Peter Crouch

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Now i remember he got boo'd during that England game which i felt was an absolute disgrace by the fans but thats another matter.

Watching the Palace - Liverpool game now and he is getting boo'd again with the commentators saying its become a fashionable thing to do and it is happening in all the games he plays now away.

Anyone tell me why exactly this guy has been boo'd each game now? Have i missed something?

Ok i don't believe he should've been in the England squad, let alone the starting line up but thats surely no good reason to boo someone?

Especially when you get that twat Beckham as England's captain who is such an over rated player for England.

Strange...

[Billypunter]

Kiko, I totally agree that he shouldn't be booed but also agree with the fans that he shouldn't be playing top level football.

The justification for picking him seems to be 'he gives us something different' well so would a three-legged giraffe but can't see anyone forking out £8mill for one :loon

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by Billypunter

The justification for picking him seems to be 'he gives us something different' well so would a three-legged giraffe but can't see anyone forking out £8mill for one :loon

Thats one way of putting it.

Is he really the worst quality of player to ever wear an England shirt and be in their starting line up?

I can't think of any of the top of my head but there have surely been worse?

[zonker84]

In recent history, some might say Carlton Palmer, Michael Ricketts? There are probably others

Crouch is a confidence player. If he gets on a good run like last season, he is OK. If he starts getting any critisism, he goes to pieces. Another example of what a bad manager Benitez is, absolute madness to sign a player like that (as I said at the time).

[Kop66]

After some Average and Below average performances that was his worst game for us tonight. He totally lacked confidence and the booing seems to be affecting him too. He needs a couple of goals fast, very fast.

[Winrew]

Nice one Billy

[Billypunter]

Worst quality player ever to have worn an England shirt, hmm that's a tricky one, Michael Ricketts, Carlton Palmer, Geoff Thomas, there's a lot of competition...

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by zonker84

In recent history, some might say Carlton Palmer, Michael Ricketts? There are probably others

Crouch is a confidence player. If he gets on a good run like last season, he is OK. If he starts getting any critisism, he goes to pieces. Another example of what a bad manager Benitez is, absolute madness to sign a player like that (as I said at the time).

I'd go for Ricketts being worse player in an England jersey.

I thought it was a ridiculous deal imo signing him for that price. Southampton must of been laughing all the way to the bank.

Signing a player like Crouch is a reason why Liverpool are lacking in goals as i feel it is taking the side in the wrong direction in how to play football as now with Crouch playing they feel the need to play the long ball game which doesn't suit and is a big change from the Liverpool sides of old.

Got to say Rafa was lucky he won that CL last season because he would really be under some amount of pressure had he not got that.

[zonker84]

Liverpool have won 17 out of 47 games since he took over in the Premiership, that is disgraceful.

Now he is just rude in press conferences and won't answer any questions. I don't like the bloke, and think he is a useless manager. Too many Hispanic players who aren't suited to the English game, too many bad signings.

[Billypunter]

I don't think there is much point in arguing about who was the worst player every to have played for England because it REALLY is Carlton Palmer. To paraphrase someone else ' he can miscontrol it further than I can kick it!'

[crowie]

Kiko, he is being booed because he is pish. He's a waste of £7m. He is actually a worse buy at £7m then Heskey was at £11m. He is preferred by Benitez in front of players like Cisse and Baros, players who actually play with a bit flair. Benitez could have spent the money to get Owen back but he would rather have Crouch.

As mentioned above, this something different arguement is just crap too. Does anyone really want to see a football game where you just punt it to the tallest player on the pitch? Does Crouch actually win that many headers? I would say someone like Les Ferdinand in his prime was 10 times as effective in the air as this long limbed arse - yet was probably about 7" shorter. Just because you are tall does not make you a good player - otherwise everyone would be going out and singning basketball players.

Agree with Zonker too, Benitez would have been out the door if it weren't for that CL win. EPL wise I fail to see any improvement from Houllier's days, if not actually going backwards.

His buys have been generally poor and his tactics are generally up his arse. I am sure its fine to go away in La Liga with Valencia with 1 up front and grind out a 1-0 away win. However you don't get many full of flair but no substance Spanish type sides in the EPL, especially the lower reaches. Instead you get high tempo, in yer face, kick and chase and win at all costs sides desperate to stay in the EPL. Benitez's grinding game doesn't work when you come up against sides more determined than your own. Besides, his Valencia side may have been effective but they were a boil on the arse of otherwise very attractive league to watch.

I am sure a tape of a Valencia v Liverpool game with Benitez managing both sides could be marketed as a cure for insomniacs.

[GETT1NLOTS]

Oh what a surprise - I'm going to disagree with everyone again.

I actually think Crouch is under rated. He's better on the ground than he is in the air (in my opinion) and not that bad with his head either. His link up play is generally pretty good and he is an improving player (until he got to 'Pool). Liverpool standard? Maybe not. England standard? Almost definately shouldn't be.... Deserves to get booed? Of course not.

By the way I also thought Heskey was a decent player too (and I stick by that to this day).

Go on then - line up.....

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Sorry Gett1n.

I really can't even agree with you one little bit. He has one good season at Southampton and everyone's jumping on the bandwagon.

He flopped badly at Villa, doesn't even look like scoring for Liverpool and didn't do much in an England jersey either.

He doesn't deserve to be boo'd as there have been far more expensive flops than him with Veron springing to mind but to say he is underrated is surely takingthe piss.

Anyone see the Rafa interview after the game? He definately doesn;t look too comfortable when coming under the spotlight does he.

[GETT1NLOTS]

He flopped badly at Villa,

Well I lived in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham for 4 years and know loads of Villa fans. They wouldn't agree with you at all.

doesn't even look like scoring for Liverpool

The whole side is playing crap and he needs a bit of time.

and didn't do much in an England jersey either.

He's not had 20 caps has he?

Poor bastard.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Well from the games i ever saw him in at Villa were similarto that of what im seeing now for Liverpool.

He wasn't getting a gamefor a reason, and at a time when Villa were lacking in the goal scoring department also if im right in thinking.

The Liverpool side i don't think is really playing that bad. Its scoring the goals. They are creating chance after chance but just not getting any luck on front of the goal.

Then when the goals dont come it has a negative effect on the whole side which then leads to their heads going down and them conceding goals.

And for England - he ain't had 20 caps yet and i don't think he ever will although from a Scottish viewpoint i would love to see him go on to play every game for England on current form