Peter Crouch - outcast ?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I don't think it will be long before Bellamy gets binned, aside from his main asset; his pace, he offers nothing else, certainly not goals.

Crouch will almost certainly play tomorrow night and definitely against Bolton.

I'd like to see him and Kuyt play up top together. Those who say it cannot work have no evidence to call upon.

[lfc4ever]

I don't think it will be long before Bellamy gets binned, aside from his main asset; his pace, he offers nothing else, certainly not goals.

So why was Harper so far up the pitch and out of his goal-line, which ultimately, allowed Alonso to score?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

So why was Harper so far up the pitch and out of his goal-line, which ultimately, allowed Alonso to score?

Did I mention Bellamys pace?

[shandyman]

I think Rafa is doing his best to allow Bellamy to gain some confidence from scoring. While we are winning, he's probably not too concerned about his lack of goals.

Im sure Crouch is firmly in his plans for the future and the competition for places will do him good.

[bazza76]

I don't agree. Fowler's movement is out of this world. He showed us last season that he knows where the goal is too.

His movement is first class, its just not the quickest though, and I have to admit, I dont think is anywhere near the finisher he once was, doesnt seem to get as much sting in his shots as he used to.

[lfc4ever]

Did I mention Bellamys pace?

Which turned into a goal, which you said he didn't offer any, so by creating goals for others, he is offering something along with his pace, even hitting the post gave an assist for Gonzales.

[bazza76]

Which turned into a goal, which you said he didn't offer any, so by creating goals for others, he is offering something along with his pace, even hitting the post gave an assist for Gonzales.

I read one article about Bellamy, it was saying he wouldnt be as effective because he is not playing off the shoulders of defenders as a lone striker, but then, when I look at his goals for Newcastle and Blackburn on youtube, the majority of them seem to be from deep, sometimes very deep and not running off the shoulders of defenders. He has it in his locker to score coming from his back being to goal. The opinion that he is a Michael Owen type goal scorer is a myth, he has much more in his game than that.

[Graybach]

I think it will be Crouch and Bellamy tommorow night. Can't see Raffa starting with the same two up front for three(i think) matches on the trot. Although I think Kuyt is his No1, I reckon he'll kep faith with Bellamy through this 'bad spell' like he did with Crouch last season.

Crouch will get his fair share of games, as will the rest of the squad.

[Bob]

I'd like to see him and Kuyt play up top together. Those who say it cannot work have no evidence to call upon.

I'm not convinced you've given Bellamy long enough to bed into the team. FFS it took Crouch long enough.

The only evidence is, the typical front pairing in any outfit is small man/target man. With the smaller striker being used for pace, thus ensuring the opposition don't keep to much of a high line. And the target man being used as an aerial threat, hold up play when and if needed.

We'd the slowest attacking forward line last year in the whole EPL, and it was embarrassingly awful to watch. I don't subscribe to the thought Kuyt and Crouch are the first choice line up, though they can be used sparingly at times as a battering ram - however who wants to see direct balls pumped forward from deep like we seen all to often last year?

[Bob]

Which turned into a goal, which you said he didn't offer any, so by creating goals for others, he is offering something along with his pace, even hitting the post gave an assist for Gonzales.

[G_Man]

[bazza76]

[Rosco]

Maybe we're seeing Crouch as he was initially bought.

I think that's the entire issue solved in one sentence.

[red g]

I think Bellamy has shown glimpses and by his own admission he is trying to hard. I think he really is desperate to show his class for his boyhood team.
I think we need Bellamys pace, or garcia's guile to play with Kujt, not convinced of a crouch/kujt partnership working but sure Rafa will rotate it in sooner or later

[Phil]

I think we need Bellamys pace, or garcia's guile to play with Kujt, not convinced of a crouch/kujt partnership working but sure Rafa will rotate it in sooner or later

I'd be interested to see Crouch and Kuyt together. Im not convinced it'd work, but you never know, their movement coming deep could pull defenders all over the place.