Crouch enters the Anfield domain
Peter Crouch coming to Liverpool seems to pave the way for the exit of Milan Baros. Baros, along with Jerzy Dudek, was omitted from last night's CL qualifier squad and started rumours of a possible move on the horizon. With Fernando Morientes, Djibril Cisse and Crouch, Baros makes a fourth striker which we need at the club. I like Baros, I find he has pace, determination, grit and has an erratic way of getting pass players and scoring. Some may say unorthordox but as long as he scores and helps the team, then there's no complaints. He will be disgruntled to see that he has still to prove to Rafael Benitez. I hope Baros, he has been there for us when others hadn't, when others in the team were shot-shy, much less goal-shy.
Rafael says Crouch gives another dimension in attack, and he has proven to have scored well for all the clubs he has played for. If Benitez is confident of getting the kind of flair to encourage goals for Liverpool, he'll be a better manager than he was considered to be in May. Graham Taylor and Harry Redknapp saw something in the tall forward, it's that kind of vision that Benitez must also have seen to have bought him. I have my doubts but I stand behind the manager, he knows what he has planned. I just hope Baros can be included in that planning too.
RedsMan.
posted by RedsMan at 7/20/2005 09:21:00 am
EFT match of the season for 2008/2009: Barcelona construct a masterclass footballing performance to defeat the reigning Champions League holders and current English champions, Manchester United, by a scoreline of 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome
EFT player of the season for 2008/2009: Chelsea central midfielder, Frank Lampard
EFT player of the month for May 2009: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for April 2009: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for March 2009: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2009: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
EFT player of the month for January 2009: Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
EFT player of the month for December 2008: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2008: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2008: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for September 2008: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for August 2008: Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic)
EFT match of Euro 2008: Turkey's amazing comeback from two goals down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 as captain Nihat Kahveci's two goals in the last three minutes sensationally put his country through to the quarter finals at the expense of their beaten opponents
EFT player of Euro 2008: Spain (anchor) central midfielder, Marcos Senna
EFT match of the season for 2007/2008: Liverpool win titanic Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 against Arsenal that also saw two of the best football moments of the season - Fernando Torres' top corner strike and Theo Walcott's thrilling run across the whole of Anfield.
EFT player of the season for 2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for May 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for April 2008: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
EFT player of the month for March 2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2008: David James (Portsmouth)
EFT player of the month for January 2008: Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for December 2007: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
EFT player of the month for November 2007: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for October 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for September 2007: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for August 2007: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for May 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for April 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for March 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for February 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for January 2007: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for December 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for November 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2006: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
EFT player of the month for September 2006: Andrew Johnson (Everton)
EFT player of the month for August 2006: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
EFT match of World Cup 2006: Italy win a thrilling 'end-to-end' World Cup semi-final 2-0 against Germany courtesy of two late extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero 
EFT player of World Cup 2006: Italy captain and centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro
EFT match of the season for 2005-2006: Liverpool win the FA Cup final 3-1 on penalties against West Ham after a Steven Gerrard-led fighback saw the Anfield side recover from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level the match in normal time
EFT player of the month for May 2006: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for April 2006: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for March 2006: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
EFT player of the month for February 2006: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough)
EFT player of the month for January 2006: Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic)
EFT player of the month for December 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2005: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for October 2005: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for September 2005: Danny Murphy (Charlton Athletic)
EFT player of the month for August 2005: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT match of the season for 2004-2005: Liverpool win Champions League final 3-2 on penalties against AC Milan after sensationally recovering from 3-0 down to level the match in normal time
7 Comments:
There is no denying that Milan Baros' goals ratio for his national team is first class but he has only ever shown the liverpool supporters glimpses of this over the last couple of seasons.
If Benitez can manage to coach him to become more of a team player instead of running into blind alleys with his head down then he should be given more time.
He also seems to enjoy playing off a target man like he does for his country so pairing him with Crouch could work out to be a strong tactic for the Reds this season.
Watching Crouch over the tail end of last season, for his height isn't the standard 'target man', obviously he has power in the air and can hold up the ball well as a good outlet but his touch and reading of the game is encouraging. Hopefully he can make the step up to playing for a top side and if he can set up as many as he scores should leave the fans happy.
7/20/2005 10:12 am
Indubitably. Baros played with his own national Crouch in Jans Koller and his record in the Euro 2004 sholdn't be a one-off. The increased competition of the established two plus the probability of Crouch should push Baros that much more to give Benitez a hard time with selections.
RedsMan.
7/20/2005 10:47 am
Indeed the comparisons to Koller will be made which is something I don't mind especially if it makes Baros play like he did at Euro 2004. I just hope Baros doesn't leave. At his best he is superb.
Liverpool now have a very good squad and Rafa's spending might not be over with Figo and Milito being constantly linked.
I'm looking forward to what should be a much better season in the Premiership for Liverpool.
7/20/2005 8:22 pm
Figo too was a doubt for me but at 32 he still can be of extra influence to the squad. Mark Gonzales is concerned as to whether we are still interested in him but there should be no doubt, we do. Now we need a central defender without doubt as I fear Hyypia is becoming too slow.
RedsMan.
7/20/2005 9:21 pm
Benitez has taken a gamble spending a total of £12 million on Crouch and Sissoko.
Liverpool now have a squad of big depth and have impressive variety up-front.
As an Arsenal fan I'd fear Baros more than Crouch against my team. Benitez should think twice before selling the Czech striker.
7/22/2005 3:04 pm
i agree with ts that liverpool now have an impressive variety up front, but its not variety rather consistency that rafa ultimately wants. i hope people haven't forgotton the likes of mellor and sinama-pongolle either cos they both put in some decent performances last season and may spring a surprise this time round too.
7/22/2005 11:12 pm
Right now we probably have Mori and Crouchie as target men and Cisse and Baros playing off them. ALT is more suited as a hole player as is Garcia. Should Baros leave, I am guessing NOT many would complain if we got Owen as a replacement. However, should Owen not arrive, then Mellor and Ponggo would have to step in and do the job. I like Ponggo's speed but his convertion rate seems not up to mark for a striker. Mellor,however has a better convertion rate per game ratio. I think we will do well to play them in smaller games more often.
8/01/2005 3:46 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home