Outstanding performance but how bad was Crooks when he came on ?

I think long term Crooks will have a problem, as there is no longer an obvious place in the side for him. There is not a chance in a million years he will get in ahead of Howson or Hackney any more, barring suspension or injury and he is not technically good enough to play off the striker.

I get the impression he is one of the senior players and leaders in the dressing room though so they are trying to keep him involved. If we get in a better option than McGree in January to play his role Crooks will pushed even further down the pecking order too.
 
davidmills said:
Looks absolutely miles off it.
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I'm sure the hernia situation isn't helping and maybe he isn't doing all the training sessions right now to manage it. But I'm not sure he has the technical foundations to play the way we are playing now. Wouldn't be surprised to see him move on in the summer for a healthy profit
 
The Card Cheat said:
He had a very good season for us last year. Even by the harshest of standards, no one could say he was poor.
Unless they were the sort of person who actually feels better when they've got someone to criticise.
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First half of the season he was excellent, but his form dipped badly second half
 
Not sure he fits the style anymore to be honest. He's decent with the ball but Carrick expects a much higher tempo in the final third.

At his peak under Wilder last season, linking up with Jones, he looked good but the build up was quite studious - time on the ball and accurate passes. I think Carrick will favour one touch around the box and I'm not convinced his touch or vision are quite good enough.
 
BoroMart said:
First half of the season he was excellent, but his form dipped badly second half
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The whole side dipped badly. Why Crooks is highlighted is because his goals dried up, and he was the one who was scoring them. The defence were porous, the midfield struggling to compete, the attack barely visible.
 
Yeah I felt the same, doesn’t look right in a passing side does he. I’m sure the break will do him good, we need to find a way for him to be a threat in the box without causing us issues outside of it.
 
Funky_Chicken said:
I don’t see the point in slagging off Crooksy who is playing with a hernia, especially when we’ve just won 3-0 - the lad cost peanuts and was close on player of the season for us last year. He will come good for us again when he gets over his hernia op I’m sure, which needs doing as soon as possible
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No way he should be even playing with a hernia. If it is a hernia issue its making me rather irritated that he is still being put out there frankly. Get him operated on now.

The fact that he hasn't suggests it may be something else.
 
If I can take one thing from this thread, it is that no matter what the situation or result, some Boro fans will always look to seek the negatives.

I get the intention of discussion around Crooksy et al, but I think a better argument is to see what Carrick can do with each individual over the course of the season, rather than judging after 4 games and for some 5-10 minute cameo appearances.

Did you see Carrick speaking with each player whilst clapping the fans last night, he obviously has a man-management plan set out and so far it seems to be paying dividends. Lets judge the likes of Muniz, Crooks and even McGree at the end of the year when a lot more training and match's have been completed.
 
I think it's more than just the goals. His energy levels seemed to plummet and he was exhausted after 60mins, maybe a covid hangover?!

Well said, Boromart.
Was thinking exactly the same. Add to that possibility, a hernia and problems of epilepsy, I think we should cut him some slack.
 
Oh well if its down to Covid, Hernia and Epilepsy lets just accept the fact that he's gona be shyte and keep playing him. :poop:
 
timetoretire said:
I think it's more than just the goals. His energy levels seemed to plummet and he was exhausted after 60mins, maybe a covid hangover?!

Well said, Boromart.
Was thinking exactly the same. Add to that possibility, a hernia and problems of epilepsy, I think we should cut him some slack.
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I'm not sure what problems the epilepsy causes him with regard to fitness and performance. When I have a seizure, I'm obviously scuppered during the grand mal and for the rest of that day, but generally fine after that. Until the next one.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
He's the new target it would appear. I thought he did ok too in a side with 5 changes. He was more involved than some on the pitch.
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I actually thought he looked fairly bright, more than he has recently.

The only one that worries me a bit is Muniz, his form has fallen off a cliff and with Crooks coming on before him I wouldn't be surprised to see him go back to Fulham during the window.
 
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