Crouchy speaks

[jimmylibel]

IT may be an exaggeration to suggest Peter Crouch has cemented his future at Anfield with his recent blistering spell.

 

Rafa Benitez has never suggested he wanted to sell the popular striker, while Crouch couldn?t be any more emphatic about his desire to stay on Merseyside.

 

However, it wasn?t that long ago rumours of a possible summer exit were gathering pace, so the forthright statements on the issue from player and manager have been a welcome consequence of his impressive 17-goal haul.

 

It?s little wonder Benitez is keen to keep the striker because he epitomises the kind of signing he values most.

 

In the summer of 2005, Crouch wasn?t the ?big name? player the Sky Sports generation craved when Benitez was pondering his striking options.

 

But Benitez will always prefer young, hungry players with much to prove, rather than superstars.

 

?I will put my reputation as a manager on Crouch being a good player for us,? Benitez said, in those distant days, now forgotten, when his new signing was trying to score his first goal.

 

Crouch has since succeeded in turning himself into an ?A-lister?, seizing an opportunity few predicted would come his way three seasons ago.

 

And, having grabbed the chance, not surprisingly, he has no intention of letting it slip.

 

?It?s obviously really pleasing to hear what the manager said about keeping me at the club,? said Crouch.

 

?The manager is someone who likes to keep his cards close to his chest and sometimes you?re not sure what he?s thinking, so I was happy when I read those comments.

 

?I knew there were a lot of rumours earlier in the season about other clubs being interested, but I always made my feelings clear when I was asked about the future.

 

?There?s no way I?d want to leave Liverpool. Where do you go from Liverpool other than to a club at a lower level?

 

?I love it here and being at a top four club you know you?ve a chance to play in the Champions League every year and continue to compete for trophies.

 

?I also think there?s a great team developing here and with the help of the new owners we could put in a serious challenge for the Premiership over the next few years. I want to be part of that.?

 

Numerous recent events have helped Crouch?s cause.

 

The conclusion of the takeover means Benitez should not have to raise funds through significant sales in order to fund transfers he may see as a priority.

 

The school of thought that argued doubling money on Crouch made economic sense, even if it was a risk, seems utterly redundant now.

 

Second, and most importantly, the rate of improvement in a striker with unique talents means if Crouch is valued at £14m today, he should be worth considerably more in the years to come.

 

Lest we forget, he?s currently competing with Kaka for the Champions League golden boot.

 

?It?s been going really well for me recently. I?m on a good scoring run and to be in with a chance of finishing top scorer in the Champions League is great,? he said.

 

?UEFA say I?m on six goals, but I?m definitely counting the qualifying game because that was an important one for us.

 

?To be up there with such a quality player as Kaka is fantastic. I do take a lot of satisfaction from that. But if you ask me what I?d prefer, I?d rather the team won the Champions League than finish top scorer.

 

?I feel over the last few years I have proved myself at the top level, whether it?s been the step to a club like Liverpool, the Champions League or internationals.

 

?That?s down to working with such a good manager who always wants you to keep on improving.

 

?There are parts of my game I?m still looking to work on. People have mentioned my heading quite a bit this season.

 

?To be fair, I?ve always scored goals with my head, but there were a few occasions earlier in the season when I should have scored headers. It?s something I was aware of so to get a few recently was pleasing.

 

?In a funny way, I think the nose operation came at a good time in the season where a little break has done me the world of good.

 

?When I came back I felt really fresh and sharp and it?s gone on from there. There were a few of us who took time to hit our best form earlier in the season, but now we seem to be clicking at the same time which bodes well for the big games to come.?

 

If Crouch can eclipse Kaka, the chances are he?ll have helped Liverpool overcome yet another battle with Chelsea.

 

The striker wasn?t too impressed at being ?outed? as a former Chelsea fan on TV in midweek, and is only too pleased to set the record straight.

 

?I was stitched up a bit with that,? he explained.

 

?When I was younger my dad did take me to see Chelsea, but when I was with my mates I was more a QPR fan, so it?s not like I was ever a big Chelsea supporter.

 

?You?ve also got to remember the Chelsea back then was nothing like the Chelsea it is now. I remember going along there when they were in the old Second Division.

 

?Put it this way, there?s no question where my allegiance is now. I?m firmly in the red camp. The same applies to my dad.

 

?He?s been travelling to our European games with Jamie Carragher?s dad and his friends, so you don?t have to worry who he?ll want to win.

 

?We know what the hype is going to be like over the next two weeks and it?s already started. I?m looking forward to everything about it.

 

?Last time Liverpool played Chelsea at this stage I was on the outside looking in, hoping rumours that Liverpool were interested in me were true and wishing I could be part of such a big game.

 

?Now it?s going to happen you just want it to come about.

 

?You?re always focused on the game , but there?s no escaping the attention of such a massive match.?

 

Link

[Spike]

he talks so eloquently for a big man

[Tones]

Really hope he gets the Golden Boot. Might shut a few people up. Doubt it though.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

he talks so eloquently for a big man

 

[Leo No.8]

You've got to love Crouch, he's got the perfect attitude.

 

Interesting Rafa said something along the lines of 'some players realise at a stage in their career what it takes to be a top player - that has happened with Peter'.

 

It is like his game has gone to a new level over the last month or so, but he's been good all season. I'd agree with the poster who said the other day that he was under-used earlier in the season when he was knocking them in regularly.

 

Good to see a nice guy doing so well for us.

[Guz]

Crouch is a huge positive from this season for me. Ok, he has his deficiencies as a footballer but in his prima-dona age and when footballers think they are god's gift to earth it's so refreshing to see an honest and hard working professional go from national ridicule to joint CL top scorer and our most effective striker this year.

 

Well in

[BG]

he talks so eloquently for a big man

 

His Dad was, until recently, quite a big player in the media industry. Crouch's upbringing will not have been entirely typical of a Premiership footballer's...

[Ste M]

Top top top top top bloke. Comes across as incerdibly likeable, level-headed and a funny guy to be around.

 

And he was ace on Soccer AM a few months back

[The Hitman]

His dad travels with Carra's and his mates.

Does he use a translator? I hear Jose could be after a job at the end of this season.

[jimmylibel]

You've got to love Crouch, he's got the perfect attitude.

 

Interesting Rafa said something along the lines of 'some players realise at a stage in their career what it takes to be a top player - that has happened with Peter'.

 

It is like his game has gone to a new level over the last month or so, but he's been good all season. I'd agree with the poster who said the other day that he was under-used earlier in the season when he was knocking them in regularly.

 

Good to see a nice guy doing so well for us.

 

Earlier in the season his overall game wasn't what it should have been though. He was scoring but he wasn't doing much else.

 

Around that time Rafa was making cryptic comments along the lines of Crouchy needing to concentrate on his football more and ignore other distractions. I reckon he's buckled down since Christmas and his performances have come on in the last month or so as a result.

[Bootle Buck]

I wonder deep down if Rafa actually ever expected Crouchy to become as popular as he has done. During the summer he couldn't stop scoring for England and now is doing so in the CL. I got the feeling earlier this season that Rafa maybe was concerned about Crouchy's popularity going to his head.n

 

I couldn't imagine Rafa wanting to get rid of him. There is no-one else in the game like Crouchy and he will only continue to get better.

Edited April 13, 2007 by Bootle Buck

[JonShar]

I think Jimmy hit the nail on the head - earlier in the season he was scoring goals, but his closing down of defenders had gotten pretty poor, and the old appreciative Crouch was in danger of turning into "Why didn't you pass it to me" Crouch. He's come through that well and gotten back to what he was always good at - being a team player.

[Benitez]

I love big Pete Crouchy

[Falconhoof]

16 goals for us this season if you don't count the qualifiers.

 

So if Crouch tops 20 goals and becomes a '20 goal a season striker' that people have been talking about, should we buy a '30 goal a season striker' instead?

Is there one around at the moment?

[Guz]

16 goals for us this season if you don't count the qualifiers.

 

So if Crouch tops 20 goals and becomes a '20 goal a season striker' that people have been talking about, should we buy a '30 goal a season striker' instead?

Is there one around at the moment?

 

I think when people mean a 20 goal striker they mean the league

 

Drogba has topped 30 this season, 18 in the league so far with 5 games to play so will probably get 20. He's been brilliant this season, no idea about the rest of europe.

[Falconhoof]

I think when people mean a 20 goal striker they mean the league

 

Thats what I used to take it to mean But it seems the popular interpretation has slipped. Cisse's goal tally, when he was here, gets brought up as a raw figure for example.

 

Drogba aside, who else is there ? Kuyt, should be on 15-20 league goals but his confidence seemed to dry up, or maybe its coming too deep because of the lack of support from midfield, don't know what happened but he's capable of a lot more.

[Gilps]

Drogba has topped 30 this season, 18 in the league so far with 5 games to play so will probably get 20. He's been brilliant this season, no idea about the rest of europe.

 

So basically we want someone as good as (probably) the best centre forward in Europe this season, who's in with a great shout of winning footballer of the year after his exceptional season. Nothing less than that will do. Well, at least we're being realistic..

[The Hitman]

So basically we want someone as good as (probably) the best centre forward in Europe this season, who's in with a great shout of winning footballer of the year after his exceptional season. Nothing less than that will do. Well, at least we're being realistic..

It seems a lot to ask,but seriously,isn't that what we need to compete?

[Swagger]

Does Crouchy's recent excellent form mean the end of Bellamy's Anfield career? Kuyt is going nowhere, Veronin is coming in, Crouch will no doubt stay, and with a high profile striker likely to come in, where does Bellamy fit in? Aston Villa?

[Falconhoof]

I'd say bellamy is bottom of the pile. He must be, Rafa sings the praises of Kuyt and Crouch and they've scored more goals and been more involved in setting up goals.

 

I'm not saying Bellamy hasn't had his games this season, he has, but they are all too infrequent at the moment. Maybe given time he'll get there but lets say Rafa really goes for someone like Eto'o or someone else who has Bellamy's pace and scores plenty of goals too. Where does that leave Bellamy ?

[Mad_Fer_It]

As much as I hate it, I think Bellamy will be the one that Rafa sacrifices for the new "Superstar" striker we need.

Because that striker wont have the qualities that Crouch and Kuyt bring to the game.

Its a shame because Bellamy is a quality lad, hes got an amazing fighting spirit. I wish we hadnt signed Voronin and just bought the 20 goals a season striker everyone is talking about, that way we wouldnt have to sell any of the lads.

[eth]

Has been mentioned before but Voronin could just be a Zenden replacement. We do need more than one striker with enough pace to play on the shoulder. Bellamy has intermittently been one of our best players, just hasn't built up any momentum for whatever reason.

[Magic8Ball]

Has been mentioned before but Voronin could just be a Zenden replacement. We do need more than one striker with enough pace to play on the shoulder. Bellamy has intermittently been one of our best players, just hasn't built up any momentum for whatever reason.

more of a Garcia alternative, we've really missed Garcia this year

[trowie]

Can't see Raffa getting rid of Bellamy, more so will tel him his opportunities may be limited and that will be enough for Bellamy to up and go.

[Red]

Tevez.

 

... and great Crouchinio interview, ta'.