Peter Crouch signs for Spurs

[Bus-Conductor]

While that is amongst the better and more though out arguments I've seen BC, surely in order to judge him based on his achievements at Spurs, one would have to drop all preconceptions.

I too had preconceptions, I always saw him as a bit shifty, a man who sticks with his mates and has a place in the old boys club along with Graham, Pleat, Taylor and Wilkinson.

However, he must be commended on his job last term, because however talented that squad might have been, the disastrous start, the worst in our history, can only have been as a result of serious squad deficiencies. I'm not going to bash Ramos or even Comolli, and especially not Levy, all have done good for this club and all have made mistakes. What I will say is that Redknapp took a club haunted by all of their most recent mistakes and saved it from almost certain demise, and even challenged for Europe after making some signings to plug obvious holes (Keafoe for goals, Wilson for fight, Cudicini to push Gomes and Chimbonda because something something).

For what it's worth, I think the worth of Chimbonda will become evident before too long with his versatility and the fact that we probably can't keep Hutton as a reserve.

Now will be the time to really begin forming an opinion on Redknapp. He is getting in a squad that he wants, and has an entire summer to impose his authority and style on the team, and he is about to have his first full season.

It is not necessary to drop all preconceptions as some are perfectly valid - on both sides. I don't think that really prevents a rational precis of his managerial achievements at spurs. Which is what matters now.


Coyboy

I typed that in response to the reference (the like of which you frequently make) about Redknapp bashers etc. that you made in your response to Sloth.

Those of us that will never appreciate a smiling liar seem to be in a loose loose situation with you. If he does OK and we give him credit it's "where are the Harry bashers now ?" if we criticise his mistakes or point out his faults we are bashers with preconceptions.

At some point you need to grow up a little and realise that life doesn't have to be that black and white.

The fact is that regardless of what he achieves as spurs manager I will never particularly like him as a person but that does not prevent me from evaluating his performance just as it doesn't with any player, chairman or opponent etc. Which is exactly what I have done to date.

 

[cuidado]

Crouch proven in the prem? Proven shit, yeah.

Come on, don't be a dick, Huntelaar is twice, or even three times the player Cruch ever was, or will ever be. Rather than buy crappy foreign talent, Harry's bought some crappy English talent. Keep the patriots happy I guess?

Huntelaar is a different case than Crouch, moneywise as well.

I think Harry sees Crouch as Bent's replacement, KJH as Pavs (if we can sell him).

 

[SpurSince57]

Crouch proven in the prem? Proven shit, yeah.

Come on, don't be a dick, Huntelaar is twice, or even three times the player Cruch ever was, or will ever be. Rather than buy crappy foreign talent, Harry's bought some crappy English talent. Keep the patriots happy I guess?

Cock.

 

[Kirjava.]

In Crouch's case, being sold to QPR for £60k.....

Today's parable is taken from the Book of St. Luke, Chapter 15, Verses 11 to 32.

Once, there was the greatest and noblest of football clubs, and it had two young players. The elder son was tall, muscular, quick, strong, black, and played in central defence. The younger son was taller still, so tall it was said he could paint the roof of the Tower of Babylon without a ladder. However, he lacked the muscular physique and dark skin of his elder sibling, being the thinnest and palest creature ever seen in the temperate climes of Chigwell, and he played up front, as he had a good touch for a big man.

One day, the younger man said to the club "Give me my share of first-team football early; let me leave to QPR, so that I might seek my fortune." And the younger man did receive his share, and left that fine and noble club. He travelled to distant lands; to Aston Villa, and to Liverpool, and to Portsmouth. And he squandered his share of first-team football, wasting his time perfecting his robot, seducing beautiful women and changing lightbulbs when asked.

And he found himself in some of these places lacking first team football, in some being paid poorly, but in all these places he missed that noblest of clubs. He said unto himself "Does not even the lowliest of players at Spurs play in the Lillywhite of the club? Do they not, at least occasionally, walk onto the hallowed turf of White Hart Lane? I shall return there, and offer to play for them once more, even if it is just for their reserves!"

But on his journey back, the one who was closest to him at the club saw him approaching. And the Twitchy One, upon seeing him coming up on the horizon, did run out to meet him. Several hours later, he reached him, and the younger son said "Father, forgive me, for I have sinned against you and against Spurs. Have mercy upon me. Please give me work as a slave or a farmhand or, worst of all, a reserve team player."

But Spurs were kind and said "I shall not have you working in the reserves, for they do not exist! Come, and sit at my table, and I shall make you part of my first-choice striking partnership, pay you a signing-on bonus, and £70,000 a week. See, I have prepared you a feast! I knew you were coming. My Goat told me so." And the younger son knew he was forgiven, and did rejoice.

Meanwhile, the older son was watching training, and not taking part. When he returned to the Lodge, he saw the champagne and the celebrations, and he said unto Spurs:
"Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you give him a massive signing on fee and higher wages!"

And Spurs said unto him "My son, you have always been here. But we must celebrate, for this brother of yours was once lost, but now is found."
And the elder brother did hear this, and he did celebrate heartily, until the early hours of the morning, and only ceased his celebrations after an undignified incident that we won't talk about anymore.

Here ends today's parable.

 

[ealingspur]

hahahahahahah great stuff. well and truly repped.

 

[jamesc0le]

i liked the changing the lightbulbs bit.. good work reverend

 

[Has1978]

Myths tend by definition to be false.

In realty, his first touch is pretty good, if not in the Berbatov class, and he can use both feet. If we're talking myths, joey dispelled the one that he's poor in the air by pointing out that he not only won more headers than any other EPL striker last season, but scored more headed goals too. His finishing isn't great, but not much worse than Pav's. He may look like he's made out of sticks, but he's deceptively strong and well up to holding off CBs—Ledley, I think, said he's one of the most difficult No. 9s to defend against, which is pretty high praise.

As for the claims that we'll end up playing Route One because of him—utter cock!

And although I've been one of Benty's biggest supporters on here, anyone suggesting that he's a better footballer than Crouch needs sectioning.

Precisely. Bent has been ok for us but Crouch is an upgrade. Both in terms of ability and balance to our squad.

 

[Coyboy]

It is not necessary to drop all preconceptions as some are perfectly valid - on both sides. I don't think that really prevents a rational precis of his managerial achievements at spurs. Which is what matters now.


Coyboy

I typed that in response to the reference (the like of which you frequently make) about Redknapp bashers etc. that you made in your response to Sloth.

Those of us that will never appreciate a smiling liar seem to be in a loose loose situation with you. If he does OK and we give him credit it's "where are the Harry bashers now ?" if we criticise his mistakes or point out his faults we are bashers with preconceptions.

At some point you need to grow up a little and realise that life doesn't have to be that black and white.

The fact is that regardless of what he achieves as spurs manager I will never particularly like him as a person but that does not prevent me from evaluating his performance just as it doesn't with any player, chairman or opponent etc. Which is exactly what I have done to date.

It's lose, I don't know why people say loose.

I think it is perfectly fine for those posters who criticise Rednapp and then come back and give him credit. What annoys me is those that a)criticise him as soon as he walks in the door and then fail to give him any credit whatsoever for what he has done and b) those who now are just regurgitating the same 'small time manager' bullshit in the summer when there is no football.

And I don't consider you to be in either category and so am not sure what you are getting all bent out of shape about telling me to grow up, surely those who just yell 'twitchy this, **** that', 'I hate Harry', 'Crouch is a lanky twat' bla bla bla merit that attempt at condescension. I suppose they are the true exemplars of maturity and don't need to grow up.

I think it is especially mature for people to believe that a manager is going to formulate his team in a carbon copy to how they want it to be done, with the exact players that they believe Harry lacks the ambition and 'pull' to acquire, and then moan before players he does sign- ie Crouch- have even kicked a ball.

 

[Coyboy]

I can't find where I replied to sloth.

 

[al3cook]

Crouch dont have a good scoring record, far from it. it took him 20 games to score his 1st goals for Liverpool. Im truley upset that we have bought him a 6ft 7in striker who wants the ball played to his feet, and im sure i will be blasted for this but everyone knows Harry will play Crouch and Defoe 1st choice, i dont rate Defoe he is talented but he lacks movement (being offside all the Funking time!)
I have been watching Klass for many years (live and on tv) people will mention all the players from Holland who flopped but what about the one's who made it the most noticable one is Ruud who Klass is in the same mould as and is Dutch (not serbian or brazilian)

 

[VegasII]

Kirjava - that's brilliant that is.

 

[Jgplk1]

Today's parable is taken from the Book of St. Luke, Chapter 15, Verses 11 to 32.

Once, there was the greatest and noblest of football clubs, and it had two young players. The elder son was tall, muscular, quick, strong, black, and played in central defence. The younger son was taller still, so tall it was said he could paint the roof of the Tower of Babylon without a ladder. However, he lacked the muscular physique and dark skin of his elder sibling, being the thinnest and palest creature ever seen in the temperate climes of Chigwell, and he played up front, as he had a good touch for a big man.

One day, the younger man said to the club "Give me my share of first-team football early; let me leave to QPR, so that I might seek my fortune." And the younger man did receive his share, and left that fine and noble club. He travelled to distant lands; to Aston Villa, and to Liverpool, and to Portsmouth. And he squandered his share of first-team football, wasting his time perfecting his robot, seducing beautiful women and changing lightbulbs when asked.

And he found himself in some of these places lacking first team football, in some being paid poorly, but in all these places he missed that noblest of clubs. He said unto himself "Does not even the lowliest of players at Spurs play in the Lillywhite of the club? Do they not, at least occasionally, walk onto the hallowed turf of White Hart Lane? I shall return there, and offer to play for them once more, even if it is just for their reserves!"

But on his journey back, the one who was closest to him at the club saw him approaching. And the Twitchy One, upon seeing him coming up on the horizon, did run out to meet him. Several hours later, he reached him, and the younger son said "Father, forgive me, for I have sinned against you and against Spurs. Have mercy upon me. Please give me work as a slave or a farmhand or, worst of all, a reserve team player."

But Spurs were kind and said "I shall not have you working in the reserves, for they do not exist! Come, and sit at my table, and I shall make you part of my first-choice striking partnership, pay you a signing-on bonus, and £70,000 a week. See, I have prepared you a feast! I knew you were coming. My Goat told me so." And the younger son knew he was forgiven, and did rejoice.

Meanwhile, the older son was watching training, and not taking part. When he returned to the Lodge, he saw the champagne and the celebrations, and he said unto Spurs:
"Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you give him a massive signing on fee and higher wages!"

And Spurs said unto him "My son, you have always been here. But we must celebrate, for this brother of yours was once lost, but now is found."
And the elder brother did hear this, and he did celebrate heartily, until the early hours of the morning, and only ceased his celebrations after an undignified incident that we won't talk about anymore.

Here ends today's parable.

ha ha ha ha quality