Crouchy: I don't get the credit I deserve

[RafaShanks]

Crouch is still knocking on door at Liverpool despite exit fears

 

James Ducker

 

Rafael BenÍtez was in his office at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground when the knock came and a sheepish-looking Peter Crouch slipped his long, angular frame round the door.

 

The Champions League final defeat by AC Milan was still fresh in the memory, which was part of the reason why Crouch was feeling nervous. He had just had the season of his life, finishing as top scorer for both club and country, and yet the fact that he had been overlooked for all but the final 12 minutes against Milan in Athens had done little to convince him that he was wanted by BenÍtez.

 

A public admission by the manager that Liverpool lacked cutting edge up front, which would take two new strikers to resolve, coupled with the constant speculation about his future, had served only to unsettle Crouch further.

 

He needed clarification about where he stood. Craved it, and yet was willing to accept that, in a few seconds, the curtain could be brought down on his Liverpool career after only two seasons. “A lot of players went to see the manager after the season just to wrap things up and to see what the future held,” Crouch explained. “I was no different. I wanted to go and see him. I felt I had had a good season at Liverpool and played well, but I just needed to know that I was still in his plans for next year.”

 

That Crouch has seen off Craig Bellamy, Djibril Cissé, Robbie Fowler, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Luis GarcÍa this summer, just as he did Fernando Morientes and others around the same time last year, explains more or less where he stood in BenÍtez’s plans, but for a player who has always had a hard time trying to convince people of his worth, the doubts were understandable.

 

Crouch scored more goals for Liverpool – 18 – and England – six, including the strike against Estonia last month – than anyone else, but when it comes to talking about the best forwards in the Barclays Premier League, people will reel off at least a dozen or so names before considering the 6ft 7in striker.

 

A respect is lacking to Crouch and, at 26, he still cannot quite fathom it. “[Didier] Drogba was fantastic last year and got the credit he deserved because he scored 33 goals,” Crouch said. “But you look at the goals I scored for the time I was on the pitch and I think perhaps my record goes unnoticed and isn’t given the scrutiny Drogba’s is.

 

“At times I do find it frustrating but all I can do, rather than shout and scream and say ‘Look how good I am’, is do it on the pitch and hopefully convince people with my performances.”

 

If Crouch has a weakness, it may be that he wants to please and convince everybody of his talent, not least the supporters who he hopes, through BT Vision Sport, a newly-launched television service he is helping to promote, will be able to watch football for less money. Satisfying everyone is, of course, an impossible task and, as Crouch concedes, he may have to silence his critics again next season, when most are expecting Liverpool to start with Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres, the club’s record signing, up front in their quest for that elusive league title, and for England to opt for Wayne Rooney and a resurgent Michael Owen as they go in pursuit of qualification for the 2008 European Championship.

 

“Playing for Liverpool prepares you for how cutthroat it is at England,” Crouch said. “I’ve managed to force my way in before and if that’s the case this season I’ll do the same again.”

 

High achiever

 

Peter Crouch recorded the tenth-best ratio of goals to minutes on the pitch in the Barclays Premiership last season, far better than Dirk Kuyt, his Liverpool teammate, or Wayne Rooney, of Manchester United.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle2087467.ece

[Zoob]

Actually surprised that Crouch's goals to minutes ratio is only 10th best. I wouldn't be surprised if the list included players like (for example) Chris Eagles who scored 1 goal after coming on as a seconf half sub, and probably played no more than an 90 minutes worth of league football all season.

[mooks]

I don't think Crouchy has the stamina to play every week.

 

i.e., if he played much more often my betting is his goals/game ratio would go down

[Spike]

I don't think Crouchy has the stamina to play every week.

 

i.e., if he played much more often my betting is his goals/game ratio would go down

 

I think that plays a big part in how Rafa sees him, as he always seems to get subbed around the 65th minute as well.

[RedNik]

I just hope he is happy with his role at the club. He will get his fair share of games through rotation, but probably wont be considered first choice and hence may not start in the big games (later/crucial stages of cup games).

 

Its probably a bit unfair oo because (and I don't have stats to back me up on this), I often feel like Rafa disregarded his excellent form last season, choosing what he believed to be a more suitable lineup. While for the most part this is fine, and Rafa will get it right, Crouch may not be happy with this and feel like there isn't much he can do to gain a bigger role here.

[Stevie H]

crouchy needs to shut up and man up. keep doing the things you do well peter.

[McBain]

I think he does get the credit he deserves

[hideNseek]

I don't think he does.

[RedNik]

I think he does get the credit he deserves

 

Only amongst us, the fans, and that being said - not all the fans.

[matty]

he's clearly one of those players who needs a very visible pat on the back quite often.

 

Which is difficult, given the height of his back.

[JohnnyH]

I turned on Sky Sports news to see the goals from the Crewe game on Saturday and one of the studio guests when talking about Crouches goal stated that "People don't seem to realise that while Crouch is quite good with his head, he's also good on the floor for a big man". I wanted to climb into the tv and t*** the f*****.

[JohnnyH]

he's clearly one of those players who needs a very visible pat on the back quite often.

 

Which is difficult, given the height of his back.

 

 

Surely it's time to end the height gags?

[Conor]

Mooks' comment about Crouchie's lack of Stamina is a really really good shout and it does explain a lot of things. And I think it has been noted that he covers more ground on the pitch than most other players. I do feel though that Crouch is over looked when it comes to praise being handed out. But he shouldn't have to worry about that. His manager obviously has huge confidence in him and so do his team mates. No better example of this was when he went through his goal drought at the start of his first season. Rafa kept playing him and his team mates continued to give him every opportunity to score. Personally I think he is a massive player - sorry about the size thing, unintentional - for this club and is going to offer a lot to our bright future over the coming years.

[hideNseek]

I don't think he lacks stamina, more likely Rafa takes him off like other players to keep fresh as poss.

[matty]

Surely it's time to end the height gags?

 

When he stops being so tall. Have you seen him? he's like a giraffe or something.

[Mike]

hahaha

[Guest Ant]

Crouch gets the credit he deserves, you see them boo's at Old Trafford from the best fans in TEH WORLD when he played for England...

 

Incredible Plaudits...

[JohnnyH]

When he stops being so tall. Have you seen him? he's like a giraffe or something.

 

[Barnes' left foot]

he's clearly one of those players who needs a very visible pat on the back quite often.

 

Which is difficult, given the height of his back.

 

 

Very good

[Frosty Jack]

I don't think he lacks stamina, more likely Rafa takes him off like other players to keep fresh as poss.

 

it's because he looks weird

[Mike]

i don't get the credit he deserves

[Guest Kaizer]

Actually surprised that Crouch's goals to minutes ratio is only 10th best. I wouldn't be surprised if the list included players like (for example) Chris Eagles who scored 1 goal after coming on as a seconf half sub, and probably played no more than an 90 minutes worth of league football all season.

 

This is the list.

 

1 Kewell (Liverpool) 56

2 Eagles (Man Utd) 105

3 Wheater (Middlesbrough) 105

4 Van Persie (Arsenal) 138

5 Solskjaer (Man Utd) 145

6 Drogba (Chelsea) 157

7 Henry (Arsenal) 157

8 Viduka (Middlesbrough) 158

9 Bullard (Fulham) 161

10 Keane (Tottenham) 165

11 Park (Man Utd) 166

12 Vaughan (Everton) 169

13 Moore (Aston Villa) 172

14 Ronaldo (Man Utd) 172

15 Crouch (Liverpool) 176

16 McCarthy (Blackburn) 177

17 Derbyshire (Blackburn) 181

18 Todorov (Portsmouth) 185

19 Montella (Fulham) 200

20 Doyle (Reading) 202

[RedNik]

Whats the minimum goals number?

[yellow jumper]

bullard played about two games all season. park, vaughan, moore and solskjaer were hardly regulars either.

[Guest Kaizer]

Whats the minimum goals number?

 

1 Kewell (Liverpool) 56 - 1 goal

2 Eagles (Man Utd) 105 - 1 goal

3 Wheater (Middlesbrough) 105 - 1 goal

4 Van Persie (Arsenal) 138 - 11 goals

5 Solskjaer (Man Utd) 145 - 7 goals

6 Drogba (Chelsea) 157 - 20 goals

7 Henry (Arsenal) 157 - 10 goals

8 Viduka (Middlesbrough) 158 - 14 goals

9 Bullard (Fulham) 161 - 2 goals

10 Keane (Tottenham) 165 - 11 goals

11 Park (Man Utd) 166 - 5 goals

12 Vaughan (Everton) 169 - 4 goals

13 Moore (Aston Villa) 172 - 4 goals

14 Ronaldo (Man Utd) 172 - 17 goals

15 Crouch (Liverpool) 176 - 9 goals

16 McCarthy (Blackburn) 177 - 18 goals

17 Derbyshire (Blackburn) 181 - 5 goals

18 Todorov (Portsmouth) 185 - 2 goals

19 Montella (Fulham) 200 - 2 goals

20 Doyle (Reading) 202 - 13 goals