Crouch To Pompey (Final)

[leftpeg]

Good luck, Crouchie. Au revoir.

[livvy145]

Crouchie: A tribute

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=52694

[Shanks]

He should be staying and playing. Love the big guy.

Unfortunately he doesn't fit into Rafas tactics.
and the lad want's to be playing.

I don't know of many good/happy bench warmers since Solskjaer.

If we sign both Barry and Keane then no one will have a clue about our starting line up next season including us,
which can only be a good thing.

[Sadgeek]

Crouch couldn't Kop with it
Striker believes Pompey are top eight club

By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 12th July 2008
Peter Crouch signs for Portsmouth

Crouch: Eager to play
Related links
Teams

* Liverpool
* Portsmouth

Players

* Peter Crouch

Also see

* Portsmouth fixtures
* Portsmouth stats
* Portsmouth forum

Peter Crouch has revealed his frustration at the Liverpool rotation system was a major reason why he left Anfield for Fratton Park.

The 27-year-old has rejoined boss Harry Redknapp in an £11million move that could not only resurrect his Premier League career but also his international chances.

With just nine league starts for Liverpool last season, Crouch knew life in Merseyside would be challenging but admitted he became increasingly frustrated with Rafa Benitez's rotational system.

"I accepted I was going to be a part of the squad and that the manager was going to rotate players," he told the Sun.

"But there is a fine line between getting a decent number of games and not playing as much as you would have liked.

"Towards the end it got a bit too much for me. It was frustrating because there were times when I was doing well, scoring goals yet still not playing in the next game."

Indispensable

He also claims he is not bitter towards his former Kop boss, but the 6ft 7in forward did admit life on Merseyside was tough when he was constantly on the bench and that the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher are "totally indispensable".

"Everyone else at Liverpool has to fight for their position. Of course I would have liked to have played every game and been a regular in the Champions League.

"But that didn't happen and it was one of the things that convinced me to move on," he said.

Since transferring to Liverpool from Southampton back in 2005 for £7million, the striker was delighted to be reunited with Pompey boss Redknapp - who has now signed Crouch on three different occasions.

In 2001 Redknapp was the director of football at Portsmouth when the England international moved to Fratton Park and then three years later he captured him for Southampton.

Progress

As FA Cup winners Portsmouth prepare for their first ever European campaign in the club's 120-year history, the striker firmly believes they can progress even further.

"I'm not going to stand here and lie about Portsmouth's chances of breaking into the top four.

"But there's a group of three or four teams just behind them and Portsmouth are certainly there."

Hmmm. And why do you think that was then, big man? Maybe because they deliver time after time and always give everything?

[bobbyfallon]

Peter Crouch has set his sights on a return to Champions League action after completing the formalities of his move to Portsmouth.

The England striker has signed a four- year contract to move from Liverpool for a fee of £11m.

He said: "This is an ambitious club. I've signed for four years, and hopefully beyond that, and I certainly believe we can get into that top four." sure peter sure

peter pan if he believes that

[Marky]

CROUCH: MY DEBT TO LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo 12 July 2008

PETER CROUCH today bid an emotional farewell to Liverpool – but insisted it won't be long before he's back at Anfield as a fan.

After completing his £11m move to Portsmouth, Crouch told the ECHO just how difficult it was to leave Liverpool after three years in a red shirt.

Although he departs with no hard feelings, Crouch admits he had no choice but to quit the Reds because of his need to play regular first team football, something he feels he will be granted by Pompey boss Harry Redknapp.

"It's hard to leave a fantastic club like Liverpool," he admitted.

"It was an absolute privilege to play for Liverpool but I got to the stage where I was not playing enough games and I think everyone knew it was inevitable that I would move on.

"I have left a truly great club behind but I really do believe that I am joining another club that is going places and I'm looking forward to working under Harry Redknapp."

Crouch, who scored 42 goals in 135 games after joining Liverpool from Southampton for a fee of £7m in July 2005, believes he is departing a much better player than when he first arrived and he hopes Portsmouth will see the benefits of the improvements he made during his time at Anfield.

"I definitely think I'm a better player now than when I joined the club, I don't think there's any question about that," he said.

"When you play and train regularly with players of the calibre of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres I don't think you can do anything but improve.

"In that respect it's probably a shame that I'm leaving now because I think my best years are still to come but hopefully Portsmouth will benefit from that now."

Though his first team starts became increasingly limited at Anfield during his final season with the Reds, Crouch always remained popular with the Liverpool fans and the 27-year-old insists the support they offered him is something he will cherish for ever.

He said: "You can only be grateful for that kind of support and I will always appreciate that.

"When you hear the Kop singing your name it makes you feel great and as a player you can't help but want to do well for supporters like that.

"I'll certainly miss that now I'm leaving but I'll always be a Liverpool fan and if I get the chance next season I'm sure I'll be back at Anfield supporting the lads – that's if they can get me any tickets."

Crouch's departure is likely to signal the start of heightened transfer activity by Liverpool as Rafa Benitez looks to re-shape his squad for the coming season.

Danny Guthrie last night completed his move to Newcastle after passing his medical at St James’ Park.

Benitez remains hopeful that he will be able to finance moves for his two main targets Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane through sales with a number of other fringe players expected to follow Crouch and Guthrie through the Anfield exit door.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's pre-season programme gets underway today with a short trip to Prenton Park to take on Tranmere Rovers.

Starlet Dani Pacheco is in line to make his first appearance for the Reds senior side and new signings Andrea Dossena and Philipp Degen are also expected to feature

[friedk]

if we sell voronin we'll save money on shampoo for starters. waste of space pony tail excuse of a footballer.....where's your fan club gone?

what you talking 'bout willis

[Roboklopp]

Have to admit, I really am very sad to see the big man go.

Best of luck to him (except against us, that is).

[Slinky Skills]

Good luck big man, will miss your flash scissor kicks and the robot dance. All the best Crouchie!