Peter crouch

[Bus-Conductor]

At least he's got an excuse, his feet are a long way from his brain and eyes. What the fuck is Defoe or Pav's excuse. Their control and use of the ball is equally shocking. Defoe today wasted the ball with some ridiculous touches, and Pav seems to have a worse second touch than first.

 

[JerryGarcia]

Your defence of Crouch is about as thin as one of his legs.

If I'm wrong then tell me how our other strikers were better than him last season. We all know that they were all shit, this is a bit like trying to decide what tastes better out of feces, urine or spunk.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

If I'm wrong then tell me how our other strikers were better than him last season. We all know that they were all shit, this is a bit like trying to decide what tastes better out of feces, urine or spunk.

Well, Pav did manage to score more than Crouch, Defoe and Keane combined in the PL last season...

 

[JerryGarcia]

Well, Pav did manage to score more than Crouch, Defoe and Keane combined in the PL last season...

Like I said, he scored more but didn't do much else during games. At least with crouch, we had 11 players working for the team instead of 10.

 

[camaj]

WTF cares if Pav "doesn't do anything else"! That's not true, but even if it was so what? The least we can expect from our players is to do their jobs, anything more is a bonus. Crouch can't score which is his job. It'd be like me telling my boss I'd lost the company hundreds of pounds but at least I didn't take sickies or leave the cafeteria in a mess.

If I'm wrong then tell me how our other strikers were better than him last season.

More goals, which is the most important thing if you're judging a striker. I don't know how you can even measure "hold up play" which is a meaningless benchmark when people are trying to find something positive to say. He does hold up play quite a lot, often he's the furthest player forward, gets the ball and then runs away from goal, allowing the opposition defence to regroup. More often than not though any ball that's pumped up to him, and it's ALWAYS pumped up to him, results in either him being judged to have fouled the defender, his poor touch letting him down or him heading it in some direction other than into one of our players paths.

On the positive side he did set up VDV a couple of times but that's nowhere near enough to compensate for the negatives. That's a good plan B but it's not a plan A. If he came on as a sub when we needed a win I'd be saying well done and acknowledging Redknapp's tactical astuteness. However that's not the case and it leaves me questioning Redknapps lack of tactical astuteness.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Like I said, he scored more but didn't do much else during games. At least with crouch, we had 11 players working for the team instead of 10.

I'd rather have Crouch out there than Defoe, but the goals need to come from somewhere don't they?

 

[Khilari]

bit harsh but i agree that he's served his purpose. he's given us a different dimension that defoe, keane or pav didn't offer but he had a poor season last other than his start with rafa

would want the club to cash in on crouch and keane - if we picked up close to £10m for the pair, that'd be great to invest back into a new CF. doubt we'll get the money we're demanding for Niko, Bentley but we really need to flog the old to rejuvinate the squad. i'd start with Crouchy.

 

[Pringle]

camaj - a good striker gets a lot more than goals. Or is it right to rank strikers ability on the EPL top scorer list from last season? Pav got more goals than Crouch but still didnt have a good enough tally and his general team play was very poor. I dont get how people think being our top scorer last season is enough. Crouch assisted a number of goals in the PL, scored some crucial ones in the CL and proved he can work as a pair with VDV. Pav on the other hand, scored a few goals and apart from that did pretty much nothing to help the team at either end.

 

[JerryGarcia]

WTF cares if Pav "doesn't do anything else"! That's not true, but even if it was so what? The least we can expect from our players is to do their jobs, anything more is a bonus. Crouch can't score which is his job. It'd be like me telling my boss I'd lost the company hundreds of pounds but at least I didn't take sickies or leave the cafeteria in a mess.



More goals, which is the most important thing if you're judging a striker. I don't know how you can even measure "hold up play" which is a meaningless benchmark when people are trying to find something positive to say. He does hold up play quite a lot, often he's the furthest player forward, gets the ball and then runs away from goal, allowing the opposition defence to regroup. More often than not though any ball that's pumped up to him, and it's ALWAYS pumped up to him, results in either him being judged to have fouled the defender, his poor touch letting him down or him heading it in some direction other than into one of our players paths.

On the positive side he did set up VDV a couple of times but that's nowhere near enough to compensate for the negatives. That's a good plan B but it's not a plan A. If he came on as a sub when we needed a win I'd be saying well done and acknowledging Redknapp's tactical astuteness. However that's not the case and it leaves me questioning Redknapps lack of tactical astuteness.

Like Pringle just said, Pav's goals wern't enough. I don't have the stats but I would have thought that Crouch's combined goals and assists are higher than our other strikers. To me, that total is more important than goals alone, how could it not be?

I personaly don't blame Crouch at all when the ball gets lumped up to him. It's not like he has much choice, I'm sure the team are just following orders. It used to happen with Mido too but he was a bit better in the air.

Quite often the refs call fouls against him for no other reason than that he's big. It's a bit of a joke when he's getting pulled all over the place and then he's supposedly the one in the wrong. It's happened at every team he's played for.

Is he good enough for our first team? NO

Is he the most effective striker at the club (on last years form)? YES

 

[southcoastyiddo]

If we get an offer, any offer, we should sell! He wont get any better and we need a powerful fast striker that looks to run in behind defenses.

 

[camaj]

A good striker gets more than goals? If that's your definition of a good striker then Crouch falls short of that. If you take away the goals you're left with the vague "more than goals". Give me the goals first before you ask me to worry about the second part.

You say Pav didn't have a good enough tally. All I can say is your standards seem unreasonably high in that case. For someone with such high standards surely you'd be the first to criticise Crouch. Pav's strike rate was very good, excellent if you take into account that he's never enjoyed the run of games Crouch has. I'd be expecting 15 goals plus from someone who practically undroppable. To get 12 or so from someone who gets a game here and there is something of an achievment in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Pav is the best striker in the premiership or anything like that. I'm sure we can do better. I just find it baffling that there's even a debate, as if it's a close call.

Like Pringle just said, Pav's goals wern't enough. I don't have the stats but I would have thought that Crouch's combined goals and assists are higher than our other strikers.

This is exactly the problem with the argument. Let's assume Crouch gets more goals that Pav, that shouldn't be a positive for Crouch. He SHOULD be getting more goals than Pav, given the amount of times he starts a game. If you start twice as many games you should be getting twice as many goals. If that were the case it'd be harder to argue that point but not only does Crouch not get twice as many goals, he doesn't even get half as many! Call me crazy but I think a striker who scores more than double the goals but in half the time is easily the best.

The other problem there is you're talking about assists as if they're equal to goals. If that were the case you could probably make the case for playing Huddlestone instead of Crouch

 

[Pringle]

Camaj - i never said Crouch was good enough. However some people seem to use Crouch's lack of ability as a reason to give credit to Pav which shouldnt be the case. Neither are good enough. Crouch brings more to the team than Pav does though imo. Pav is not a good finisher, has a shocking touch, is lazy and weak - to me that is not the type of striker we should be relying on. He does however hit the odd ball extremely well.

As said - dont use Crouch's weaknesses to boost the Pav argument as thats not what this is about. Crouch is not good enough and Pav is also not good enough. The reason i would keep Crouch is that he has shown that he can forge a partnership with VDV.

 

[JerryGarcia]

A good striker gets more than goals? If that's your definition of a good striker then Crouch falls short of that. If you take away the goals you're left with the vague "more than goals". Give me the goals first before you ask me to worry about the second part.

You say Pav didn't have a good enough tally. All I can say is your standards seem unreasonably high in that case. For someone with such high standards surely you'd be the first to criticise Crouch. Pav's strike rate was very good, excellent if you take into account that he's never enjoyed the run of games Crouch has. I'd be expecting 15 goals plus from someone who practically undroppable. To get 12 or so from someone who gets a game here and there is something of an achievment in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Pav is the best striker in the premiership or anything like that. I'm sure we can do better. I just find it baffling that there's even a debate, as if it's a close call.

I don't see what it matters if Crouch scores a goal or sets up VDV to score, the end result is exactly the same.:shrug:

 

[Pringle]

I don't see what it matters if Crouch scores a goal or sets up VDV to score, the end result is exactly the same.:shrug:

Spot on.

 

[camaj]

Yeah the end result is the same but that doesn't mean the assist is just as important as the goal. Of course, every goal is different, some players will do something amazing or clever and lays it a plate for someone to tap in but generally speaking scoring the goal is the harder part, not to mention the more important part.

I don't know why you're picking that out but ignoring the point that Pav scores twice the goals in half the time. Surely if you were going to defend Crouch that'd be the first thing you'd address not some fairly inconsequential point.

Camaj - i never said Crouch was good enough.

I think it's pretty evident that we're talking about Crouch being better than Pav rather than Crouch being good enough. However you can't say Pav is awful and then turn around as say Crouch is better. If Pav is awful then Crouch is doubly awful.

I am using Crouch's weakness to make the case for Pav, because that's what this is about. It's about Pav being better than Crouch, so clearly I'm going to have to point out the pros and cons of both

 

[Pringle]

I would rather Crouch in my team than Pav. Crouch offers more to the team than Pav and is far more reliable. You can turn round and say Pav hasnt had a chance and hasnt had a run in the team, but then you have to ask why he hasnt dont you?

 

[There's always next year]

If I'm wrong then tell me how our other strikers were better than him last season. We all know that they were all shit, this is a bit like trying to decide what tastes better out of feces, urine or spunk.

Pav scored goals when he was picked. Defoe was injured for half the season and when he returned he never had a run of games, albiet when he did play his contribution was bordering on zero.

Crouch is just shocking, unfortunately there's no other word to describe him. He's without doubt the worst striker I've seen at this club in the 30 years I've watched and I've seen some Shit.

 

[steventhfc]

How much did we spend on this shit heap?!

 

[punky]

I'm just so fed up we still have to talk about him! How I wish he wasn't our player, really thought this would be the window we got rid :evil:

No chance. Triffick lad and top, top player. Harry wants to keep his route one option so when he knows he can rely on hoofing balls up to him.

 

[punky]

I don't see what it matters if Crouch scores a goal or sets up VDV to score, the end result is exactly the same.:shrug:

Except that the latter is more unlikely as there are more steps and so more chances for things to go wrong.

Strikers are there to score, not set up midfielders.