Crouch can help end our away day blues.

[Sir Bob]

For all the talk of Reina's poor form, of poor lineman's decisions, of missing Didi, rotation etc etc, the fact is away from home in 4 league matches we've not scored 1 goal from open play.

In 360 odd minutes of away league footy, we've managed 1 goal, and that was a debatable penalty against the worst team in the division. We've gone close on many occasions, we've missed golden chances, we've hit the woodwork many times but we haven't scored from open play. This despite the attacking options of Fowler, Kuyt, Bellamy & Crouch. This despite the attacking midfield options of Garcia, Gonzalez, Pennant & SG.

In Rafa's 1st season in charge our league away form was poor. Last season we were much better but so far this season we are back to square 1. So whats gone wrong.

Theres no magic answer, no simple solution but I do think not playing Crouch is a factor. I think he was the single biggest factor in our improved away form last season. Not the only factor by any means but the most important.

So far this season I think he's only started 1 away game, at Sheff Utd. Its not just his goals, its his alround game. He holds the ball up so well, allowing us to get a foothold in games. He allows us to play the game in the opposition half rather infront of our back 4.

Come on Rafa, sort our away form out, & start by getting Crouchy back in the team.

[kurtangle01]

Crouch and Kuyt would have been ideal today against a dogged and determined Bolton team. The main problem we had was that Bellamy is a player who needs space to produce his best work but he didn't get that today with the Bolton back four rarely venturing more than 20 yards from their own 18 yard box.

Crounch and Kuyt could have held the ball up and fought fire with fire. I was gutted to see Kuyt subbed off instead of Bellamy. It was a bad decison by Rafa to make that change IMHO.

Bellamy would be more suited to away games against the mancs or the Arse etc... but aganst teams who defend deep he needs to be rested.

[Morph]

I feel as though there migh have been another reason rafa took Kuyt off, as it definately didn't sem like the correct decision at the time. Maybe he was having some problems after the knock he took on the head. The only other thing I could notice was that he did seem to be getting wound up a bit by the bolton players, paricularly that **** Jaskelinen, maybe Rafa thought he'd do something silly.

[SouthAfricaRed]

I thought the Reason Crouch was bought was to sort out these tough Away Premiership Fixtures

[Rocket]

crouch was uselss today, he had a touch of a rapist, and because of this, he was making crazy tackles to make up for it

[Shaggy]

One "crazy tackle".

[Rocket]

watch it again, yes, he got booked for only one tackle, but he lost the ball about 5 times because of the bad touch, which is usually perfect,

[Shaggy]

Oh I agree, he was poor today but he came on at a time when Bolton were defending en masse and making life very difficult for us. He should have started the game and it would've been a different story. In my opinion anyway...

[Rosco]

Oh I agree, he was poor today but he came on at a time when Bolton were defending en masse and making life very difficult for us. He should have started the game and it would've been a different story. In my opinion anyway...

I would startedhim ahead of Bellamy too, but at the same time I'm not sure how much of a difference he'd have made. We had the lions share of possession without him we just couldn't do much with it.

[Morph]

Problem today was in midfield, not upfront I doubt playing all three of them up there would have made any difference, we were giving too much posession away, in the middle third of the pitch, and hopelessly punting balls from the back to the front.

[kurtangle01]

One "crazy tackle".

What got me was that tackle was not that bad yet he got a booking then when two of their players halfed Finnan in the corner they got nothing. No consistency from the ref whatsoever!!

[Bob]

Its at times like this i miss Brendan and his little entourage of groupies