AFU's Weekly Digest - 6th November

[all_funkt_up]

Here's what's mostly got me thinking over the weekend:

The Great Crouch Debate

I admire a man with principles, its hard not to admire someone who sticks to their guns and takes all the criticism thrown at them only to be proven right in the end. Then they dish out a slice of humble pie to the detractors. I am however having doubts about Rafa's team selection, particularily when it comes to big Pete. Liverpool's top scorer last season no doubt expected it to be tough going this season, what with Torres and Voronin being drafted in and also Babel being signed too.

However, when your top boy is injured and Kuyt and Voronin are clearly struggling for goals, it beggars belief that Crouch still doesnt get a look-in. Crouch came on against Besiktas and arguably changed the game - they struggled to cope with his height, as have many teams before them. His aerial challenge led to Gerrard's goal, unfortunately it was 80 odd minutes before Rafa wheeled on the Crouch and at that point, we were 2-0 down. So, fast forward to Saturday - Ewood Park, Blackburn.

We had played badly in the first half. Blackburn had rattled the woodwork through Bentley and Dunn. Rafa inexplicably chose to play Dirk Kuyt in the first half and stuck with him again as the sides changes ends after 45 minutes. It was clear for all to see that Kuyt had neither the presence nor the desire to play as a traditional number 9. He likes to come short, make runs into space and be the link-up man with the midfield. None of which is particularily good at in my opinion. Despite the crowd calling for Crouch to come on for the best part of the game, Rafa had his Dirk out and thats the way it was going to stay. Crouch comes on and immediately the formation looks more balance.

Gerrard gets knock downs to surge on to, Kuyt gets the ball, looks deep and spots a true target man up there. If you play with 1 up front, you need someone who can receive the ball, hold off the defenders and lay it off left or right and then get into the box for the return. If you can point out 1 reasonably priced player that does this better than Crouch, I'd be amazed. Rafa clearly has a grudge against Crouchy, for whatever reason and unless things behind the scenes improve, I suspect he will be out come January. Newcastle or Man City would be the obvious destinations at this point.

Globe Trotting McLaren

Good to see our noble leader jetting off to LA and missing the weekend's football fixtures wasnt it. Obviously he thought there was more to be gained by watching Beckham's LA Galaxy play the Hollywood Allstars XI, than watch Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan play on Sunday or possibly City or Sunderland play yesterday. If McLaren gives a starting berth to Beckham, a man who has played less than an hour of competetive football since Agust 31st, he is snooker loopy.


Chairmen without Imagination

I hate managers, I hate the old boy's gravy train.

It seems to me that once you've been a manager, no matter how shit you are - you're made for life. Every time a job comes up, you're in the frame for it. You might not have managed for 5 years and when you did, you destroyed a relatively successful team, but hey we'll give you a job. The same tired names are banded around, whether its for Bolton, Wigan or FC A.N.Other

Looking through the papers today we have Joe Royle or possibly Graeme Souness for Wigan - their fans must be dreading the appointment of their new boss. Whoever it is, they'll be shit. Just pick any one from: David O'Leary, Dave Bassett, Brian Horton, Joe Royle, Gary Megson, Stuart Pearce, Glenn Hoddle - losers to a man.

Isnt it about time a team promoted an up and coming manager who had earned his shot at the big time? Surly its better to opt for someone with potential, rather than a manager with a track record of failure? Perhaps Paul Ince, Simon Grayson or Martin Allen should be on the list of potential managers. Highly unlikely if you believe the bookies who currently have Souness at 5-4 (Paddy Power) and I believe that Corals have had him as low as 1-2.

What a complete joke!

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

I would say Crouch is the best goalscorer at your club AFU.

I am not a fan of Kuyt at all i have to admit and not that high on Voronin either. I rate Torres as an all round player but not as a goalscorer so there is definately somewhere where Crouch could fit in to.

I have knocked Crouch many times but you can't argue with his goal returns and making his critics eat his words. Everytime i seem to watch him he is scoring with his finishing being pretty damn good.

Don't follow Liverpool much anymore but is Crouch consisten when giving the opportunity?

[all_funkt_up]

Kiko - I like Kuyt and Voronin but see them both as number 10's. Grafters who will set up 12 and score 12 in a season. Not a prolific scorer. Therefore when Rafa plays them both together, they both make the same runs and get in each other's way. One striker needs to stand firm and the other float. Otherwise your midfielders and wide men dont know where to pass/cross.

Crouch got 2 for the record tonight, but more importantly - we looked like a team. Wide men crossed and found their target man. Gerrard and Voronin had flick ons to run on to and once again Crouchy showed why he should get his game.

Oh how different it may had been if he'd played 2 weeks ago in Istanbul