Our best strike force is Kuyt and Bellamy

[Ombudsam]

It just is. But I'm not sure I wouldn't start with Crouch against Barca. Look at that bunch of soft shytes and tell me they'd have a clue what to do with him. Go get em Crouchy!

[R A Softlad]

I think we great striking options for differing circumstances. I think you are right though that Crouch should start v Barca.

[Bootle Buck]

I think any combination can do the trick. It's just great that we have the options. Especially when Rafa uses all three.

[Kopite_Colin]

It just is. But I'm not sure I wouldn't start with Crouch against Barca. Look at that bunch of soft shytes and tell me they'd have a clue what to do with him. Go get em Crouchy!

 

It's the best we currently have, but I agree with you entirely that Crouch should play against Barca - they really won't know how to handle him. I have a funny feeling he'll score in the Nou Camp.

Edited January 22, 2007 by Kopite_Colin

[fyds]

It just is. But I'm not sure I wouldn't start with Crouch against Barca. Look at that bunch of soft shytes and tell me they'd have a clue what to do with him. Go get em Crouchy!

Our best strike force is defined as how we want to play and against who. It's not as simple 'Kuyt and Bellamy it just is' at all.

[4411]

It just is. But I'm not sure I wouldn't start with Crouch against Barca. Look at that bunch of soft shytes and tell me they'd have a clue what to do with him. Go get em Crouchy!

 

hmm... not away from home. Bellamy's pace is key for us counter attacking Barca. And its Europe, Crouch is never given anything by the referees there so I doubt he'll be much trouble for Marquez or Puyol!

[Maldini]

Barca's CBs are used to playing against players like Bellamy, there are no players like Crouch in Spain. None of their CBs are particularly big or dominant in the air, but they're all fairly quick. Crouch's attributes probably suit this game better for this and other reasons.

 

Besides, I don't think we have a best partnership, some games suit Bellamy and some suit Crouch.

[G Richards]

I think Bellamy and Kuyt is the best partnership. They were building a good understanding, showing lots of clever movement and interplay. Normally that's what you need to open up gaps to create chances (set pieces and long range shots notwithstanding).

 

Crouch is a unique player though, and when he was out of the team people were adamant that he should be kept as he offers 'another option' (or words to that effect).

 

This was not damning Crouch with faint praise. He really does offer an option that will be useful to further the team's causes. Against Chelsea's inexperienced defence at the weekend they just couldn't cope with him. Lord Percy and Mongo would have probably fared much better, but since they were ill or injured it made sense for Rafa to send in two metre Peter to fill his boots.

 

It's likely that he'll have 70 mins in Barca in my view, and if he's up for it then he will cause them problems. Bellamy's pace later on in the Nou Camp will give them something to think about and will stop Barca coming forward in waves.

[Hassony]

Barca's CBs are used to playing against players like Bellamy, there are no players like Crouch in Spain. None of their CBs are particularly big or dominant in the air, but they're all fairly quick. Crouch's attributes probably suit this game better for this and other reasons.

 

Besides, I don't think we have a best partnership, some games suit Bellamy and some suit Crouch.

real betis couldn't cope with crouch last season (although barca are slightly stronger than betis)

[floyd the barber]

disagree...

 

think crouch and kuyt is our best partnership, and would definetly start them against Barca