Crouch

[bigfooty]

The way Rafa has treated Crouch I wouldn't blame him for having a few words.

Crouch has never struck me as having a negative attitude, when he wasn't scoring after joining us he always seemed positive and was doing his best to contribute to the side. He seemed confident the goals would come and eventually they did.

We ended the 2005-2006 season with 12 straight wins in cup & league - despite a strikeforce that included Cisse, Nando and half-fit Fowler. Crouch figured in most of those matches, scored a few goals, created others and even bagged a couple from the bench. He had an okay World Cup, not fantastic but he didn't get a fair shake from Sven in my book as it was all about Rooney & Owen. The Portugal game was the perfect example of why Crouch needed to be on the pitch as Rooney lost the plot trying to do a job Crouch would have been happy to perform.

He comes back and we sign two new strikers and promptly make Crouch 3rd choice. With Kewell out we also change our style of play slightly and end up fielding poor quality wide players like Pennant, Zenden and Gonzalez instead of Gerrard + Kewell.

Despite this, and only starting half our matches, Crouch still is top scorer at the club in 2006-2007 and whilst he tops the scoring charts in Europe, apart from Kaka I believe, he get's barely time to stretch his legs in the final because we go with Kuyt and a 4-6-0 formation.

Being picked behind Torres is one thing but I can't blame him for being a bit pissed off about playing second-fiddle to Kuyt and Voronin.

[Elrond]

There are ways to vent your frustrations and I'm sorry to say, but no matter how pissed off you are, questioning the manager's competence by saying players are **** and that they shouldn't have been picked to their faces is not one of them.

That is not the right attitude. You talk to the manager in private not start up **** with teammates KNOWING FULL WELL he would have the captain, among others, on his side. That is purposely causing rifts which is only detrimental to our side...

[bigfooty]

Or it could be saying something that needs to be said, challenging them to raise their game.

[Fivex]

The way Rafa has treated Crouch I wouldn't blame him for having a few words.

Crouch has never struck me as having a negative attitude, when he wasn't scoring after joining us he always seemed positive and was doing his best to contribute to the side. He seemed confident the goals would come and eventually they did.

We ended the 2005-2006 season with 12 straight wins in cup & league - despite a strikeforce that included Cisse, Nando and half-fit Fowler. Crouch figured in most of those matches, scored a few goals, created others and even bagged a couple from the bench. He had an okay World Cup, not fantastic but he didn't get a fair shake from Sven in my book as it was all about Rooney & Owen. The Portugal game was the perfect example of why Crouch needed to be on the pitch as Rooney lost the plot trying to do a job Crouch would have been happy to perform.

He comes back and we sign two new strikers and promptly make Crouch 3rd choice. With Kewell out we also change our style of play slightly and end up fielding poor quality wide players like Pennant, Zenden and Gonzalez instead of Gerrard + Kewell.

Despite this, and only starting half our matches, Crouch still is top scorer at the club in 2006-2007 and whilst he tops the scoring charts in Europe, apart from Kaka I believe, he get's barely time to stretch his legs in the final because we go with Kuyt and a 4-6-0 formation.

Being picked behind Torres is one thing but I can't blame him for being a bit pissed off about playing second-fiddle to Kuyt and Voronin.

I like Crouch but it's too late, it's him or Rafa and Rafa being a stubborn **** is on an absolute mission, I think there's nil chance he'll jack it all in now.

[The Birdman]

Crouch was signed when we were struggling to keep possesion away from home, he was English, playing for a lower club and he fitted the budget and the style of play with the players Rafa had to work with.
All that has changed, his hat trick against Arsenal was brilliant but how many more times has he had 4 or 5 decent chances and not scored, the perfect way to make a point was to come on at Besiktas and score with that good chance he had rather than head it out for a throw in.
I don't care if you're Crouch, Gerrard, Insua or Torres you should be proud to play for Liverpool, he isn't going to join a better club when he leaves. The team is still in transition because we all know Rafa didn't get some of his 1st choices ie wide midfield but when he signs them and we are playing pressing football with proper width he wouldn't fit in.
Before Jol got the boot I was hoping we'd swap him for Berbatov in Jan!

[tomasjj]

Or it could be saying something that needs to be said, challenging them to raise their game.

So, a sub sprouting off at those in the first 11?

Thereby, in front of everyone, undermining the managers decision to pick those in front of this sub?

No way.

[Yozza]

I don't give a **** if Rafa wants to put Crouch on in the 89th minute. He plays for Liverpool Football Club, not Crouch FC ... He cannot demand when he wants to play. He plays when he is called upon by the manager, not when Peter Crouch wants to. That is why he gets paid a ridiculous amount of money, to play for LFC when called upon, not be sitting on the bench without a ****ing pair of shinpads and when asked to go on the field he has to borrow a pair from somebody else. ****ING RIDICULOUS !! He is not committed to the cause, he is committed only to furthering himself and with that attitude, Rafa is right not to play him and hopefully will get rid in January. No player is bigger than the club, even a lanky **** like him !

Have to agree - I'm amazed by all the 'Crouch has been hard done by' stories on here...

The bottom line is he's been **** whenever he has played this season - lack of fight, **** finishing & **** attitude... you read some of the excerpts from his book & you think you cocky big headed **** with all the talk of him 'making it'...

You're only as good as your last game...

THATS why he's not playing & THATS why he's on the way out...

[Pacman]

Crouch will play on Sunday.

[Colemere]

I think wednesday showed why Rafa is a bit P***ed off with Crouchy, after telling him to get ready crouch did not look in any particular hurry to get on the pitch and when he did he did not know what was happening. Shows how bothered Crouch was really.

Although I don't really blame him, in a way he was sulking but he has every right after the way he is being treated.

[Pacman]

I think wednesday showed why Rafa is a bit P***ed off with Crouchy, after telling him to get ready crouch did not look in any particular hurry to get on the pitch and when he did he did not know what was happening. Shows how bothered Crouch was really.

Although I don't really blame him, in a way he was sulking but he has every right after the way he is being treated.

Disagree with all of that.

8 mins to go and Rafa calls Crouchie over 'go win the game for us big lad. We might be 2-0 down with only 8 mins to go but you can do it.' How do you know what was said to Crouchie Rafa might have said 'get ready Peter you are going on in 5mins'.

[Colemere]

Disagree with all of that.

8 mins to go and Rafa calls Crouchie over 'go win the game for us big lad. We might be 2-0 down with only 8 mins to go but you can do it.' How do you know what was said to Crouchie Rafa might have said 'get ready Peter you are going on in 5mins'.

If you decide to make a change you will make it as soon as possible IMO, but I take your point.

But not knowing what was going on there is no real excuse for, he must have been seriously bored not to notice the cheering after the second goal.

I'd sulk if I was him BTW.

[Yozza]

Although I don't really blame him, in a way he was sulking but he has every right after the way he is being treated.

Yeah been treated really poorly hasnt he?

Being plucked from a **** team like Southampton to come play for one of the European Giants...

Being stood by while he takes 1/2 the frigging season to score his first goal

Being part of a team squad that has won the FA Cup & reached another CL Final

Being paid a ****load of money for being asked to train hard & be ready to play when asked

My heart ****ing bleeds for him

[tomasjj]

Yeah been treated really poorly hasnt he?

Being plucked from a **** team like Southampton to come play for one of the European Giants...

Being stood by while he takes 1/2 the frigging season to score his first goal

Being part of a team squad that has won the FA Cup & reached another CL Final

Being paid a ****load of money for being asked to train hard & be ready to play when asked

My heart ****ing bleeds for him

Good post that.

[redlancer]

When did he say that?? Not that it makes sense. For the sake of the team, I doubt he would play voronin instead of crouch as he is clearly inferior. And if he wanted to sell Crouch, the best way is to have him in the team performing. This whole thread stinks of gossip mongering. I'm off.

Was during the transfer window - when asked re other strikers comming in after Torres - answer was no as we had 4 and his options were differnet before having money and we signeded Voronin on a free.
I took it ment he did have 2 money targets but 4 stikers - ergo Voronin wouldn't of been needed

But as it looks like Crouch isn't the long term plans i.e. faster wider play maybe it was Crouch he didn't wanted.

can argue Voroinin and Kuyt play similar postions so maybe the 4th required striker was Torres postion.

[Colemere]

Yeah been treated really poorly hasnt he?

Being plucked from a **** team like Southampton to come play for one of the European Giants...

Being stood by while he takes 1/2 the frigging season to score his first goal

Being part of a team squad that has won the FA Cup & reached another CL Final

Being paid a ****load of money for being asked to train hard & be ready to play when asked

My heart ****ing bleeds for him

after being our best striker last season and know being stuck behind Voronin and Kuyt, who is proving to be more like Kezman than RVN in front of goal