SHOULD CITY STILL KEEP SNIFFING AFTER FOWLER?Western Mail link to story with quotes
It appears that DJ's two main striker targets to replace Michael Chopra have hit stumbling blocks that may prove fatal and, at the very least, seems to ensure neither will be coming to Cardiff in the next few days as hoped, if at all.
Fowler's problem appears to be that he's enjoying life in the comfort zone and after a lifetime spent playing at the top level isn't enthused by the prospect of playing for Cardiff and anyone below Premiership level. Maybe it's only Premiership football or exotic overseas "soccer" that will do for him?
We've been here before. Having reportedly agreed verbal terms with City, Fowler and his agent are now actively touting themselves in the media in the hope of getting a bigger, better offer. They have 78 on the table, including Cardiff, with City believed to be best placed amongst that lot but, ultimately, the contract and life with The Bluebirds is not exciting enough.
Having vowed not to get in this sort of situation again, City now seem to be doing exactly that and are prepared to persevere even though the odds now seem to be against them.
However the agent is now on record saying Robbie may not make any decision until the end of August and is enjoying his current "semi-retirement" - that really should set the alarm bells ringing in the heads of Messrs Ridsdale and Jones.For the agent to say Fowler has until the end of August to make a decision is a nonsense. He will have missed all of pre-season, will have lost physical fitness's and be well down on match fitness. He's be no good to anyone for a long while afterwards.And if Fowler is enjoying his freedom and not bothered about being with any club by the start of the season, it just serves to prove he's lost his desire and appetite for the game. He's set up for life, he's only ever played at top level and he is 32 so it's understandable in many ways but City would be foolish if they're prepared to play along with this game.As someone who's genuinely not excited about Robbie Fowler coming to Cardiff - I think only casual armchair fans seem to interested by the novelty of it - it's time to put this one to bed ... especially as that's where Fowler himself would prefer to be right now.
As for Vine
This one's not so easy but appears to have no immediate solution. Cardiff bid £1.2M for the player in January, losing out to Birmingham, and are reportedly making the same offer now. Objectively, in the eyes of most football fans, that is the right price and it's hard to imagine The Blues getting any substantial better offer for a player they have already deemed surplus to requirements having several strikers on the books and having bought bigger and better over the summer in readiness for Premiership football.
However, they gazumped City and paid a ridiculous £2.5M in January which rose to £3M after a promotion clause was activated so they state they will not sell for less than £2M.
Another issue is that Vine's wages apparently rocketed as another promotion clause activated and it would be far more than Cardiff would pay him.
So we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. The club want more money but it's unlikely anyone will do that and a player on great wages but knowing he's unlikely to get a look-in with his club when the action starts. However you look at it, it's highly dubious City will land him any time soon, if at all, and Jones may now have to resign himself to looking elsewhere.
Alexander/Weston
Finally just to mention ex-City keeper Neil Alexander signed a 3 year deal with Ipswich whilst misfit Rhys Weston penned a 1 yr contract at Walsall. Good luck to both of them.
Fowler's problem appears to be that he's enjoying life in the comfort zone and after a lifetime spent playing at the top level isn't enthused by the prospect of playing for Cardiff and anyone below Premiership level. Maybe it's only Premiership football or exotic overseas "soccer" that will do for him?
We've been here before. Having reportedly agreed verbal terms with City, Fowler and his agent are now actively touting themselves in the media in the hope of getting a bigger, better offer. They have 78 on the table, including Cardiff, with City believed to be best placed amongst that lot but, ultimately, the contract and life with The Bluebirds is not exciting enough.
Having vowed not to get in this sort of situation again, City now seem to be doing exactly that and are prepared to persevere even though the odds now seem to be against them.
However the agent is now on record saying Robbie may not make any decision until the end of August and is enjoying his current "semi-retirement" - that really should set the alarm bells ringing in the heads of Messrs Ridsdale and Jones.For the agent to say Fowler has until the end of August to make a decision is a nonsense. He will have missed all of pre-season, will have lost physical fitness's and be well down on match fitness. He's be no good to anyone for a long while afterwards.And if Fowler is enjoying his freedom and not bothered about being with any club by the start of the season, it just serves to prove he's lost his desire and appetite for the game. He's set up for life, he's only ever played at top level and he is 32 so it's understandable in many ways but City would be foolish if they're prepared to play along with this game.As someone who's genuinely not excited about Robbie Fowler coming to Cardiff - I think only casual armchair fans seem to interested by the novelty of it - it's time to put this one to bed ... especially as that's where Fowler himself would prefer to be right now.
As for Vine
This one's not so easy but appears to have no immediate solution. Cardiff bid £1.2M for the player in January, losing out to Birmingham, and are reportedly making the same offer now. Objectively, in the eyes of most football fans, that is the right price and it's hard to imagine The Blues getting any substantial better offer for a player they have already deemed surplus to requirements having several strikers on the books and having bought bigger and better over the summer in readiness for Premiership football.
However, they gazumped City and paid a ridiculous £2.5M in January which rose to £3M after a promotion clause was activated so they state they will not sell for less than £2M.
Another issue is that Vine's wages apparently rocketed as another promotion clause activated and it would be far more than Cardiff would pay him.
So we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. The club want more money but it's unlikely anyone will do that and a player on great wages but knowing he's unlikely to get a look-in with his club when the action starts. However you look at it, it's highly dubious City will land him any time soon, if at all, and Jones may now have to resign himself to looking elsewhere.
Alexander/Weston
Finally just to mention ex-City keeper Neil Alexander signed a 3 year deal with Ipswich whilst misfit Rhys Weston penned a 1 yr contract at Walsall. Good luck to both of them.
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