Crouch to leave for free?

[SB]

It's being reported that Crouch will stay and walk next summer for free.Do you think that he'd do that or is he calling a bluff to get Rafa to drop the asking price?


Quote "Peter Crouch has told Rafa Benitez that he will stay at Anfield to see out the remaining year of his current contract in protest at his £15m price tag. (Daily Star)

[Fubar]

sick and tired of players holding us to ransom. **** him off if it is true. let him go be a 'big' player at a third rate team with no chance of winning anything. or he should man the **** up, acknowledge that he is doing well to be at one of the best teams being used when needed

[Shaggy]

That bastion of truth, The Daily Star.

[Guest]

We've offered him a new contract. So he'll do a Kewell.

[Chrono]

sick and tired of players holding us to ransom. **** him off if it is true. let him go be a 'big' player at a third rate team with no chance of winning anything. or he should man the **** up, acknowledge that he is doing well to be at one of the best teams being used when needed

Why is it only Crouch gets told he is at the pinnacle of his level of achievement? He is a very talented player who I think we should keep until at least Vorinin and Kuyt have been offloaded.

[Vermilion]

Don't see why Rafa is being so stubborn on this one, if Crouch wants out then get him out soon as, for a good price, not a stupid one. Rafa must know he wont get near 15 mill.

[Guest]

Why is it only Crouch gets told he is at the pinnacle of his level of achievement? He is a very talented player who I think we should keep until at least Vorinin and Kuyt have been offloaded.

Crouch might be a good player but he's a one dimensional one. Voronin and Kuyt offer more variety.

[homer1]

Don't see why Rafa is being so stubborn on this one, if Crouch wants out then get him out soon as, for a good price, not a stupid one. Rafa must know he wont get near 15 mill.

It's just a negotiation tactic though mate, isn't it? Whatever you ask for will be bargained down so you may as well go in high - I would be very surprised if Rafa didn't bite the hand off the first team to quote £10m

[Chrono]

Crouch might be a good player but he's a one dimensional one. Voronin and Kuyt offer more variety.

That's not true in the slightest. Kuyt works harder but Crouch is more prolific than both and although I completely disagree with you on him being one-dimensional I don't think there is much wrong with that if you are good enough.

Crouch holds the ball up better than either. Crouch has better foot work and ball control than either. Crouch scores more than either. Crouch brings other in to play more than either.

What "variety" is it that those two offer?

[Guest]

That's not true in the slightest. Kuyt works harder but Crouch is more prolific than both and although I completely disagree with you on him being one-dimensional I don't think there is much wrong with that if you are good enough.

Crouch holds the ball up better than either. Crouch has better foot work and ball control than either. Crouch scores more than either. Crouch brings other in to play more than either.

What "variety" is it that those to offer?

They can play in more positions.

Crouch offers something else because he's a tall ****er who has good feet. Yes he's a good goalscorer, but why should he feel he deserves a starting place in the side !? Can't see him playing the Kuyt role.

He should either fight for his place and shut up or just look to move to a team like Portsmouth who will offer him first team football without the romanticism and added competition LFC brings to him.

[friedk]

I like Crouch, but don't rate him as a world class player. He has done well for us, but he is up against Torres and there is no chance whatsoever that he will be a regular starter for us. I don't think they are great together in a 442 and he doesn't fit into 4231.

You can see by the clubs that are interested in him where his level is, which is probably a top 10 club.

As for this story, I think it's bull****.

[dww]

Crouch has two problems - the general one that he lacks pace and the one specific to our current squad - he is behind Torres for the one position he can play.

The former could be worked round with more pace on the wings and he is an excellent back up option. However we are unlikely to play him with Torres regularly and he is not going to displace him. I think the ball is entirely in Peter's court in terms of whether he should leave. However as his contract is running out it makes sense for us to maximise his value and sell now - irrelevant almost of how good he is. I hope he will stay and sign a new contract as I don't think we will get a better player for the money we would get him now but we have to think long term with players who are not going to play regularly.

I think Kuyt was a vital part of the team that finished the season so well. I would want to be able to field as close to that team at the beginning of next season as possible. He also provides good options in a number of positions.

Voronin - hasn't been good enough so far and seems to replicate Kuyt in the squad. Will only stay IMO if we can't sell or get in players to cover positions. He did chip in with some goals at the end of the season and isn't as bad as some say.

[SB]

Football 365 are running it also now but no fresh leads.

[Chrono]

I like Crouch, but don't rate him as a world class player. He has done well for us, but he is up against Torres and there is no chance whatsoever that he will be a regular starter for us. I don't think they are great together in a 442 and he doesn't fit into 4231.

You can see by the clubs that are interested in him where his level is, which is probably a top 10 club.

As for this story, I think it's bull****.

I completely agree with you but I think the problem for Crouch is not the fact that he isn't a started but more that he barely got a game at all and Vorinon and Kuyt always got picked before him.

In my mind Crouch is good enough to be playing in certain games/situations and with the structure of the team (1-up) can be used as the foil for Torres. We could do a lot worse than Crouch as a squad player.

[Guest]

I completely agree with you but I think the problem for Crouch is not the fact that he isn't a started but more that he barely got a game at all and Vorinon and Kuyt always got picked before him.

In my mind Crouch is good enough to be playing in certain games/situations and with the structure of the team (1-up) can be used as the foil for Torres. We could do a lot worse than Crouch as a squad player.

Do you really think Crouch could have played on the wing !!!???