Recent reports have linked Stoke City striker Peter Crouch with West Ham United amidst speculation that a potential move for Andy Carroll could be off the ‘cards’ due to financial fair play rules that are set to kick in.
The 32 year old has scored just 6 goals in 32 outings this season whereas Carroll has scored 7 in just 22.
Despite recent links I would put this potential deal down to nothing more than lazy journalism, which has been ‘creatively’ thought up to balance interdependently with our ‘long ball’ style of play. I highly doubt a player of Crouch’s age and ability will be signed as we attempt to become a bigger and better club; hence the move to the Olympic Stadium.
Crouch has been a great goal-scoring presence for the England team during his 42 appearances, but seems to be a lot more lacklustre when it comes to club status; 16 goals in 64 appearances for Stoke City.
A move for Crouch would be a wrong move in my opinion, with the striker having a poor goal-scoring season for the Potters, and ourselves looking for a prolific goal-scorer that can bag 15+ goals per season.
With our transfer kitty next season we need to focus our aims on bigger players that can improve the team, and obviously we cannot attract big named stars at this current time, but we should move for bigger players (Than the likes of Crouch and Carlton Cole), or younger ones with great potential.
To me, there are better players out there, and with Crouch turning 33 next January, we really do need to focus our attention on other players such as Wilfried Bony. Despite saying that, I feel we haven’t been looking at Crouch, and this speculation has been made up due to our supposed style of play and his height.
Carroll’s potential move that may have been squandered due to financial rules has led to such story and this has been both lazy, and easy for someone to make up. To start, this isn’t the first time we have been linked with Crouch.
Do you think he’d be good enough? Or should we aim for a younger/better player?
Ben Edkins (@benedkins12)
I will just be glad when the Andy Carroll total obsession Stops! Liverpool are NOT going to let him go on the cheap and his weekly salary is far too over the top compared to the wage other Stars may get at Our Club! but Crouch is not the one!
crouch is useless,we have to sign bonny,we have to move on,as a football club,no go backwards with signings like crouch…
Ben, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, this is lazy journalism linking us with crouch and there is nothing in it. There will be plenty more of this on the coming months. That said as a back up option/bench warmer and if he was to cost no more than a couple of million he would be a good buy
Lazy journalism indeed. Non-story.
Personally i’d prefer Carroll out of all the strikers we have been linked with but thats just my personal preference. Not your out and out goalscorer but i struggle to name a better player in his particular role as a target man. If Sam stays and that seems likely…Carroll is the perfect fit for us.
No no no no , l wouldnt spend $1 on Crouch, useless , Liverpool would let Carroll ho for 13-14mill , if we want to imorove and not have a 2nd yr downer , lets go for Remy , Carroll, Rats, 2other players
I wouldnt object to Remy myself… but i cant see us getting him. He will probly go to a bigger club…someone playing in CL most likely.
Carroll is a must and so diame let’s go for Sinclair from city on the wing and rest can be free transfers
Carroll is NOT a must, he’s a one trick pony that dictates our style of play – not good enough for the money
agree Garry … we would not finish as high as we have without Andy, Diame and a few other and it is vital we keep these key players. We still have a lot of areas to improve though.
Please no, not Crouch… Far over his top and will not gonna add some power up front. Keep Carrol – pleeeeease!!!! Don´t know much ´bout Bony, but is it worth takin´a gamble..?
Btw, must keep Diame at all prize
Please God no!!
Had to look at the calender … not 1 April so it is just a sick joke … the lanky streak of piss is a pathetic specimen . Never thought I would say this but he makes CC look half decent . !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a chance in hell will crouch be coming to the Boleyn! As for oor Andy, well we are finally getting down to it! All the phoney war is nearly over! Just hope we can pull it off! Carroll is a must! For he is everything that we are supposedly lacking in over the years! Big, strong, workaholic and gives his all for 90mins! What’s not to like! (Oh and he can score goals as well!) And with the chairmen stating we need extra firepower, we are going to be in for an interesting summer! Carroll and a n other class striker! Can’t wait! COYI!
Carrol is not a one trick pony you thick twat. How many one trick pony score belting headers and world class volleys!!!