Peter Crouch

[Rex Ham]

When he first came it was poor, very poor.

 

Now its fantastic. Chest height it sticks, into his feet in tight situations it sticks, under pressure he'll often weave through a few tackles keep posession superbly. The touch in the second half which allowed him to swivel and flash a volley across the face was sublime, and sums up how much his touch has improved.

 

Now if he could just do the same with his noggin we'd have one seriously dangerous striker.

 

Well in lad.

[Andyjandy]

Beuty of it is, is that he has'nt stopped improving since he arrived and looks like he is just going to steadily become a better player week by week.

[Maldini]

His first touch has never been poor

[owenthomas]

was just gonna say that!

[cymrococh]

  Maldini said:

His first touch has never been poor

SGTFABM

[CarraLegend]

Thought his first touch was his best attribute when he arrived.

[Stevie H]

  CarraLegend said:

Thought his first touch was his best attribute when he arrived.

no.

 

that was his height.

[John am Rhein]

He's always been outstanding at receiving a 'hospital' ball and turning it into at least retained possession. Was before we signed him. Still is.

[CarraLegend]

  John am Rhein said:

He's always been outstanding at receiving a 'hospital' ball and turning it into at least retained possession. Was before we signed him. Still is.

 

Is right.

[RP]

He has always had a great first touch.

[Guest Kaizer]

Crouch`s problem has never been his touch.

 

What I think is his problem apart from the obvious that he cant head the ball to save his life and that he misses to many easy chances and usually gets bullied out of matches from strong CB because he is not particular strong is that he turns too slow, and when he gets a pass on the ground he usually brings it backwards to get it under control and this slows our attacks down and takes the flow out of the move and usually it ends up with our opponents getting back in balance.

[Kahnee]

GTFABL n all that

[Tones]

Crouch is just great.

[Guest Phil C]

Cracking first touch - apart from with his head...

[surf]

  John am Rhein said:

He's always been outstanding at receiving a 'hospital' ball and turning it into at least retained possession. Was before we signed him. Still is.

 

you know you've stayed in germany too long when you start using phrases like "hospital ball"

[Mike]

he's brilliant at killing a ball dead, no question. any height and even at great speed.

unfortunately, that ability also goes for his head.

[Bootle Buck]

FFS He's a lot better than most people ever thought he would be. His first touch though is and always was his best attribute. As for heading............Who needs it when he would rather score the spectacular.

[John am Rhein]

  surf said:

you know you've stayed in germany too long when you start using phrases like "hospital ball"

 

Eh? Never heard it in Germany. Have you?

[Stevie H]

  John am Rhein said:

Eh? Never heard it in Germany. Have you?

yes.

 

das hospitalputtenzeinnenballen.

[surf]

  John am Rhein said:

Eh? Never heard it in Germany. Have you?

 

It's a common phrase in Holland and since German is derived from Dutch (but spoken with a silly accent) i jumped to that conclusion.

Humble apologies.

[MikeK88]

  Kaizer said:

Crouch`s problem has never been his touch.

 

What I think is his problem apart from the obvious that he cant head the ball to save his life and that he misses to many easy chances and usually gets bullied out of matches from strong CB because he is not particular strong is that he turns too slow, and when he gets a pass on the ground he usually brings it backwards to get it under control and this slows our attacks down and takes the flow out of the move and usually it ends up with our opponents getting back in balance.

 

I thats whats frustrating me (along with the lack of powerful headers). I seen it on Saturday when we had the ball in their area, just after getting it back from Chelsea's defending. He had his back to goal, and lost us the ball because Essien gave him a tiny push. He seemed to stumble away.

 

Improve his heading + strength and he'll be class.

[John am Rhein]

  surf said:

It's a common phrase in Holland and since German is derived from Dutch (but spoken with a silly accent) i jumped to that conclusion.

Humble apologies.

 

Really? Didn't know that.

 

When I played football (in England) it used to be a way to describe a pass that was more than simply bad/sh*t/cr*p. Is it the same meaning in Holland/Germany?

 

  Steve H said:

yes.

 

das hospitalputtenzeinnenballen.

 

Das war ein Krankenhausball, Schweinhund!

[surf]

  John am Rhein said:

Really? Didn't know that.

 

When I played football (in England) it used to be a way to describe a pass that was more than simply bad/sh*t/cr*p. Is it the same meaning in Holland/Germany?

 

 

Commonly used for crosses that find their way into the stands or the other end of the pitch.

[John am Rhein]

Not sure if this was accurate, but I always wondered if the meaning (of the English version) came from the fact that the receiver was likely to end up in hospital if they tried to control the ball.

[RP]

That's what a hospital pass is in English, John. A pass that is underhit leaving the recipient likely to get clattered by an opponent and therefore put in hospital.