The stats don't lie. Peter Crouch scores goals for club and country, worryingly more so for the indefinitely-rested England team. Yet many people believe he isn't much kop (excuse the pun) and I'm still as yet undecided. When Liverpool signed him, I have to admit that I was shocked - what did Rafa Benitez see in the big, gangly forward that most Liverpool fans didn't?

For starters, Crouchy is a handful for any defender if only down to his height. At 6ft 7in, he is always going to cause problems for defences, even if his heading is a little suspect. And people continually rave about him having such a good touch.

I may be mistaken, but is there a scale that illustrates height versus ball control that has eluded me? Just because he is tall, does not mean he should suddenly operate as 'donkey-like' as he looks. Yes, he has a good touch but nobody ever says Shaun Wright-Phillips has a great shot for a person so small.

'I would prefer to see Crouch as an impact substitute, rather than starting games against teams who have sussed the ''knockdown to midfielder'' tactics'


Then there is Crouch's ability to bring others into play. It is clear that Steven Gerrard thrives from the knockdowns, but surely this creates a one-dimensional way of playing. Think back to when England lost to Croatia last month. The ball was lumped to Crouch and the defenders who were not challenging for the ball, just focused on Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wright-Phillips and forgot about the ball completely for those few seconds.

These long-ball knockdowns create a mammoth problem for Liverpool, it's what I call Jamie Carragher Syndrome. It may sound ridiculous, but the next time you get the chance to watch Liverpool play, watch Carragher around the half-way line looking to play a pass. He looks up, sees Crouch standing near the opposite corner of the penalty area, and lumps a floated pass up to him which has "deal with that big guy" all over it.

And it's starting to affect fellow defenders. John Arne Riise (who has been shocking this season) is also primed for a long, floated and aimless pass in the direction of Crouch, as is Fabio Aurelio. Benitez must see this as a problem and should tell defenders to avoid these tactics unless Liverpool are chasing a goal in the last few minutes. 

Crouch is a decent footballer and is fairly unique. I said early on in his Liverpool career that I would prefer to see him as an impact substitute, rather than starting games against teams who have sussed  the 'knockdown to midfielder' tactics usually enforced when he is on the pitch. Due to England's lack of depth in the hitman department, Crouch has been elevated to a level of importance that is undeserved. He may score goals against Jamaica but not against half-decent defences like those in the Premier League.

I like him as a player, he provides an option that is unrivalled throughout the Premier League and he can be handy in front of goal. I do have issues with the way he makes the team play when he is included, and this applies to both Liverpool and England. However, he will never fill the role to which I feel he is best suited, as an impact sub. 

Should Liverpool sell him? Again, a tough one. The media is speculating that he will be off to Newcastle, Manchester City or even Juventus in January, so Liverpool could make around £12m and sign another 'big strong guy' who isn't so fragile and who has more pace. We could also keep him and play him against teams who are not as big, strong and clever as our main rivals.