Crouchy and his Wag

[dww]

This argument is all a bit academic anyway. Someone may have mentioned it, but Crouch isn't competing with Kuyt. He's up against Torres. Only one winner there!

I can see that point, but I think that we could play Torres and Crouch, certainly the Crouch of the middle of last season would be playing no matter what. For period he was genuinely unplayable and all he lacked was pace, which Torres would provide (as well as experience of and the ability to play deeper).

[carheex]

And how many goals per min does Crouch have this season?

Are they not just both of form?

The difference is that Crouch's minute's have been spread out preventing him from having a run of games. Everytime he gets a start or gets on the pitch he's not match fit. Kuyt has had a run of games and failed miserably. Peter should be at least given a run of games and the chance to fail miserably before they can be compared.

[alunevans]

This argument is all a bit academic anyway. Someone may have mentioned it, but Crouch isn't competing with Kuyt. He's up against Torres. Only one winner there!

Why though? He's a useful foil in my view. Why does he have to be regarded as a competitor to Torres rather than a potential partner for him?

Personally I'd be going Torres or Babel to play alongside Crouch or Voronin.

[Parm]

****s sake you swear he had been through a Rwandan styled torture camp, he is a footballer who has been benched

[El Jefecito]

Why though? He's a useful foil in my view. Why does he have to be regarded as a competitor to Torres rather than a potential partner for him?

Personally I'd be going Torres or Babel to play alongside Crouch or Voronin.

My take is that Rafa prefers a striker to lead the line and one to play the link up role in the hole.

Crouch is clearly one to lead the line and is most definitely not a link-up player. Only really leaves him one role in the Rafa system.

Torres is obviously mean't to lead the line as well. Leaving K&V for the hole.

I'm not trying to say this gospel, and I'm sure other combinations may work for certain opponents, but in general this is how I think we will be going forward.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

He was our top scorer last season. 18 in 26 starts. That stat in itself justifies his claims. Especially when Kuyt couldnt hit water out of a boat.

I agree Crouch should be playing instead of Kuyt and Crwo but in the bigger picture the 3 or them arent Liverpool standard.....and now that we have Torres it just shows the kind of quality that we havent had for a long time

[Craig_H]

I agree Crouch should be playing instead of Kuyt and Crwo but in the bigger picture the 3 or them arent Liverpool standard.....and now that we have Torres it just shows the kind of quality that we havent had for a long time

Possibly true, but i think Crouch is good enough to be a 3rd or 4th choice, once we've brought in other strikers. We arent gonna end up with 3 other strikers as good as torres, after all.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Possibly true, but i think Crouch is good enough to be a 3rd or 4th choice, once we've brought in other strikers. We arent gonna end up with 3 other strikers as good as torres, after all.

Maybe 3rd/4th choice i give you that mate.

The rest can go and i hope we bring in David Villa, and play makers like Diego and Aguero and also a proper winger like Quaresma or Silva

We need those kind of players and quality.

Badly need attacking players we are far to defensive at times

[friedk]

I think it has to boil down to who plays best alongside Torres, if it's not Crouch then he shouldn't play.

[JohnDoe]

Just a little question, has there been any clear indication that Crouch's attitude is crap/Rafa is unhappy with him other than media talk with no quotes or concrete proof?

[dww]

Just a little question, has there been any clear indication that Crouch's attitude is crap/Rafa is unhappy with him other than media talk with no quotes or concrete proof?

Realistically what sort of proof could we have? For many the lack of entusiasm he showed in this season pre-season in contrast to previous times showed he was less than totally happy - whether it was with his game, the situation at the club or what is another matter entirely. I think in the last few weeks he has got back to looking like the old player who loved the game and was keen to improve. Which is good as I thought he stagnated midway through last season (again I couldn't really substantiate my feeling).

[bigfooty]

The only impression I get is that Crouch is popular within the squad and that he generally seems to have a smile on his face. He did look disinterested in pre-season but like I've said before I felt Rafa handled him badly last season and Rafa is not the best "man manager" out there compared to some other managers.

[Kronenburg1892]

Defenders hate playing against Crouch. He often takes more than one defender away from their position, and is ****ing ace on the back post for attackers coming into the box. He also offers an easy route out of defence, when up the field on his own.

If he's sold in January, then I'm baffled.

I can certainly see why so many teams are in for his signature.

[El Jefecito]

Defenders hate playing against Crouch. He often takes more than one defender away from their position, and is ****ing ace on the back post for attackers coming into the box. He also offers an easy route out of defence, when up the field on his own.

If he's sold in January, then I'm baffled.

I can certainly see why so many teams are in for his signature.

He's the ultimate mismatch.

[lfcruleus]

I think Peter has dealt with the situation perfectly, at no time has there been any evidence of cockiness except for media hype. He looked slightly down in some of his performances but has also worked hard most times he has played. Perhaps he accepts he is one of four strikers and that his time will come as it is now.
Oh and btw to suggest Kuyt has contributed nothing this season is laughable, support the shirts guys...