ZERO Striker Options

[-V-]

Im sick of the word FACT. And I edited my post.

[red g]

Why did Crouchie have to go and get too big for his boots here, he scored goals while here of the type he'll nevery likely score again.

Yet he's happy to play off the bench at Spurs, shame, and the press don't continually hound him asking "are you happy coming off the bench, do you wanto start, should you start iyo Peter, the manager is underusing you yes ? your an england international not a bench player, your better than this Peter....yada yada yada"

He gave us options, Rafa spotted thast he would when others were saying Crouch to Liverpool...pfft.

Then again, we wouldn't have GJ now so it's not all bad, and this season our stand in strikers should have scored some of the chances they've missed, even Voronin, but it's been a bloody nightmare.

Defoe and crouch will play most games together this year and unless we changed our system he was alwys goin to be impact sub here.

[Ryan_Derrick]

Torres, Kuyt, Ngog, Babbel, Veeeerrronnniiin = 4 strikers.

Kuyt and Babel aren't out and out strikers - Voronin isn't even a footballer!

[Vermilion]

Im sick of the word FACT. And I edited my post.

"End Of" Is just as bad.

[kev776]

yeah those 3 are choc full of goals

Kuyt when allowed to concentrate on being a striker is actually quite good. Babbel we will never know because it seems to be in his contract, never to start up front but only get the odd 10 minutes to prove himself and the other strange guy with the ponytail drives the bus I think.

[Vermilion]

Defoe and crouch will play most games together this year and unless we changed our system he was alwys goin to be impact sub here.

Ok maybe this year, because Keane has been poor mainly yes, but ultimately i think Spurs will look for a better striker for their starting line up though.

[-V-]

"End Of" Is just as bad.

True

[DannyMan2006]

People who post should take into account that we only play with one striker. Swap Vornin for a good back up striker and we would be just fine with N'Gog in reserve.

Look at Chelsea, they play with two strikers yet only have Anelka and Drogba who are proven. Kalou is very poor whilst Sturridge has hardly played, let alone scored.

Man Utd play with two yet only have three proven in Berba, Owen and Rooney.

Liverpool need one more striker and we'll be fine.

[Vermilion]

True

[Baracus]

People who post should take into account that we only play with one striker. Swap Vornin for a good back up striker and we would be just fine with N'Gog in reserve.

Look at Chelsea, they play with two strikers yet only have Anelka and Drogba who are proven. Kalou is very poor whilst Sturridge has hardly played, let alone scored.

Man Utd play with two yet only have three proven in Berba, Owen and Rooney.

Liverpool need one more striker and we'll be fine.

I totally agree, trying to accommodate another forward into our system just does not work unless we adopt a 4-4-2 formation. The effects of another striker are there to see with the introduction of keane last season

[DannyMan2006]

I totally agree, trying to accommodate another forward into our system just does not work unless we adopt a 4-4-2 formation. The effects of another striker are there to see with the introduction of keane last season

As proved in the last two seasons a second striker would get plenty of games at Liverpool. I'm sure there would also be occasions where we would see two up top.

[SimonNo7]

Ok maybe this year, because Keane has been poor mainly yes, but ultimately i think Spurs will look for a better striker for their starting line up though.

But this is the thing, Crouch is playing at the moment because Keane has gone off the boil (8 goals in 16 games though) and when/if Crouch goes off the boil 'arry will bring back Keane or if they both go off the boil he'll bring in Pav (well maybe not) where as when we lose Torres we bring in inexperienced Ngog or Voronin or maybe bring our RM Kuyt back to his original position.

The point is, personally, I would take any of Spurs strikers (even Pav) over any of our back-up strikers and that is the biggest problem, we have only one striker better (and how much better he is) than any of those at those teams above us.

[SimonNo7]

I totally agree, trying to accommodate another forward into our system just does not work unless we adopt a 4-4-2 formation. The effects of another striker are there to see with the introduction of keane last season

It's not necessarily about accommodating another striker into our system, it's about having quality back-up who can step in when our main striker is out of action or being able to change our system. The argument about strikers not wanting to sit on our bench doesn't wash when all the teams above us have quality strikers as back-up on sat on benches week in, week out.

[FatTony]

Time to call in numbers 18 & 19. Got to be £17-20m worth there and they're not players who have the quality to take us to the next level.

Sell them both and bring in a decent partner for Torres.

Time to be harsh and start moving the dead wood on and when needs be, we fill in with some of the youth team and stop spending our small budget on a couple of "squad fillers" who are doing nothing inspirational for us.

[Charly]

Kuyt when allowed to concentrate on being a striker is actually quite good. ....

That not true.

I am pretty sure the only time he has played up front for more than the odd game was during his first season here with 14 goals in 48 games. Crouch scored 17 in 46. Kuyt started the CL final, and completely failed to provide any threat until Crouch came on.

For me, that is when the first doubts about Benitez came in. Crouch is a much greater threat, and should have started that match.