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

[BobTheCharmer]

Crouch hasn't been playing well

3 goals in his last 3 games. That is playing well for me. Is he dribbling past players and shooting from 35 yards? No. Goals win games.

[Skillz]

Relatively speaking ...compared to Kuyt and Voronin

All ****e.

[Skillz]

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.

Haven't noticed it. hope your wrong cos we are ****ed if your right.

[Craig_H]

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.

He scored AND created a goal...

Dont give me this 'until he scored' bollocks...

Until Torres scored his first goal this season, he hadnt scored...see how silly that sounds?

[bigfooty]

Crouch needs service to be effective and by that I mean wide midfielders that press on and get crosses in. Pennant did okay but as usual his crossing was wayward at times, whilst Lucas was lost playing LM. Crouch almost got another, I think it was from a corner, but when the delivery is good enough he invariably causes problems.

[Guest]

Crouch seems to be taking it on the chin anyway. He was professional today and responded in the correct manner. More of the same from him. I think Rafa had an issue with him at the start of the season when he was seriously under performing. That's why he found himself down the pecking order.

More performances like that will make him a regular at the expense of Kuyt. Kuyt's attitude has always been spot, and Rafa makes no prisoners and doesn't base his judgment on reputations. That's how it should be done.

[slimbimjim]

He scored AND created a goal...

Dont give me this 'until he scored' bollocks...

Until Torres scored his first goal this season, he hadnt scored...see how silly that sounds?

Yes but he's saying that the *attempts* to score before the goal were ****.

[Vermilion]

Kuyt has missed chances that players on a pub team should score, i dont think that it's a quality thing with him, dont know how good he could be in the Prem but he's defo better than he's shown.
However, as when Rafa Backed Crouchie for many games till he scored, the same has been done with Kuyt, & for a fair while longer, but now is the time for Crouch to start regular with Torres. Kuyt will probably come on at the end of games & get lots of late goals, ok i'm pushing it there but hey, who knows.

[BobTheCharmer]

Haven't noticed it. hope your wrong cos we are ****ed if your right.

seriously? what do you watch? when he scored lucas was straight over hugging him along with torres, then when torres scored he looks past the other congratulators and heads for Crouchie.

[donpisci]

He scored AND created a goal...

Dont give me this 'until he scored' bollocks...

Until Torres scored his first goal this season, he hadnt scored...see how silly that sounds?

Ok, Torres wasn't ****ing awful until he scored though was he?

For 55mins, Crouch was one our worst players (please note, I said ONE of the worst), he didn't look interested. As I've already said, once he scored, he played with a lot more confidence, his passing was better and he justified his place in the starting line- up. Future starting line-ups as well for that matter.

He was **** until he scored.

[slimbimjim]

seriously? what do you watch? when he scored lucas was straight over hugging him along with torres, then when torres scored he looks past the other congratulators and heads for Crouchie.

Yeah I noticed that Crouches hug from Torres was particularly warm as if to say "Welcome back lad"

[Guest]

You're all reading too much into that. They'd be well delighted if Kuyt scored.

[Shaggy]

It's painfully obvious that Crouch is the best option alongside Torres and has been for ages, but we should all know by now that Crouch won't get a run in the side.

He makes his point pretty much all the time yet it never seems to have any bearing. Out of the side he goes, replaced by lads who don't score goals.

I'd love to be wrong but he won't start at Chelsea.

[Skillz]

seriously? what do you watch? when he scored lucas was straight over hugging him along with torres, then when torres scored he looks past the other congratulators and heads for Crouchie.

I was referring to your insinuation that Rafa's treatment is the cause. Crouch has been ****e this year too. He scored recently and got a start today and scored the winner. good on him and he will more time now but he has not taken the opportunities afforded him before this for me. His overall play has been poor in general but he is scoring now and I hope he keeps his spot. Still needs to be better overall IMO.

[Guest]

I was referring to your insinuation that Rafa's treatment is the cause. Crouch has been ****e this year too. He scored recently and got a start today and scored the winner. good on him and he will more time now but he has not taken the opportunities afforded him before this for me. His overall play has been poor in general but he is scoring now and I hope he keeps his spot. Still needs to be better overall IMO.

I don't think Crouch's attitude has been good all season, and that's why he's been relegated as 4th choice striker. That's Rafa's quality. Reputations and quality doesn't come into play when the attitude isn't right.

As I said, Kuyt's effort has been exemplary and Rafa made his point clear. It riles supporters but he doesn't mind.