Stoke City: Crouch wants to be Euro star for Fabio
PETER Crouch has been told there is still time for him to sneak into England's European Championship squad.
Crouch, who will line up against former club Tottenham tomorrow (4pm), is already delivering the goods as far as Tony Pulis is concerned.
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Peter Crouch
But the Stoke boss reckons a decent season in front of goal could also bring him to the attention of England boss Fabio Capello.
"If Peter scores on a regular basis until the end of the season, who knows?" Pulis reasoned.
"But Capello knows Peter better than anybody because he's been in the England squad on numerous occasions."
Crouch himself said of his chances of an international options: "I certainly wouldn't write it off. If I am playing well for Stoke, then I have to be in the manager's thoughts.
"Whenever I have played for England, I think I've done well. I would love to go to the Euros. But if not, then the manager seems to be thinking about leaving, so who knows what will happen after that?"
Crouch has five goals in 12 starts and three substitute appearances in league and cup action since his club record £10m move to Stoke at the end of August.
But Pulis says his contribution should be measured in more than goals.
"If you look at his stats, they've been fantastic," he said. "There's his running, the touches he gets and the possession he keeps for us. He's been outstanding."
Pulis believes Crouch, Jonathan Woodgate and Wilson Palacios will all be desperate for a shot at their old club tomorrow.
Woodgate played right-back for the first hour at Everton last weekend and may be pencilled in again as Andy Wilkinson is nursing a back injury sustained in training.
Rory Delap is suffering with a similar complaint after missing the Everton game.
STOKE'S third-round FA Cup tie at Gillingham will be played on Saturday, January 7 (3pm).
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by Davejjohnson
Monday, December 12 2011, 8:30AM
“Peter Crouch today showed today that he's easily good enough for England. To think that Zamora and Carroll have been recently picked ahead of him is laughable. Message for Soccerknob (as he seems to be affectionately known), the idea of football is to score more than the opposition and we have just done it against what is probably the 3rd best team in the Prem. That's why Tony Pullis is a top manager and you are a total zero who writes drivel on this site.”
by deadlyscfc
Sunday, December 11 2011, 10:11PM
“Crouchy was probably the best English striker this weekend who would be available for the opening group matches.”
by Potterspeil
Sunday, December 11 2011, 7:05PM
“Performances like today will do his prospects no harm!
The Stoke jury has been out until today in many people's eyes but when you hear the crowd sing 'Crouchie is a Stokie' you know the guy's won people over.
Great display from all the lads today. This is why you should never turn your back on Stoke.
Were you watching Fabio?”
by Latthink
Sunday, December 11 2011, 2:00PM
“Out of all the Strikers in England Crouch has as much if not more idea on how to score goals than most candidates. Take Bent's performance yesterday for example, and yes Harry Rednapp was correct re his comments concerning his wifes ability to score!”
by deadlyscfc
Sunday, December 11 2011, 2:13AM
“I dunna give a monkeys tomorrow if we only win 1-0 in a boring game,it is more about points on the board.We can practice our free flowing football in Turkey next week,when there is no pressure on.I have had a tenner on 1-0 and 2-1.And just in case it is an open attacking game i have a fiver on 3-2.All to us of course.”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, December 10 2011, 9:40PM
“who says you have to score 3-4 goals a game ? We have scored 14 goals in the 14 games we have played so far this season and had 23 scored against us. We have 18 out of a possible 42 points. We dont score many goals plain and simple, but Imagine if we scored just say an extra 7 goals where we could be in the league.However, i do realize that it is a problem for most teams in the league besides the top 5, I suppose we would be in serious trouble if a handful of those other teams were scoring a few goals too. Luckily we are in a group where nobody scores or wins!”
by 8thewarren
Saturday, December 10 2011, 9:06PM
“im afraid he now plays at stoke and if you are a stoke player in the prem you can kiss your chances of playing for england good by even how you play or score goals as ive said before we in the potteries are a overlooked team just look at the players weve had over the years never to get the cap”
by JTFLINT2009
Saturday, December 10 2011, 8:41PM
“Okay, I'll ask the question again, why do we have to play free-flowing football? If Crouch scores goals when chances aren't at a premium, then surely that is better for England than selecting a player who does not score when chances aren't as forthcoming. Pennant and Etherington really need to give Crouch more chances, but as we saw with his goal against Macabbi, don't just aim high! Mix it up a bit. It's the advantage of Crouch that he is so tall, but also that if a ball reaches his chest or lower, he can bury a chance.”
by Obama4prez
Saturday, December 10 2011, 7:24PM
“Demba Ba has scored 19 goals in 26 appearances (Westham and Newcastle) combined - none of our strikers can come close to this kind of return largely because Stoke do not play as freely as Westham or Newcastle so chances are at a premium. Unless Pulis allows some kind of free-flowing football style of play to emerge (unlikely) Crouch can wave good-bye to any thoughts of an England call-up. Infact i will go as far as to say Demba Ba has more chance of playing for England.”
by Mike173765
Saturday, December 10 2011, 6:50PM
“Soccerfoot you keep saying that we don't score but we're 10th at the moment, possibly higher tomorrow. Not bad for a team not scoring. I dont mind winning 1 - 0 whenever we do get a win. I've been impressed with Crouch thus far, however I think the service to him hasn't been up to scratch and needs to improve for him to score more. He isnt a player who can run 40 yards and smash the ball into the top corner, he needs good deliveries from our wide men and walters. I hope Delap doesnt play tomorrow as I would like to see Whitehead and Wheelan again, who were impressive against Everton. Palacious still isnt match fit but will be good to see him at 100%. Really hope Wilko is fit tomorrow, if Bale plays he will destory woody or huth at RB”