Date of Birth: 23 08 1982
Place of Birth: Edinburgh
Position: Forward
Nationality: Scotland
Steven MacLean Rumours and Transfers
12 08 2007
Cardiff's lack of firepower in the opening day 0-1 home loss to Stoke has fuelled a search for a new striker, however Robbie Fowler will not be rushed back.
"Robbie has not had the pre season preparation and he will play when he's ready," mentioned Cardiff manager Dave Jones.
"He's not far off, however playing him when he's not right will damage him and bring nothing to the team. We all know I have not got enough firepower, I am looking around however the problem is the prices being asked."
The Bluebirds lost top scorer Michael Chopra to Sunderland in the summer, the £5 million man scoring a dramatic injury time winner on his debut, Saturday's Premier League opener against Tottenham.
"Maybe I am to blame for the prices by messing up the market when I sold Chopra," mentioned Jones.
"Southampton would like £5 million for Kenwynne Jones, we have not got that sort of money, however that is the type of player we need, someone who can break it up for us."
Jones' big name summer transfers were Fowler and Trevor Sinclair, who both arrived on free transfers.
Steven MacLean was another free transfer, the forward missing the late penalty at Ninian Park that cost Cardiff a draw against Stoke.
"I have heard that was the 1st penalty he's ever missed so it is ironic that it came at a time like that," Sinclair informed BBC Sport Wales.
"We must keep him away from the spot in the future, however it was an unbelievable save from their keeper. Steven will get a bit of mickey-taking on the training pitch, however it will all be quickly forgotten."
Former England wing Sinclair had taken encouragement from the Bluebirds' display on his competitive debut.
"The result was disappointing given the chances we created and the way we played," he said.
"They are a physical side, however we put ourselves about the pitch in a commanding way. At the end of the day we have got no points on the board, however it is a long season where we will play worse and triumph games."
11 08 2007
Sheffield United started life back in the Championship with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Colchester.
The Blades' big money signing James Beattie gave them the lead midway through the 2nd half with a debut goal however within 30 seconds the Us were level.
Mark Yeates crossed from the right and Kevin McLeod found the net.
Bryan Robson's side restored their lead through Michael Tonge in the 82nd minute however the visitors fought back again as new signing from MK Dons Clive Platt scored from close range with a minute to go.
It was an even worse opening day for the Blades' city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 4-1 at Ipswich.
The Owls were a goal down in the 2nd minute when Alan Lee converted a penalty after a foul by Lee Bullen on Pablo Counago. Gary Roberts volleyed in a 2nd 9 minutes later and Lee added his 2nd and Town's 3rd in the 25th minute.
Counago scored a 4th on the hour before Leon Clarke's late consolation for Brian Laws' side.
Laws' old club Scunthorpe marked their return to the 2nd tier with a 1-1 draw away to Charlton.
Marcus Bent scored in the 62nd minute for the Addicks however Scunthorpe secured a draw through defender Izzy Iriekpen, their summer signing from Swansea.
Southampton, one of the favourites for promotion, suffered a shock 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
James Scowcroft scored a hat trick for the Eagles, hitting a quickfire brace (30 and 31) before Marek Saganowski's scrambled effort gave Saints hope on the stroke of half time.
Scowcroft completed his treble 10 minutes into the 2nd half and Clinton Morrison added a 4th 2 minutes later.
Coventry, under former Palace manager Iain Dowie, were also 4-1 winners at Barnsley.
Leon McKenzie gave the Sky Blues a 6th minute lead however Brian Howard's penalty 3 minutes later levelled the scores.
Kevin Kyle headed City back in front (50) from Jay Tabb's cross and new boy Julian Gray added a 3rd 15 minutes later.
Maltese forward Michael Mifsud wrapped up the scoring in injury time.
Leicester started the Martin Allen era with a 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool, led by former Foxes defender Simon Grayson.
The only goal came in the 63rd minute from Keith Southern to give the Seasiders a winning start in the east midlands.
West Bromwich Albion failed to live up to their pre season billing with a 2-1 defeat at Burnley.
The Baggies led through Kevin Phillips' 18th minute effort however Michael Duff's header pulled Burnley level (47).
Steve Cotterill's side got the winner when handball was given against Neil Clement in the 79th minute and Andy Gray stroked in the penalty.
Cardiff also succumbed to defeat, at home to Stoke, as Ryan Shawcross got the only goal in the 27th minute, Steven MacLean missing a late penalty for the Bluebirds.
Newly-promoted Bristol City were seconds away from win however had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to QPR.
Lee Johnson (25) put the Robins ahead however Rangers hit back immediately through Dexter Blackstock.
Scott Murray's excellent effort in the final seconds of normal time looked decisive however John Gregory's men again hit back as Damion Stewart headed home in injury time.
Hull lost 3-2 in a dramatic match against Plymouth at the KC Stadium, Dean Windass putting the hosts ahead in the 3rd minute however Plymouth fighting back to lead 2-1 at the break through David Norris (15) and Rory Fallon (45).
Hull drew level through Dean Marney (49) however a terrific strike from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 9 minutes from time proved the winner.
Preston, whose late slump saw them miss out on last season's play-offs, started with a goalless draw against Norwich at Deepdale.
22 07 2007
Robbie Fowler has agreed to join Cardiff on a 2 year contract.
The 32 year old forward was released by Liverpool at the end of last season and has discarded will move to Leicester City and Sydney FC in Australia's A-League.
Fowler will be re-united with Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, who was in charge at Leeds when he signed from Liverpool for £11 million in November 2001.
He expects to be officially unveiled at a news conference in Cardiff early next week.
"It is taken a lot of hard work however thankfully it is done now," Cardiff manager Dave Jones informed BBC Wales Sport.
"I met Robbie on holiday in America, only a chance meeting, and asked him what he was doing. He was not sure so I went on the internet to check his record and found he was not a bad player so I thought we might chase him. Peter [Ridsdale] has worked really hard on it and I am glad he's decided to we are the club he would like to join."
Fowler's arrival at Ninian Park comes just over a week after Cardiff sold last season's top scorer Michael Chopra to Sunderland for £4.5 million.
Jones said he would sign Fowler even if Chopra had stayed, and stressed the former England forward still has the hunger to be successful.
"He's certainly got that, that is not in question," added Jones. "And to bank £4.5 million for Chopra and then to get Robbie Fowler on a free transfer is good business. It puts the club in a healthy position, which is what we have been fighting for over the last 12 months."
Sydney FC had hoped to lure Fowler, and the former England forward was impressed with the set up after travelling to Australia for talks.
But his representative George Scott said Sydney were unable to compete financially with the other offers for Fowler.
"The only thing against them is that Robbie is a Premier League player and he is used to Premier League money," mentioned Scott.
"The Premier League is unique in terms of the crazy money it generates and there is nothing in the world that replicates it, not even Spain. That money is well beyond Sydney and the Australian league and we know that. It is really a battle between money and quality of life and think me, quality of life counts for a lot of money. All the money in the world is not going to buy your family's happiness."
Fowler becomes Cardiff's 6th summer signing of the summer, following Trevor Sinclair, Gavin Rae, Steven MacLean, Tony Capaldi and Michael Oakes to Ninian Park.
Jones said he still would like to bring another goalie and a forward before the start of the season, however categorically dismissed reports that Cardiff had agreed a £1 million deal to sign Blackburn's Francis Jeffers.
"That is a total fabrication of a story," mentioned Jones. "I only do not know where these people get it from. Someone asks you a question, you have given an answer and all of a sudden 2 and 2 becomes 10. It is totally untrue and I find it absolutely amazing."
Fowler made his Liverpool debut as an 18 year old in 1993, scoring 171 goals in 330 games before joining Leeds for £11 million in 2001 and then Manchester City for £6 million in 2003.
Fowler returned for a 2nd spell at Anfield in January 2006, even though his starting appearances were limited.
02 07 2007
Cardiff City forward Steve Thompson is probably going to miss the start of the new season after having groin surgery.
The 28 year old injured his groin whilst on holiday and was informed he needed surgery after seeing a specialist when he reported for training this week.
"It is not known at the current time how long Steve will be out," mentioned a statement on the Cardiff website.
Thompson was placed on the transfer list in May after managing only 6 goals in 45 appearances last season.
The Scotland international has a year left on his contract.
He will start next season as the 3rd-choice forward at Ninian Park following the recent arrival of Steven MacLean, who was given the number 9 team number that Thompson wore last season.
22 06 2007
Cardiff City sign Scottish pair Gavin Rae and Steven MacLean.
Both are free agents, Rangers having released midfielder Rae whilst forward MacLean was out of contract with Sheffield Wednesday.
Cardiff beat off stiff competition from the likes of Hearts and Norwich for Rae, 29, capped 11 times by Scotland.
MacLean, 24, was also in demand, the forward who started his career at Ibrox having finished joint top scorer for the Owls last season with 13 goals.
He arrived at Hillsborough from Rangers for an undisclosed fee in July 2004 having enjoyed a successful loan spell with Scunthorpe United in 2003-04.
MacLean was voted Player of the Year in his 1st season with Wednesday, after becoming the 1st Owl to score 20 goals in a season for 11 years.
However, a broken leg sustained in 2005 wrecked the following season.
Rae joined Rangers from Dundee in January 2004 in a £250,000 deal.
However, a series of knee injuries curtailed the Ibrox career of the hard-tackling midfielder and he was not offered a new contract.
Cardiff have not said the terms of the contracts offered to the pair.
