Torres or Crouch for Fulham?

[Shaggy]

why has torres and crouch suddenly become our best two?

the only time i've seen them have extended time together on the pitch they've been ****e.

they may be 1 and 2 in order of strikerlyness or some ****, but that does not the best pairing make.
I agree they deserve a chance to form a partnership, but there seems to be a collective amnesia of their performances together so far, which are a long way from suggesting these would be our best pairing.

What performances? They've only played together once before IIRC - at Reading - and we scored 4.

IMO they're our best two strikers, they could and should work very well together, and should be given a chance to prove themselves as a pair.

[Flake]

What performances? They've only played together once before IIRC - at Reading - and we scored 4.

IMO they're our best two strikers, they could and should work very well together, and should be given a chance to prove themselves as a pair.

we may have scored four at reading, but it had little to do with the crouch torres partnership.

from what i've seen of crouchs bit part performances this season its only in the last few games has he shown what he can do. Previous to this all his performances have been poor. only for ten minutes here and there admittedly, but he's shown very little.
I would contend that until now he hasn't deserved the pitch time as he seemed disinterested whenever he got any, and as such Rafa was right to bench him.

[yukpo]

Both.

best 2 strikers without a shadow of a doubt

[akjs123]

Haven't they only played together at Reading away IIRC?

Marseille at home

[Howard_lfc]

Marseille at home

I stand corrected.

[mersey86]

Kuyt and Crouch.

[El Jefecito]

Or maybe both - with Voronin dropping to sub?

Would be harsh to drop Crouchy now, so personally I'd leave it as it was and give FT a break until after the international break, and have him fully fit and fresh for Newcastle away.

Quick word on Babel: twice the player through the middle than out wide.
Never mind his goals - he just looks so more comfortable and relaxed, doing things naturally - without having to think. His run (when caught offside) late on was very near perfect - and almost Rush-like the way he arched his run because the defender pushed up a bit. More of the same please.

It will obviously depend on the style of play. Sanchez said last season that were going to play the wimbledon way, i.e. hoofball. How have they been playing this season. If they are going to sit deep, we are going to need different players, than if they are going to come at us.

Also, are they 442 or 451?

[El Jefecito]

If Torres is fully recovered I'd like to see Torres + Crouch but I suspect it'll be Kuyt and Voronin, maybe Kuyt and Torres.

At the beginning of each season, Rafa has tended to try all of the different combinations before settling on the best pairs. I think it's obvious that Kuyt and the crow don't work well together so I'm not sure we will see much more of them.

[desertscouser]

I think it's crucial at this stage that Rafa gets the next team selection right and we beat Fulham. Failure to capiatlise on our Besiktas result this time would be disastrous.

I agree with others, lets name an unchanged side and rip Fulham to pieces. The likes of Momo and Kuyt should not be anywhere near the first 11 at this point. Whereas, I don't think we should risk Torres...

[thekop]

I think it's crucial at this stage that Rafa gets the next team selection right and we beat Fulham. Failure to capiatlise on our Besiktas result this time would be disastrous.

I agree with others, lets name an unchanged side and rip Fulham to pieces. The likes of Momo and Kuyt should not be anywhere near the first 11 at this point. Whereas, I don't think we should risk Torres...

Spot on DS

[Nic83]

Both.

best 2 strikers without a shadow of a doubt

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Torres and Crouch up front.

If Torres aint ready, then either Babel or Voronin to partner Crouch.

Kuyt in the directors box.

Kewell to start on the left.

The rest as you were.

[El Jefecito]

Torres and Crouch up front.

If Torres aint ready, then either Babel or Voronin to partner Crouch.

Kuyt in the directors box.

Kewell to start on the left.

The rest as you were.

Not sure Kewell is ready.

[Marky]

Don't risk Torres.
Same again please.

[El Jefecito]

Don't risk Torres.
Same again please.

Agree, don't think we need Torres for this one. Would hope that Rafa rests him so that he is top notch for the rest of the season.