Rafa: I prefer my strikers not to score goals

[Nic83]

I don't think Crouchy's all round play has hit the heights of last year yet but in saying that, i think Bellamy has been pretty bad, as well as not scoring so yes, fair point.

[Red Chilli]

Crouch works bloody hard and he scores. So why isn't he in the team?

[Nic83]

Crouch works bloody hard and he scores. So why isn't he in the team?

Strange one. He is a definite starter for me so i'm as baffled as you.

[Red_Polo]

Personally I think it's because he doesn't want to drop Bellamy and knock his confidence in any way, whilst Kuyt has shown real class for us when he's played. I think Crouchy's just been a bit unlucky having to bide his time a bit, he'll get plenty of games for us this season though, probably more than any other striker.

[Shaggy]

Personally I think it's because he doesn't want to drop Bellamy and knock his confidence in any way, whilst Kuyt has shown real class for us when he's played. I think Crouchy's just been a bit unlucky having to bide his time a bit, he'll get plenty of games for us this season though, probably more than any other striker.

I think it's more to do with pace, to be honest. We had a ponderous front two last term in Crouch and Morientes, and obviously he shipped out the latter. Bellamy's the only striker of ours with any real pace and I think Rafa feels, quite rightly, we need that bit of pace up the front to stretch teams.

Our problem is we haven't seen Bellamy apply or utilise his speed in a threatening fashion once, not once, so we might as well just start our two best footballers and biggest goal threats up front - clearly Kuyt & Crouch (overlooking Robbie here, sadly, as he's a clear 4th choice).

Maybe Bellamy's going to explode into life soon but I've never been bowled over by him and if anything I currently rate him as not as good as I thought he was - which wasn't much good in the first place.

[Red Chilli]

We haven't given Bellamy the opportunity to use his pace as we haven't been feeding him with the correct passes and most teams defend really deep against us. Plus, our midfielders are too busy picking the ball off our centre backs toes and looking for a 60 yard pass rather than running at and committing the opposition defenders thereby creating space.

[Morse]

I think what he means that if all 11 players play well and play as a team, then the goals will come. It doesn't matter who scores them.

I agree that Crouch isn't playing as well as he did when he had that barren spell...wierd isn't it?

[Shaggy]

I agree that Crouch isn't playing as well as he did when he had that barren spell...wierd isn't it?

I agree but, incredulously, some would have you believe he was absolutely ****ing abysmal throughout that spell, when in actual fact his all round game was excellent...he just couldn't buy a goal. For me that is quite different to Bellamy at the minute. His pace (along with his fantastic work ethic) is getting him into the side.

However I've got a sneaky feeling we might just see his pace in all its glory on Sunday - United will come at us, relentlessly at times, and if we're smart enough we should be able to ensure Bellamy causes them some serious problems.

[Morse]

I don't subscribe to the view that Bellamy is playing cr@p. I feel that he is in and out of the games at the moment. One thing though...his crossing is better than Speedy's.

[alunevans]

I personally think its been going on too long where we have to point to our strikers "play for the team" or their "good work outside the box" or "how good they are tackling back" in order to defend a lack of goals.

Rushie did all that. But he scored goals too.

[Joe Le Toff]

I personally think its been going on too long where we have to point to our strikers "play for the team" or their "good work outside the box" or "how good they are tackling back" in order to defend a lack of goals.

Rushie did all that. But he scored goals too.

Very true but also think its a little harsh to compare our strikers to a one-off such as Rushie.
For me Crouch this season seems to be scoring goals but his all-round play is not what it was when he had the barren spell last season.
Bellamy isnt making enough of the runs IMO for us to be able to exploit his pace, he seems to be running into a lot of blind alleys due to a lack of confidence. As soon as his confidence lifts i think we'll see twice the player we've seen so far - the goal against Blackburn will have helped.
Kuyt - Class act but i reserve judgement on if he is the 20 goal a season man that we desperately need if we are to compete for the league. I have my doubts.
Fowler - Obv 4th choice but dont think he's as washed up as some are making out, but clearly not the player of old (and he wasnt when we signed him) I still think he can chip in with some valuable goals for us as a bit-part player.

Ive said it before and I'll say it again, think we should have seriously gone for Defoe instead of Bellamy as he is the kind of player we are crying out for upfront alongside Kuyt/Crouch.