Originally Posted by jockser
Tomkins on Crouch with England ........
While my only concern is for Liverpool, if you look at Crouch's international record since his debut in May, it makes interesting reading, despite no goals in his four games. The two games he has started for his country both ended in wins; the two in which he came on saw England end up winning a game they were either losing or drawing when he arrived. Two of the three games in which he didn't feature at all ended with humiliating defeats.
The two games he has started for his country both ended in wins; the two in which he came on saw England end up winning a game they were either losing or drawing when he arrived. Two of the three games in which he didn't feature at all ended with humiliating defeats.
Meanwhile, England's scoring rate is far more impressive with Crouch in the team than without. The national team scores a goal, on average, every 30 minutes when he is on the pitch; it goes up to every 104 minutes – over three times as long – when he isn't.
Make of that what you will. It may just be luck, or coincidence. But if you are theEngland manager, you sit up and take note, despite what the baying fans might think."