Choosing Number Two Is A Tall Order?

Like the blades of a helicopter-not sure which is arms or legs!

OK, sometimes I’m a little biased, strong headed? Absolutely-So I’m going to throw something at you, our clever, knowledgeable readers (not you scummers-what you know about football is negligible)

Last night, Peter Crouch played very well for England, putting himself in the driving seat to get the starting spot alongside Wayne Rooney come June the 12th in South Africa.  But not everyone is a fan; Wankers Doom says he is ‘utter s**te’ and our very own JT doesn’t rate him either. The media were fawning over Crouch today and this separated the email camp.

I like a good debate, so after the jump, I’ll put my case to change the perception of Peter Crouch with the people I call friends and ask a simple question to you lot–When it comes to number two–who can do the do?

Lets do this by the numbers first and then address all the haters.

Peter Crouch has played 37 times for England, scoring 20 goals–that’s 1 goal every 1.8 games.  As reference (and I’m not comparing, note that all you word twisters-you know who you are) Wayne Rooney has 25 in 57 or 1 goal every 2.3 games; Jermaine Defoe has bagged 11 in 39 or 1 goal every 3.5 games;  Emile Heskey has 7 in 57 appearances or 1 goal every 8.1 games; Darren Bent has played 5 games for England scored 0 goals; Michael Owenhas 40 goals in 89 games or 1 every 2.2 appearances and Carlton Cole has 0 goals in 7 appearances.

Right, now–before I state my case to have Crouchy in the team, I will point out that I believe that a target-man type needs to play alongside Rooney, and you have to bare him in mind when choosing (or not). When Defoe played with him last night, he had to go looking for the ball and could not go through the middle in search of shooting chances. A small speedy striker did not seem to be a suitable partner.

Wankers Doom says that if Crouch is on the plane, then England will lose. Alright haters– lets look at this:

Query from the anti-Crouch camp: Peter Crouch only scores against lesser opponents. He can’t cut it against top teams.

OK, that’s a fair point, but outside of Wayne Rooney, who else can?  Hold that thought!

Since 2008, England have played 22 games; 10 World Cup qualifiers and 12 friendlies. Two years. OK, during that time, I would refer to the following as big opponents: Germany, Spain, Holland, Brazil and Croatia. All friendlies except for Croatia who were in England’s World Cup qualification group.

Crouch came from the bench against Brazil in the 82nd minute– So, we can’t knock him for not scoring in that one; England lost 1-0 and no one scored. Bent and Rooney started and Defoe had 25 minutes.

Against Holland, Rooney and Heskey started and Defoe came from the bench at half-time to score twice. Crouch was injured.

Against Germany, Defoe and Agbonlahor got the starts (neither scored) in an experimental line-up and Crouch came on in the 90th minute.

In the 2-0 defeat to Spain, Agbonlahor and Heskey started and Crouch played the second half. He didn’t score but no one else did either.

England played Croatia twice in qualifying for the World Cup, the 5-1 win, Crouch didn’t play; Rooney and Heskey started and the goals game from Lampard (2), Rooney and Gerrard (2). In the away fixture, England won 4-0–Walcott scored 3 and Rooney bagged the other. Crouch was injured so not in the squad.

More robot please!

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but you can only score against the teams you are picked to play. Crouch may score against lesser opponents but he hasn’t played in any other games, sure–That’s the managers call (and due to injury)–But irrelevant really, as right now, this day, we are looking at picking a number two to play with Rooney.

But Ned, what about big tournaments? OK people, the last one England played in was 4 years ago and Crouch was four years younger and used as a sub, but lets check it out:

During the World Cup in Germany, England played 5 games; 3 qualifiers, the second round and the quarter final. Only one England player scored more than once over those 5 games and it wasn’t a forward. In the first game against Paraguay, the only goal was an own goal. Against Trinidad and Tobago, Crouch scored along with Gerrard. In the third game against Sweden, Joe Cole and Gerrard found the net. In the fourth against Ecuador, Beckham scored… and we all know the tale of the quarter final. No one scored in that one either.

So Crouch was the only forward on the scoresheet in 06, Owen and Rooney failed in front of goal. Again, you can only take your chances when given them and for Peter Crouch that’s 20 times in 37 games. Pretty good I’d say. Not to mention this is ALL about tournaments. Can Crouch score against the US? Yes. Can he score against Algeria? Yes. Can he score against Slovenia? Yes. Who knows who you’ll get in the second round but when the crucial big matches come, you can’t blame Peter Crouch for not finding the net, there are 11 players in the team and 3 or 4 of them are HIGHLY rated in World football.

Now, my major point is this–90% of England’s game are against a ‘lesser’ opponent. Qualifying against Belarus, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, etc etc etc– 90 %. Crouch bangs them in against lesser opponent’s, sure. When you play the big boys, the games are one or maybe two goal games, in those situations you look to your marque players to shine; to do what they are supposed to– Gerrard, Lampard and now? Rooney. By the way, most of Rooney’s have come against lesser opponents also.

Outside of that, you need a guy to get goals and be useful, while Heskey and Crouch suit playing with Rooney, Crouch has one thing Heskey does not–Goals. I was in the Heskey camp and I like him but I’ve changed my mind–Heskey goes though…On my plane, anyway. So does Defoe.

Of others who (in my opinion) cannot thrive with Rooney, Defoe, Carlton Cole, Bent etc–Only Defoe has proven himself–and even then he has only scored against ‘lesser’ opponents.  So lets summarize, the haters say he cannot score against top sides, in the last 4 years no forward has–So why such venom for the big man? He actually has a great touch for a giant and also holds the ball pretty well; Last night showed that to great effect. So who is better to start with young Wayne?

The choice Capello has to make now is like hitting the store before a party; They are out of Smuttynose so you have to choose a second best from: Heineken, Miller, Coors and Bud. take your pick, but I know which one I’d rather have.

Capello will realistically will choose from the below…

Have at it: