FAN SCENE: Looks like Peter Crouch off from Liverpool

May 9 2008 Sam Johnstone

ONE game left, but I’ll hold off the season review until next week.

This weekend’s finale against Tottenham is something of a damp squib, but at least it gives Rafa the opportunity to blood some more of the youngsters, and put a couple of players in the shop window.

There’s already talk of transfer targets, with the likes of Barry, Abidal and Alves leading the list, but it’s clear that the boss will have to let a few lads go in order to strengthen his squad for the next campaign.

The signs were ominous for some players when they didn’t join the traditional lap of honour following last weekend’s victory over Manchester City.

Of all the lads supposedly on their way, I’d be sorry to see Peter Crouch leave.

Crouchy gives us so much, but his feelings about lack of games are understandable. When Rafa signed Torres, it was obvious that Peter wasn’t going to be playing week in, week out, but he has still done a great job when he has played.

Rafa’s preferred system doesn’t suit two strikers, and if we’re honest, it’s this new formation that has seen us have an excellent end to the League campaign.

Crouchy is well liked by supporters, but there have been little murmurs of discontent, similar to those surrounding Michael Owen a few years ago, that Crouch seems more bothered about his England place than doing his best for the Liverpool squad. If that is true, then the lad should move on. He would be a regular for many Premier League teams, but he should also consider that he would be leaving a very special club.

Positively, there seems to be a decent amount of talent being nurtured by Gary Ablett in the reserves.

The victory against Villa in the national final was as comprehensive as it gets, even though Kevin MacDonald’s brummie second string looked like scoring on a number of occasions.

A few of the youngsters have forced their way into Rafa’s plans this season, and it would be great to see them join the first team squad permanently. The likes of Plessis and Insua seem shoe-ins, while Brouwer, Nemeth, El Zhar and Pacheco look like they can make the grade as well.

The more traditional of fans will welcome this as much as a major signing from outside the club, showing as it does the structure of the club as a whole is strong.

You would hope that the manager plays a few of the youngsters this Sunday. They played really well all season, and look like they can hold their own; take a look at Villa’s line up for the Play-off final, and compare it with ours in terms of experience.

There’s a lot to be sorted over the weeks following our last match, not least the backroom nonsense, but we can only stay positive for the next campaign.

One thing will change, though. The demise of Steven Kelly’s Through the Wind and Rain is a blow to those supporters who relied on the fanzine for a crucial link to the Liverpool Way.

It was brilliantly funny at times, scorchingly honest always, but you can understand Big Ed’s decision to fold. Cheers TTWR, you were a beacon of truth and honesty over the last twenty years.

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