Time to resurect Peter Crouch

[David Hodgson]

I'm not one of his biggest fans, and for the £10-11m being quoted, I'll drive him to Man City in July.

 

However, at this pivotal stage of the season I think we may need the big lanky streak 'o p*sh.

 

It's been noticeable in these bigger games recently that when we're under pressure we don't have a good 'out' ball. Tossing it long and hoping for Torres to catch it, isn't enough.

 

I think Crouchie should play in the next two games against the gooners. Profitable as recent matches have been for the Gerrard/Torres combo, it's noticeable that there are games where Torres simply isn't seeing enough of the ball. He's that good that he invariably scores when he does, but I'm not convinced we're getting him into games enough.

 

The solution ? Get Gerrard wide and Crouch upfront with Torres. Which side and with which wing partner I don't know - I think between them Gerrard, Kuyt and Babbel can do jobs on either wing.

[Mike]

think we'll see a lot changes on satdee.

will go spare if voronin plays ahead of crouch tho.

[Gunga Din]

i wouldntplay him. it would mean reverting back to 4-4-2 and the system we have atthe minute is playing more to our strengths than a 4-4-2. i think Kuyts performannces in recent weeks have shown a very steady improvement, and for Crouch to start would mean us dropping either Kuyt, Gerrard or Torres, and i wouldnt drop either of those 3. So sorry big Pete, its the bench for you

[meepins]

i wouldntplay him. it would mean reverting back to 4-4-2 and the system we have atthe minute is playing more to our strengths than a 4-4-2. i think Kuyts performannces in recent weeks have shown a very steady improvement, and for Crouch to start would mean us dropping either Kuyt, Gerrard or Torres, and i wouldnt drop either of those 3. So sorry big Pete, its the bench for you

We haven't been able to hold possession at all well against man u and arsenal. I think the Crouch point is a good reminder we have options because my concern going into last night and possibly in the future is how we are going to create for Torres save the hollywood passes from Gerrard.

[Billy Dane]

I reckon he'll rest at least Torres, Gerrard and Kuyt on saturday, with Crouch, Voronin and Pennant respectively replacing them.

[muleskinner]

If he doesn't start Saturday, he will know for defo, if he doesn't already, that his time is up. Has he started a game against a top flight side this year?

[eskton]

NO NO NO

 

why did Vorinin come on last night, because he can run and chase. CROUCH can't run, send him to Plymouth or Hull where he belongs

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I can see wholesale changes.

 

Sami will be rested. I'd start Voronin & tell him to maim Fabregas

[stressederic]

I can easily see Crouch playing this weekend. He'll be back on the bench for Tuesday.

[aka Dus]

A resurrection after 3 days? It's been done.

[Hector McDougal]

I've thought for a while that he'll start one of the matches, probably sat. Wouldn't be that surprised to see Torres rested. He looked knackered at the end last night.

[rjlfc]

If he doesn't start Saturday, he will know for defo, if he doesn't already, that his time is up. Has he started a game against a top flight side this year?

Bit of a chicken and egg scenario really. Rafa probably doesn't want to play a flat 4 in midfield in case we'd lose the midfield battle and give away too much possession - but there is a case for the alternative argument that playing an additional striker like Crouch will actually give us more possession by holding the ball up......it's a tough one.

[John am Rhein]

why did Vorinin come on last night, because he can run and chase. CROUCH can't run, send him to Plymouth or Hull where he belongs

 

Bizarre comment about a player who's scored so many goals at Premier League and International level.

[DazzlaJ]

give us more possession by holding the ball up

 

Having defenders who can actually pass to each other when under pressure would probably improve that by 25%

[DazzlaJ]

NO NO NO

 

why did Vorinin come on last night, because he can run and chase. CROUCH can't run, send him to Plymouth or Hull where he belongs

 

An eskton post c***ing off one of our players, who would have thought?

[Armin_Tamzarian]

On paper that Torres Crouch partnership should work but in reality it doesn't. His Liverpool career is over, at least under Rafa. I'd play Crouch on Saturday with Benayoun off him at the front of a midfield 5 in the hope he could link as well with Crouchy as Garcia used to.

[MFletcher]

Playing Crouch would involve a change of system - a system that has got us results over the past couple of months.

 

He's not a good enough player, nor a consistent enough threat, to justify changing the system for and should be on the bench.

 

That said, I'd play him on Saturday to give Torres a rest. He looked knackered by the end on Wednesday.

[John am Rhein]

Don't see why Crouch can't play on his own up front in this 4-2-3-1 formation we're using - so he can play for Torres, who obviously should be rested on Saturday.

 

Less sure who can play for Gerrard in that position - Benayoun, mabe? - with Pennant playing Kuyt's position on the right.

[Guest Kaizer]

Don't see why Crouch can't play on his own up front in this 4-2-3-1 formation we're using - so he can play for Torres, who obviously should be rested on Saturday.

Less sure who can play for Gerrard in that position - Benayoun, mabe? - with Pennant playing Kuyt's position on the right.

 

Voronin is our best option for the position behind the striker.

[MFletcher]

Voronin is our best option for the position behind the striker.

 

He should play on the basis that we need to rest players and there is no-one else.

 

He's a waste of space though, and I'll be very annoyed if he isn't sold to someone - anyone - in the summer.

[R A Softlad]

think we'll see a lot changes on satdee.

will go spare if voronin plays ahead of crouch tho.

 

Even if it means he'll start on Tuesday?

[John am Rhein]

Voronin is our best option for the position behind the striker.

 

Maybe right, but I'd perhaps naively assumed we'd make at least some token effort at trying to get a result.

 

Nah, your're right - put the deadwood in and save Benayoun for Tuesday.

[Snoeker]

He's a waste of space though, and I'll be very annoyed if he isn't sold to someone - anyone - in the summer.

 

Cue MOM performance on the weekend. Hopefully.

[John am Rhein]

Cue MOM performance on the weekend. Hopefully.

 

And then drop him for Tuesday

[honourablegeorge]

Couldn't help thinking that Crouch's Liverpool career is well and truly over when i saw Voronin replace Torres on Wednesday night.