It didn’t surprise me when Fowler had a change of heart. Leeds wanted rid of him quickly and were more than pleased to accept the £6 million that City were
prepared to pay for his services. My fears were realised when Fowler arrived at the press conference the day he signed for the blue half of Manchester. The
expression on his face resembled that of Jaap Stam’s after Fergie had axed the Dutchman.
Many optimistic City fans believed that it was going to be a new beginning for Fowler. The last time that he looked to be happy with his football seems a long
time ago now. In 1997 he finished the season with 31 goals and won his first England cap. But at the end of the 1996/97 campaign 17 year old Michael Owen had emerged from the Anfield ranks and it was him, not Fowler, who went on to case his talents on the World stage a year later.
Fowler did go on to collect three major trophies in 2001, as stand in captain for Jamie Redknapp, but by this stage Gerard Houllier was planning Liverpool’s
future without the man that was once earmarked as the new Ian Rush. Michael Owen had cemented his place in both Liverpool’s and England’s starting eleven and it was common knowledge that Fowler was not compatible with the new kid on the block.
Leeds became the saviors in November 2001, and 14 goals in 30 League appearances represented a happy time at Leeds. This was not the case though, as Fowler suffered with injuries and a drop in form throughout his 14 months in Yorkshire.
If Fowler could live up to his status as one of the most naturally gifted goal scorers in English football then Manchester City will finish in a European place
without a doubt. But we are now reaching into 2004 and Fowler has only scored one league goal so far this season. The fans will undoubtably support the troubled striker but they have to accept that it’s make or break time for Fowler.
Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan was quick to point out that Fowler has not had the rub of the green this season. Keegan said: “He might have scored two or three at Everton earlier this month and that would have been a fair reward. That’s football. But given a bit of luck, Robbie will score a fair few goals.
“I think everyone at our club – forget the people outside – have seen that Robbie is working very, very hard. At the moment, it’s just not falling for him”
With Leeds building up a mini revival of their season lets hope that Robbie can halt his former club and start a similar revival of his own. Whether he can
relive the form of his early Anfield days is a completely different story.