The Crouch-a-saurus
Last updated : 11 October 2005 By The Guardian
Fleet Street's finest on Peter Crouch
"Not the one-dimensional target man his stature might suggest, but possessed of deceptively dainty feet" - Denis Campbell, The Observer.
"Crouch has the stature to lead the line, his very existence sets an unusual problem for defenders, and the combination of his spidery limbs, surprisingly delicate control and patient approach allow him to hold the ball up quite effectively" - Richard Williams, The Guardian.
"Luis Garcia, Boudewijn Zenden and Sinama Pongolle all benefited from Crouch's ability to bring the ball under control even when arriving at what, to most players, represents high altitude" - Matt Dickinson, The Times.
"Crouch, famed for his height, paraded his ability with the ball on the deck by making good ground down the left" - Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph.
"... there is far more to Crouch's game than just his height, with his adept touch and intelligent thinking making Owen's second with a quick free-kick" - Martin Lipton, The Mirror.
"Liverpool's giant striker showed against Chelsea that he is more than a totem pole who is simply dangerous in the air" - Alan Smith, The Times.
"Crouch's stature masks an exquisite touch and spatial awareness" - George Caulkin, The Times.
"Ele tem um toque muito bom para um homen tao grande" - an ESPN commentator explains Crouch's talents in Portuguese.
"Peter Crouch - han har faktiskt riktigt bra teknik för att vara så stor" - A Swedish commentator gets in on the act.
Players and managers on Peter Crouch
"He's fantastic on the ground but he's obviously really tall" - Michael Owen.
"Everyone talks about his height as though that's all there is to him. But he's a very good player. Look at his touch, look at his passing, look at his control" - former England manager Graham Taylor.
"Crouch has good touch" - former Tottenham manager David Pleat.
"He has a nice touch and if given good service can win balls in the air all day" - Gerry Francis, who managed Crouch at QPR.
"He wins everything up in the air and for such a tall man, he has a very good touch on the floor" - Sven-Goran Eriksson.
"He is better than just making a nuisance of himself. That's unfair, because he is a genuinely good footballer" - Jamie Redknapp.
"Peter has got the feet of a Wayne Rooney or a Ronaldo in that he has a lot of skills," Jamie Redknapp, again.
"He was always available and you could fire it in at any height because his control was exceptional" - Scott Hiley, former Portsmouth team-mate.
"He's very ungainly, and people assume he can't be any good. But when you get the ball at his feet he's different class" - Scott Hiley, again.
"Everyone talks about his height as if that's all there is to him but I can assure everyone he's very good technically. Look at his touch" - Graham Taylor.
"His height is something he's lived with all his life and it's his main feature but he's got great feet," - Graham Taylor, again.
"He always had a great touch and he's not been given enough credit for it" - Iwan Roberts, Norwich City.
"'What a lot of people tend to overlook when discussing Peter is that he's excellent on the floor as well as in the air" - Steven Gerrard.
"In the games I have seen, his touch has been good" - Alan Shearer.
"You should never judge a book by its cover. He had a good touch" - Gerry Francis.
"With some big men you can think, we'll let them have possession as they won't cause any problems, but Crouch will" - Vince Bartram, who conceded Crouch's first professional goal for QPR.
"He's got one of the loveliest touches I've seen in a big man" - Harry Redknapp.
Peter Crouch on Peter Crouch
"People did look at me and have an instant impression but I'd like to think it's my touch and what I can do on the ball that has got me here."
"I can show I can play on the floor and use my touch, too."
"I've started to play for England, hopefully people can see that I can play on the floor as well."
"Being so tall, I've got to be a threat in the air - and I like to think that I am - but that's not the only thing I've got."
