Just how highly does Rafa rate Crouch?

[fowlen]

When looking at the dignings made so far this season, it points to us playing a more free-flowing style of football.
We now have genuine wingers, which means we won't be playing as narrow, and hopefully there will plenty of crosses for out and out strikers to hit the target.

With the possibility of Kuyt arriving, and Bellamy and Fowler - all of whom are more natural goal scorers than Crouch, where does this leave the big man?

Assuming Kuyt joins will Crouch get as many games?
Could he go from 1st o 4th choice striker?
Will he mainly be used when plans A and B are not working, and we need to start playing more direct football?

[Eth]

I'd say nearly 7ft

[Shaggy]

Rafa rates Crouch very highly. That's why he trailed him for so long and fought so hard to sign him.

All this "Crouch will hardly play" stuff is balls, IMO. Nando and Cisse played their fair share of games last season (while Crouch was a virtual fixture in the side) and they've been replaced by Bellamy and probably Kuyt.

It just means we have more possibilities and we won't have to be as reliant on Crouchie. I don't think Rafa will choose a favourite pairing (or lone frontman) - he'll mix and match throughout the season.

[Rosco]

I'm not convinced.

I think if we do as expected tie up the Kuyt deal, Bellamy and Kuyt will be first choice.

Rafa was quite pointed in his statement on Crouch this week Mentioning things like he must improve , he must realise the importance of scoring goals etc.

Is it possible that Rafa thinks Crouch is starting to get a bit over confident(as may have been the case early in the summer when things went very well for him) and needs to be brought down a bit ?

[blacky]

Maybe Crouch has let the "Robo-Dancing Cult Hero" tag go to his head

[G_Man]

He rates him highly, otherwise he wouldn't have played him in virtually every game last season and certainly all the big games. Most of the time he came off around the hour mark to preserve him for the next game.
Maybe he'll be more of a super sub this season or used to change the tactics. At the end of the day, it's all about different styles of play and that's what Crouch offers us against teams. He's essential.

[cobain]

Will he mainly be used when plans A and B are not working, and we need to start playing more direct football?

I pick this one

[Peter Delvechio]

I don't think Rafa rates Crouch as highly as everyone seems to think. There's no point talking about how many games he got last season because Morientes played a lot too and didn't last long (despite Rafa constantly telling the media how much Morienttes brought to the whole team effort).

I think Rafa is probably diasppointed with Crouch's goal scoring record (someone has said that he converts 8% of the chances he gets!) and has made it clear that another season like last season will see Crouch sold on.

[bazza76]

I'm not convinced.

I think if we do as expected tie up the Kuyt deal, Bellamy and Kuyt will be first choice.

Rafa was quite pointed in his statement on Crouch this week Mentioning things like he must improve , he must realise the importance of scoring goals etc.

Is it possible that Rafa thinks Crouch is starting to get a bit over confident(as may have been the case early in the summer when things went very well for him) and needs to be brought down a bit ?

I know i dont be around training with LFC obviously, but Crouch may have been guilty of relaxing a bit, after his role as Englands number 1 striker along with Rooney at the world cup and scoring at the tournament.
I think Rafa's may be hinting at Crouch, liten you have a good hieght, wich i can use well as a good option, but you are far from the complete forward, you must improve, and personally, im glad he has said this to Crouch, he is still very wastefull infront of goal and could improve drastically in the air. If we are to compete for the Premier League seriously, we cant afford such wastefullness, and Rafa knows this.

[Bob]

I don't think Rafa will choose a favourite pairing (or lone frontman) - he'll mix and match throughout the season.

I strongly disagree with this sentiment. Strikers thrive on confidence, sure they need rested from time to time, but looking at the best frontmen to play in the premiership they tended to be regulars and have regular parters i.e. henry - bergkamp, yorke - cole, SAS etc.

I for one hope we play two up (certainly at home) and that pairing is predominately Kuyt and Bellamy with Crouch mixing it up if we need a more direct game / to go one up and shore up the midfield to close out a game.

Crouch would be a waste of Pennant's crosses and Speedy's direct game i.e. his whole approach to attacking headers is just terrible, and he hasn't the speed to catch up with play when counter attacking. These points were undeniably prevalent last season.

How highly does Rafa rate Crouch? He keeps his cards close to his chest - anyone's guess!

[Nic83]

From Rafa:

Rafael Benitez has challenged Peter Crouch to build on an impressive debut season at Anfield and develop into an even better player over the course of the new campaign.
With the manager admitting he's still searching for another striker, places in the Reds' attack will be difficult to win this season and Benitez is urging his England striker to rise to the new challenge.

"This year, Peter is more mature and he needs to understand what it means to be a Liverpool player," said Benitez.

"People were talking before he signed that he wasn't good for us. But after a while he was in the squad with the national team and now people know how good he is.

"But he cannot think that is enough. He now needs to continue improving as he has a lot of potential and possibilities.

"You cannot stop improving. "He needs to know how important it is to score goals, to make assists and to work hard for a club like this, and I think he is going about things the right way.

"He needs to improve in some areas and keep doing the things he has done well."

[paulcooper4]

From Rafa:

Rafael Benitez has challenged Peter Crouch to build on an impressive debut season at Anfield and develop into an even better player over the course of the new campaign.
With the manager admitting he's still searching for another striker, places in the Reds' attack will be difficult to win this season and Benitez is urging his England striker to rise to the new challenge.

"This year, Peter is more mature and he needs to understand what it means to be a Liverpool player," said Benitez.

"People were talking before he signed that he wasn't good for us. But after a while he was in the squad with the national team and now people know how good he is.

"But he cannot think that is enough. He now needs to continue improving as he has a lot of potential and possibilities.

"You cannot stop improving. "He needs to know how important it is to score goals, to make assists and to work hard for a club like this, and I think he is going about things the right way.

"He needs to improve in some areas and keep doing the things he has done well."

end of thread then id say. rafa rates crouch and wants him ti get even better.

[TheStig]

end of thread then id say. rafa rates crouch and wants him ti get even better.

Agreed.

[Nic83]

Nic-Flush - the party pooper.

[Peter Delvechio]

"He needs to know how important it is to score goals, to make assists and to work hard for a club like this"

That suggests that Rafa doesn't think he's there yet.

Neither do I.