, in the final few years of their career and incapable of hacking it in a top League anywhere else in the world.

If it's not, I'd love to see a list of the top players currently in the A-League.

The A-League is 4 seasons old, and each club is operating under a salary cap that is imposed by Football Federation Australia. The salary cap is there to ensure the league does not collapse financially, and to provide a strong platform to build financially into the future where the salary cap will surely increase greatly.

Clubs cannot go out and sign top quality players from the top leagues in Europe. Each club has one designated marquee spot, who can be paid unlimited amounts in wages outside of the salary cap.

However we do not have a Roman Abramovich or a Sheikh owning our clubs to sign superstars of the world game.

So the best we can do for the time being, whilst the league continues to grow season by season, is to sign foreigners who are available on free transfers - like the Dwight Yorke's, Benito Carbone's, Juninho's and Robbie Fowler's.

There are some good players plying their trade here, make no mistake. But they're in the minority, and are totally overshadowed by the ageing has-beens you've mentioned, and the countless middling nothing players currently cluttering up most squads.

It's a shame that the league has not been able to hold on to some quality players in it's short history.

Fred was just absolutely brilliant.

Shenqing Qu was sublime for Adelaide, and the Colombian Milton Rodriguez was an absolute gun at Newcastle alongside Nicky Carle.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797839#msg797839 date=1233810401]

Is your definition of decent that of veteran footballers, in the final few years of their career and incapable of hacking it in a top League anywhere else in the world.

If it's not, I'd love to see a list of the top players currently in the A-League.

The A-League is 4 seasons old, and each club is operating under a salary cap that is imposed by Football Federation Australia. The salary cap is there to ensure the league does not collapse financially, and to provide a strong platform to build financially into the future where the salary cap will surely increase greatly.

Clubs cannot go out and sign top quality players from the top leagues in Europe. Each club has one designated marquee spot, who can be paid unlimited amounts in wages outside of the salary cap.

However we do not have a Roman Abramovich or a Sheikh owning our clubs to sign superstars of the world game.

So the best we can do for the time being, whilst the league continues to grow season by season, is to sign foreigners who are available on free transfers - like the Dwight Yorke's, Benito Carbone's, Juninho's and Robbie Fowler's.



[/quote]

I scored against an a-league team. That tells you all you need to know about the standard of it.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797820#msg797820 date=1233806013]
Has anybody seen Townsville and North Queensland lately?

It's absolutely flooded! Cyclones galore.

Get this ... a CROCODILE got run over by a car on a suburban street!

Welcome to OZ Robbie ;D
[/quote]

Robbie brought the rain?

 

[Roopy]

I scored against an a-league team. That tells you all you need to know about the standard of it.

Juninho could not!!!

He wasn't good enough 😀

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=31061.msg797843#msg797843 date=1233810878]

I scored against an a-league team. That tells you all you need to know about the standard of it.

Juninho could not!!!

He wasn't good enough 😀
[/quote]

Juninho was never fit, so it's hard to judge him on his time here.

 

[Roopy]

I wonder if they told Fowler about the away fixture in Perth.

It's only a mere 3500km trip from Townsville to Perth  ;D ;D ;D

 

[gareth_thomas]

i think the A- league has some pretty decent players.. Due to the salary cap half the team end up being woeful.

Its very difficult to play football when every second pass is misplaced. The tempo of the games are so slow i find myself falling asleep during matches.

Jamieson, McKay, Dodd, Musalik, Simon, Thompson, Van Dyke, Smeltz, Moore, Muscat (wanker), Celeski, Brosque, Lochhead, Mckain, FRED , Pellegrino, Cassio, Velaphi, North..

They are possibly the only players i have any time for and apart from Fred none of them are particularly exciting to watch.

The thing that gets on my tits with the A- League is the managers. All of them are pretty average, surely in a league that is still developing and in serious need of larger crowds excitement is the key.. The managers are far to conservative at times.

Melbourne had HUGE crowds when they had all those Brazilians showing off constantly.. Fred was amazing because he had the finished product and the work rate to boot but even thousands of people would turn up just to see that lad Alessandro.. Who eventually never even got a spot on the bench.

 

[Irish_Red]

ROBBIE FOWLER has denied reports he is set to join Tranmere as manager John Barnes rekindled memories of Rovers’ exciting past by signing of Alan Mahon.

Report last night suggested that Fowler is about to abandon his two year contract with Australian A League club North Queensland Fury to link up with former Liverpool team-mate John Barnes at Tranmere Rovers.

However, Fowler said today: “I’ve got a two-year contract with North Queensland Fury and I’ll see it out. I’m a man of my word. There is nothing in this. My familty has just arrived out here. They would not have travelled all this way if I had any intention to leave.â€

Fowler, 34, agreed to join Fury, a new Australian A League Franchise, in December after completing a short spell with Blackburn.

Fury manager Brett Judge said: “We’ve spoken to Robbie and there is no truth in this at all.â€


How is Fowler getting on ? Has he scored many goals ?

 

[the count]

[quote author=Irish_Red link=topic=31061.msg902425#msg902425 date=1247050823]
ROBBIE FOWLER has denied reports he is set to join Tranmere as manager John Barnes rekindled memories of Rovers’ exciting past by signing of Alan Mahon.

Report last night suggested that Fowler is about to abandon his two year contract with Australian A League club North Queensland Fury to link up with former Liverpool team-mate John Barnes at Tranmere Rovers.

However, Fowler said today: “I’ve got a two-year contract with North Queensland Fury and I’ll see it out. I’m a man of my word. There is nothing in this. My familty has just arrived out here. They would not have travelled all this way if I had any intention to leave.â€

Fowler, 34, agreed to join Fury, a new Australian A League Franchise, in December after completing a short spell with Blackburn.

Fury manager Brett Judge said: “We’ve spoken to Robbie and there is no truth in this at all.â€


How is Fowler getting on ? Has he scored many goals ?[/quote]


By the look of him recently he looks to have found a fondness for Aussie pies!

 

[LarryHagman]

[quote author=Irish_Red link=topic=31061.msg902425#msg902425 date=1247050823]
ROBBIE FOWLER has denied reports he is set to join Tranmere as manager John Barnes rekindled memories of Rovers’ exciting past by signing of Alan Mahon.

Report last night suggested that Fowler is about to abandon his two year contract with Australian A League club North Queensland Fury to link up with former Liverpool team-mate John Barnes at Tranmere Rovers.

However, Fowler said today: “I’ve got a two-year contract with North Queensland Fury and I’ll see it out. I’m a man of my word. There is nothing in this. My familty has just arrived out here. They would not have travelled all this way if I had any intention to leave.â€

Fowler, 34, agreed to join Fury, a new Australian A League Franchise, in December after completing a short spell with Blackburn.

Fury manager Brett Judge said: “We’ve spoken to Robbie and there is no truth in this at all.â€


How is Fowler getting on ? Has he scored many goals ?
[/quote]

Pre-season is only just starting, he hasn't played a game yet as far as I know. Perth play Wolves this Friday so I assume North QLD have a similar friendly.
I don't know what their winter weather is like (hot I would imagine) but the humidity at other times is criminal where he is. Will be THE factor if he reneges on his deal and heads back to Blighty.

 

[Ryan]

A couple of teenage guys I've played with went up there on trial recently, and they both came back raving about God. Said he was great fun, the lads up there love him, and that he's immense in training. Nothing we didn't really know.

Apparently he spends most of his evenings playing poker with his teammates too. Sothereyougo.

 

[Frogfish]

SOME may have written off Robbie Fowler’s move to Australia as just a final bumper pay day in The Lying Rag but ‘God’ is proving to be a big hit Down Under.

The 34-year-old has netted three times in five appearances for A League new boys North Queensland Fury.

Having scored from the spot in their 3-2 defeat to Sydney FC he volleyed home a stunning strike to help earn a 3-3 draw with Adelaide.

Fowler was on target again with a clinical finish in a 1-1 draw at home to Brisbane Roar.

The Liverpool legend, who scored 183 goals in 369 games for the Reds, has been handed the captain’s armband but despite his heroics the Fury are bottom with just two points from five games.

Perhaps Fowler’s greatest achievement so far has been escaping disciplinary action for his ‘ninja’ style kick on Anderson during the Fury’s 5-0 hammering at the hands of Gold Coast United.

Referee Chris Beath insisted he saw the incident and decided to take no action but it is well worth a watch on Youtube.

Australian football chiefs are banking on Fowler to help boost attendances at A League games. This weekend the striker makes the trip to face Sydney FC and the hosts are pulling out all the stops to ensure he feels at home.

A cover band of The Beatles will play on the concourse before the game and Sydney are also considering playing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before kick off.

 

[Roopy]

North Queensland just beat Sydney 1-0

Fowler with a cracking volley from 20 yards out 🙂

 

[Ryan]

If anyone hasn't seen it, well remember the goal he scored against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final?

Well take that, stick Fowler in a green shirt, and you've got it.

 

[LarryHagman]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg943085#msg943085 date=1252886660]
If anyone hasn't seen it, well remember the goal he scored against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final?

Well take that, stick Fowler in a green shirt, and you've got it.
[/quote]

Yeah, its very similar. He scored a clever one last week as well, nice take down and cool finish.

I don't think they're as bad as the results suggest, they've been unlucky in the 2 games I've seen.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=31061.msg943087#msg943087 date=1252886838]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg943085#msg943085 date=1252886660]
If anyone hasn't seen it, well remember the goal he scored against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final?

Well take that, stick Fowler in a green shirt, and you've got it.
[/quote]

Yeah, its very similar. He scored a clever one last week as well, nice take down and cool finish.

I don't think they're as bad as the results suggest, they've been unlucky in the 2 games I've seen.

[/quote]

Talay's made a massive difference in the centre of the park. Griffiths and Robinson can work all day long, but they couldn't control a fucking dead elephant. you can see how much God likes having Taly in there, and it's no surprise their results have improved.

Their keeper's fucking balls too. Good penatly save like, but he's been gash in every other game.

 

[Roopy]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg943102#msg943102 date=1252888416]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=31061.msg943087#msg943087 date=1252886838]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg943085#msg943085 date=1252886660]
If anyone hasn't seen it, well remember the goal he scored against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final?

Well take that, stick Fowler in a green shirt, and you've got it.
[/quote]

Yeah, its very similar. He scored a clever one last week as well, nice take down and cool finish.

I don't think they're as bad as the results suggest, they've been unlucky in the 2 games I've seen.

[/quote]

Talay's made a massive difference in the centre of the park. Griffiths and Robinson can work all day long, but they couldn't control a fucking dead elephant. you can see how much God likes having Taly in there, and it's no surprise their results have improved.

Their keeper's fucking balls too. Good penatly save like, but he's been gash in every other game.
[/quote]

Agree 100% ... Henderson is a fucking woeful goalkeeper!!!

And how Robinson has a contract in this league after scoring maybe 2 goals in 3 seasons is beyond me.

Talay has made a difference like you said... he was pure class back in the day when he was at Galatasaray.... Middelby though is just a complete hack, he ruins the fluidity of the game by continuous fouling.

Not sure what happened to Fred Agius - North Qld did everything in their power to sign him, and no sign of him ... injured???

 

[Roopy]

[flash=350,350]http://www.youtube.com/v/7LCBvSi0V3Q&hl=en&fs=1&" type=[/flash]

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=31061.msg943087#msg943087 date=1252886838]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=31061.msg943085#msg943085 date=1252886660]
If anyone hasn't seen it, well remember the goal he scored against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final?

Well take that, stick Fowler in a green shirt, and you've got it.
[/quote]

Yeah, its very similar. He scored a clever one last week as well, nice take down and cool finish.

I don't think they're as bad as the results suggest, they've been unlucky in the 2 games I've seen.

[/quote]

I can imagine there will be alot of people at the game when he makes it to Melb.

 

[gkmacca]

Nice to see him doing well.

 

[spider-Neil]

fucking hell! still got it.

my favorite robbie moment is the fa cup semi final with rushden and diamonds were robbie scores from the free kick, a fan runs onto the pitch and a steward dives on the fan and then robbie dives on the steward. ha ha I loved robbie ;D

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=31061.msg943165#msg943165 date=1252916485]
fucking hell! still got it.

my favorite robbie moment is the fa cup semi final with rushden and diamonds were robbie scores from the free kick, a fan runs onto the pitch and a steward dives on the fan and then robbie dives on the steward. ha ha I loved robbie ;D
[/quote]

Who was he playing for then? ???


Do you mean Wycombe??