STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Mame Biram Diouf of Stoke his hugged by Peter Crouch after an own goal by Jordy de Wijs of Hull during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Hull City at Bet365 Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Famed for his height, overhead kicks and robotic celebration, Peter Crouch will join the Clarets with a wealth of Premier League experience behind him. He’s journeyed all over the country, playing for Aston Villa, Southampton, Portsmouth, Tottenham & Liverpool before joining Stoke in 2011.
It’s an odd feeling as a Burnley fan to see Crouch sign for a club where fans once chanted “freak” at him in his first appearance at Turf Moor for Queens Park Rangers. (Source: I was there!)
Football fans are fickle though. Crouch has won many fans over since then, moving on to play in the UCL for Liverpool & Tottenham. He also has a great goal scoring record at international level for England. (42 caps/22 goals).
Crouch turned 38 yesterday, and will join ex-Stoke teammate Phil Bardsley provided the transfer goes ahead before the deadline today.
What’s interesting is that despite his incredible height, (6’7”/2.01m) Crouch has never been a physical player. His style has always been more about clever positioning and link-up play – he epitomises the cliché “good touch for a big man.”
So Burnley could well have signed a player who, especially since he’s unlikely to be in the starting XI, could prove useful for another couple of seasons.
I for one am happy to see Crouchy return to the Premier League. When asked what he would be if he wasn’t a footballer, Crouchy replied, “Single.” So it’s good to see him still in demand.
His footballing brain belongs at the top-level. It will be interesting to see if his robotic body still has what it takes.
