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Peter Crouch says his status as an England squad regular proves he was right to join Tottenham, even though his manager Harry Redknapp recently called him an "idiot".
Sunderland, Fulham and Aston Villa were among a host of clubs vying for his signature before he moved to White Hart Lane in July.
Crouch has begun only five League matches this season, yet is battling with Emile Heskey for a starting berth alongside Wayne Rooney on the international stage. Both Heskey and Carlton Cole are injured, leaving Crouch a chance to impress against Brazil on Saturday and the former Liverpool striker believes he owes that opportunity to his move to north London.
"My role in the England squad vindicates my decision to join Tottenham," he said. "My mind was pretty much made up when I got the call from Harry. Tottenham were a team moving forward."
Crouch wants to keep a low profile for the rest of the season, to give himself the best chance of making South Africa, after being pictured looking dishevelled in a London nightclub last month.
England coach Fabio Capello is known as a disciplinarian, so the 28-year-old will not be taking any more chances. "It won't happen again," Crouch said. "Harry said 'you're an idiot, move on'."
Glen Johnson was not among the travelling party that flew to Doha this morning after picking up an injury in Liverpool's draw with Birmingham on Monday.
Reader views (12)
I had a real giggle when Tottenham sold Bent, consistently their top scorer & now banging goals in for Sunderland, one of Tottenham's main contenders for a europa league place next season. Then the signed the beanpole Crouch, who was woeful against Arsenal in the recent 3-0 defeat. If Im not incorrect he has an awesome premier league scoring rate for Tottenham of 1 solitary league goal to date! Oh yes Darren Bent has scored 8 goals in 12 appearance for Sunderland!
- Rob Gooner, North London, 12/11/2009 11:21
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I'm a gooner but I'm not biased. Defoe is a top striker, Bent wasn't bad and, on his day, Robbie Keanne can be a handful. But 'Rodney' Crouch? He's average. Spurs a top team? Not this century; they haven't been in the top four for years. They are....average. Denial isn't helpful. If anything it makes Spurs supporters feel worse. The club has been mismanaged at board level for years. Rose tinted spectacles anyone?
- Gaz, london, 11/11/2009 18:09
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Scream and shout at each other but, Crouch is a great asset to have. Strangely enough he is not the greatest in the air, has his moments i.e. flick on's, nod downs and really pisses of the defenders. I find that nobody takes his footwork seriously until it is to late. I mean this even when they know what he can do?
- Colin Stevens, USA, 11/11/2009 16:24
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Gaz another gooner that's crawled out of the woodwork. Arsenal's wheels will come off in the winter as usual, no silverware again and this is a top team!
- Nick Collins, LOS ANGELES, 11/11/2009 15:46
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Rob, what planet are you from?
- Annoyed, The City, 11/11/2009 14:31
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Crouch has won nothing. Top player? Rednapp has won the FA cup once. Top manager? Spurs last won the title BEFORE England won the World Cup and have never qualified for the Champion's league. Top team? Facts not opinions.
- Gaz, london, 11/11/2009 14:03
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I suppose Crouch was picked to play for England by an average manager as well? Capello is the greatest manager of his generation, I think I'll go with his opinion over yours.
Also spurs are an average side? Meaning that there are only 3 "top" sides in the supposed "greatest league in the world" and everyone else according to you are either "average" or just "poor".
Oh Dear
- Sf, UK, 11/11/2009 13:45
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Crouch a top striker - on current form even Bent is playing better football - truth is we dont have the wealth of talent up front and Crouch is in there because of circumstance not because he is somehow a top striker -a few examples of players who are at the top + Spurs or England would have in the team ahead of Crouch any day of the week - Ibrahimovic, Eto, Drogba, Torres, Anelka, Rooney, Messi, Tevez, Benzema, Adebayor, Van Persie, David Villa, Aguero .... next someone will say the robot goal celebration dance was top draw too - muppets!
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 11/11/2009 13:34
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As a Spurs fan, never fancied him when Harry decided to waste 8 Million on a player who couldn't command a place in the Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea, couldn't even get into the Liverpool team, Typical Harry buying these over rated Pomepey Players,i prefer Pav better tecnically and i can tell you Spurs haven't done well when Crouch started or even won many games. Pav and Bent were Spurs top scorers last season, now Bent gone and Pav getting the worst treatment since Hoddle done to Rebrov. At least Pav is a International, we weant them, but the ones who start, not subs...
Let's get reasonable ,we have Harry's old Pompey dead wood (except for Niko and Defoe), hoping he don't get James, then we are in trouble..
Harry's man management is not good, Look at Bale, Hutton, Roman, Dos Santos, shame too many Coaches and not enough quality coaches.....to produce quality players
- Adrian, london, 11/11/2009 13:33
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Rob, I'm not sure you understand the use of the word top?!! Top Striker, Top Manager, Top Team. Does top mean overrated, not delivered on the big stage or just aveage perhaps????
- Jk, UK, 11/11/2009 12:47
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Crouch is a top striker. He signed for a top manager and plays for a top team, a player of his ability would always be in the England team. Owen not good enough for England way past his best, and who does that leave Defoe definatly England material, Rooney goes without saying, Heskey not good enough by a long way, and Carlton Cole do me a favour worst English striker for 2 decades.
- Rob, London, 11/11/2009 11:56
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Crouch is an average player. He was signed by an average manager and plays for an average team. In good times, a player of his limited ability, wouldn't play for England. Remember a fit Owen? Or Shearer? Or Lineaker?
- Gaz, london, 11/11/2009 10:44
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