Go Crouch!

[G_Man]

Next thing they'll use against him is his "goal:height ratio". Muppets

[univofchicago]

Next thing they'll use against him is his "goal:height ratio". Muppets

goal:height ratio??

[Shaggy]

A snippet from an article on the BBC website...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5309486.stm

Two games, two wins, nine goals scored, none conceded - on the face of it, new England boss Steve McClaren could not have begun his new job more impressively.

But, even after watching his side comfortably dispatch footballing minnows Andorra 5-0 in Manchester on Saturday, McClaren knows his side is yet to be truly tested.

In his first game, he was faced with a weak Greece side which competed only in the second half.

In his second, he was faced with an even weaker Andorra whose ambitions were limited to damage limitation - plus a nice sideline in theatrics which at least managed to fire the passions of the Old Trafford fans, given the absence of real competition.

The poor opposition is not, of course, McClaren's fault.

His first "competitive" match proved to be, in fact, a non-contest. And the ineffective opposition makes meaningful analysis rather difficult.

But the new England manager can still justifiably point to positives.

One big plus - in every sense - is giant striker Peter Crouch.

The Liverpool beanpole now has 10 goals in 13 international appearances - and four in his last two.

His record makes a mockery of those who said he was not international class - no-one now doubts Crouch's quality against all grades of opponent.

It seems incredible to think that he was booed by some England fans as recently as October 2005 in a World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Just 10 months later, his stock has risen immeasurably, leaving McClaren to admit that his side would be far weaker without him.

"No-one is undroppable, but when he is scoring goals at the rate he is scoring, you need him in your side," McClaren said after Saturday's win.

Crouch's form has justified former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's faith in him.

[GordonGecko]

So what's his value now?....people mocked the £7m price tag.....£7m or £8m or more?

[Shaggy]

Well he was probably £2m overpriced when we bought him but he's got to be worth £8m now.

Here's another nice piece about him. I absolutely love Crouch's attitude. He's shown magnificent heart and character to come through all the abuse and the barren spell. Many would have withered in his position and Crouch is an absolute credit to himself.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/09/03/sfncro03.xml

Crouch enjoys the big stage


There must be times when Peter Crouch wonders what he has to do to convince people of his talent. Having scored in three successive games for Liverpool, manager Rafael Benitez went out and signed Dirk Kuyt, and although his record of eight goals in his first 12 games for England before yesterday surely warranted a starting place, manager Steve McClaren had planned to give his slot to Dean Ashton in the friendly against Greece a fortnight ago.

Now, at least until Wayne Rooney is back from suspension, Crouch is England's first-choice striker and the supporters who used to boo him are starting to appreciate what he can do.

Although to most people, he still represents England's plan B, he says: "At least I'm in a plan, though obviously everyone wants to be in plan A." As someone who describes himself, euphemistically, as "not your average looking footballer", he has learned to roll with the punches. He says: "It is something I've grown up with. I've been knocked all my life and I have always believed that you laugh it off, be mentally strong and show people what you can do. The problem is that because of my size people tend to judge me before they have even seen me play. When they see me in the side, they say 'oh, the team are going to play long balls, they are going to lump it up to him' but, hopefully, I have now proved that I can do more than that."

When Crouch was first called up, it seemed like another mad whim of former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. But clearly, having played against Andorra in last night's first European qualifier and a certainty to start against Macedonia on Wednesday, he is central to Steve McClaren's plans as well.

If others were quick to label him a misfit, both at Liverpool and with England, Crouch has always felt comfortable on the big stage. He says: "I feel I have done well since I got involved with England. When you first come into the squad and see some of the star players, it can be a bit overwhelming but I've got to say that the lads are top class with any newcomers in the squad and it only takes a couple of days before you start expressing yourself on the pitch."

The change in management has not made much discernible difference to the players since McClaren always took training under Eriksson. Now, however, he has the help of Terry Venables. Crouch says: "There are so many players in the squad that it's impossible for the manager to coach all of them. So sometimes, Terry will take a session with the forwards and Steve with the defenders and the following day, they will switch. They are both very hands on."

As for Crouch, whether or not he is still plan A when Rooney returns and Michael Owen and Dean Ashton recover fitness, he will keep sucking up the criticism and try to make the most of his opportunities for club and country.

[disco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LrhSNWIh1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iKsh0omQKc

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Probably worth around £10M now after the many international appearances and goals.

So what's his value now?....people mocked the £7m price tag.....£7m or £8m or more?

[red g]

Crouch has more goals in a calender year than any other england international

Lineker and greavsie managed 9 ....and the year isnt even up!!

[FowlerLeftFoot]

if he is a midget with a nice set of teeth then he is probably worth around £25M...

j/k

[univofchicago]

Probably worth around £10M now after the many international appearances and goals.

Very difficult to figure out how much one is worth...it's very subjective...

You reckon he is worth around 10M, I would go over that and say he is worth about 15M. But then Brendan & Ryan would counter that and say he is well below 5M.

But whether it is 5M, 10M or 15M, I very much doubt that Rafa will sell Crouch anytime this season even if we happen to receive a whopping offer. Suppose that Chelsea came up with a 15M pound proposal, I doubt Rafa will accept let alone consider it. Not because Crouch is worth more than 15M. But because, at this moment in time, losing Crouch means giving away such a powerful option in our game; we don't have a direct replacement that will give us real aerial presence in the way Crouch does.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Yes i agree. Its very difficult to find someone this tall and with such good footwork. If he continues to improve on his heading, making full use of his advantage, he is going to be a very important player for Liverpool.

Very difficult to figure out how much one is worth...it's very subjective...

You reckon he is worth around 10M, I would go over that and say he is worth about 15M. But then Brendan & Ryan would counter that and say he is well below 5M.

But whether it is 5M, 10M or 15M, I very much doubt that Rafa will sell Crouch anytime this season even if we happen to receive a whopping offer. Suppose that Chelsea came up with a 15M pound proposal, I doubt Rafa will accept let alone consider it. Not because Crouch is worth more than 15M. But because, at this moment in time, losing Crouch means giving away such a powerful option in our game; we don't have a direct replacement that will give us real aerial presence in the way Crouch does.

[lfc4ever]

Strike another for Crouchy!

[Laz]

'Prolific' Crouch scores again

Macedonia 0-1 England at the start of the second half.

[leftpeg]

So, what's that now. 12 in 11?

[Laz]

Sorry, should have used existing thread. Please delete.