One of the most protracted signings of a marquee player is finally over. Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool great, is A-League bound heading to the North Queensland Fury. While his signing represents a significant development for the club and the league in general, question marks over his fitness cloud his potential as the “new Dwight Yorke” of the A-League.
Not since Yorke, who helped boost crowd figures across the country and Sydney FC to the inaugural title, has a star name with such pulling power and recognition committed to a full A-League season.
The popularity of the EPL has grown exponentially down under and the Fowler signing will help connect that supporter base to the A-League.
The 33 year old has a formidable record and the ability of an A-League franchise to be able to sign such a star name, in particular a new franchise, demonstrates we do have some pulling power relative to the likes of the American MLS.
With no real star name import gracing the A-League this season, Fowler will help boost crowd figures and interest throughout Australia and the EPL mad Asia.
However, he has to play regularly to achieve that and there is the concern over his fitness having only played three games during his very brief stint at Blackburn Rovers while ankle injuries plagued his time with Cardiff City.
There is also the concern of how Fowler will cope in the intense heat and humidity of North Queensland, quite different from the conditions he experienced in Cardiff and Liverpool!
A worrying comparison can be made between Adelaide United’s marquee signing Paul Agostino whose return from Europe was plagued by injury.
Let’s hope Fowler stays fit. The Fury needs him. The A-League needs him.
Another star marquee failure will damage the A-Leagues reputation, we don’t won’t the league to become just a retirement home for washed up stars that don’t play regularly.
The Fury have been well and truly trumped by Gold Coast United in the battle off the field before the clubs join the competition next season. Their expansion rivals down the Queensland coast have stolen much of the attention with a rash of stunning signings including the bombshell enticing of Socceroo Jason Culina and Johnny Warren medallist Shane Smeltz.
The Fury’s signings thus far have been conservative to say the least. The current squad won’t send other A-League franchises into a panic like the Gold Coast United line-up will.
The marquee player position at the Fury has been the subject of much speculation.
Adelaide United defender Cassio was rumoured to be filling the position but backed out of the deal while Jade North signed on from Newcastle before he was released to complete his move to South Korea.
Never the less, the Fury finally has their marquee player. A player with the pulling power worthy of the marquee tag, if he plays!
Hopefully the Fowler signing will be the impetus in attracting quality players up north.
Let’s just hope he can do the business on the pitch so he can have a positive influence off it.
lawrence
Guest
haha.........1 start in 1 most probable shit team.........ghee wonder wer ther morale is goin........stupidio
Rellum
Guest
Fowler will be a failure through no fault of his own. Who on that team list will be providing the chances for him to finish? Spagnuolo maybe?? With the "blood and guts" football promised by Ian Ferguson, I can see Fowler never getting near the ball. He will be a marketing success for sure in the first 5-10 weeks of the league, but if he never scores in that time people will desert him as a failure just like they have with John Aloisi.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Towser sorry, that should be Rostyn Griffiths. I have to be careful here about sounding too much like a whinger, but what the hell, I will anyway. We have a situation where Carlos Hernandez, arguably our very best player, and perhaps one of the very best in the league, will be returning to Costa Rica mid week to represent the Ticos, and will arrive back the day before the 2nd leg - so that effectively rules him out. In the meantime, Jason Spagnuolo, who has maybe featured in 10 games at the most (usually off the bench), has a scratch and won't be playing, and AU can replace him during the finals with a 20 year old young socceroo, currently playing reserves with Blackburn I believe. Now I think it's extremely unlikely that this kid will do too much damage, especially in such a short time frame, and there is every likelihood that he might even unbalance the team a bit. Nevertheless, it's a clearly an anomalous situation that a fair dinkum comp should not allow. Especially so when you consider that we now have the Youth League.
Towser
Guest
"What do you think of AU being able to recruit Royston Griffiths for 4 weeks specifically to play finals football?" First time I'd heard of this happening. I guess if its in the rules I cant argue with it legally,morally thats another issue.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I had had an inkling that the FNQ squad was pretty light on - but having seen the list - now I know it is! C'mon folks, where can we start in criticising this list? If Fowler doesn't come good, the forward division is looking decidedly light on. It remains to be seen whether Santalab has the werewithal to the primary front man on a consistent and regular basis. The midfield is virtually non-existent. The defence? Well, now we know why they're chasing Chippers so hard!
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Chippers would be a great signing for the Fury and I agree there are limitations in the salary cap but what the A-League can offer is a great lifestyle and a homecoming for Aussies who have played overseas. Looking at the Fury squad thus far they have: GK Justin Pasfield DF Paul Kohler DF Robbie Middleby DF Jacob Timpano DF Beau Busch DF Chris Tadrosse DF Darko Tasevski MF Fred Agius MF Chris Grossman MF Jason Spagnuolo MF Ufuk Talay MF Marton Vass FW Jeremy Brockie FW James Robinson FW Brendon Santalab FW Robbie Fowler (marquee) It isn't as good as the Gold Coast squad IMO so Chippers would be a great signing.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Towser I guess if the club owner wants to offer a job in one of his private companies to family members, that that is ok. I'm sure the salary cap will eventually be wound back, but it would have at least served its purpose in that all-important first decade of the comp. In fact, we've seen other ruses in the past year. Didn't CCM recruit Aloisi initially as an injury replacement - and as such, it was excluded from the cap? What do you think of AU being able to recruit Royston Griffiths for 4 weeks specifically to play finals football?
Towser
Guest
Pippinu Could be in regard to this:- " The Herald understands Gold Coast submitted the marquee application to Football Federation Australia late yesterday, which the governing body accepted. It is believed one of the main factors behind Culina's return is that his wife, Terri, is homesick. She has reportedly been offered a job with Mineralogy, a company of Gold Coast chairman Clive Palmer, and Culina is said to have been promised an ambassadorial role with the company on retirement." The salary cap is a very clever magician with a seriously large hat in which to pull rabbits out of.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Towser Excluding the marquee player, it is possible to pay your next top player about $250,000 per annum, a bit over 10% of your cap. Ok, that's peanuts to what Chippers is currently used to, on the other hand, he is 33 years of age, or thereabouts, so he might be thinking the living would still be ok in Townsville at that rate. Then there are all the loopholes, which I'm sure you're thinking about as well. I read either here or on another forum, that the clubs can give jobs to the wives without that being on the salary cap. So, maybe a p/t receptionist job for Mrs Chippers at another $250,000 per annum?
Towser
Guest
Can anybody explain how NQF can fit Scott Chipperfield into their squad given the limitations of the salary cap? Ok doesnt matter what Robbie Fowler is getting hes their marquee,but Chippers wont come for peanuts. Quotes from TWG today:- "The other big decision looming in the life of the 58-cap Chipperfield is whether to swap the bitter chill of Alp-fringed Basel for the tropical breezes of flood-hit Townsville. Wife Stefanie is due in Queensland in two weeks to see what the city has to offer herself, her husband and their two young sons, will probably have the casting vote. ‘’I’m about eighty percent likely to accept the offer they have out on the table and come home,’’ said Chipperfield, who is seeking a crescendo to a late blooming career at the 2010 World Cup. ‘’The club has two years in mind and that would take me through until I am 35, and then you would hope to take it year by year. ‘’The fact the Fury have signed Robbie Fowler shows how ambitious they are and I know I would enjoy being a part of that.’’ Salary cap:- "With two new clubs, Gold Coast and Townsville Fury, entering a 10-team league next season, FFA has decided to raise the salary cap from $1.9million to $2.25million and lower the additional service agreements of $500,000 by half." "FFA has also taken on board a suggestion by Queensland coach Frank Farina to change the policy of having just one under-23 marquee player on a maximum $150,000 salary exempt from the cap. "Clubs will now be able to pay three under-23 players a little more in that total of $150,000." Either the rest of the Fury players are being paid by free nightly barbies on Magnetic Island or Chippers has been so sun deprived in icy Switzerland that he'll accept 12 months supply of free sun tan lotion. Although as it is now free umbrellas & a boat would be more appropriate.
Rob
Guest
I don't really care who plays whom in the first round of the season. I reckon that both new franchises will get big crowds wherever they play, whomever they play. Interest is already high - GCU because of Palmer's millions, and Fury because of God. Expect bumper crowds for the first round, regardless of incidentals like who/where. Can't wait!
jaymz
Roar Rookie
i think the new teams should both play at home in the first round to maximise revenue. possibly NQ VS ROAR in townsville and GC vs SFC at Skilled park
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Joe FC, IMO yes they do and I've written about this previously. They need to distinguish themselves from NQ and GC. I think it would be very symbolic if the first game of the season was between the two new teams and they would both have a chance to build up and promote the game heavily. Melbourne shouldn't have the honor of hosting the first game of the season with the biggest import visiting just because they attract the biggest crowds. The new franchises should have the chance to shine by having the first game.
hazza
Guest
Cant wait for the derbies. Read the headlines CULINA v FOWLER. FOWLER v MILLER
Joe FC
Guest
Does Qld Roar need to become Brisbane Roar to add more spice to Qld derbys?
Koala Bear
Guest
Adrian, I totally agree.. GCU FC's Chairman has stated that the Skilled Stadium will draw a full house 27k.. He intends to do a blanket promotion for their first home game with lots of fanfare... This man means business... Bloody good to see someone in charge with Balls... ~~~~~~~~ KB
Dave
Guest
Have to disagree Adrian, would think GCU v QR 1st game. local derby etc. NQR at the biggest stadium with the biggest potential crowd of the season at TD. HUGE. 40,000 plus. Then NQF at home to GCU 2nd round!! Rd 1 AU v PG MV v NQF GCU v QR CCU v NJ SFC v WP Would achieve in the vicinity of 110-120,000 spectators.
Adrian Musolino
Expert
I would love to see North Queensland V Gold Coast as the first match of the season. It will help build the rivalry between the two franchises.
Dave
Guest
RFL l reckon it will add thousands, possibly 10,000 to the gate if FFA scheduled the first game for NQF at TD v MV. There are thousands of unfulfilled Liverpool supporters in Melb and to see one of their own in the flesh would be too much to resist. A MV home game, presentation of some silverware for this season and Fowlers NQR in town...l think they could get 40,000 plus. Lock it in. :)
Ronnie from Lonnie
Guest
Gotta Laugh ... Ten's "Sports Tonight" covered the Fowler signing after a silly puff piece on Brendan Fevola doing some dumbass thing like scratching his crotch in Malaysia (as if we give a toss!) If the Fury got him for less than SFC's stoopid Aloisi deal I'll PM LOL. As Dave says a bit of good PR for HAL. Who will benefit the most? HAL or NQF? Will Fowler bump up MV's crowds more than NQF's? Staye tuned.