England v Egypt

[Craig_H]

It wasnt really that which led to his departure though. He ultimately wanted to play every week and with our one-striker system and Torres, it was never gonna be on the cards.

[Shaggy]

It wasnt really that which led to his departure though. He ultimately wanted to play every week and with our one-striker system and Torres, it was never gonna be on the cards.

Oh of course but there were plenty of times when Torres was injured and Voronin kept getting the nod over Crouch. I'm sure it was at that point the seeds were sown for him. His record was very good and he must've been bemused to see My Little Pony being preferred.

It's such a shame, he doesn't play every week for Spurs either. He should still be here. He'd have played **** loads of games for us too FFS.

[Vermilion]

It wasnt really that which led to his departure though. He ultimately wanted to play every week and with our one-striker system and Torres, it was never gonna be on the cards.

Crouchies choice, he became a better player here i feel, an England regular, then the press started putting ideas into his head that he should be starting for us every game, that was it, he either wanted that or too leave, so off he went.

[dww]

Really wish we still had Crouchie. One of Rafa's biggest ****-ups was giving Voronin game time at Crouch's expense.

I'm not sure. I still don't think Crouch ideally suits the way we play and in his first season Voronin did okay in a role not too dissimilar to the one we tried with Keane in the next season. I think that adaptation/option is one we need to add to our game and would more naturally follow the evolution we have been making elsewhere in the team.

In retrospect Voronin getting time for Crouch was a mistake but I think at the time it was the right sort of move to be trying and to some extent is one we should look at. I guess at least Crouch gave us a workable plan B but I don't think that having a big man up front is one that encourages good things in the team overall.

I would quite like us to buy him back in a few years when what I hope is another period of team evolution is over. He is one of the most likeable players who are also effective in front of goal around.

[Craig_H]

As shaggy rightly says though, he's not 1st choice at Spurs. Not even 2nd choice.

He just about saw off the infinitely inferior ****ebag that is Robbie Keane, must've been thinking 'right, this is my chance now' and Pavlyuchenko suddenly hits a rich vein of form.

Poor Crouchy.

Shaggy's spot on with 'he should still be here', one of the most emphatically correct statements i've ever read on the forums.

[dww]

As shaggy rightly says though, he's not 1st choice at Spurs. Not even 2nd choice.

He just about saw off the infinitely inferior ****ebag that is Robbie Keane, must've been thinking 'right, this is my chance now' and Pavlyuchenko suddenly hits a rich vein of form.

Poor Crouchy.

Shaggy's spot on with 'he should still be here', one of the most emphatically correct statements i've ever read on the forums.

He does seem to have ridiculously bad timing in terms of what happens in the squads around him.

[red g]

38 goals in 151 games ......

with Portsmouth, Spurs and Liverpool.

Hardly prolific. I think Rafa, Harry and FAbio have all got it spot on.....he is a super supersub but not a top player.

He thinks he is though

[Craig_H]

38 goals in 151 games ......

with Portsmouth, Spurs and Liverpool.

Hardly prolific. I think Rafa, Harry and FAbio have all got it spot on.....he is a super supersub but not a top player.

He thinks he is though

What's his goal ratio when he's actually started though?

Have you seen his goals per starts stats for england, as opposed to his goals-from-bench stats?

[red g]

What's his goal ratio when he's actually started though?

Have you seen his goals per starts stats for england, as opposed to his goals-from-bench stats?

I havent but Rafa, FAbio and HArry dont seem to think he was good enough to be starting all the time, or maybe they are just height-ist.

[-V-]

I wouldn't have Crouch in my starting 11 unless I was desperate (e.g Athens 07).

He's too slow, can't move with the ball at his feet and he slows down the whole teams general play. Great super sub and great against in situations where the opposition is pinned back in their own box but generally he can be a let down as if you pass to him outside the box he gives the defence too long and they get everyone back behind the ball and your attack breaks down. He's also too inconsistent.

[Craig_H]

Well as alluded to, Rafa went through a period where Voronin was ahead of Crouch in the pecking order.

Capello rates Heskey. Nuff said.

Harry Redknapp had the club skipper ahead of Crouch, and he had to play Keane, such was his status. Defoe was on fire, so had to play. And now Pavlyuchenko's on fire too, so cant be dropped.

[Craig_H]

I wouldn't have Crouch in my starting 11 unless I was desperate (e.g Athens 07).

He's too slow, can't move with the ball at his feet and he slows down the whole teams general play. Great super sub and great against in situations where the opposition is pinned back in their own box but generally he can be a let down as if you pass to him outside the box he gives the defence too long and they get everyone back behind the ball. He's also too inconsistent.

Isnt that how we play anyway?

As for consistency - when he plays consistently, he scores consistently.

[-V-]

Im never going to defend Rafa on Voronin. Absolute joke. But Keane and Defoe were a very good partnership that produced goals and Crouch did a good job as a sub.

The only reason Pavlechenko is hitting form is because Crouch allowed him back into the team by playing poorly for a period of time where Spurs barely picked up any points, for like 2 months

[Craig_H]

Was Crouch actually starting every game during that period?

Also, it's possible that the whole team was being ****e - much like us, at stages.

During which points, Torres/Gerrard didnt consequently become not good enough, just cos the team as a whole (them included) werent delivering.

[red g]

Was Crouch actually starting every game during that period?

Also, it's possible that the whole team was being ****e - much like us, at stages.

During which points, Torres/Gerrard didnt consequently become not good enough, just cos the team as a whole (them included) werent delivering.

probably did coincide with lennon being out........