Crouchie

[Red Chilli]

I'm not encouraging a Crouch bashing thread, please don't use this thread to bash him

What's happened to our Crouchie?
He looked like a little boy lost tonight, was hardly in the game at all. He didn't seem to be working much either.
Worse than all that he seems to have lost his spirit. That was one of his most defining features, always seemed to be playing with a smile on his face and to be working hard for the team.
To be fair to him, he held up a few balls tonight but that was about it.
He looks like a lad who could be on his way
Anyone else think this could be the reason he's gone off the boil?

[thesilverfoxlfc]

He's losing confidence knows he's not the first choice partnership and i think his mind is else where, probably his agent has him filled with **** about the likes of Juve want him etc....

Whats for sure is that he has been very very poor this season never looks comfortable out there

[Red_Polo]

Lack of confidence.

[ARIMAN]

I'm not encouraging a Crouch bashing thread, please don't use this thread to bash him

What's happened to our Crouchie?
He looked like a little boy lost tonight, was hardly in the game at all. He didn't seem to be working much either.
Worse than all that he seems to have lost his spirit. That was one of his most defining features, always seemed to be playing with a smile on his face and to be working hard for the team.
To be fair to him, he held up a few balls tonight but that was about it.
He looks like a lad who could be on his way
Anyone else think this could be the reason he's gone off the boil?

He was really poor when he came on for england against russia
My guess would be he feels he deserves a more importannt role (he seems to be left out of the 16 alot of time, if he isnt starting) plus maybe his agent or during his time with the England squad, he now feels like he should be in the first eleven
Dont know what his contract situation is - but he maybe angling for a new,improved deal
I agree, if he continues like this, he`ll be gone next summer. I guess the writting was on the wall when he didnt start in Athens

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Thought he did okay tonight. Not great, not bad.

Would still rather him that Kuyt though. He can control the bloody football for starters.

Would love him and Torres to start against Wigan. Thought they dovetailed nicely.

[Red Chilli]

Do people really think it's a lack of confidence?

I can't believe he was brimming with confidence when he went 19 games before scoring for us, I suppose he was in the honeymoon period of his LFC career.

Maybe he feels he's proven himself with his form last season, but even when he's on form he still isn't good enough to start in Athens?

It's a shame though, he was doing really well last season

[AFII]

I agree with you.

I think that Rafa has told him to find a new club. Of course Rafa would never tell that to the media.

Crouch to Juve in January and Chiellini to us?

Another possibility is that he will move to City as part of any deal for Johnson or Richards.

[wiw]

I think this is the final test of his 'mentality'. He's had to overcome the odds throughout his career, and now is no different. Whether it is down to Rafa's handling of him, Crouch's attitude coming into question or whatever reason - it's now time to perform when called upon or be shipped out i'm afraid.

Thus far I think he has undoubtedly answered all of his critics, but he's now competing against the big boys (well, Torres mainly). Anyone can see that Torres has raised the bar for our strikers, and we now have funds to easily replace anyone not up to the task.

I'm a fan of Crouch for the record

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I agree with you.

I think that Rafa has told him to find a new club. Of course Rafa would never tell that to the media.

Crouch to Juve in January and Chiellini to us?

Another possibility is that he will move to City as part of any deal for Johnson or Richards.

I would take that in a heartbeat

As long as he doesnt go to another top club i will be happy

[Red_Polo]

Do people really think it's a lack of confidence?

I can't believe he was brimming with confidence when he went 19 games before scoring for us, I suppose he was in the honeymoon period of his LFC career.

Maybe he feels he's proven himself with his form last season, but even when he's on form he still isn't good enough to start in Athens?

It's a shame though, he was doing really well last season

Well, I don't mean just lack of confidence in his own ability, lack of confidence in his place at the club must surely come into it. He looks out of place on the pitch for us at the moment, I suspect because he feels a little out of place all of a sudden.

[Red Chilli]

Well, I don't mean just lack of confidence in his own ability, lack of confidence in his place at the club must surely come into it. He looks out of place on the pitch for us at the moment, I suspect because he feels a little out of place all of a sudden.

Yeah I'll go along with that. Insecurity over his LFC career.

[wiw]

Well, I don't mean just lack of confidence in his own ability, lack of confidence in his place at the club must surely come into it. He looks out of place on the pitch for us at the moment, I suspect because he feels a little out of place all of a sudden.

I think given Crouch's history - lack of managers support sometimes, ridicule about his size, moving from club to club - it would be natural to want to feel wanted and not have to constantly prove himself.

The problem is, I think his attitude is one of his best attributes, and Rafa realises this. He obviously isn't playing him for a reason , despite knowing he can do a job for us

[reddragon]

I agree with you.

I think that Rafa has told him to find a new club. Of course Rafa would never tell that to the media.

Crouch to Juve in January and Chiellini to us?

Another possibility is that he will move to City as part of any deal for Johnson or Richards.

Don't talk bollox!

If Rafa fancies getting rid of Crouchie he'll tell him on Jan 1st and no earlier.


Crouchie's lack of self-confidence has been evident before, and it's surfaced again now. He knows he's right at the top level, but he also realises that Rafa doesn't see him as one of the top two strikers this season. TBH if his strike rate for us had been as good as it is for Ingerland he would probably be OK, but it isn't, and he knows what we all know - he's now an impact player in CL games only. The first choice is Torres/Kuyt, with Voronin as the unlocking player between the lines who'll always end up being the first sub in a tight 0-0.

[red g]

i believe he thinks no matter what he does, rafa will never truly rate him and he feels down as he now realises he is not good enough to be a strike partner to torres/

[reddragon]

Yeah I'll go along with that. Insecurity over his LFC career.

problem is Rafa isn't always the best at man-management. He certainly won't do what Ged would've done in this position - play him for a few games to give him that confidence back. I'm not advocating he does either, but a few pats on the back wouldn't go amiss, and from what we know of Rafa it isn't really his stlye.