Toon after Crouch?

[AFII]

Are you trying to be controversial today for a reason?

No.

Crouch doesn't play that much does he?

Rooney is the clear number one choice for England and Crouch probably number two right now but that will probably change if he is sitting on the bench.

[Red Chilli]

Well can I just site Emile heskey as an example of what happens to a striker's england career when they leave LFC?

If you leave LFC and go to a mediocre club, even if your first choice, you lose the spotlight and miss out.

[Rashid]

£10M and I'd bite their hand and handbag off.

[Shaggy]

£10M and I'd bite their hand and handbag off.

But surely only if we had a replacement (and someone better than Crouch) lined up?

And assuming I'm right, who is this striker?

Not for one minute suggesting there aren't better strikers than Crouchie out there - but who? Tell me who.

[KingKenny]

But surely only if we had a replacement (and someone better than Crouch) lined up?

And assuming I'm right, who is this striker?

Not for one minute suggesting there aren't better strikers than Crouchie out there - but who? Tell me who.

david villa but at what price

[Howard_lfc]

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has confirmed his interest in Liverpool's Peter Crouch.

The England striker looks to be losing his battle with Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy for a starting role as Rafa Benitez edges away from his rotation policy.

Roeder looks set to invest heavily in the January transfer window and a new striker is believed to be on his list of targets.

Crouch has been linked with a possible switch to St James' Park and now Roeder has admitted he is an admirer of the 25-year-old.

"I am an admirer of the way Peter Crouch plays and the fact is that he also scores goals," said Roeder, who is also believed to be keeping tabs on Mark Viduka.

Howard kicks off his shoes, leans back in the chair, and lights a big fat cigar.....

Still can't see it coming off though.

[REDSCOUSER]

But surely only if we had a replacement (and someone better than Crouch) lined up?

And assuming I'm right, who is this striker?

Not for one minute suggesting there aren't better strikers than Crouchie out there - but who? Tell me who.

You serious Shags. You rate Crouch that high
Let me start

Huntelaar
Villa
Klose
Fred
Podolski

Need I carry on

[Shaggy]

You serious Shags. You rate Crouch that high
Let me start

Huntelaar
Villa
Klose
Fred
Podolski

Need I carry on

I made a point of making it clear I know there are better strikers than Crouch.

Okay so which striker out of that lot is likely to sign for LFC as a replacement for Crouch?

I'll save you the bother mate....not one of 'em.

So give me some strikers who are better than Crouch and could replace him as third choice.

[James]

I like Crouch, but for £8 Million or more I would let him go, same with Bellamy. Neither of them are the required standard for LFC....

......but only if we get money to replace them - no point selling them if we can't afford to buy in better players.

[Rhys]

I made a point of making it clear I know there are better strikers than Crouch.

Okay so which striker out of that lot is likely to sign for LFC as a replacement for Crouch?

I'll save you the bother mate....not one of 'em.

So give me some strikers who are better than Crouch and could replace him as third choice.

I think you've proved your point very well as i cant think of a better third choice striker to have than crouch. yet i would still sell him for £10 million to the barcodes.

but who would replace him you may ask?
i dont know is the answer

[REDSCOUSER]

I made a point of making it clear I know there are better strikers than Crouch.

Okay so which striker out of that lot is likely to sign for LFC as a replacement for Crouch?

I'll save you the bother mate....not one of 'em.

So give me some strikers who are better than Crouch and could replace him as third choice.

now yer talking mate "3rd choice" striker you say. Can't think of any, unless Rafa promotes one of the youngsters such as El Zaher or Lindfield.

[tomasjj]

Thing is, having a 10 mill pound player as 3rd choice is too much of a luxury imo. And I would also let a youngster get 4th choice.

[captainfog]

Thing is, having a 10 mill pound player as 3rd choice is too much of a luxury imo. And I would also let a youngster get 4th choice.

That's why it was a shame Pongolle went out on loan this season - he would have been the perfect 4th striker. We've really missed his pace this season (as a backup to Bellend)

I don't think we should sell Crotch to the barcodes though. I think his height gives us something that would be difficult to find in another player. If you want to bring in another striker then I think it has to be at the expense Robbie (assuming Pongolle is off).

If he buys a couple of quality wingers in the summer then he'll probably play one up top and if does that then Crotch will be invaluable.

[tomasjj]

That's why it was a shame Pongolle went out on loan this season - he would have been the perfect 4th striker. We've really missed his pace this season (as a backup to Bellend)

I don't think we should sell Crotch to the barcodes though. I think his height gives us something that would be difficult to find in another player. If you want to bring in another striker then I think it has to be at the expense Robbie (assuming Pongolle is off).

If he buys a couple of quality wingers in the summer then he'll probably play one up top and if does that then Crotch will be invaluable.

Decent assessment that.
But, you see, I don't think that Crouch is enough of a threat if we play with one striker. He plays too deep, and then it takes us too much time to move up the pitch. If we use two pacy wingers they will have to wait 5 seconds before Crouch and the other midfielders like SG arrive, mostly because they have been too deep linking up the play.

[captainfog]

Decent assessment that.
But, you see, I don't think that Crouch is enough of a threat if we play with one striker. He plays too deep, and then it takes us too much time to move up the pitch. If we use two pacy wingers they will have to wait 5 seconds before Crouch and the other midfielders like SG arrive, mostly because they have been too deep linking up the play.

At the same time though, if you play a little quick guy like bellend, that doesn't really work either because they quite often get musceled out of the game.

I guess with 1 up top you have to have two very pacy and attacking wingers who burst into the box making up the extra man and picking up the second ball once Crotch has won it. It goes back to the old 'is it 4,5,1 or is it 4,3,3' discussion. If it is only 4,5,1 then in my opinion it will never really work as you need that fluidity in midfield to help out the striker.