Crouch.

[honourablegeorge]

When was his last "meaningful" appearance - as in playing a proper part in a game, as opposed to trotting on for the last ten minutes?

 

Was talking about him to someone, not sure if we were tight in thinking that he hasn't featured since it was reported in the Echo that he was discussing a new deal.

[Guest Prongsy]

If He isn't going to play, I think we should cash in our chips. He'd get a hefty fee from Sven's army - It could pay for a superb player.

[honourablegeorge]

I did see a NOTW (I think) snippet in the BBC Gossip thing that he wouldn't sign if Rafa was staying.

 

Agreed on selling him, he offers something unique, but it isn't enough.

[Tones]

If He isn't going to play, I think we should cash in our chips. He'd get a hefty fee from Sven's army - It could pay for a superb player.

 

Hasnt he only got 1 year left on his contract, and cant he buy that out himself for a very low fee? If so, i dont think we will get much for him at all.

 

tbh honest, i would get rid of Voronin, bring in a top class forward, and i would keep Crouch and Kuyt in the squad, as long as they are happy with that of course.

[Woodsyla]

I did see a NOTW (I think) snippet in the BBC Gossip thing that he wouldn't sign if Rafa was staying.

 

Agreed on selling him, he offers something unique, but it isn't enough.

 

He can't play in this new formation, look at the goals the other week, both Gerrard and Torres bursting through with pace setting each other up. Crouch is finished if we continue to play this way, the only time he will be any use is when a team is defending deep (a la Inter) and we bombard the box.

 

He will be off in the summer whether he signs a new contract or not.

[Guest Prongsy]

bring in a top class forward to play where? in the 4-2-3-1 we don't have room if torres isn't unjured or needing resting. We should sell crouch and buy wingers - move babel up front when torres isn't available.

 

just my view, who knows what rafa will do

[shanks59]

Crouch (city/villa/pompey/bs), Benayoun (west ham), Voronin (celtic), Pennant (Brum/Wigan), Kewell (Hull City ;-) ). All either not good enough/consistent enough. Goodbye, you won't be missed.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

If we are selling him, the decision should have been taken last Summer or in January at least.

 

From a position where Crouch was playing and scoring and having critics on Rafa's back for not playing him more - we have gone to a position where Crouch doesn't play and therefore cant score goals and no-one is batting an eyelid. Classic shift in power from the seller to the buyer.

[shanks59]

If we are selling him, the decision should have been taken last Summer or in January at least.

 

From a position where Crouch was playing and scoring and having critics on Rafa's back for not playing him more - we have gone to a position where Crouch doesn't play and therefore cant score goals and no-one is batting an eyelid. Classic shift in power from the seller to the buyer.

 

Agree to an extent.

 

However, quite a few clubs are interested .. Villa, City. Pompey, etc

 

High bidder wins .. or we get a player + cash?

[honourablegeorge]

If we are selling him, the decision should have been taken last Summer or in January at least.

 

From a position where Crouch was playing and scoring and having critics on Rafa's back for not playing him more - we have gone to a position where Crouch doesn't play and therefore cant score goals and no-one is batting an eyelid. Classic shift in power from the seller to the buyer.

 

Aye, although we'd be terrible short of a man up front if Torres permitted a lesser player to injure him.

[Falconhoof]

If we are selling him, the decision should have been taken last Summer or in January at least.

 

It looks like this decision has been allowed to drift. We'll get a pittance now for a player we should have been getting £10 million for.

[MFletcher]

We won't get a pittance.

 

There will be several clubs interested on the back of his England performances. He can only buy his contract out to move abroad, so if he wants to stay in England then the club in question will have to pay for it.

 

For what it's worth, I don't think Rafa wanted to sell three or our strikers in the summer. With Fowler being released and Bellamy on the way after the golf club incident, Crouch was always going to stay. Signing a sufficient replacement in January would always have been difficult, and he's the only player capable of playing by himself up front if Torres should pick up an injury. We'd have to change our style somewhat to accommodate him, but the Crouch/Gerrard combination would be more convincing than a Gerrard/Kuyt one.

 

I imagine we'll get about £8M for him in the summer on the basis of the competition to sign him.

[Guest JV]

If he buys his contract out he can only move abroad methinks. Though Juve were after him at one point.

[Rimbeux]

I dont think the club or the player have received an acceptable offer, that's how it appears to me, not the stature of club that will interest the player, or the level of offer that will interest the club to a degree where a deal is possible with some compromises. The clubs he has seemingly been linked with have bought other strikers (instead) who have not commanded double figure fees. I'd be shopping him abroad if I was one of his handlers, he'd get a better level of club and the football would likely suit him, even if he didn't get £4m a year or whatever it is that Bellamy and Barton earn.

[chliverpool7]

Crouch (city/villa/pompey/bs), Benayoun (west ham), Voronin (celtic), Pennant (Brum/Wigan), Kewell (Hull City ;-) ). All either not good enough/consistent enough. Goodbye, you won't be missed.

 

Benayoun???? would be crazy to let him go

[Hassony]

Benayoun???? would be crazy to let him go

 

Good squad player but It wouldn't be that crazy to let him go

[shanks59]

Benayoun???? would be crazy to let him go

Why? When did he last deliver?

[chliverpool7]

Good squad player but It wouldn't be that crazy to let him go

 

I think he's been a fantastic signing. He's our 3rd highest goal-scorer and he has hardly played at all. Since mid January he's barely started any games at all. Could have had more goals if played

Edited March 19, 2008 by chliverpool7

[chliverpool7]

Why? When did he last deliver?

 

 

When did he last start a game??

[Hassony]

I think his been a fantastic signing. He's our 3rd highest goal-scorer and his hardly played at all. Since mid January his barely started any games at all. Could have had more goals if played

 

and the reason for that?

 

as I said, a better player than Pennat and Kewell, but it won't be exactly crazy to sell him in the summer

[shanks59]

When did he last start a game??

 

That's the point. He turns it on against dross, disappears against quality.

 

He's not upto it / too lightweight / cannot stay wide / ..... etc etc ...

 

He's a west ham player, send him home

[Guest Prongsy]

Agree with your comments on Yossi, I didn't want him in the first place. The problem is that we had positions to fill, and for 5m, you don't get special talent in that position.

[chliverpool7]

and the reason for that?

 

as I said, a better player than Pennat and Kewell, but it won't be exactly crazy to sell him in the summer

 

I have no idea why his been dropped. Poor training form/attitude?? perhaps......but can you tell me Kuyt would be a stronger performer at RM then benayoun?? I think youssi should have been RM for a long time...but he just doesnt fit into Rafa's system. Kuyt is alot stronger in the defensive side of things...and he'll work harder/run more then Benayoun

[Guest JV]

Good squad player but It wouldn't be that crazy to let him go

Correct.

[Hassony]

I have no idea why his been dropped. Poor training form/attitude?? perhaps......but can you tell me Kuyt would be a stronger performer at RM then benayoun?? I think youssi should have been RM for a long time...but he just doesnt fit into Rafa's system. Kuyt is alot stronger in the defensive side of things...and he'll work harder/run more then Benayoun

Kuyt sticks to the right side, thus keeping the shape of the side

Yossi drifts in the middle and gets in the way of gerrard, torres and babel

 

Thats why Kuyt (with his limited ability) starts ahead of Yossi