| Â | | | | feet. This cannot be said about Crouch who |
| | | | for all his 6ft 7" frame is extremely poor at |
| The current climate in English football today | | | | finding the back of the net with his head. |
| may dictate that transfer fees become | | | | |
| inflated somewhat but it is generally the | | | | This article is not totally aimed at slating |
| case when domestic clubs enter into deals | | | | the striker, with the ball on the ground |
| with clubs on the continent and certainly not | | | | Crouch is extremely gifted, he reminds me of |
| when the player in question is far from being | | | | Tor Andre Flo when he was at Chelsea, a lanky |
| considered a first team player at his current | | | | player who showed surprisingly good touch for |
| club. | | | | such a tall man. Despite criticising his |
| | | | heading, I also feel that the former |
| Last term Peter Crouch started just nine | | | | Tottenham man's knock-downs for his strike |
| games for Liverpool, mainly being used as a | | | | partners are also a fine tool he possesses, |
| substitute behind the prolific Fernando | | | | this is keenly felt whenever he links up with |
| Torres and although he managed 11 goals | | | | Michael Owen for England I would suspect that |
| surely a valuation of £11 million is wide | | | | this is precisely what Redknapp will be |
| of the mark for a player who has never really | | | | looking for next season. |
| shone at any level of football. | | | | |
| | | | Harry is a very shrewd man when it comes to |
| There will be critics of my argument of | | | | the transfer market and although he is better |
| course who will point to his international | | | | known for being somewhat of a wheeler dealer |
| record, after all he has netted 14 times in | | | | and looking to sign free transfers rather |
| 28 games but a number of these goals have | | | | than splashing the cash, his last big money |
| come in meaningless games against teams which | | | | signing has paid off in the shape of Jermain |
| England should have walked over. Case in | | | | Defoe, scoring eight goals in 12 games since |
| point being his hat-trick against Jamaica in | | | | his January move from Spurs. Redknapp must |
| a World Cup warm-up match where he also | | | | surely see something in Crouch which I don't, |
| missed a penalty and the national side were | | | | perhaps he sees him as the perfect foil for |
| victorious to the tune of six goals. | | | | Defoe and I have to admit that the so called |
| | | | 'little and large' partnerships have worked |
| Throughout his career the Macclesfield-born | | | | in the past. Perhaps then with height on his |
| striker has never been a potent finisher, | | | | side you can bet that Crouch will be |
| managing just four goals in a loan spell at | | | | requested to nod a few balls into Defoe's |
| Norwich and a paltry six during his time at | | | | path and that Pompey will be a good odds for |
| Aston Villa. He has however enjoyed a couple | | | | a UEFA Cup spot next season. |
| of purple patches at Portsmouth and | | | | |
| Southampton where he bagged almost a goal | | | | The money will also be invaluable to current |
| every two games, the latter earning him the | | | | boss Rafael Benitez as he looks to seal the |
| £7 million pound move to Merseyside. | | | | transfer of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. |
| | | | Liverpool have been struggling to find the |
| For such a large amount of money though Harry | | | | money needed to bring the midfielder to |
| Redknapp - or any prospective manager - would | | | | Anfield and with the initial transfer fee |
| surely be looking for a player, given his | | | | being rumoured at £9 million from the |
| height advantage against most, to be equally | | | | Crouch deal I would certainly bet on Barry |
| adept with the ball in the air as at his | | | | joining Liverpool sooner rather than later. |