Scottbot wrote:Crouch as a player in my opinion.
POSITIVES
First Touch/Touch in general - Technically excellent, can kill a ball with snow on it with his chest and make it look easy. Has very quick feet, turns well and can get out of trouble in tight spaces with a party trick or two.
Intelligence - Fantastic team player, rarely gives the ball way, is aware of players around him, holds the ball up and brings the midfield into play. Does a good job shielding the ball and draws a lot of fouls (Hamman style) He stays central (rarely will you see him run the channels) but his movement back and forwards is good and creates space for others e.g. when he comes short it usually creates some space in behind.
Heading - So many posters bang on about Crouch's heading ability (at goal) being poor but that shouldn't detract from the huge amount of flick-ons and bits and pieces the rest of the team feed off when Crouch is in the side. This part of his game is EXCELLENT.
Goals - He scores them! Not the most prolific but if he played 50 games in a season you would fancy him to get you 15-18 goals. And he can score them in just about every different way. He's scored a few tap-ins and scrappy goals (he should get a few more i agree), he's got a fair share with his head (for a guy who can't head the ball) and he is capable of scoring spectacular goals. Those two overhead kicks last season were fantastic and demonstrate that while he usually looks after the ball and plays it safe he is also unpredictable. He attacks the ball/crosses quite well, he's no robbie Fowler but he could certainly give Dirk a few lessons and he also strikes the ball well. And before i forget the lad has a Premiership hatrick (left, righ, header) against Arsenal.
Attitude - Consumate team player, gets on with it, loves playing for the club and deals with rotation (when he really should be in the side) admirably. He also plays the game with a bit of fire, i like to see forwards lose their rag, commit a few fouls and show a bit of passion and that's what you get with Crouch. Also his work-rate is excellent, like a liverpool strikers he does his bit to close down, harry and harrass the opposition.
Tactically - Opposition defences have to have a gameplan to deal with him, particularly in terms of 2nd phase balls (they don't have much chance with first phase) so they have to deal with flick-ons and his ability to bring the likes of Gerrard into play. Also, he is an EXCELLENT impact substitution (particularly in Europe) who can instantly alter the way we have been playing up until that point. He provides a focal point for our attack, especially if Torres is out. VERY IMPORTANT POINT WITH CROUCH IS THAT HE ALWAYS SHOWS FEET.
NEGATIVES
Lack of pace / Mobilty - The biggest thing against Crouch, quick as a milk float is our Peter! He'll never scare defenders when the ball is played over the top, he isn't particularly mobile and (for me) he is a bit of a sitting duck when he is played alone up-front. Not the type of player to drag defenders all over the show the way Drogba does at Chelsea plus he obviouly lacks Drogba's strength.
Goals/Performances Against Bigger Sides - Despite the Arsenal hatrick and the goal to put the mancs out of the FA Cup, Crouch hasn't really played his best against the top sides (same at International leve) and to use a cricketing term is a bit of a 'flat track bully'.
Missed Chances - He might get his share of goals but he's been guilty of missing just as many and then some (particularly with his head). His heading at goal isn't the best BUT it isn't as bad as some on here would have you believe.
Tactical - Unfortunately the temptation when Crouch is in the side is to bypass our midfield and simply try and stick it on his head. It's a useful out-ball to have but this is defo something for the manager and the likes of Sami/Carra (who are usually guilty) to rectify.
And on the subject of Crouch and Torres playing together, they should and could form a fantastic partership as far as i can see. Teams will get deeper and deeper with Torres in this vein of form so we would be crazy not to play Crouch. Because of his height defences don't particularly want Crouch in their penalty area. Get the ball into wide areas and put in a lot of crosses OR ping the ball into his feet (Gerrard) and try and play a few of those 1-2s.
There is a huge difference between what Crouch really is and the fantasy you are living in hoping what Crouch would be like. My god you are overating him!
He is no way technically excellent, how often do you see him dribble past one player? And his timing of the jump for a header is pretty pathetic in my opinion, he just wanna make contact with the ball on his head and he many times he has no idea where the ball will ended up.
Look he is not a bad player, but you are just overating him too much.
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