Crouch to buy out remaining contract

[jonesie]

Wenger the other day going on about Hleb, and saying its not as easy as it seems and it could take months, and bearing in mind crouch wants to play games it would be ironic to see him not playing a single minute for 6 mths why it all went through

Don't think it would come to that mate, he won't be short of takers.

[Tatterdemalion]

Really interesting quote by Rafa on the official site

Although Liverpool will end the season wihtout a trophy, Benitez is convinced that some of the difficulties the Reds have faced, both on and off the field of play, has helped him to learn more about the character of his squad and whether the players have the mentality to thrive and succeed at such a high profile club.

He said: "When you have a difficult season like this one I think you get to know people better.

"You know who you can trust and who can help you and for me that has been one of the best things about the season – I now know everyone better than I did before and that means we will be able to improve more in the future because I have more information."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...80511-0916.htm

I would say that was more a comment about the owners than the players, in spite of the intro to the comment.

[peekay]

I would say that was more a comment about the owners than the players, in spite of the intro to the comment.

I think it is a generic comment about everyone who has disappointed him this season mate : owners for sure, Pako, and players like Crouch. There was an interview couple of days ago were Rafa said pretty much when I bought Crouch nobody was talking about him. Everybody was ridiculing him. Now he is a star etc. etc.

[andyinswinton]

The £15 million thing wasn't exactly serious given the context of the question. Why asked what would be a good price for Crouch, Rafa isn't going to say I would take what I paid for him.

Surely Crouch can't be sulking about that.

[Zambian_Red]

He's not playing this game though. He's privately considerring buying out his contract after having these games played with him. Can't blame the lad.

He's been treated badly and backed into a corner. Agree to stay and play sod all football or I'll price you out so you have to stay anyways.

Can you really blame him for considerring it?

And as for whining cunt, well, he stayed relatively positive all the way up to the end of the season when he became obvious he could **** solid gold and still wouldn't be wanted as anything other than an occasional bench warmer. Longer than most would I suspect and even then he didn't go too far.

And Rafa didn't save his career. He would have done well wherever he went. The first season he was given a lot of faith yes, but only because we had no-one better. And the way he's been treated this season he owes us nothing.

And considerring he could pay out 3m and probably get double that back in a signing on bonus we're lucky he's only considerring and only when forced, despite this, speaks volumes about his attitude.

Apart from liverpool, chelsea/arsenal or man u would not have bought him and with liverpool he won an fa cup got to play in the champions league. If he had joined the likes of pompey/villa newcastle i wonder if he would have played in europe experience the european nights at anfield.

If he is sold so be it its not like he is going to out score torres crouch does not fit in rafas system cause u need to have and attributes that torres has crouch doesnt.

I would say thank you for your time at anfield and will never forget your time at anfield he has been a top pro. Wish him all the best

[Exiled_red]

why do you think a valuation of 15 mill is unrealistic for a full england international with a goals/games ratio which is a good as anyones?
given the current over-inflated prices for english players that price tag is reasonable. he's only 27 and big name in the game.
yes he's contract's running out so he'll probably leave for less but anything less than 10 mill would be daylight robbery.

I really rate Crouch I do, personally I want him to stay, but I can't see it.

I think if his contract were longer he would be worth that sort of money, but he's got 1 year left on his contract, in a similar position we got £8m for Owen, who was a bigger name. Also I can't think of a player who was in the last year of his contract who was signed for a fee of ~£15m. With the potential option of him buying out his contract or him leaving on a Bosman in a years time, I can't see us getting that. Also I can't see any of the clubs who are potential buyers having £15m to spend on a single player

[rage]

Apart from liverpool, chelsea/arsenal or man u would not have bought him and with liverpool he won an fa cup got to play in the champions league. If he had joined the likes of pompey/villa newcastle i wonder if he would have played in europe experience the european nights at anfield.

If he is sold so be it its not like he is going to out score torres crouch does not fit in rafas system cause u need to have and attributes that torres has crouch doesnt.

I would say thank you for your time at anfield and will never forget your time at anfield he has been a top pro. Wish him all the best

to be fair mate not many out there will outscore torres. but i bet my last penny he'll outscore kuyt and voronin put together.

i'd be happy with 10 million and move on

[EwarWoo]

Apart from liverpool, chelsea/arsenal or man u would not have bought him and with liverpool he won an fa cup got to play in the champions league. If he had joined the likes of pompey/villa newcastle i wonder if he would have played in europe experience the european nights at anfield.

If he is sold so be it its not like he is going to out score torres crouch does not fit in rafas system cause u need to have and attributes that torres has crouch doesnt.

I would say thank you for your time at anfield and will never forget your time at anfield he has been a top pro. Wish him all the best

In essence I don't really disagree with any of that. The only disagreement is I think he is class, and although not as good a Torres (who is?) he should be the second choice and is perfect for games when Torres is resting or if we feels like playing a 4-4-2.

But anyways, with that in mind if we're not going to utilise him we need to let him move on and get on with his career with the minimum of fuss.

[Zambian_Red]

In essence I don't really disagree with any of that. The only disagreement is I think he is class, and although not as good a Torres (who is?) he should be the second choice and is perfect for games when Torres is resting or if we feels like playing a 4-4-2.

But anyways, with that in mind if we're not going to utilise him we need to let him move on and get on with his career with the minimum of fuss.

I agree with a 4-4-2 system crouch is suitable than the current dross we have but in this system we need a quality right winger and a left winger which we dont have plus an attacking full back. Hope fully we can rectify the right wing position because kuyt is not a right winger althought in the last 2 months he has been good playing as a right winger. Someone like barnes would do for me

[Harv]

**** him the prick never ever good enough for us in the first place. It is buying players like him over the years that have seen us slide and the mancs slowly taking over. **** THE PRICK

no need for that buddy

Crouch has done nothing wrong, he gave his all for 2 seasons, and then got left out in the cold this season. Did he ever whinge.....no. He waited his time, and the majority of the time scored when he got a game.

I have nothing but good things to say about Crouchy about how he performed as a Liverpool player.

[Guest]

I won't lose any sleep if he goes. I'll be far more concerned if we sell Kuyt.

[Norbs]

7m is a woeful price for a striker , especially as he's engligh and pretty good

did we get 9 for belamy?

£7.5million according to Wiki. He would've had at least 3 years left on his contract too, presumably.

Would you rather we got nothing and he bought out his own contract?

[El Jefecito]

BTW Which players has Rafa lost money on. I can only think of Moro.

[wiw]

BTW Which players has Rafa lost money on. I can only think of Moro.

Cisse? Maybe doesn't count though

or erm...

[badpiggy]

Cisse? Maybe doesn't count though

or erm...

poor rafa - he had to come out with a statement early on in cisse's time that when he was at valencia he looked at cisse as a potential buy. teehee.

i don't go for slagging liverpool players but i never feel any guilt about laughing at cisse. he was preposterous and useless. granted he banged them in for auxerre and now marseille but "banging them in for auxerre/marseille" is like saying like saying "shagging loads of prostitutes in amsterdam" - who's going to ****in stop ya?