What would strengthen the image in my view, would be a slightly higher vantage point to get rid of the background feet.
I am about 5ft 8inches tall and I don't think I could double or treble might height to shoot from higher up. I have seen photographers with step ladders, but they are too heavy for me to carry around. Failing that there isn't anything else because the area around there is fairly flat. I think the background adds to the image and helps set the scene. With regards to cropping then the image had been cropped to take out as much clutter as possible. At the end of the day it is all about opinions?
