Crouch storms out?

[Joe King]

Pre season means sweet **** all...

Might not to you but Rafa might see it as an integral part of the preparations, physically and mentally and maybe Crouch wasn't up to the competition

[Craig_H]

Might not to you but Rafa might see it as an integral part of the preparations, physically and mentally and maybe Crouch wasn't up to the competition

Maybe Rafa isnt perfect in every idea he has?

[Joe King]

Maybe Rafa isnt perfect in every idea he has?

Its his team and he knows more in terms of managerial experience so I wouldn't disagree with his preparations.

[Craig_H]

Its his team and he knows more in terms of managerial experience so I wouldn't disagree with his preparations.

Excellent...

When we're scrambling to seal a 4th place finish come may, you'll be nodding away akin to Churchill...

[MerseyCider]

The stats dont lie. Crouch is a hugely important part of the puzzle and we need him to stay if we are serious about getting our title back.

Hope this story is BS.

[Dhav]

Crouch's performances and goals ratio from last season are irrelevant. It's current form, effort, attitude etc that counts, and if he is not working hard enough, putting enough effort in, not training as hard or as well as the other strikers and his current performances are poor, then he doesn't deserve to be in the team ahead of any of the other three strikers.

Are we saying that he should be playing ahead of Voronin and Kuyt, despite the fact that he has patently offered far less to the team than these two players when he has played this season, because he managed to score 18 goals last year?

Reputations should count for nothing, it's performances that matter.

[Craig_H]

He should play ahead of Kuyt, quite simply, because he's a far more potent goal threat.

[MrMichael]

Its amazing how Peter Crouch has suddenly become some sort of ultimate strker in the eyes of some fans, simply through not playing. He scored one fantastic hattrick, and a bunch of goals in Europe, but he still only got 9 in 31 in the league. He isn't a massively "prolific" and clinical striker, his career stats show that, though he is capable of adding a lot in all round play to the team too. He deserves a fair crack undoubtedly, but when he has played this season he has not really taken his chances and performed as well as we know he can. But talk of him being treated like ****e is rubbish; Torres, Kuyt and Voronin have all had their time on the bench so far this season, and as for being out of the match day squad, well Crouch has proven he is not a good impact substitute. I like Crouch, but some of the rose-tinted specs in this thread are taking it a bit too far, and I don't see him as any more a definite a starter than his "rivals" on current form at least.

Meanwhile, Dirk Kuyt, a player with goalscoring pedigree in his career so far, has gone from being player of last season according to this board's votes at least, to the ultimate donkey. Undoubtedly he hasn't been delivering quite what was hoped of him so far, but in the first few games of this season the partnership between he and Torres looked effective to me, and we were actually winning too. The lack of support he gets on here is shocking. Actually the lack of support loads of players get on here after a few dodgy games is shocking.

[Matt]

Well said Michael.

Voronin, Kuyt and Crouch should be well aware that it'll be Torres + one of them and on the evidence so far, Voronin is the one that looks the most effective coming from deep when we play on the counter. It's a partnership that's worked well so far, I think it should be given time to develop.

[Revo]

thing is though matt we shouldnt be playing the counter at home

[bigfooty]

Its amazing how Peter Crouch has suddenly become some sort of ultimate strker in the eyes of some fans, simply through not playing.

I don't think he is an ultimate striker, just that he hasn't been handled well by Rafa and, as far as the league is concerned, that's cost us over the last season and a bit.

[Matt]

thing is though matt we shouldnt be playing the counter at home

Completely agree but tactics aside, IMO Voronin has looked the most threatening support striker for Torres so far.

Strong, can take on a man and beat him and his goal showed he's got that strikers instinct.

[ningnangnong]

Completely agree but tactics aside, IMO Voronin has looked the most threatening support striker for Torres so far.

Strong, can take on a man and beat him and his goal showed he's got that strikers instinct.

Plus, he works just as hard as Kuyt.

Saved our arses once or twice yesterday, tracking all the way back to our own 18.

[sid]

Wouldn't surprise. After his brilliant performances last season he's been treated like ****.

Yep, as i was against his signing in the 1st place he did have a top season last and he's been treated like a mug this season. With the way things are developing he won't be the only one to act up - mark my words.

[sid]

Its amazing how Peter Crouch has suddenly become some sort of ultimate strker in the eyes of some fans, simply through not playing. He scored one fantastic hattrick, and a bunch of goals in Europe, but he still only got 9 in 31 in the league. He isn't a massively "prolific" and clinical striker, his career stats show that, though he is capable of adding a lot in all round play to the team too. He deserves a fair crack undoubtedly, but when he has played this season he has not really taken his chances and performed as well as we know he can. But talk of him being treated like ****e is rubbish; Torres, Kuyt and Voronin have all had their time on the bench so far this season, and as for being out of the match day squad, well Crouch has proven he is not a good impact substitute. I like Crouch, but some of the rose-tinted specs in this thread are taking it a bit too far, and I don't see him as any more a definite a starter than his "rivals" on current form at least.

Meanwhile, Dirk Kuyt, a player with goalscoring pedigree in his career so far, has gone from being player of last season according to this board's votes at least, to the ultimate donkey. Undoubtedly he hasn't been delivering quite what was hoped of him so far, but in the first few games of this season the partnership between he and Torres looked effective to me, and we were actually winning too. The lack of support he gets on here is shocking. Actually the lack of support loads of players get on here after a few dodgy games is shocking.

And they deserve our support right now don't they!!! What's shocking is the support some people ARE giving this management and players right now - It's a shambles the lot of it.