Crouch

[Craig_H]

I have seen Crouch and Torres repeatedly take up the same positions and get in each others way.
Maybe part of the explanation?

Crouch and Torres could lay on their backs tickling each other's balls, and they'd still be more effective than Kuyt.

[MattB]

One thing is for certain. Torres needs an effective and settled partner. Can't do it on his own, as we saw last night (and on numerous other occasions)

[chrispy]

At this rate we'll struggle for the UEFA Cup let alone qualifying for the CL. Maybe it's time to give a start to some of the youngsters showing promise in the reserves. Let's face it, they can't be anymore inept at the game than the current bunch of useless ******s who supposedly represent our club!!!

I love Carra to bits and he's a true living legend at our club but if memory serves me correctly he's been responsible for a couple of howlers this season. The obvious thing to do would be to play Crouch and Torres up front, push Stevie out to the right wing (whether he likes it or not coz after all he's paid over £100k a week so he'll do what he's told), play Babel on the left wing (for now until he gets to the level he needs to be at to play up front with Torres) and then play Xabi or Masher in midfield in the holding role alongside Lucas who can break free and attack up the middle. That way the opposition won't know where the attack is coming from. We have a very decent defense (when Carra's not giving away a penalty) and one of the best keepers in the world. I would'nt play Fabio for love nor money though coz watching that last night showed how much he sucks the big one.

[Craig_H]

If we dont qualify for the CL, i'd rather not be in the Uefa Cup.

[Shaggy]

If we dont qualify for the CL, i'd rather not be in the Uefa Cup.

Oh me too, easily.

[rage]

rafa is stubborn. ask paco.

no other explanation needed imo. It was the same with Houllier and Heskey. Of course Houllier got rid of Heskey too late.

I remember Litmanan, one of the most gifted players i have ever seen in a red shirt sit on the bench whilst that donkey played week in week out. People talked about workrate, about how he complemented Owen better, anything really to defend a player and a manager. I admired the loyalty but Litmanan was 10 times the player Heskey was. Crouch is 10 times the player Kuyt is.

[Exiled_red]

I've wanted to see Crouch start all season ahead of Kuyt now it's just getting stupid! Kuyt never even looks like threatening the goal, and recently the other parts of his game are falling apart his confidence is gone. There's no point in playing him in that situation, Rafa should give him a rest or a few games in the reserves or something to sort himself out and play Crouch and Torres for the forseeable future

[1 True Red]

Nah. If that's the case then he would've been sold by now. Rafa's Kuyt blind spot is similar to GH's with heskey. It's that sort of stubborness that will cost us points and ultimately may end up costing him his job. Playing Kuyt instead of Crouch is a ludicrous decision.

[JPK]

Not a Crouch fan but he should be playing.Cant stand watching him and he has no style.
Rafa signed him and Pennant and co,when all the fans knew it was the wrong decision. So he can have nobody to blame now for this mess of a squad but himself.

[badpiggy]

anyone who thinks that rafa is going to change his mind about anything is IMO sorely deluded - stubborness and total belief in what you are doing and the way you are doing it are the hallmarks of top managers. same as people saying we need more attacking options, more wingers, more strikers etc. this toaltally flies in the face of everything rafa is about - negate opposition first regardless of who they are. when you've had your 70 mins of no posssession, start chasing the game., the system is all that matters not the players. a more attack-minded manager would be able to get plenty of goals out of these players:

yossi
torres
babel
SG
xabi
lucas
crouch

and the idea that players are disobeying orders? that kuyt is not doing what rafa wants him to do? they're doing exactly what rafa wants as far as i can see and we're just about to pay £17m for a guy to do more of it. the choice between stability and regression is a tough call at the moment but rafa is NEVER going to change his philosophy on the game.