Peter Crouch

[JPK]

I'm tired of defending him against your anti-Crouch agenda, but you don't half talk bollocks. All you've done above is list a couple of woeful excuses.

In case it's escaped your attention, 99% of games in international football are against 'weaker opposition'. You can try and discredit his record, both at Europe's elite club level and in international football, all you like - but it just makes you look desperate and ill-informed.

You could not defend his performance yesterday.So what if I dont like the player.It's just an opinion from another nobody on an internet forum.
Hand on heart Shaggy,do you enjoy watching Liverpool play the long ball game when Crouch plays?

Crouch probably does'nt like it but thats how we will play mostly when he plays.

[Shaggy]

I'm not defending his performance yesterday but equally I wouldn't pick him out or blame him for our below-par performance. Xabi, Pennant, Benayoun and Voronin all struggled, yet I don't see any threads about any of them.

No I don't enjoy watching us play long balls, but we've been guilty of that before we signed Crouch and even when he doesn't play. He can't be blamed for other players taking the "easy option" and launching it towards him.

[Guest]

It was a difficult game on a small pitch. It's much easier to 'press' us on that kind of 'terrain' and more so when we're not on song.

[Dhav]

It was a difficult game on a small pitch. It's much easier to 'press' us on that kind of 'terrain' and more so when we're not on song.

This is a thought that occurred to me yesterday as well. It is a very small pitch, and the way they were pressing us made it even more difficult for us to create any worthwhile chances. I think this has to be borne in mind when analysing the performance.

Having said that, we didn't help ourselves with all the long balls, and in particular how we played far too much through the centre - Benayoun and Pennant etc were cutting in far too much when they would have been better off going on the outside of their full backs. Glen Johnson is clearly a weak point in Portsmouth's back line, but we didn't test him at all.

[JPK]

I'm not defending his performance yesterday but equally I wouldn't pick him out or blame him for our below-par performance. Xabi, Pennant, Benayoun and Voronin all struggled, yet I don't see any threads about any of them.

No I don't enjoy watching us play long balls, but we've been guilty of that before we signed Crouch and even when he doesn't play. He can't be blamed for other players taking the "easy option" and launching it towards him.

Firstly I did'nt start the thread.I agree alot hid yesterday and if you replace the above players with Monster,SG,Torres and Babel then it would have been a different game.What was disappointing was the style of football and the fact Pompey had the better of it.

A win next week and a draw in the big game Sunday and it is all rosy again.

[JPK]

This is a thought that occurred to me yesterday as well. It is a very small pitch, and the way they were pressing us made it even more difficult for us to create any worthwhile chances. I think this has to be borne in mind when analysing the performance.

Having said that, we didn't help ourselves with all the long balls, and in particular how we played far too much through the centre - Benayoun and Pennant etc were cutting in far too much when they would have been better off going on the outside of their full backs. Glen Johnson is clearly a weak point in Portsmouth's back line, but we didn't test him at all.

Torres tested him when he came on.Long ball football is horrible.
Chelsea do it effectively with Drogba but it is ugly.

[paulcooper4]

Peter Crouch is a very good player who is playing very **** at the moment. A lot of players down the years have played **** at times, I cant think of one who hasnt.

To sell him in January would be immensely stupid.

[Dan]

Peter Crouch is a very good player who is playing very **** at the moment. A lot of players down the years have played **** at times, I cant think of one who hasnt.

To sell him in January would be immensely stupid.

I cant help but think that he will leave next summer though

[JPK]

Peter Crouch is a very good player who is playing very **** at the moment. A lot of players down the years have played **** at times, I cant think of one who hasnt.

To sell him in January would be immensely stupid.

If we got 10m it would'nt.That could buy Martins or even Owen

Both will be eligible for Europe too.

[AFII]

Peter Crouch is a very good player who is playing very **** at the moment. A lot of players down the years have played **** at times, I cant think of one who hasnt.

To sell him in January would be immensely stupid.

Why would that be stupid?

We clearly don't need him. He is our FIFTH best striker. It's very clear that it's Torres or Crouch and not Torres and Crouch.

If we can get around £10m for a player that will only play when Torres is rested then that is excellent business.

£10m for a player that don't strenghten our squad, yes please.

[Dan]

Why would that be stupid?

We clearly don't need him. He is our FIFTH best striker. It's very clear that it's Torres or Crouch and not Torres and Crouch.

If we can get around £10m for a player that will only play when Torres is rested then that is excellent business.

£10m for a player that don't strenghten our squad, yes please.

Torres, Voronin, Kuyt. Who else?

[AFII]

Torres, Voronin, Kuyt. Who else?

Torres, Voronin, Kuyt and Babel.

Babel will probably play more upfront when Kewell is back.

[JPK]

Torres, Voronin, Kuyt. Who else?

Lindfield

[Dan]

Torres, Voronin, Kuyt and Babel.

Babel will probably play more upfront when Kewell is back.

I wouldnt consider Babel one of our strikers but if you do I get your point. I see him as more of an attacking midfielder for us

[AFII]

I wouldnt consider Babel one of our strikers but if you do I get your point. I see him as more of an attacking midfielder for us