We Aren't Using Crouch Wisely

[michaelden]

Considering we play with pacy wingers we really want a mobile forward who can get it the box on a break or make space for himself when in there. Crouch does neither

 

[dimiSpur]

The only thing Crouch is useful for is helping Lennon reach his shirt hanger in the changing room.

 

[Tottenham_OZpur]

I have said before and i will say again. if redknapp wasnt manager of spurs, crouch would be no where near wearing a spurs shirt. We have to insist on better and yesterday we had better on the bench. Crouch is a plan B. That is all.

Yeah you are probably right, he does like going after players he has managed before too, sounds like we dodged a bullet with Johnson turning us down, if that was true.

I have tried to stay patient with Crouch, thinking it is only a matter of time before the goals come, but we are nearing February and he still has just the single league goal to his name, that is simply not good enough.

Watching the game, you could hear the fans calling for Defoe well before the Red card, yet it took the red before Harry woke up, he needed to be a bit more proactive with the subs.

Some people point to his VDV assists, if we had a top class forward, he would have those assists on top of his main job, double figure goals, 20+ for the season being ideal.

Relying upon the midfield/defence scoring and the odd assist for VDV is in no way a reliable method of winning games, they will only come off now and then, so you also have to contribute your own fair share of goals, it certainly isn't a kneejerk reaction to say Crouch hasn't performed in this area.

Take that fantastic chance against UTD, a top quality forward would have burried that.

What sets City apart from us is Tevez, he is the reason they are 8 points ahead of us and that gap is likely to extend with a couple tough away games coming up.

Soon it will be too late to catch them and we are going to have to rely on Chelsea dropping points if we are to stay in the race for a CL spot, would far prefer not having to rely upon another team, but instead doing the job ourselfs.

I would save Crouch for the CL, where he has done well and use him as a 'different' option in the league, a plan B as you said.

I think those in charge regret not buying in the summer, we really could be challenging for a top 2 spot if we had a world class forward, certainly with the way this season has panned out.

Hopefully we can pull off a big signing to address the problem, forget talk of winning the league, a CL spot is more than acceptable with the position we are in.

 

[There's always next year]

You cannot defend a striker who has managed just 1 league goal in 21 attempts. In any other profession a return like this will result with the sack.

 

[nailsy]

Did Harry mention why Crouch started yesterday? Was Defoe carrying a knock, or was it purely a tactical decision?

 

[crywolf]

Did Harry mention why Crouch started yesterday? Was Defoe carrying a knock, or was it purely a tactical decision?

Purely tactical:

“They are not an easy team to go long against because both centre-halves are fantastic in the air, especially with Vidic who heads it unbelievably well.

“So it was a problem but you also have a problem though if you play two little strikers — if you play Van der Vaart with Defoe and they press you, how do you get out?


By "get out", I take it he means clearing the ball from our defence when we're under pressure?

 

[michaelden]

Well is that's the case then when Crouch wasn't working he should've made a change much sooner!

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Our most effective attacking player this season with Bale and Rafa (both on 11 goals and with 7 assists).

If one of the 2 midfielders had their stats swapped with Crouch (i.e. Crouch 11 goals, 7 assists, and say van der Vaart 7 goals and 11 assists) you'd all be content. But you're not content, because most people put footballers in boxes. Goalkeepers save shots, defenders head and tackle, wingers assist and strikers score.

There is so much more to football than the black and white basics of the game, though the only thing that matters is what the ingredients together produce. If Crouch's presence in the team has brought out the best in van der Vaart, who has in turn brought out the best in Modric and Bale (etc etc), then that is all that matters. With Rafa working so well off of Crouch, I couldn't give a dogs bollocks if Crouch didn't score all season! If it ultimetely led to us scoring more goals than the opposition, what is the big deal?

It didn't quite come off yesterday, and both Crouch and Rafa were quiet. But that's football, guys. You wont hit it off every game, but as long as you're doing it more often than not, you're doing well. Crouch often brings out the best in Spurs, and this season, he has done well.

 

[michaelden]

In Europe. Let's qualify that StOpHe

 

[There's always next year]

7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Our most effective attacking player this season with Bale and Rafa (both on 11 goals and with 7 assists).

If one of the 2 midfielders had their stats swapped with Crouch (i.e. Crouch 11 goals, 7 assists, and say van der Vaart 7 goals and 11 assists) you'd all be content. But you're not content, because most people put footballers in boxes. Goalkeepers save shots, defenders head and tackle, wingers assist and strikers score.

There is so much more to football than the black and white basics of the game, though the only thing that matters is what the ingredients together produce. If Crouch's presence in the team has brought out the best in van der Vaart, who has in turn brought out the best in Modric and Bale (etc etc), then that is all that matters. With Rafa working so well off of Crouch, I couldn't give a dogs bollocks if Crouch didn't score all season! If it ultimetely led to us scoring more goals than the opposition, what is the big deal?

It didn't quite come off yesterday, and both Crouch and Rafa were quiet. But that's football, guys. You wont hit it off every game, but as long as you're doing it more often than not, you're doing well. Crouch often brings out the best in Spurs, and this season, he has done well.

The same old, same old boring response:sleepy::sleepy::sleepy:

 

[Damian99]

7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Those stats certainly don't paint a true reflection of his season in the league.

And players like VDV would score goals off pretty much any forward because VDV is world class.

Modric form has fuck all to do with Peter Crouch and neither does Bales.

Crouch's league form is piss poor however you want to look at it

 

[faze_coys]

crouch's presence in the team is detrimental to the performance of most of our players.

awful player.

 

[defoe18]

Some people point to his VDV assists, if we had a top class forward, he would have those assists on top of his main job, double figure goals, 20+ for the season being ideal.

I fully argee with this!

A true top class striker could do it all, that is what we need if we are serious about progressing as a club

 

[Bulletspur]

Mate you need to let go of that small team mentality you got. Whoopee we drew with the likely champions lets all have a major orgasm. We should have won and they were there for the taking. We were AT HOME. We didnt go to their place and battle for a draw.

I had this argument last week with Bus Conductor who threw some mind numbingly useless stats at me as to how more productive Crouch is than both pav and Defoe, and you have reverted with the usual "he set up 6 goals for VDV" argument.

The fact is Crouch is lightweight. He is an impact player at best. Does his best work against European defenders for whom heading the ball is alien to them. He doesn't have the movement or first touch of Pav and he certainly doesn't have the clinical finishing capability of defoe. If you compare him to Andy Caroll who is of similar stature, the latter wins balls consistently in the air at both ends of the pitch. he has a thunderous shot as opposed to Crouch's daisy cutters (the guy has no leg muscles after all).

I am not blaming yesterday's inability to score at Crouch. Like other's i blame Redknapp and his blind perserverence with a tactic that was yielding no reward.

I have said before and i will say again. if redknapp wasnt manager of spurs, crouch would be no where near wearing a spurs shirt. We have to insist on better and yesterday we had better on the bench. Crouch is a plan B. That is all.

Yeah you are probably right, he does like going after players he has managed before too, sounds like we dodged a bullet with Johnson turning us down, if that was true.

I have tried to stay patient with Crouch, thinking it is only a matter of time before the goals come, but we are nearing February and he still has just the single league goal to his name, that is simply not good enough.

Watching the game, you could hear the fans calling for Defoe well before the Red card, yet it took the red before Harry woke up, he needed to be a bit more proactive with the subs.

Some people point to his VDV assists, if we had a top class forward, he would have those assists on top of his main job, double figure goals, 20+ for the season being ideal.

Relying upon the midfield/defence scoring and the odd assist for VDV is in no way a reliable method of winning games, they will only come off now and then, so you also have to contribute your own fair share of goals, it certainly isn't a kneejerk reaction to say Crouch hasn't performed in this area.

Take that fantastic chance against UTD, a top quality forward would have burried that.

What sets City apart from us is Tevez, he is the reason they are 8 points ahead of us and that gap is likely to extend with a couple tough away games coming up.

Soon it will be too late to catch them and we are going to have to rely on Chelsea dropping points if we are to stay in the race for a CL spot, would far prefer not having to rely upon another team, but instead doing the job ourselfs.

I would save Crouch for the CL, where he has done well and use him as a 'different' option in the league, a plan B as you said.

I think those in charge regret not buying in the summer, we really could be challenging for a top 2 spot if we had a world class forward, certainly with the way this season has panned out.

Hopefully we can pull off a big signing to address the problem, forget talk of winning the league, a CL spot is more than acceptable with the position we are in.

Paxtonite and OZpur have summed it up well and have hit the nail right on the head. My only contribution is to say that Vidic, while a top top defender, was made to look even better because of Crouch. IMO had it been Defoe he had to deal with, while he may have won that battle, Defoe would not have made it that easy for him and Defoe would have him more harried as he has done it in the past. Defoe whilst not the answer to our striker drought, is 10 x the better option than Crouch, again my opinion.

 

[ginol@14]

i was told today that in 60 league games crouch has scored only 9 goals !
if true then he surely has to be put back on the bench and we should go with pav /defoe instead

strikers have to score goals , this guy does not even threaten to and has no instinct or power infront of goal

 

[gibbs131]

crouch's presence in the team is detrimental to the performance of most of our players.

awful player.

If Defoe and Crouch had their Portsmouth partnership tally, we would be challenging for the title.

I just think our buildup is too slow/predictable for them. We have pace, but it sometimes comes with 10 or even more passes until we get into a crossing scenario. By then, defense set.

There is a lot to be said for some chaotic mental attackers. Speaking of which, was Kranj there are the time when Defoe and Crouch were banging them in? Now that is that direct route I am talking about.

 

[Bulletspur]

If Defoe and Crouch had their Portsmouth partnership tally, we would be challenging for the title.

I just think our buildup is too slow/predictable for them. We have pace, but it sometimes comes with 10 or even more passes until we get into a crossing scenario. By then, defense set.

There is a lot to be said for some chaotic mental attackers. Speaking of which, was Kranj there are the time when Defoe and Crouch were banging them in? Now that is that direct route I am talking about.

I have to disagree with you here Gibbs. How many times have we seen route one to Crouch and he still balls it up? When in plays where we do the "10 or even more passes" we open them and would have scored but for the lack of a clinical finish from Crouch and co.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

To be fair to Crouch, it's not as if he misses many sitters. The quality of crosses coming in to the box has been woeful of late, and that's what he's going to score from. He was closer than anyone on sunday and that was a half chance.

Defoe missed two 1v1's against Villa and two against Liverpool, not to mention a penalty.

 

[gibbs131]

I have to disagree with you here Gibbs. How many times have we seen route one to Crouch and he still balls it up? When in plays where we do the "10 or even more passes" we open them and would have scored but for the lack of a clinical finish from Crouch and co.

Bale and Lennon beat a man, go to the goal line, cross.

That is what happens most of the time. And that means Crouch is surrounded by monsters by the time the ball is fizzed in. You don't see bale Lennon cross from the touchline as often. I wish Bale and Lennon would cross like Hutton. Fark knows when he is about to cross, it just happens, that creates problems. We need more feints out wide.

 

[Eric_s]

7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Our most effective attacking player this season with Bale and Rafa (both on 11 goals and with 7 assists).

If one of the 2 midfielders had their stats swapped with Crouch (i.e. Crouch 11 goals, 7 assists, and say van der Vaart 7 goals and 11 assists) you'd all be content. But you're not content, because most people put footballers in boxes. Goalkeepers save shots, defenders head and tackle, wingers assist and strikers score.

There is so much more to football than the black and white basics of the game, though the only thing that matters is what the ingredients together produce. If Crouch's presence in the team has brought out the best in van der Vaart, who has in turn brought out the best in Modric and Bale (etc etc), then that is all that matters. With Rafa working so well off of Crouch, I couldn't give a dogs bollocks if Crouch didn't score all season! If it ultimetely led to us scoring more goals than the opposition, what is the big deal?

It didn't quite come off yesterday, and both Crouch and Rafa were quiet. But that's football, guys. You wont hit it off every game, but as long as you're doing it more often than not, you're doing well. Crouch often brings out the best in Spurs, and this season, he has done well.

If Pav is given the same playing time he will piss on crouch's shite return of goals and assist. I think some people here is trying to say given the amount of time crouch has played, his contribution has been poor, very poor. I fully agrees with that.