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Fowler the right man to lead Fury, says Ferguson

Roar Rookie
7th August, 2009
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Coach Ian Ferguson has made a strong statement about Robbie Fowler’s commitment and contribution with his surprise decision to make him North Queensland Fury’s captain.

Ferguson was expected to appoint one of several other candidates, leaving the 34-year-old Liverpool legend to focus on scoring goals as the new A-League club’s marquee player.

But he announced on Friday that Fowler would lead the Fury into their debut season, starting against Sydney FC at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday.

Ferguson said he’d been swayed by Fowler’s off-field contribution in encouraging and advising teammates, while he managed just three pre-season games due to niggling groin complaints.

And he slammed doubts which were raised over Fowler’s commitment to the A-League.

“Even if I didn’t make Robbie (Fowler) captain he has always been committed to the club. As soon as he came here his intentions were good,” Ferguson said.

“No players came here for a holiday, everybody has been up front and it is a hard job ahead of everybody and he is no different.

“He is my marquee player and he knows there is a lot on him, expectations, and this gives him that responsibility that he wants and I am happy to give him that.”

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He praised Fowler’s efforts in moulding the new squad .

“I have been impressed, he has only played three games and even when he wasn’t playing he was still showing those leadership qualities that I was looking for,” he said.

“When results weren’t going too well he was rounding up the boys and geeing them up and giving them good advice and that’s what changed my mind.”

Former Liverpool captain Fowler welcomed the added responsibility of the leadership, describing it as a “great honour”.

“I’ve played football for a living for a long time now and as far as I’m concerned there’s no pressure on me or any of our players,” said Fowler.

“We’re here to enjoy the football and do as well as we can.

“I can be vocal in the dressing shed and anything I can give to the younger players or even the more experienced players I will.”

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It’s Fowler’s goal scoring prowess – fourth-highest all-time with 161 goals in the English Premier League – that has Sydney FC’s attention going into their season opener.

“We have got to watch him (Fowler), he is a proven goal scorer and we will have to be on our toes to make sure he doesn’t put one in against us,” said Sydney FC captain Steve Corica.

“Obviously there are a lot of other players though as well we have got to watch.

“We have just been working on our systems and the way we want to play to get the result.”

Corica admitted Sydney wouldn’t be reading too much into their 4-0 pre-season thrashing of the Fury.

“From that first game there are going to be a few different players and it is going to be a different set up by the way they play.

“We just want to concentrate on our system and our shape and if we do that right we have got a good chance of winning.”

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