Crouch told he will only get bit-part at Liverpool

[Howard_lfc]

It's all about systems and tactics. Get either of them wrong (which we have been doing of late) and it will be very difficult to win any game against decent opposition.

[kopdan]

Crouch deserves a chance imo

He also deserves more respect on the pitch. Dont just hoof it up to him. Play football. Far better footballer than Kuyt and Voronin.

[einar]

Lets not forget that Crouch and Rafa actually communicate face to face and not just through the media. This is just a journalist making a story. Rafa is just pointing out that there where more things going on at that time in the game then just the fact that Crouch came on.

Maybe Rafa is trying to get some reaction out of Crouch by saying this, we cant know.

I do see however why Rafa is not wanting to use him. He is trying to get the team to play better football. A quicker more free flowing pass and move. And to be honest, Crouch is crap when it comes to that. And that has mostly to do with his epic lack of pace. His top speed might be ok, but it takes him 7 minutes to reach it. And I think we saw that very clearly when he tried to take on Emerton in a very good attacking position. He might as well have passed the ball to him.

IMO Rafa knows that at the moment we are a more dangerous side with Crouch in the team. But his main task now is to get the team playing better football to make it even stronger in the future. In other words, he is moving the club forward. Even though Kuyt is playing crap at the moment, he was probably our best option for this game with Torres out, Voronin having a baby and Babel not really doing the business in the carling cup as a striker.

As for me I would agree that Kuyt is playing absolute crap. And I am beginning to agree that maybe it is time to just start with Crouch. But maybe that would signal to the current players that they are not good enough and that would harm confidence and team spirit to much. I really dont know.
Personally I would think that in the current situation Babel or even Jordy Brouwer would do a better job then Kuyt at the moment.

I just try to remember that Rafa is not blind, he knows more about football then almost anyone and I think we can all agree that he always has good reasons for what he does. So I say, lets wait and see how this pans out before we start questioning his ability to manage a football team. Surely he has earned that.

[AFII]

Crouch deserves a chance imo

He also deserves more respect on the pitch. Dont just hoof it up to him. Play football. Far better footballer than Kuyt and Voronin.

He deserves a chance if everything is ok between him and Rafa off the pitch, we don't know that.

If it it isn't, then he should only be played to keep match fit, that means 20-25 minutes a game, so we can get a good price for him in January.

The latter is probably what is happening right now.

[Reece]

I see lots of people having a go at Rafa for how he is "treating" Crouch, but no one really knows what is going on behind the scenes (except D*nk of course). For all we know Crouch could be mouthing off to Rafa all the time about not starting. We just don't know.

[Dalglish]

I see lots of people having a go at Rafa for how he is "treating" Crouch, but no one really knows what is going on behind the scenes (except D*nk of course). For all we know Crouch could be mouthing off to Rafa all the time about not starting. We just don't know.

That shouldnt stop people pushing their own FM08 agendas though

[Reece]

Mind you, I do think it is time he is given a chance. Earlier in the season when he was getting some [usa]game time[/usa] he was absolutely terrible, so did not deserve anything more. But now with Kuyt playing like he is, and with the fact that Crouch played well against Cardiff and when he came on against Blackeye Rovers, I think he needs to start against Besiktas and/or Fulham.

Not sure about Voronin yet. He has shown good flashes, and has nabbed a few poachers goals. When he is played slightly wider though he has looked pretty poor.

[AFII]

Babel should be played as a striker now when Kewell is back.

[kopdan]

I see lots of people having a go at Rafa for how he is "treating" Crouch, but no one really knows what is going on behind the scenes (except D*nk of course). For all we know Crouch could be mouthing off to Rafa all the time about not starting. We just don't know.

maybe he is

maybe he isnt

fact is, he has done better than Kuyt of late even as a sub

Should start for a few games

loads up FM2008

[Reece]

maybe he is

maybe he isnt

fact is, he has done better than Kuyt of late even as a sub

Should start for a few games

loads up FM2008

Full agree - see my follow up post

[Guest]

maybe he is

maybe he isnt

fact is, he has done better than Kuyt of late even as a sub

Should start for a few games

loads up FM2008

Could he do Kuyt's donkey work though ?

[kopdan]

Could he do Kuyt's donkey work though ?

does it matter. He's a ****ing striker

[Reece]

Could he do Kuyt's donkey work though ?

But when you are only playing with one striker, do you really want them running around the whole pitch doing the "donkey" work, or would you prefer to leave that to the midfield and have the striker simply play as a striker, and be prepared for balls into the box etc?

[AFII]

does it matter. He's a ****ing striker

Kuyt is also a striker, or was before Rafa started to play him as an attacking midfielder.

Who knows what Kuyt is now?

[Guest]

does it matter. He's a ****ing striker

Rafa seems to think it matters. I do feel Crouchie needs a chance at the expense of Kuyt too, but I've seen games where he's been virtually non existent, whilst Kuyt even though inefficient in striking terms, does a whole load of donkey work. To be fair to him, he did create 3 or 4 chances for himself and Stevie on saturday.