Quick question for the Crouch doubters...

[Craig_H]

Quick question for the Crouch doubters...

Not wishing to have an argument, just genuinely curious...

Has he won you over yet or not?

I dont mean just on today, i mean this season generally. He's started 16 league games and scored 9 league goals. He's started 24 in all comps and scored 16.

In short, he is prolific (when he actually gets to play). And if i recall, the main gripe was that he didnt score enough goals.

So are the doubters convinced now? Or more convinced? Or do they still feel he's not good enough?

As i say, just trying to gauge opinion, not looking for arguments or anything.

Cheers

[Kopite_Colin]

I've now conceded that he WAS worth the £7m we paid for him, but I'm not convinced he'll do it season in season out for us. He misses too many glaring opportunities, although today he was excellent. He offers something very different, but whether it's enough in a championship winning side, I'm not sure.

[kurtangle01]

I wasn't overly impressed when we signed him but I have to admit that he's won me over. He might not be prolific in the sense that he scores 20 odd goals a season but he does offer something very different.

[Craig_H]

I've now conceded that he WAS worth the £7m we paid for him, but I'm not convinced he'll do it season in season out for us. He misses too many glaring opportunities, although today he was excellent. He offers something very different, but whether it's enough in a championship winning side, I'm not sure.

I understand that some doubts remain.

I was fecked off when we paid £7m for him, but after watching him week in, week out, i was happy with him, despite the (then) lack of goals. Felt we'd probably paid £2m too much. Then during last season, i changed my mind on this.

Now i think he's probably worth something like £12m. If this current form becomes a regular thing (which would mean he would need to get to play more games) then he'll be one of the best goalscorers in the league, without doubt.

[Craig_H]

I wasn't overly impressed when we signed him but I have to admit that he's won me over. He might not be prolific in the sense that he scores 20 odd goals a season but he does offer something very different.

With regards to the 20 odd goals a season, i think he'd get to 20+ with ease, if he played regularly.

16 now, from 24 starts. Prolific with a capital 'p' IMO mate.

[Kopite_Colin]

That said, if we were offered £12m for him, I'd take it. Add it to the £8-10m we'd get for Bellamy and I'd buy a top drawer striker of the likes of Eto'o, Villa, Add add a few quid and get Klose too.

[Kopite_Colin]

9 league goals though in 16 starts.

[CAD]

He did well today. No doubt.

But he is not good enough to be a Liverpool player and he never will be be

[Dhav]

I think he is an excellent option to have. I know people have been fawning over him on here today, and rightly so, and may be is the best striker we have (although i am not particularly convinced of that yet - people seem to have been veyr quick to judge Kuyt and stick the boot in a little, ignoring how difficult Crouch found it in his first season at the club), and as "prolific" as he supposedly is, he is still too wasteful and today aside is a poor headerer of the ball, and when we've bought him partly to get on the end of crosses, then that is not acceptable. If we're look ing at winning the league, he will need to improve and be far less profligate and more clinical, or he will have to accept that his role is that which he has played this season, which is being more of a squad player.

[Craig_H]

He did well today. No doubt.

But he is not good enough to be a Liverpool player and he never will be be

"Never will be" is a bit silly isnt it mate? What if he's scored 25 goals by the end of the season? And then 20+ next season?

Surely there IS a scenario whereby he'd be considered good enough, even by you? Or is there not?

[Craig_H]

I think he is an excellent option to have. I know people have been fawning over him on here today, and rightly so, and may be is the best striker we have (although i am not particularly convinced of that yet - people seem to have been veyr quick to judge Kuyt and stick the boot in a little, ignoring how difficult Crouch found it in his first season at the club), and as "prolific" as he supposedly is, he is still too wasteful and today aside is a poor headerer of the ball, and when we've bought him partly to get on the end of crosses, then that is not acceptable. If we're look ing at winning the league, he will need to improve and be far less profligate and more clinical, or he will have to accept that his role is that which he has played this season, which is being more of a squad player.

I hear where you're coming from, but surely the stats prove that Crouch is THE most clinical of our strikers?

If he isnt clinical enough, does that mean the other 2 should be shipped out as well?

[Ben_Itez]

I'd love to see Crouch's goal ratio for us per minutes on the pitch.

He's sub a lot and when he does start he invariably gets taken off. Rarely completes a ninety minutes.

He was the top scorer in England last calendar year (january to january) too. How much more does the lad need to do!??

If Bergkamp had produced a performance like that with the deftness of touch, vision, control and finishing Crouchie showed today people would be creaming over him for weeks. Although saying that Gullit and Redknapp were eulogising about him on Sky BIG time.

Has to start on Tuesday but I just cant see it happening.

[Kopite_Colin]

I'd play Kuyt and Crouch on Tuesday. Without Alex, and with Crouch in-form they won't be able to handle him. Also Kuyt will know a lot about them (strengths and weaknesses). However with it being an away leg, Rafa might just go for Crouch and Stevie again.

[Rich]

I think it's fair to say that this season Crouch has been the most dangerous of our strikers - and deserves a place at the club next season. One thing I'd hate is to sell him and then having to play against him.

I'd bring in a big name striker (wish list topped with Eto'o), keep Kuyt (needs time to settle, and currently deserves LESS playing time), keep Crouch (fact is he does score goals and is difficult to play against), sell Bellamy and if Fowler is willing to accept £5/10k a week, I'd keep him for a year, even if it's just for morale.

I'd be more than happy having Eto'o, Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin, with emergency cover Fowler as our clubs strikers next year - and in my opinion, if Eto'o were to take to the Premiership without needing a bedding in period we'd have enough ability to score the goals needed to really challenge.

Obviously, supply needs some tweaks.

[Kopite_Colin]

If we have to keep Kuyt AND Crouch, then I want us to halt the Voronin deal (no sentiment in business), bring in Villa / Eto'o AND Klose. 2 striekrs with pedigree who can score goals at the highest level.