CROUCH TO STAY?
By Chris McMullan, liverpool.rivals.net
Date: 17/10/2007
Rafa Benitez has contradicted recent media speculation by stating that Liverpool do not want to sell Peter Crouch. With the England international striker being relegated to the subs bench for much of this season the press had decided that he must be on his way out soon. Not so says Rafa.
Explaining the players absence from starting line-ups as 'competition for places' may be little consolation for the player but at least throws him a lifeline for getting back in the side:
"People have been talking about Peter Crouch for two months, but he is our player and we don't want to sell him. He is a nice boy, a good professional, a good player.
"It is clear that this team now with four strikers creates more competition for places, but I don't have any problems because Crouch is a good player."
Editor's Notes
When Rafa first decided to recruit the 'unknown' Peter Crouch to Anfield for £7 million in 2005, the whole soccer-nation was having a laugh.
Soon enough after contributing to Rafa-lution, amidst a long goalless streak, he has been labelled as the 'poor man's Fernando Torres' which could be say as an admirable comparison nonetheless.
But what now that El-Nino has finally made his way to Anfield? Does Rafa want to keep him just for the sake of a cover to Torres?
Crouch has suffered immensely and has been nowhere near his best when called upon. But he is still a top striker in the eyes of many teams and already Liverpool have rejected £9 million offers for his services.
Man City are the latest team that has been linked with him. It has been rumoured that Liverpool are actually waiting for the bidding to go to £12 million.
Personally I feel that it will benefit both player and team for him to move on. No doubt Crouch is a top-class striker and has proven it at International level. But I reckon its about time that Liverpool go into 'upgrading' and get Worldclass striker rather than just top-class. At the moment, sadly enough, only Torres falls into that category.
If Liverpool were to hold on Crouch, his value might just dip over the years. Rafa should just cash in while he's still in demand and could top-up the money received to get another Worldclass striker, perhaps someone in the mould of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Date: 17/10/2007
Rafa Benitez has contradicted recent media speculation by stating that Liverpool do not want to sell Peter Crouch. With the England international striker being relegated to the subs bench for much of this season the press had decided that he must be on his way out soon. Not so says Rafa.Explaining the players absence from starting line-ups as 'competition for places' may be little consolation for the player but at least throws him a lifeline for getting back in the side:
"People have been talking about Peter Crouch for two months, but he is our player and we don't want to sell him. He is a nice boy, a good professional, a good player.
"It is clear that this team now with four strikers creates more competition for places, but I don't have any problems because Crouch is a good player."
Editor's Notes
When Rafa first decided to recruit the 'unknown' Peter Crouch to Anfield for £7 million in 2005, the whole soccer-nation was having a laugh.Soon enough after contributing to Rafa-lution, amidst a long goalless streak, he has been labelled as the 'poor man's Fernando Torres' which could be say as an admirable comparison nonetheless.
But what now that El-Nino has finally made his way to Anfield? Does Rafa want to keep him just for the sake of a cover to Torres?
Crouch has suffered immensely and has been nowhere near his best when called upon. But he is still a top striker in the eyes of many teams and already Liverpool have rejected £9 million offers for his services.
Man City are the latest team that has been linked with him. It has been rumoured that Liverpool are actually waiting for the bidding to go to £12 million.Personally I feel that it will benefit both player and team for him to move on. No doubt Crouch is a top-class striker and has proven it at International level. But I reckon its about time that Liverpool go into 'upgrading' and get Worldclass striker rather than just top-class. At the moment, sadly enough, only Torres falls into that category.
If Liverpool were to hold on Crouch, his value might just dip over the years. Rafa should just cash in while he's still in demand and could top-up the money received to get another Worldclass striker, perhaps someone in the mould of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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