Crouch - media reports

[SouthAfricaRed]

I dont know how to answer that. I guess my answer is the one I would give if Rafa had sold Crouch and signed Amauri instead. Then I would look at that youtube clip and justify Rafas decision in the way I did. To me he looks like a much better player then Crouch, but if I was managing LFC I would of course never sign a player based on that.

As for Tevez for Bellamy. Absolutely.

But they are not similar players?

I honestly dont know what the fascination with Tevez is?

£20 million for him is just way too much IMO. He did very little at West Ham. I would consider him on a similar deal to that of Masherano (Loan + option to buy) but definately not an outright buy for £20 million in this window

[einar]

But they are not similar players?

I honestly dont knowe what the fascination with Tevez is?

£20 million for him is just way too much IMO. He did very little at West Ham. I would consider him on a similar deal to that of Masherano (Loan + option to buy) but definately not an outright buy for £20 million in this window

Well most people disagree with you there, and are of the opinion that he almost singe handedly saved them from relegation. I do agree with you that he is not a simular player to Bellamy at all but he is world class so that trade would strengthen our team greatly. He has been adjusting to the prem and ended the season by scoring 7 in 10. The only thing that Bellamy has over Tevez is pace, and not by that much.

[Bob]

Not reading this thread, but the CL final showed to me that Rafa doesn't rate Crouch.

In fact i could guess-work a lot more evidence to collaborate that.

I fully expect Crouch and Bellamy to be on the 'offered' list 'IMO'.

[bazza76]

Well most people disagree with you there, and are of the opinion that he almost singe handedly saved them from relegation. I do agree with you that he is not a simular player to Bellamy at all but he is world class so that trade would strengthen our team greatly. He has been adjusting to the prem and ended the season by scoring 7 in 10. The only thing that Bellamy has over Tevez is pace, and not by that much.

I agree I think Tevez is worth the £20m and possibly more, prividing he is played to his strengths and is allowed some freedom, which remains to be seen if he would get that.
I think one of the reasons that Bellamy hasnt had such a good time of it at Anfield is because he lacked the freedom that he got at Blackburn, but I guess you sacrificing the team to give him that freedom.
Bellamy can actually be quite effective from a deep strikers role, just look at his goals at Blackburn for example, most of them came not off the shoulder OWen like, but from a deeper position, alot fo the time not needing to beat the defender, isntead hammering in a shot from distance, he has more power than we have seen at Anfeild.
Tevez IMO would get freedom similar to what Garcia gets. He will need atleast that to thrive.

[SouthAfricaRed]

I agree I think Tevez is worth the £20m and possibly more, prividing he is played to his strengths and is allowed some freedom, which remains to be seen if he would get that.
I think one of the reasons that Bellamy hasnt had such a good time of it at Anfield is because he lacked the freedom that he got at Blackburn, but I guess you sacrificing the team to give him that freedom.
Bellamy can actually be quite effective from a deep strikers role, just look at his goals at Blackburn for example, most of them came not off the shoulder OWen like, but from a deeper position, alot fo the time not needing to beat the defender, isntead hammering in a shot from distance, he has more power than we have seen at Anfeild.
Tevez IMO would get freedom similar to what Garcia gets. He will need atleast that to thrive.

I think Rafa's style of play doesnt suit any striker. He prefers a striker that can also defend with the team. Like Kuijt does. Only problem with this is that Kuijt ends up being out of position when he's needed. Rafa's teams have never had a prolific striker. I dont think Rafa's teams have ever had a striker that scored 20+ goals in the League. I agree that Tevez needs a free Role, but I fear that he'll be forced to play a different game here, just like Bellamy was.

I would rather see us spend the £20 million on Alves.

As for Bob's comments that Rafa doesnt fancy Crouch. I think Rafa sees Crouch as an impact player in Europe and a Player to unlock stubborn defensive sides in the EPL. I cant see him being sold for that reason

[bigfooty]

I would rather see us spend the £20 million on Alves.

You honestly think Alves would make 20M worth of difference to us?

I've no doubt he's a decent player but from what I've seen he is defensively suspect and not really a 20M player for his offensive skills.

If we got Alves for closer to 10M I'd be okay with it, but 20M is just silly money.

As for Crouch I feel for him. Our win percentage when he starts is massively superior to any other striker in the squad, he's our top scorer despite starting less games than the two other main strikers and rarely playing a full 90 minutes. He also creates more goals than the other strikers. Yet this isn't good enough for Rafa.

Perhaps instead of ranting at the new owners Rafa can take some of the blame himself and look back on the season and reflect on what might have been if he'd gone with Crouch as our first choice striker and picked Kuyt or Bellamy around him as was appropriate. I wonder if he realises that when Crouch started with those two our record was W16 D2 L3. That's ****ing awesome by most team's standards. If we had repeated that over 38 league matches we'd be league champions and wouldn't have to sit here contemplating selling our top scorer because he doesn't give Rafa enough possibilities.

[SouthAfricaRed]

You honestly think Alves would make 20M worth of difference to us?

I've no doubt he's a decent player but from what I've seen he is defensively suspect and not really a 20M player for his offensive skills.

If we got Alves for closer to 10M I'd be okay with it, but 20M is just silly money.

Alves will play Right Midfield for us, His prefered position. I think he'll be the Perfect combination with Finnan and most importantly free Gerrard up to play in the centre. I dont think Alves will cost £20 million, but I would rather use the money on him than Tevez

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Well, to be honest I just saw a youtube clip.

But he looked like he has all the attributes a target man needs and then some.
Plus he is a great header of the ball. He can jump from a standstill with a defender tucked into his shorts and still deliver a killer header on target.

Thanks for the info Einar




awaits AFII to say Klose is the best at that job and we should buy him

[Ron_Mexico]

Not reading this thread, but the CL final showed to me that Rafa doesn't rate Crouch.

In fact i could guess-work a lot more evidence to collaborate that.

I fully expect Crouch and Bellamy to be on the 'offered' list 'IMO'.

yeah its odd how hes treated crouch

stuck by him when he was absolute **** struggling to score

then he sits him on the bench when he's in great form scoring freely, in favour of a player who arguably was a step down in quality in front of goal - kuyt

i'd be disapointed if crouch left but if eto'o and tevez arrived....

[AFII]

The reason we did so well in the season 2005/6, was because Crouch was such effective foil for the attack. We managed to get 82 points, and away from home we really solid. Still dont get why we got rid of that system?

Crouch - should definitely stay. Ahead of Kuyt and Bellamy.

Amauri, Elmander and Ashton for example is better than Crouch. All three of them are also better in the air than Crouch and that is a very important point.

We need someone better in the air than Crouch.

[AFII]

Thanks for the info Einar




awaits AFII to say Klose is the best at that job and we should buy him

Klose is one of the best at that job but he will stay another season with Bremen. He is very loyal so that won't change if Bremen doesn't suddenly decides to sell him.

[ningnangnong]

I thought he was nailed on to leave Bremen this summer?

[Johnny]

Keep Crouch,let Owen go to Utd.

[poorscousertommy]

£20 million for him is just way too much IMO. He did very little at West Ham

Yeah, besides keep them in the Premier League that is.

Ashton for example is better than Crouch

I disagree with this, I reckon Crouch is better than Ashton.

Crouch is a cracking player and I would not be sad to see him stay but I would not be upset if he went in place of Tevez, Etoo or Owen.

If we had a fully fit Owen then we would have a goalscoaring machine. I think people sometimes forget just how good he is.

[Morph]

Not reading this thread, but the CL final showed to me that Rafa doesn't rate Crouch.

In fact i could guess-work a lot more evidence to collaborate that.

I fully expect Crouch and Bellamy to be on the 'offered' list 'IMO'.

Crouchy seems to think different -

Peter Crouch has revealed Rafa Benitez has assured him he has a future at Liverpool.

The beanpole striker had to battle with Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt for a starting berth at Anfield last term and is now having to contend with speculation about his future.

Benitez, armed with a sizeable transfer kitty, is set to revamp his squad this summer and both Crouch and Bellamy have been linked with the Anfield exit door.

Newcastle chief Sam Allardyce is reported to be ready to table a bid for Crouch, but the England international claims Benitez has told him he has a role to play on Merseyside.

"He's (Benitez) told me I'm part of his plans and that's good enough for me," Crouch told Sky Sports News.

"At a club like Liverpool there's going to be competition for places, especially as the manager likes to chop and change."