Peter Crouch

[Woodywizz]

Just watching Liverpool v City, Alan Smith has just said - to quote:

"Look at Crouch, he's definitely booked his seat on the plane to Germany this season". What a load of .....

I know he gives another option - that option being to lump a long ball in the box to a streak of ...., who cannot head whilst jumping, nor control it with any finesse, nor find the back of the net. Another option ?, do not make me laugh...I would rather have someone in the squad who can score, or at least be strong enough to actually hold the ball up and then feed a true striker - Crouch can do neither.

Let's look at his record :

Liverpool - 34 apps in all competitions, 8 goals - about 1 every 4 games
Villa - 43 appearances in all comps, 6 goals - 1 every 7 games

So, who should we take instead??? Who has better form this season?? Take your pick really from :

Bent, Harewood, Cole, Moore, Defoe, Nolan, Beattie, Vassell, Roberts, Zamora, Dickov - the list goes on and on.

To underline my point, Benitez has just substituted him after 70 mins. Please Sven, do not take him to Germany. Our forwards will be taking on the best defenders in the world (hopefully) - do you really think the likes of nesta, puyol, cafu, etc..will be scared of the sight of this lumbering into the box?

[KevD]

I personally would listen to a word Alan Smith says. In fact I was extremely shocked he never got his own option in the recent poll for worst comm
Maybe because Coruch is alot like him (mediocre talent) he thinks Sven is as dumb as Graham Taylor

[mjn]

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Bent, Harewood, Cole, Moore, Defoe, Nolan, Beattie, Vassell, Roberts, Zamora, Dickov - the list goes on and on.

Interesting....isn't Dickov Scottish?

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by mjn

Interesting....isn't Dickov Scottish?

So he is. Just goes to show how bad I think Crouch is. I would rather attempt to take a vindictive little player who is not even eligible, than Crouch.

[Sick Boy]

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Bent, Harewood, Cole, Moore, Defoe, Nolan, Beattie, Vassell, Roberts, Zamora, Dickov - the list goes on and on.

This kind of post indicates why we are not football managers.

Jason Roberts plays/played for Ghana I think, and Bobby Zamora is not English either.

I also think that Bobby Moore is no longer with us and was never a striker anyway.

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by Sick Boy

This kind of post indicates why we are not football managers.

Jason Roberts plays/played for Ghana I think, and Bobby Zamora is not English either.

I also think that Bobby Moore is no longer with us and was never a striker anyway.

I will give you Roberts - it was Grenada. However, Zamora - born in London. I also realise that Bobby Moore is no longer with us, I meant Luke Moore of Villa (English).

[LFC_SL]

To suggest Crouch was going to be a prolific goalscorer is naive. That job was intended for Cisse and Morientes who prior to joining Liverpool had prolific enough records

Crouch's job is to hold the ball up, flick it on and win balls in the air, allowing the likes of Kewell, Gerrard, Garcia and Crouch's strike partner to get onto those balls

Crouch was substituted after 70 minutes just to underline how poorly he played? Do you know anything about football? Morientes played far worse. Crouch on the other hand at least tries. FYI due to unfortunate circumstances, Crouch is our main man up front. Liverpool have played 47 matches this season - about 13 more than City, so Benitez has to preserve players

[KevD]

Originally Posted by Sick Boy

Bobby Zamora is not English either.

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Zamora - born in London.

Indeed he is, capped 6 times at U21 level for England

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Bent, Harewood, Cole, Moore, Defoe, Nolan, Beattie, Vassell, Roberts, Zamora, Dickov - the list goes on and on

Cole, Moore, Beattie, Vassell and Dickov aren't good enough - they're simply not international class or have the wrong passport

Bent, Harewood, Defoe and Zamora may well be interesting options to try out

As for Nolan, do you have a personal grudge against Crouch? Because it ain't Crouch keeping him out of Sven's plans - it's Gerrard, Lampard, Jenas and Carrick

And given Crouch's mere presence in the last 10 mins vs Argentina was enough to take the Argie's eye's off Owen, I say get off Crouchie's back

[Bristol Pete]

I also think that Bobby Moore is no longer with us and was never a striker anyway

Quality!!!!!

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Crouch's job is to hold the ball up, flick it on and win balls in the air, allowing the likes of Kewell, Gerrard, Garcia and Crouch's strike partner to get onto those balls

...........That's working then.

He cannot score goals - a prerequisite of most strikers; and he cannot hold the ball up. If Kewell, Garcia, Gerrard, Cisse were banging in 20 goals a season each,with Crouch assisting, then your argument may sway me - unfortunately they are not.

As a Liverpool fan, you cannot honestly tell me that Crouch is a great striker and deserves to wear your shirt...he doesn't. You have had great strikers like Owen, Rush, Fowler, etc....he is nowhere near that stature. Benitez should have signed Owen last year and the whole of Liverpool knows it.

No, I am not naive about football - just realistic.

[neilios]

I agree he's rubbish ,quite possibly the most bizarre centre forward in the world today.

Seems like a nice guy though.

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

....As for Nolan, do you have a personal grudge against Crouch? Because it ain't Crouch keeping him out of Sven's plans - it's Gerrard, Lampard, Jenas and Carrick

Merely suggesting a player who has scored more goals this season in the Premiership, and whom is a good workhorse with plenty of assists. Also, to suggest that Andy Cole is not international class, and intimating that Crouch is,....absurd. Yes, I know he is nearing the end of his career, but he is still banging them in and he has a pedigree which only Crouch can dream about.

[LFC_SL]

I know Crouch isn't gonna score 20+ a season. Benitez knows it. Sven know's it. He's picked for his teamplay. Liverpool shoot and cross from all angles as Crouch plays in the team. If that damn Morientes took his numerous chances, you'd be saying
"Crouch - he don't score, but everything else he does is great"
So what's your point?

But to say he can't do anything else - now that's absurd

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I know Crouch isn't gonna score 20+ a season. Benitez knows it. Sven know's it. He's picked for his teamplay. Liverpool shoot and cross from all angles as Crouch plays in the team. If that damn Morientes took his numerous chances, you'd be saying
"Crouch - he don't score, but everything else he does is great"
So what's your point?

The point is: he doesn't score 20 a season nor help others around him to do so. As a striker, if you're not doing the first then you need to be doing the second, in spades - he is not doing either. Never mind, Owen will be back at Anfield next season - partner him with Fowler, sell Crouch to..say Reading...and you'll be alright. If you wanted a striker who really does exemplify 'teamwork' then you should have put a bid in for Rooney....not that he would have come to you though.

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

..."Crouch - he don't score, but everything else he does is great"....

Unfortunately, it isn't. Strong in the air?....no; Great header of the ball?....no; Brilliant footwork and vision to set up others?...no; 6 foot 7?...yes....and....well, that's about it really.