From Portsmouth’s 2-1 win over Stoke City today: the marking was not what you’d call “tight” or…um…”marking”, but still, seeing Peter Crouch score from an overhead kick is like watching Niagara Falls run upward. Terrified 1950s honeymooners run screaming, trying to put as much distance as they can between themselves and the monstrosity. A desire they apparently have in common with the Stoke City defense.
Read More: Peter Crouch, Portsmouth
by Brian Phillips · October 5, 2008
It would be like watching Niagara Falls run upward, unless he hadn’t already scored two overheads, just as good, for Liverpool. Once in the Premier League, once in the Champions League. It seems to be more or less his trademark.
I know, edmatic, it’s one of his best moves. And every time he does it—even when he only attempts it, as he did in the England-USA match this past spring—it’s like watching Niagara Falls run upward.
Fair enough.
I should write about this more clearly on the site, but…how amazing is it that the bicycle kick is one of his best moves? Here’s a 6’7″ player who really can’t head the ball well but somehow finds it perfectly intuitive to face away from the goal, fling his body into the air, and lash out at the ball with his foot as his torso is falling back to ground.
The YouTube clip I keep waiting to see is the one that combines Crouch’s highlight reel with the Kinks’ “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.”