Ask Crouchie! Peter Crouch answers more of your questions in our weekly column
There’s not much longer to wait now!
The Premier League makes its return on Wednesday night after almost three months away, with football in England getting going again after Germany, Spain and Italy.
And there’s certainly plenty to discuss. Sportsmail‘s resident columnist Peter Crouch has been answering some of your questions that have got him thinking most this week.
Peter Crouch answers your questions as part of a weekly series here for Sportsmail
If you were Jurgen Klopp who would you try to sign? Would they stand any chance of prising Kevin De Bruyne from City?
Luke Winterburn via email
Oh Luke, what a joy that would be! If Liverpool signed De Bruyne, they would win the Premier League, the Champions League and the Grand National next year. Maybe if we all throw £10 in, we will raise enough money to make it happen!
The thing with Liverpool is that they really don’t need much. Michael Edwards, their sporting director who I knew from my time at Portsmouth, has overseen an incredible recruitment drive.
Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne would be a dream signing for everyone – even Liverpool
Liverpool don’t just have good players – they have good characters too and the training ground is harmonious.
They won’t stand still this summer and they will keep evolving. The front three is good enough to be left alone but maybe they need something in midfield.
If it was me, maybe N’Golo Kante would fit right in. I’d even bring Philippe Coutinho back, so long as he knew he would be a squad player.
Crouch believes Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante would fit perfectly into Liverpool’s midfield
Did you enjoy your time at Aston Villa and how did it help your career progress?
Gerald Mansfield via email
That’s a great question, Gerald. Aston Villa are like the forgotten team from my career but they had a huge role in my development.
I have so much to thank Graham Taylor and the only thing was he believed in me too early — I simply wasn’t ready for the Premier League back then.
I have never regretted signing for Villa and I made friends for life at the club. I still speak to people such as Dion Dublin, Gareth Barry and Lee Hendrie all the time.
It’s nearly 20 years since I moved to Birmingham but I still have great affection for the place. I really hope your boys stay up.
Crouch scores for Aston Villa in a Premier League match against Newcastle back in April 2002
Did you ever envisage being a manager or pundit at the end of your career?
Eddie Sluce via email
I kind of fell into media work. I started doing this column while I was still a player and did a book, as well as my podcast, and things took off from there. TV work still allows me to be around the game.
But I have done my coaching badges and thing that always nags away at me is the sense of missing being around a team.
You go through so much together as a group and when you achieve something special, the feeling is what football is all about.
Did you or your old team-mates have any mad superstitions?
Paul Brown via Twitter
Prepare to be enlightened, Paul. I was more superstitious than you could imagine.
For starters, I always had to wear long sleeves. I switched from short sleeves when I moved to Portsmouth from QPR and when I started well, I couldn’t change. Even on hot days, I would roll them up.
I also had a routine that I did before every game. After the pre-match handshake, I would break away, run for three steps then do a header.
I would then run for another three steps and clap the crowd before bending down to tie my right boot.
It was always in the back of my mind – a little fear, almost – that if I had my first touch, my right boot would fly off so I always made sure I tied that one tighter. I did that sequence for as long as I can remember.
Crouch plays without his boot during a Champions League match for Liverpool in 2006
If you could go back in time and play in any match, which would it be and why?
William Sanderson via email
There are two, William. I lost a Champions League final in 2007, so I would put things right and go back to 2005.
I would love to come on as a substitute at half-time in Istanbul and be part of the most incredible European Cup final of all time between Liverpool and AC Milan.
My other choice would be the European Championship final of 2000. It was settled by a Golden Goal from David Trezeguet, for France against Italy.
Could you imagine being the man to win a tournament with the last kick? What a feeling that would be.
Steven Gerrard lifts the trophy after Liverpool’s miraculous comeback in the 2005 final
David Trezeguet celebrates his golden goal winner for France in the final of Euro 2000
What is the daftest — or maddest — reason for you or a team-mate getting a fine?
Rick Mackay via email
Well, Rick, there are plenty to pick from. There was a team-mate who said he was late for training because his electric gates wouldn’t open.
When he turned up in the car that he said was stuck — and that fact was pointed out to him — he couldn’t argue!
The maddest, however, was during a youth team training session. We had a player whose temperament was holding him back and a coach wanted to help him get past it.
So in this practice game, the coach was tackling the player, ruffling him up, generally being a nuisance.
It was all about getting the player to hold his temper and stay cool. One kick too many, though, and he turned around and cracked the coach, knocking him spark out. All those who saw it were open-mouthed in disbelief!
Did you follow a strict diet during your career or could sneak a few treats in?
Eammon Greene via Twitter
It was to a lot of my team-mates frustration, Eammon, that I could eat what I wanted and it never made a difference.
Nutritionists would encourage me to eat fatty food so I could put weight on and turn it in to muscle, so I didn’t have to keep things in check.
I did it properly, of course, but if I wanted a curry or a pizza on a Saturday night or I fancied a bag of crisps or chocolate during the week, nothing ever stopped me.
Even after a summer break, I would never come back and worry about standing on the scales.
Les Ferdinand, seen here with Gary Pallister in the 1996 Charity Shield, was amazing in the air
Other than you, who was the best header of a football you have ever seen?
Jack Cowburn via email
The man for this award, Jack, is Les Ferdinand. People thought he was 6ft 4in the way he could jump up and hang in the air; the power and direction and timing he got was impeccable and he was someone that I tried to study.
We also need to mention Duncan Ferguson, Dion Dublin and Niall Quinn here; Niall, in particular, was underrated in terms of what he could do – it was like he had a cushion on his head, the way he could lay off high balls for Kevin Phillips. Nobody, however, was better than Les.
Any chance you’ll play again?
Liam Wraith and Ronnie McDowall, both via Twitter
Well, Liam and Ronnie, you’ve got me dreaming again. If the phone rang and someone made an offer, I would be back in a flash.
If it was right for me and right for the club, it would be perfect. You should never say never, gentlemen! Stay safe, everyone. It’s time for the games to begin.
