Now then, for the love of god, please get the message rafa...

[Mattshark]

Crouch should start every game to the end of the season.

One goal, one assist, caused confusion in the Sunderland defence all of the 2nd half.

There's simply no excuse for NOT starting him now. Unless he's injured or suspended of course.

MOTM today.

He clearly wasn't, Mascher and Sami were both immense and its a toss up between these two.

[AFII]

Until the goal, Crouch was ****e, he offered no movement and when he was trying to link up the play, he was playing people into trouble.

However, as soon as the goal went in, he was a different player. He just oozed confidence and started playing well. In fact the whole team did.

On a side note, it good to see the protests going on after the match and not during it.

[Guest]

Problem is, Rafa manages the team. And he probably won't be reading this right now.

Fancy sending him letters of protest ?

[Guest]

He clearly wasn't, Mascher and Sami were both immense and its a toss up between these two.

Sami has been magnificent and credit to Carra too. Played out of position and did a wonderful bit of skill to unlock Sunderland.

[Marky]

He clearly wasn't, Mascher and Sami were both immense and its a toss up between these two.

One goal and one assist in a mostly scrappy game with very few chances makes him a cert for Man of the match in my view.
Masherano and Sami both played great as well but today Crouch should get the motm.

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

While we're in prayer mode, please buy some full backs who are comfortable in possession and can attack.

Alves, Lahm and Villa please

[Mattshark]

One goal and one assist in a mostly scrappy game with very few chances makes him a cert for Man of the match in my view.
Masherano and Sami both played great as well but today Crouch should get the motm.

So if someone plays **** all game and scores a goal does that to make them man of the match?
It is about how you played all game, not for a few seconds.

[Craig_H]

Until the goal, Crouch was ****e, he offered no movement and when he was trying to link up the play, he was playing people into trouble.

However, as soon as the goal went in, he was a different player. He just oozed confidence and started playing well. In fact the whole team did.

On a side note, it good to see the protests going on after the match and not during it.

Dont give me nonsense about no movement, poor link up play etc, strikers are there to score and create goals. He did what's required.

[Exiled_red]

TBF Rafa showed faith in Crouch for a very long time and it paid dividends. Since Kuyt's father passed away he has gone backwards, badly. Rafa has given him every chance to overcome it but it appears even Rafa's loyalty has limits.

EDIT: Rafa should rotate more

To be honest that's why it puzzles me, he stuck by Crouch when he didn't score, so you thought you he rates him and hence would pick him when he's playing well

[Radar]

Crouch will ride the bench now for another month or two.

I still blame it on the Yankees.

F The Yanks

[donpisci]

Dont give me nonsense about no movement, poor link up play etc, strikers are there to score and create goals. He did what's required.

Yes he needs to create goals, and until he scored, all of his attempts to create a goal were awful.

He was almost anonymous until the goal went in.

[Skillz]

To be honest that's why it puzzles me, he stuck by Crouch when he didn't score, so you thought you he rates him and hence would pick him when he's playing well

Crouch hasn't been playing well

[Exiled_red]

Crouch hasn't been playing well

Relatively speaking ...compared to Kuyt and Voronin

[BobTheCharmer]

I just love the way Rafa wasd itching to get cunt face on towards the end. Why did he feel the need to take Crouch off?

Also, its plain to see how popular Crouch is amongst the rest of the team, his treatment by Rafa for me has had a BIG effect on moral.

[Marky]

So if someone plays **** all game and scores a goal does that to make them man of the match?
It is about how you played all game, not for a few seconds.

In a dull game with little or nothing happening when you need someone to step up and unlock a defence Crouch proved to be the man today with one good goal and one good flick for Torres to race clear and finish. That imo is more than enough for him to be motm, in my opinion of course.