Liverpool FC Forum

heimdall wrote:

The_Rock wrote:I wasn't a big fan of crouch when we signed him...but he has since won me over. For me, crouch has to play most of our matches (be it home or away or champions league).

We always look a more dangerous side when he is in our team.

England look a better side when he is spear heading their attack too.

I agree that he is getting better and better but please Rafa give the lad some intensive training on how to head the bloody ball!!
If Crouch was a good header how would anybody defend against him??? 

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:People have a pop at Crouch's heading far too much for my liking, it's not the fact he can't header full stop, it's the fact he can't header when he has time to decide where he's going to head the ball. If it's instinctive i.e. United, FA Cup at Anfield 2006, or Arsenal last year when he got his hattrick, he is more likely to score, but if he has time to think about things he'll miss, i.e. Bolton at Anfield last year or Blackburn 2006 Boxing Day, (3 to be precise). And everybody expects him to be a fantastic header of the ball because of the fella's height, if we whip balls in he'll score more often, the truth is last year we were floating balls in, so Crouch has to genereate his own power. Crouch is much easier using the pace on the ball, so the answer to his heading problems is whipping the ball, so he can use the pace and doesn't have time to think of what he's going to do.

Wilhelmsson wrote:

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:People have a pop at Crouch's heading far too much for my liking, it's not the fact he can't header full stop, it's the fact he can't header when he has time to decide where he's going to head the ball. If it's instinctive i.e. United, FA Cup at Anfield 2006, or Arsenal last year when he got his hattrick, he is more likely to score, but if he has time to think about things he'll miss, i.e. Bolton at Anfield last year or Blackburn 2006 Boxing Day, (3 to be precise). And everybody expects him to be a fantastic header of the ball because of the fella's height, if we whip balls in he'll score more often, the truth is last year we were floating balls in, so Crouch has to genereate his own power. Crouch is much easier using the pace on the ball, so the answer to his heading problems is whipping the ball, so he can use the pace and doesn't have time to think of what he's going to do.

Supporters criticise Crouch’s heading because at times he misses simple headers which only need an ounce of direction. There is no doubt that Crouch can head, the examples you have chosen reflect this. This said his heading is not sublime by any means.

I fail to understand the concept of your post, Crouch’s movements and headers like everyone else are a mixture of contemplation and instinct. A footballer only has a split second to think, before the impulse kicks in.

Therefore I cannot accept your points, Crouch’s strengths does not include aerial ability. His strength is his feet; he thrives when the ball is played with his feet.

mr_weed_80@hotmail.com wrote:i chatted to a few foreign friends from around europe this summer bout liverpool n its pretty funky that they have huge respect for crouchy

Not wrong there mate, a few spanish I spoke to love him, the Tunisians want me to send shirts over with Crouch on the back (asif)
The dutch have huge respect for him great comments about him from Cruijf he thinks he is exceptional.
If Cruijf compliments you then you must have something.

I just think Kuijt is recieving some unfair flack ecspecially on RAWK there was a topic on him 45 pages long within two days and most where negative, totally uncalled for, th finger should be pointed at Rafa not Kuijt he will get the goals if played in his natural position.

Ciggy wrote:

mr_weed_80@hotmail.com wrote:i chatted to a few foreign friends from around europe this summer bout liverpool n its pretty funky that they have huge respect for crouchy

Not wrong there mate, a few spanish I spoke to love him, the Tunisians want me to send shirts over with Crouch on the back (asif)
The dutch have huge respect for him great comments about him from Cruijf he thinks he is exceptional.
If Cruijf compliments you then you must have something.

I just think Kuijt is recieving some unfair flack ecspecially on RAWK there was a topic on him 45 pages long within two days and most where negative, totally uncalled for, th finger should be pointed at Rafa not Kuijt he will get the goals if played in his natural position.

Johan Cruyff, praised his son Jordy, did he have something about him? 

did score a goal against us for Alaves in 2001 UEFA Cup final, so maybe there was something.

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:Johan Cruyff, praised his son Jordy, did he have something about him? 

Err well he is gona praise his son, I praise mine I want him to be another Gerrard but he is another Biscan.
What eva happened to him anyway didnt he bugger off to Spain?
Sat next to him once on a flight to the Dam asked him for an autogragh for me nephew and he said no, he didnt have time FFS we where on the plane for an hour 
I just said fuck yer then.
Couldnt believe the arrogance shit player couldnt lace his fathers boots.

Wilhelmsson wrote:

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:you look at Crouch's goals, whether arial or on the floor, they will all be instictive goals where he hasn't time or space to think of what to do. If you look at his misses, they will be chances a 6 year old kid should of slotted away, because of the space he's in and the time he has. For example his third goal against arsenal, where he played around the enrite Gunners defence, because he didn't have time to think of what was going to happen next. Overheads against both Galatasary and Bolton, no time to think. Give him a chance where he is allowed to think, he panics, like the penalty he missed against Jamica for England. Time to think, tries something flash, chips the ball over the bar. Crouch is one of the best forwards in the prem, when it's instinctive, but if he has a split second to think about what he's going to do, he'll more than likely miss.

Crouch still has to be our number 1 forward this year. Best we have and given a run in the starting 11, he'll score goals, he's proven that. Torres will obviously be a regular at the start of the season because of the money that's been spent on him. I'd be happy to see us sell Kuyt, but I'm hoping this season, he can prove me and any other critic he has wrong. This is our year and the league is coming back to Anfield.

I cannot understand the concept you are trying to make here, all players to some degree use their intelligence (brain) when playing football. When a winger advances with the ball and he looks up, he is thinking about passing, cutting in or dribbling down the wing.

This thought process could take a split second to conjure up or it could be down to second nature of having played in the role for several years, however even the most experienced and talented individual has to think about what he is going to do. The finest footballers are those who can read the game and act on anticipation, this requires a mixture of thought and instinct.

Your points are viable points as to why Crouch isn’t one of the finest aerial player around. Crouch struggles with his heading more often than not because he is a player who is more comfortable and able bodied when the ball is at his feet as opposed to his head. 

Crouch cannot place direction on crosses supplied to him, if a cross arrives to him in the centre of the penalty area, there is a strong guarantee that the ball will be headed towards the centre of the goal. This applies to the back and front posts, depending on where Crouch is positioned when the cross comes in.

Every player has a weakness, Crouch’s is his heading, when Crouch gets into the right positions to meet the cross, he can score with his head, however when Crouch is required to use the pace on the ball to direct the header, he is hopeless.

Crouch has of course improved and will no doubt continue to improve, however the fact remains he is more comfortable and competent when the ball is played to his feet than his head and no point you are trying to disclose can change this.

    Totally agree with you, which is why I suggested Rafa give Crouch some heading practice and also work out why he panics. That is no bloody excuse, if he can't handle pressure and can't think and make decisions then that is probably why Rafa doesn't play him more. I think we have solved it!! 

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:People notice Crouch's heading because at 6 foot 7 he is expected to be as good a header of the ball as Alan Shearer. Crouch doesn't have the power in his neck and strenght to knock people over the way Shearer would. Give Crouch neck muscles and his heading would improve dramatically.