Source: Eurosport
Hart full of admiration for Crouch
Portsmouth caretaker-manager Paul Hart always knew striker Peter Crouch would make it big, ever since he first saw him play as a 16-year-old.The beanpole forward's brace against Everton at Fratton Park on Saturday helped edge Pompey three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone as the home side produced a battling display which will be needed for the rest of the season if they are to beat the drop.Crouch, 28, came through the youth ranks at Tottenham before joining Queen's Park Rangers.Spells at Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich on loan, Southampton and a big money move to Liverpool - not to mention an appearance in the 2006 World Cup finals - all followed ahead of his return to Fratton Park last summer.Hart, though, got his first chance to see Crouch's raw talent in action while involved in the youth set-up at Nottingham Forest and admits the youngster "knocked my head off" with his unique style."I have seen Peter play since he was 16 years of age, so what he can do does not surprise me," said Hart, in charge of Pompey until the end of the season."I was academy manager at Nottingham Forest when Peter was coming through, so we used to play against him and I was told 'you are going to see something with this fella'."He was like he is now, gangly, and it takes a bit of time to get used to him, but once you see through that initial view, he knocked my head off, even at a young age."He was more than just a 6ft 5ins guy who could head it, he could really get hold of the ball."Hart maintained: "I might have only had him for five games, but Peter has got more to offer than just smacking balls into the box at him."Peter brings people into play, he gets hold of the ball and plays at the sharp end. I have got nothing but admiration for him."While Crouch has not featured as an established member of Fabio Capello's new-look England, Hart sees no reason why the 31-capped, 14 goal international striker should not again soon be back playing for his country."Peter's record for England stands against anybody's and he is back in a rich vein again now," said Hart. "He is getting the goals which his efforts deserve."Despite their win on Saturday - which inflicted only a second defeat on Everton in 19 games - Hart knows Pompey's work is far from done."Everybody in the squad is just getting their heads down and trying to get out of his mess," he said."We are just determined to focus on each game as it comes, and must not get too far ahead of ourselves."Hart maintained: "If we take the foot off the pedal in this relegation battle, we will get a rude awakening."If you do not give each team the respect they deserve, and think you can just waltz around, then you will get your backsides felt."There will be no complacency from us because we cannot afford any."[LNB]
