Crouch the thorn in liverpool's side - Here's my take on liv vs anderlecht
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:21 amPeter Crouch is the only constant for now, in the irony of a team called Liverpool.
Reigning champions of Europe, we look every bit the part in club football's most prestigious competition. And it was an extremely convincing 3-0 win over Anderlecht.
Full of fluid movement down the flanks, great crosses for the goals, calm and stability in the center of midfield and in defense too.
When it comes to CL, we seem to be making our rivals in Europe look like fools, but we are fools back home in EPL. While we can create and score in Europe, we don't seem to be able to do that in England. Which is the reason why we are in 13th spot in the EPL.
Yet, one thorn is always there among the blossoming and wilting flowers. And it's the "Crouching Tiger" who turns into a "Crumbling Beanstalk" everytime he gets a chance in front of goal.
At 1.98m, Crouch - a surprise pre-season buy - is starting to worry me that he may yet be a skinny version of Emile Heskey. Slowly but surely, his true heading ability is being exposed.
He often beats defenders on height alone, but his jumping prowess and "hang time" in the air for crosses pose huge question marks.
In the first minute against Anderlecht, SG played a quick one-two with Finnan, whose early cross was met by Crouch in the box.
Yet, at close range while beating his marker to the ball, he could not angle his header enough and sent it wide. It was the same thing he did in the Carling Cup knockout by Palace.
In the 21st minute, Finnan threaded a through ball to Gerrard, who beat his marker and sent a low drive across. What did Crouch do? He slid in front of his marker at near post but bundled the ball wide.
Is it any wonder why - after 11 games starts and 2 sub appearances - Crouch's personal statistics are startling to stand out like a sore thumb?
Before the game against Anderlecht, He had only 3 shots on target and suffered only 5 fouls..... in all competitions. Perhaps defenders are realising he's not worth tackling.
Because if he cannot perform up front, he's worse elsawhere.
Holding up the ball under pressure? He fails.
Trying to play the quick one-two? His touch lets him down.
Dropping back to midfield to get the ball? He only confuses his team mates.
Assists? Well, in the 49th minute, he tried to lay the ball off for Xabi as he was trailed by 2 players. Instead he laid it straight to an Anderlecht player!
But that was the only bad spot in the coat Liverpool wore in that match.
Over the past decade, managers of successful clubs have always echoed the same mantra.
Solidify your team first at home, before hoping to have a decent shot in Europe.
But at Liverpool, you get RB actually saying he'd like to experiment in Europe so he can eventually get things right back home.
Yes, it's a topsy-turvy world for us.
Morientes, who scored a delightful drive from the right side of the box, has pocketed 2 goals in the CL but none in the EPL.
Fellow Spaniard, midfielder Garcia, made good on his promise to treat us- with a beautiful glancing header when he raced in front of a defender to meet Finnan's early cross.
Then, there is the outcast Cisse, who despite being the club's top striker with 9 goals, feels he's not wanted by Benitez and I understand why.
Coming on to replace Crouch, he scored the third goal
So what did Crouch contribute? Nothing at all!
As a striker, his main objective on the field is to score goals. Don't talk about assist or holding onto the ball. If you can't score, what is the role of being a striker then?
We desperately need someone of Michael's caliber. Nothing fancy, just scoring goals - week in week out.
That is the hallmark of a great striker. Intelligence and pure instinct. Crouch lacks both.
I am hopping Benitez will drop Crouch against Villa. Crouch has to learn the art of putting ball behind the net first. His inability of not scoring goals is hurting us at the moment.
After Benitez latest European "experiment", let’s hope he finally snip the thorn.
Reigning champions of Europe, we look every bit the part in club football's most prestigious competition. And it was an extremely convincing 3-0 win over Anderlecht.
Full of fluid movement down the flanks, great crosses for the goals, calm and stability in the center of midfield and in defense too.
When it comes to CL, we seem to be making our rivals in Europe look like fools, but we are fools back home in EPL. While we can create and score in Europe, we don't seem to be able to do that in England. Which is the reason why we are in 13th spot in the EPL.
Yet, one thorn is always there among the blossoming and wilting flowers. And it's the "Crouching Tiger" who turns into a "Crumbling Beanstalk" everytime he gets a chance in front of goal.
At 1.98m, Crouch - a surprise pre-season buy - is starting to worry me that he may yet be a skinny version of Emile Heskey. Slowly but surely, his true heading ability is being exposed.
He often beats defenders on height alone, but his jumping prowess and "hang time" in the air for crosses pose huge question marks.
In the first minute against Anderlecht, SG played a quick one-two with Finnan, whose early cross was met by Crouch in the box.
Yet, at close range while beating his marker to the ball, he could not angle his header enough and sent it wide. It was the same thing he did in the Carling Cup knockout by Palace.
In the 21st minute, Finnan threaded a through ball to Gerrard, who beat his marker and sent a low drive across. What did Crouch do? He slid in front of his marker at near post but bundled the ball wide.
Is it any wonder why - after 11 games starts and 2 sub appearances - Crouch's personal statistics are startling to stand out like a sore thumb?
Before the game against Anderlecht, He had only 3 shots on target and suffered only 5 fouls..... in all competitions. Perhaps defenders are realising he's not worth tackling.
Because if he cannot perform up front, he's worse elsawhere.
Holding up the ball under pressure? He fails.
Trying to play the quick one-two? His touch lets him down.
Dropping back to midfield to get the ball? He only confuses his team mates.
Assists? Well, in the 49th minute, he tried to lay the ball off for Xabi as he was trailed by 2 players. Instead he laid it straight to an Anderlecht player!
But that was the only bad spot in the coat Liverpool wore in that match.
Over the past decade, managers of successful clubs have always echoed the same mantra.
Solidify your team first at home, before hoping to have a decent shot in Europe.
But at Liverpool, you get RB actually saying he'd like to experiment in Europe so he can eventually get things right back home.
Yes, it's a topsy-turvy world for us.
Morientes, who scored a delightful drive from the right side of the box, has pocketed 2 goals in the CL but none in the EPL.
Fellow Spaniard, midfielder Garcia, made good on his promise to treat us- with a beautiful glancing header when he raced in front of a defender to meet Finnan's early cross.
Then, there is the outcast Cisse, who despite being the club's top striker with 9 goals, feels he's not wanted by Benitez and I understand why.
Coming on to replace Crouch, he scored the third goal
So what did Crouch contribute? Nothing at all!
As a striker, his main objective on the field is to score goals. Don't talk about assist or holding onto the ball. If you can't score, what is the role of being a striker then?
We desperately need someone of Michael's caliber. Nothing fancy, just scoring goals - week in week out.
That is the hallmark of a great striker. Intelligence and pure instinct. Crouch lacks both.
I am hopping Benitez will drop Crouch against Villa. Crouch has to learn the art of putting ball behind the net first. His inability of not scoring goals is hurting us at the moment.
After Benitez latest European "experiment", let’s hope he finally snip the thorn.
this and the west ham one has got to be the most mindless drivell on this site 