Selling Crouch?

[LFCman]

It never fails to amaze me how good some people think Crouch is?

Are we watching the same goofy, lumering, impotent oaf here or wha?

It never fails to amaze me how some people get stuck with an opinion on a player (most often a negative view) and no matter what the player does they still will never ever see the good things he does.

I didn't want us to sign Crouch, I didn't rate him at all. But he proved me wrong and I will happily admit it.

[Ryan]

Watching him run and kick makes my toes curl.

He's an eyesore.

[anfieldanfield]

He concedes more possession than Luis Garcia. That is a fact.

Highly doubt it.

[Ryan]

Highly doubt it.

The stats prove it.

[anfieldanfield]

The stats prove it.

Reveal...

[brendan]

I'd sell him yesterday.

He's possibly the worst striker I've ever seen play for Liverpool Football Club (and no, I don't count the likes of Sean Dundee or Erik Meijer). Although Morientes is close.

Yes, he has a "GTFABM", and is useful at holding the ball up high up the pitch, but I expect a little more from a Liverpool striker.

Just think about the fabulous, gifted, exciting forward players we've had over recent years: Fowler, Aldridge, Rush, Collymore, Barnes, Beardsley, Owen. Yes, we've been spoilt, but even Emile Heskey had one fabulous season.

Rodders is slower than a ****ing glacier, is **** in the air, has zero aggression, and is a very poor finisher.

It makes me a bit sad that he plays for Liverpool, because he wouldn't get close to a game for any of our peers.

I would still keep him if we don't get another striker in, but if Kuyt (or similar) arrives, he should be gone sooner rather than later.

[Ryan]

Reveal...

Ross has them somewhere, I'll get him to fish them out.

In fact, it's he who churns that line out all the time. I was quite surprised by it at first, but stats don't lie...

[PTP]

Although Heskey's career has nosedived - I reckon he was a much better player than crouch. Stronger, quicker, miles better in the air, could hold up just as well, could strike it well with both feet.

Although I'm willing to support Crouch and hope he succeeds when you compare to Heskey and realise he is worse it is a bit of a worry. Providing we bring in the 4th striker we want(needs to be big, strong and capable of heading the ball) I'm quite happy for Crouch to stay and be the 4th option.

But, if crouch is the main striker leading the line we will struggle

[red g]

Will there ever be a better time?

He's clearly quite limited as a striker, I think we can all agree on that. He's somehow found his way into the England team and is maybe, just maybe, marketable at more than the 7m we paid for him.

We have some cash available for a striker already (maybe 10/11m?).

Would you consider selling Crouch for 7/8m?

We could then have enough to buy two strikers who can hold the ball up, retain possession, involve team mates in the attack AND SCORE GOALS.

Would you sell Crouch if it meant we could sign....say...for example...Kuyt and Ashton, or Bent and Ashton or Bent and Kuyt....? (well you get the idea)

I would.

if we sell crouch for 7/8 how the hell can we afford £25million for any 2 of the 3 strikers named above.

Cant think of anyone who would cost around the same as crouch who he could be replaced by??

Think it would send the wrong signals out tothe players as well and goes against Rafa's team spirit as well

[TheStig]

Ross has them somewhere, I'll get him to fish them out.

In fact, it's he who churns that line out all the time. I was quite surprised by it at first, but stats don't lie...

You can use stats to prove anything almost.

[Ryan]

You can use stats to prove anything almost.

Yes, thing like, Crouch giving the ball away more often over the course of a season n stuff.

[Peter Delvechio]

My concern is simply that Crouch may have had his best ever season last season. This may be as good as he'll ever get.

I just don't see him suddenly getting quicker, better at heading the ball, more aggressive and more ruthless in front of goal. Last season he surely had all the motivation he needed (WC year, chance to prove his knockers wrong, chance at England's most successful club) and he was surrounded by the most talented group of midfielders he's ever likely to play with - and yet, the jury is still out for most of us.

It seems to me that there are surely players out there who can contribute much of what Crouch is good at - but can also do the normal centre-forward tasks - like scoring regularly.

I'm also concerned that there's something of a bizarre 'cult-type-thing' building up around Crouch. It seems that people who love him have undergone some kind of brainwashing or footballing epiphany and have been left utterly immune to reason when it comes to an honest discussion of his strengths and weaknesses.

For my part, I can recognise that he played a part in our improvement last season but it's ludicrous to give him all this credit. The fact that the back 5 was more assured with Rafa's formations and systems was perhaps more important and the arrival of Sissoko was also a positive factor (as was the departure of a few flops like Josemi and Nunez).

[TheStig]

I think you may be right Peter. I do think Crouch can score more goals though, if he'd not had that long run at the start without a goal he'd have got a fair amount, and he got 15 goals for Southampton I think.

I can't see Rafa selling him any time soon.

[scubykuntz]

I'd sell him yesterday.

He's possibly the worst striker I've ever seen play for Liverpool Football Club (and no, I don't count the likes of Sean Dundee or Erik Meijer). Although Morientes is close.

Yes, he has a "GTFABM", and is useful at holding the ball up high up the pitch, but I expect a little more from a Liverpool striker.

Just think about the fabulous, gifted, exciting forward players we've had over recent years: Fowler, Aldridge, Rush, Collymore, Barnes, Beardsley, Owen. Yes, we've been spoilt, but even Emile Heskey had one fabulous season.

Rodders is slower than a ****ing glacier, is **** in the air, has zero aggression, and is a very poor finisher.

It makes me a bit sad that he plays for Liverpool, because he wouldn't get close to a game for any of our peers.

I would still keep him if we don't get another striker in, but if Kuyt (or similar) arrives, he should be gone sooner rather than later.

Jesus, every time I read one of your posts you are always, without exception slaughtering a current Liverpool player... Why don't you **** off to redcafe (or whatever it's called) where you belong.
The fact is Peter Crouch played a significant part in our 20 point improvement last season. He may be lacking in certain departments sure, but he also brings something that a lot of other teams don't have.
Basically Rafa (and his team mates for that matter) seem to like him, so what idiots like you think doesn't really matter.

[brendan]

Jesus, every time I read one of your posts you are always, without exception slaughtering a current Liverpool player... Why don't you **** off to redcafe (or whatever it's called) where you belong.
The fact is Peter Crouch played a significant part in our 20 point improvement last season. He may be lacking in certain departments sure, but he also brings something that a lot of other teams don't have.
Basically Rafa (and his team mates for that matter) seem to like him, so what idiots like you think doesn't really matter.

Another lackwit fails to grasp the concept of a "discussion forum".