As cult heroes go Peter Crouch will rightfully take his place alongside the likes of Joey Jones, Erik Meijer and Igor Biscan but as well as being loved by the fans, Crouch could and definitely still can play a bit.
It looks now inevitable having agreed terms with Portsmouth that the 6ft 7" striker, who would be an even richer man if he had a penny for every article that mentioned his height, is on his way out of Anfield after three years at the club in which he has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe.
Now laugh you may at that statement above but Crouch was one of the top scorers in the 2006/07 Champions League and has an excellent record at international level having hit 14 goals in 28 internationals, a goal every other game at that level is not something to be sniffed at and he's proven himself against some of the best defenses in Europe.
Ultimately it is unfortunate that Crouch happened to be around when Liverpool have on their books the best striker in Europe and possibly the world in Fernando Torres and a system that involved just one striker with support from midfield in the shape of Steven Gerrard.
Crouch proved an able and goal scoring deputy when called upon last season and Rafa wanted to keep him but ultimately he was not content with playing a bit part. That's fair enough given his astonishing progress since arriving at Anfield from Southampton in 2005 for £7m a fee that raised eyebrows at the time.
But no one is aruguing with the £11m Harry Redknapp is now shelling out for the man he worked with at St Mary's.
Crouch leaves Anfield with the best wishes of the fans who have backed him all the way even in those difficult first few months where a much publicised goal drought spanning 19 games would have got the better of lesser men. But he eventually found his goal scoring touch and had a decent debut season that ended with a successful (on a personal level it has to be said) World Cup with England and the adulation of fans who fell in love with his robotics.....
Hard to believe the same England who lauded him for his goals and antics were the ones who booed him in his early outings in a white shirt.
Crouch finished top scorer in all competitions in 2006/07 including a memorable hat trick against Arsenal and scored 11 last season as a bit part player but we shall not forgot the contribution he has made these last three seasons and will forever remember goals like this...
Good luck big man.
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