Crouch to M'Boro in Jan!!!!

[El Jefecito]

Hardly now.If he did he would be in the team.Even heskey is keeping him out of the English team

Crouch started 34 games last year and scored 26 goals

[AFII]

Last season doesn't matter. It's about this season and Rafa's new tactic and as I said, that tactic is made to fit Torres, not Crouch.

Can anyone name one thing on the pitch that Crouch is better at than Torres?

I can't and I doubt that anyone can that. That is the two problems for Crouch, Rafa's new tactic and Torres.

Crouch is as good as he was last season and he played good then but that counts for nothing now because we don't play to his strenghts anymore and that means a less effective Crouch even that he isn't any worse now than last season.

I like Crouch but the team will always come first. We will win more matches with Torres upfront than Crouch and that is all that matters.

[El Jefecito]

Last season doesn't matter. It's about this season and Rafa's new tactic and as I said, that tactic is made to fit Torres, not Crouch.

Can anyone name one thing on the pitch that Crouch is better at than Torres?

I can't and I doubt that anyone can that. That is the two problems for Crouch, Rafa's new tactic and Torres.

Crouch is as good as he was last season and he played good then but that counts for nothing now because we don't play to his strenghts anymore and that means a less effective Crouch even that he isn't any worse now than last season.

I like Crouch but the team will always come first. We will win more matches with Torres upfront than Crouch and that is all that matters.

You make it sound like Rafa always plays the same way. We KNOW that is not true, he hones our approach based on the opposition. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to play to Crouch's strengths. That's why Rafa told Crouch he wanted him to stay.

BTW I only quoted those stats 'cos someone said DJS was talking BS, and obviously he wasn't.

[AFII]

You make it sound like Rafa always plays the same way. We KNOW that is not true, he hones our approach based on the opposition. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to play to Crouch's strengths. That's why Rafa told Crouch he wanted him to stay.

BTW I only quoted those stats 'cos someone said DJS was talking BS, and obviously he wasn't.

I can only go by how we have played this season and so far we have played 4-1-3-1-1 in every game with Mascherano or Alonso as the holding midfielder and Torres or Crouch as the top striker. Voronin or Kuyt has played just behind Torres/Crouch and Gerrard or Sissoko has played as the box to box midfielder.

Two in every position as Rafa would have said.

Rafa has also stopped moving the players around, they have so far this season played in the same position every time they played but that may change, it's still early in the season.

[Johnny]

Crouch basically scores whenever he starts. He has a right to feel like he should be in the team.

Being a team player is great and i dont think anyone could call Crouch selfish. But when you only get 7 Premiership minutes out of a possible 360, and you have Crouch's goalscoring record, i think you have a right to feel miffed.

[dww]

I think this is a fallacy.

I don't know for a fact what he "likes" but I'd bet any money he'd prefer a ball to feet, actually passed TO him, rather than a 40-50 yard punt aimed in his general direction. He's certainly better when getting the ball to feet.

He should still have a role to play. He brings the best out of Pennant and when we're playing with at least one genuine winger, then he's the best option for getting on the end of crosses. And not just in the air either - witness his first goal against Arsenal last season: great piece of movement, a dart towards the near post and a great finish.

I'm mostly with you here, however I think there is a distinction to be made. Crouch does thrive on crosses from deep which Pennant can be good at and Aurelio and Finnan are brilliant at. However generally he would like the ball to feet from open play rather than hoofed up to him in the air which is a trap we have fallen in to too many times when he has played (especially last year).

Hopefully if we had the pacy, intelligent running of Torres playing of Crouch (in a deeper role than he plays with Kuyt) then the team would play more to his strengths as well as those of the team and stop playing aimless, low percentage long balls. However I think it is good that we have started the season with the players we have and established the pattern of play we have. For me Crouch would always be second choice to Kuyt (although I imagine you will disagree) I think he presents a very good option.

If he could recreate his Arsenal form week in week out I would reconsider him as a first choice striker. I think that it is enormously beneficial to have 3rd and 4th choice strikers in the squad I would be happy to say that about.

[El Jefecito]

I can only go by how we have played this season and so far we have played 4-1-3-1-1 in every game with Mascherano or Alonso as the holding midfielder and Torres or Crouch as the top striker. Voronin or Kuyt has played just behind Torres/Crouch and Gerrard or Sissoko has played as the box to box midfielder.

Two in every position as Rafa would have said.

Rafa has also stopped moving the players around, they have so far this season played in the same position every time they played but that may change, it's still early in the season.

Bull****, he's played 442 every game. Torres is even on record as describing how Rafa wants him to play when he is paired with Crouch. To say that Rafa cannot fit Crouch into the team is plain old BS.

[dww]

I can only go by how we have played this season and so far we have played 4-1-3-1-1 in every game with Mascherano or Alonso as the holding midfielder and Torres or Crouch as the top striker. Voronin or Kuyt has played just behind Torres/Crouch and Gerrard or Sissoko has played as the box to box midfielder.

Two in every position as Rafa would have said.

Rafa has also stopped moving the players around, they have so far this season played in the same position every time they played but that may change, it's still early in the season.

Bull****, he's played 442 every game. Torres is even on record as describing how Rafa wants him to play when he is paired with Crouch. To say that Rafa cannot fit Crouch into the team is plain old BS.

I think the formation debate is pretty petty in this case it is obvious we play with split strikers with Kuyt naturally almost becoming a midfielder and two deep lying midfielders with one being given license to go forward more. The formation has been largely the same between matches but the roles some players have performed and the balance of the team has been slightly altered.

I'm with Speeds though Torres and Crouch seem to be able to fit the pattern of play well. I suspect one would have to mildly adapt their game but that seems to be something Rafa demands players to do.

[AFII]

I think the formation debate is pretty petty in this case it is obvious we play with split strikers with Kuyt naturally almost becoming a midfielder and two deep lying midfielders with one being given license to go forward more. The formation has been largely the same between matches but the roles some players have performed and the balance of the team has been slightly altered.

I'm with Speeds though Torres and Crouch seem to be able to fit the pattern of play well. I suspect one would have to mildly adapt their game but that seems to be something Rafa demands players to do.

Well, we will have to wait and see as usual but so far it has been Torres/Crouch and Kuyt/Voronin.

The important point is that Rafa is keeping the same system so the players will find each other better on the pitch and because of that will get it easier to play with different players.

Less rotation problems because everyone know what they will do on the pitch. Our wingers plays as wingers and our central midfielders as CM.

[Growler]

we've played 4 league games and 2 CL games. thats nothing yet.

[theriotact]

we've played 4 league games and 2 CL games. thats nothing yet.

Here, here. Early days boys.

[Red Chilli]

I think it is fair to say Crouch will start at least 15-20 league games.

He will then probably get at least 5 CL games (already played 2).

FA Cup and League Cup games will be his also IMO, so thats another 2 at least, realistically at least 5 games.

So that makes around 30 starts and many more as sub. I think he should be happy with that.

So you think Crouch is going to START 50% of our league games?

[Parm]

In fairness to Crouch I think the media are trying to force a situation in the way they kept trying with Gerrard playing on the right.

As far as I can see it all the players understand the rotation system and are accepting the fact that they will not play every game. Crouch just seems to be the only one who is always asked if he is unhappy about this.

Having said all that I am sure Rafa would have already sold him if he did not want him.

I'd go with that, It lloks like the media have given up on Gerrard and have switched attention to Crouch. From what Crouch has said, I gather he seems ok. He knows anywhere after us is a step down.

[AFII]

So you think Crouch is going to START 50% of our league games?

That's the problem.

Say that he will start around 10 league games this season. Then it's not many games left to play if you include the cup games, if we all get the way in all the cup competitions then that is around 25 games. Say that he will start in 15 of them, that takes the games he will start to 25 in all competitions or around 2.5 games/month.

It's all speculation but as I see it very realistic speculation.

Will Crouch be happy to start a game every two weeks?

I myself doubt that very much. He has already talked to Rafa about his situation, confirmed by himself. If he is worried now then he will be much more worried come december, January IMO.

[JPK]

You make it sound like Rafa always plays the same way. We KNOW that is not true, he hones our approach based on the opposition. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to play to Crouch's strengths. That's why Rafa told Crouch he wanted him to stay.

BTW I only quoted those stats 'cos someone said DJS was talking BS, and obviously he wasn't.

Basically scoring when he starts would mean 34 in 34 so it is BS.You also have to remember his hat trick against Galatasary and Arsenal,so he played plenty of games where he did'nt score.If you are talking about stats with Crouch then you have to mention how many games it took him to score for the club.