Matt Crooks

Defender 4x4 said:
I see an player who scores a few goals. I also see player that offers very little physical presence for his size. I also see a player that really struggles to play a full 90 mins. Could take him or leave him.
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I maybe should dig out a little piece that I have never published - where I asked Carrick about Crooks.
Our manager doesn't normally like to single out indiviiduals but he was very happy to be glowing in his praise for Matt Crooks.

Anyone can start a rumour.
 
Scores goals but isn’t really suited for possession football, his goals and assists will make him valuable to someone, despite the flaws in his game.

I’d snap someone’s hands off for 2m and could be well reinvested in more technically sound players
 
BoroMart said:
Scores goals but isn’t really suited for possession football, his goals and assists will make him valuable to someone, despite the flaws in his game.

I’d snap someone’s hands off for 2m and could be well reinvested in more technically sound players
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Have you seen how often Jones, Silvera, Rogers and Greenwood give the ball away?

We developed our style with Crooks in and around the team, he creates goals because he doesn't give the ball away needlessly in the final third as much as others.
 
I agree , he doesn’t concede possession as much as the others and he has ‘good feet for a big man’ as they say.
He’s definitely worth keeping.
 
I think he looks fitter and more mobile this season as well, compared to last. I think he said himself he’d lost a few kgs over the summer.

A definite “keep” from me, as a squad player.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Have you seen how often Jones, Silvera, Rogers and Greenwood give the ball away?

We developed our style with Crooks in and around the team, he creates goals because he doesn't give the ball away needlessly in the final third as much as others.
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The difference between those three and crooks is they are still learning and crooks is fully developed. He isn’t going to improve that’s why I’m cool with him going and think it might be for the best.
 
Defender 4x4 said:
I see an player who scores a few goals. I also see player that offers very little physical presence for his size. I also see a player that really struggles to play a full 90 mins. Could take him or leave him.
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It amazes me when people talk about his physicality. For his size it is absolutely terrible.

He does have a value for us but if he has to be moved on then it is what it is. Chelsea look like they’re having to sell their best player this season, so that should give us an idea of what clubs are having to do financially. Even getting the £1m back would be helpful.
 
Paulroddam7 said:
Chelsea look like they’re having to sell their best player this season
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They’re looking to sell Gallagher as he is an academy product so balances out the FFP nicely.

Same reason Villa have been able to splash the cash freely in the last few years after selling Grealish for £100m+
 
AytonMews said:
They’re looking to sell Gallagher as he is an academy product so balances out the FFP nicely.

Same reason Villa have been able to splash the cash freely in the last few years after selling Grealish for £100m+
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Obviously it’s a much smaller scale for us but if we can book a bit of a profit from Crooks then it could be helpful. I’m just saying we might have to move players on we might not really want to but we have to create a bit of wiggle room somewhere.
 
If there is 10 mins to go and we are chasing an equaliser/winner there is no one with better movement, at finding space and attacking the right areas in the box in the whole squad.

For that alone he is worth keeping as a bench option even if he isn't a guaranteed starter.
 
I'd be gutted if Crooks left. Regardless of how good Azaz turns out to be, will he return the stats Crooks has for us?

As somebody has already said - he really is underrated.

Not that he's been playing in a number 10 role, but I'm personally hoping Greenwood is sent back to Leeds - Crooks and Azaz to fight out for number 10 role, and we bring in a better wide attacker than Greenwood.
 
Glover_elbow said:
Yes, i would really hope so
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Hopefully.

Looks pretty even to me as it stands with azaz slightly up but played 3 more games.

This season:

CROOKS: 3 goals 6 assists in 23

AZAZ: 5 goals 7 assists in 26

Not to forget crooks hit double figures in his first season with us.

Both good options :)
 
Criminally under rated it seems. Crooks gives 100% every game whether fit or not.

Has a great partnership with Jones who always seems to struggle when crooks is missing.

Score goals, good a retaining the ball in tight areas, gets assists.

You never know what you have got til its gone, imagine we didnt have Crooks this season we would have been circling the relegation positions. Fantastic signing and at the moment very much needed.
 
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