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Peter Crouch completes Harry Redknapp’s strike-force
Tom Collomosse28 Jul 2009
Harry Redknapp believes he now has the right blend of strikers at Tottenham after signing Peter Crouch from Portsmouth for £9million. The England international joins Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko at White Hart Lane, while Darren Bent is set to end his disappointing spell there with a move to Sunderland.
Not only does the transfer reunite Crouch with former Portsmouth boss Redknapp but also sees the 28-year-old again link up with Defoe after their successful partnership at Fratton Park. Redknapp, who is in China for the Barclays Asia Trophy, which gets under way tomorrow, is delighted with the options he now has in attack.
“Crouch gives us a bit of a different option,” said the Spurs boss. “We now have four top strikers which is what you need at every club and so I am delighted to have Crouchy.
“He is different to almost anyone else in the League in terms of his size and the way he plays the game, so I am pleased to have him. With him, Keane, Defoe and Pavlyuchenko we have a good strike-force.”
Redknapp said he thought Bent was “close to doing a deal with Sunderland” having been given permission to talk to the Wearsiders last night.
Signing Crouch appears to have accelerated Bent's departure, as Redknapp was told at the end of last season that he would have to sell before he could buy new players.
It is thought Spurs will receive around £12m for the striker, who cost £16.5m from Charlton in 2006.
Bent scored 17 times last season but had been keen to leave since it became clear midway through the campaign he was not part of Redknapp's long-term plans.
With Redknapp now happy with his options up front he may now switch his attention to a defence which has been ravaged by injuries in pre-season.
Injury-plagued Jonathan Woodgate is suffering from a groin problem while Michael Dawson damaged his Achilles and will miss the start of the season.
That leaves Redknapp's options limited with skipper Ledley King yet to kick a ball this summer while Pascal Chimbonda and Dorian Dervite struggled in central defence in the 2-0 defeat to Celtic in the Wembley Cup at the weekend.
“The defence has not improved,” said Redknapp, whose side face West Ham tomorrow. “We obviously have the injuries. Jonathan Woodgate has gone to America to see about his injury while Michael Dawson had an injection in his Achilles tendon.
“Hopefully he will be fit in about four weeks but it means he will miss the start of the season and therefore we are very much relying on Ledley.”
Reader views (17)
Sean - I'll believe you'll find it was Shaun who described Crouch as 'mighty'
Jamie - you describe someone as 'childish' and in the same breath say they have 'a small tool', and post as a stupid version of their name - I'm getting the impression that you don't understand irony too much...
- Joe, Romford, 29/07/2009 11:51
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Adrian, I'm sure you'd have PREFERRED Ronaldo, Kaka and Rooney - but that's not quite how it works, is it?
- Graeme, Hornchurch, England, 29/07/2009 09:42
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Crouch will be useful at the back too to deal with the set pieces that Spurs couldn't defend last season.
Thats what Harry means when he says he gives options.
- Kevin, London, 29/07/2009 09:31
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Ignore this stu fella he is a supposed hammer, So who rearly cares what he thinks.
He strikes me as a childish boy with a small tool,That seems to have no interest in his own club!
He will soon be back at school when the holidays finish.
Up the Crouch.
- Jamie, essex, 28/07/2009 21:33
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Stu you crack me up...mighty? Would love to have whatever your on! Crouch is an over-rated carthorse but hey you probably think he is world-class. Taxi for Harry...now!
- Sean, Cork, Ireland, 28/07/2009 21:21
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Stu, my beckton mate...
10 years ago this player sat behind me, when i was a season ticket holder...
He's ok, but could do with some other quality players..
- Adrian, london, 28/07/2009 17:54
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Crouch is a good player, as a player myself, he has his qualities, but would prefer Huntelaar,myself, better investment...
Funny, Harry Rebought all ex players, except for Palacios.
But Stu, this man said we needed 3 or 4 players to take us to the next level....Crouch is 1!
- Adrian, london, 28/07/2009 17:48
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Stu are you for real.
You signed off with these words
"Grow up or stop posting such utter snot."
Take a good look at your own posts!
A bit hypocritical me thinks.
- Jamie, essex, 28/07/2009 16:58
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Should have got Huntelaar, with the exception of Birmingham at home can't see us winning any of our first 6 games. As for the defence that should have been sorted months ago rather than 3 weeks before the big kick off.
Worrying times ahead (again)
- Cormac, whitstable, 28/07/2009 16:36
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Shaun, I'm on my way, you clearly need a dose
- Reality, heading to Swansea, 28/07/2009 16:13
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Jamie.
Thank you.
- Stu, Beckton, 28/07/2009 15:54
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I am very happy Peter Crouch has returned to Spurs.
We will show why we will be London"s top team.
"Come on you Mighty Spurs".
- Shaun J Gillespie, Swansea, 28/07/2009 15:19
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And you can't stop yourself can you Adrian? Will you ever learn?
- Stu, Beckton, 28/07/2009 14:11
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Jamie, whilst I think it's very flattering you can't stop thinking of me 24-7, I'm happily married.
To a girl.
Grow up or stop posting such utter snot.
- Stu, Beckton, 28/07/2009 14:10
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Well typical Harry don't want to work with new players, just the same old verb 'worked with him before' for that price and getting for Bent, Huntelaar and loan deals for snejder and maybe Robben...
We need a quality midfielder and centre half...
- Adrian, london, 28/07/2009 13:28
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No no. Darren is NOT what Sunderland need. And certainly not at that price!
Has anyone stopped to ask why Harry is so happy to let him go and swap him for a CHEAPER Crouch. Because of that flipping header he missed at the end of the season. He is missing something at the top level - guts, and confidence/focus.
The only thing you can rely on is that if we really need a goal, and he is 1-1 with goaly is final minute, he'll mess it up for sure.
- Alex, London, 28/07/2009 12:15
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Just waiting for more comments before i hit you all with my witty rib cracking remarks.
BIG CLUB TM
- Stu-Pid No Bubbles, Becton, 28/07/2009 11:46
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