Former Toon Striker Claims Crouch Could Be A Geordie Star!
Last updated : 08 June 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
Quinn was an old-fashioned centre-forward when he was at Newcastle back in the late 1980s and early 1990s ... with one style of play.
A cast off to the fifties, although saying that, Jackie Milburn or Les White had pace ... Mick had a fat arse and had to be carried into the penalty area!
Although Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool seem to get the best out of foreign talent, Mick suggests Newcastle stick with English.
Yes, listening to Mick is a culture shock. As it was during his time at St James' Park, when he told this reporter he had hopes of playing for Liverpool.
I told him it was not going to happen. And guess what ... it didn't.
Mick Quinn: "The worry is that you tend to have to pay over the top for English players, and £10 million seems to be what Liverpool want for Crouch.
"But he's an England international, and he's proven. Foreign players have got to get visas, bring their family over, find a house and settle in.
"That's before they've set foot on the pitch — and then the big question comes: can they settle as players in English football?
"Even the better ones can take a season to get to grips with things here, and plenty never do.
"Yes, your Man Uniteds, Arsenals and Liverpools have brought in guaranteed quality from abroad, but Newcastle aren't really in a position to do that.
"I would go with Crouchy. The little and large act has already worked up there with Mark Viduka as the focal point.
"When him, Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins were on the pitch at the back end of last season, Newcastle never lost.
"And Crouch is certainly capable of holding the ball up like Viduka, as well as winning plenty in the air — and scoring goals.
"Kevin going back to Newcastle came out of the blue, but as usual he has adapted pretty quickly and things came good towards the end of the season.
"The acid test though is who he can bring in this summer and whether he can get the club in the top eight next season.
"He needs backing, and if he doesn't get it then there'll be interesting times ahead, because one thing the fans in Newcastle don't want is mediocrity."