Last update: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 11:18:39 PM
If the reports are to be believed, Graham Taylor and John Deehan watched Peter Crouch score in a 1-1 between Crewe and Portsmouth. Could he be Taylor's first signing? Villa Views investigates... Within no more than two hours of Graham Taylor's appointment as Aston Villa manager, it was my brother who exclaimed to me "You watch, we'll sign Ian Ormondroyd mark II" .
While a managerial appointment normally brings a barrage of links to players, news about Villa has been thin on the ground. However, the strongest link to a player since Taylor has returned appeared over the weekend, and appears to be gathering speed.
Peter Crouch, the man who bares more than a slight resemblence to Rodney Trotter of 'Only Fools and Horses' fame, is the man in question.
With nothing better to do on an empty Saturday afternoon, Graham Taylor and John Deehan are reported to have taken a trip to Gresty Road, home of Crewe, to watch the six foot seven giant score in the 1-1 draw.
Crouch is only twenty years old, and is only in his second full season of professional football. He broke onto the scene during the 00/01 season for Queens Park Rangers when he scored 10 goals in 42 games.
This season, Crouch has scored 19 goals so far in a troubled season for Portsmouth, the team he joined in August 2001 for £1.25 Million. Peter has played for the England Under-20 team and has become a firm favourite with the Fratton Park crowd.
It looks like Portsmouth would be happy to sell if the price was right, as not only have they just signed another striker in former West Ham striker Svetoslav Tordorov, but have recently put a huge 16 players on the transfer list in order to cut down the wage bill.
If Villa are to continue playing the long ball system they do at the moment, whether you like it or not, then you have to say that Peter Crouch might be the ideal man to bring in.
John Cresswell,
Villa Views.
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