ASK CROUCHIE
Peter Crouch answers your questions, serious and funny, in his weekly column
WOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR ON-FIELD ‘CHAT’ WITH NO FANS IN GROUNDS — AND WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON FAKE CROWD NOISE? TIM CROOKS VIA TWITTER
I would, actually, Tim. Football isn’t a game for wallflowers. You will have played Sunday league, so let me ask: would you want your mum or your nan hearing some of the things that get shouted? Burnley boss Sean dyche told me he wasn’t too keen about the idea of having microphones near the technical areas, as he doesn’t hold back at times. I’d suggest, if you have the option, to keep the crowd noise on in the background if you are watching any games.
IT USED TO BE GREAT TO SEE YOU TALKING TO FANS IN CRICHTON’S BAR IN LIVERPOOL BACK IN THE DAY. WAS GIVING TIME TO SUPPORTERS IMPORTANT TO YOU? MARK GLEDHILL VIA EMAIL
IF you saw me in Crichton’s, Mark, you will have seen me enjoying myself!
Seriously, though, I have tried to engage with fans. So long as the time and situation are right, I will never not have a conversation if someone wants to ask me something.
I always think back to when I was a kid and how I felt when I got to meet a footballer.
I’d never want to disappoint anyone or let them down. whether it is just a picture or a few minutes of conversation, I’ll do my best. You’re right — it is important to me.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TRANMERE BEING RELEGATED AFTER A VOTE BY RIVAL LEAGUE ONE CLUBS? MAC COLUMBO VIA TWITTER
IT’S dreadful, Mac. Yes, Tranmere had been through a difficult time but they had got some momentum before the season was curtailed and would have been confident of getting the points they needed to stay up.
They are a good side at that level and play attractive football. There was nothing cut and dried about their situation and it’s disgraceful that it has come to this for them.
would this have been allowed to happen in the Premier league? No. So why should it happen in league one?
WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST THING YOU’VE EVER HEARD A MANAGER UNINTENTIONALLY SAY? PAUL DONNELLY VIA EMAIL
well, Paul, when Tony Adams took over as Portsmouth manager in 2008, I got an idea of what it would have been like to have him as my captain.
He had been Harry Redknapp’s assistant but was promoted to manager after Harry moved to Tottenham.
Tony was desperate to succeed and before his first match, he gathered the squad together in the dressing room.
You could see how much it meant to him as he began to speak and his words were emotional and rousing.
‘Now go out there and do it!’ he shouted, as he finished his speech. He turned on his heels and walked out, slamming the door for effect. with him out of the room, everyone started looking at each other, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, the door opened. It was Tony (right).
‘Forgot to tell you the team, didn’t I?’ he said. He hadn’t been aiming for laughs but, I promise you, that punchline had us roaring!
DO YOU FOLLOW ANY NON-LEAGUE CLUBS? PETER NEEDHAM VIA EMAIL
I do, Peter. As much as I enjoyed going to see Fleetwood (Abbey’s brother, Sean, used to play for them before they climbed the pyramid) and Hayes and Yeading, there is only one team for me — dulwich Hamlet. I’ve never lost my affection for them since my spell on loan as a kid.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU PLAYED WITH WHO DIDN’T MAKE IT TO THE LEVEL YOU EXPECTED? LOUIS WIGGETT VIA EMAIL
THERE are so many, louis, I could devote a full page to the names. I’ve seen so many kids who look like world-beaters at 16 but by the time they reach 18, things have changed and they don’t train on. It can be anything — mentality, an injury or they have lost an edge physically.
leon Jeanne, who I knew at QPR, looked like he could go far but it never happened.
The most surprising one, though, was Michael Standing. He was at Brighton with Gareth Barry and went to Aston Villa at the same time as him.
Michael had been held in high regard in the england youth teams we played in and it looked like he was going to have a top career but, unfortunately, he just faded. It had nothing to do with attitude or doing anything wrong. Just one of those things.
YOU PLAYED FOR A LOT OF CLUBS — BUT WHO DO YOU SUPPORT NOW YOU’VE RETIRED? STEVEN IVES VIA EMAIL
IT’S not an easy question to answer, Steven. Chelsea were my team as a kid, but I lost all my feeling for them when I started going back as a player and got relentless stick from their fans.
So supporting Chelsea after I finished was never really an option for me.
You might laugh but I have three teams. I imagine I’m going to take my boys to QPR when they are older, as it is not too far for us. The other two are liverpool and Tottenham, the two clubs where I had my happiest times as a player.
OF THE PLAYERS YOU PLAYED WITH, WHO HAD THE HARDEST SHOT? JACK COWBURN VIA EMAIL
I’ll give you two, Jack. Both were from my days at Aston Villa — Thomas Hitzlsperger and Joey Gudjonsson.
Thomas was nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ because of his left foot and Joey was equally ferocious with his right.
At the end of training, all they wanted to do was hit the ball as hard as they possible could.
In some ways, they were like golfers who go to the range just to hit a driver and see how far the ball would travel. when they caught it right, the shot would never change direction and fly like a bullet.
until next time, stay safe.