Please Rafa....

[lfc4ever]

Kuyt is good enough. Myself I think Bellamy also is, and he really should have been on the pitch for the last 20 mins. Crouch.... I'm afraid against the best teams he always comes up a bit lacking. However, I don't see the strikers as the real issue. We seriously lack that one genuinely class attacking midfiled player to create something special, and until we get that player sorted, our forwards will always be feeding off scraps in these games.

Been shouting for flair for ages, supply & service to our front men is garbage, utter, utter garbage, we have no-one that jinks a man and lays it on a plate for the strikers, they always have to work hard to create goals, which can't be done match in - match out.

[kopdan]

Kuyt needs a partner

He was sat on the bench for 90 minutes

[REDSCOUSER]

Kuyt needs a partner

He was sat on the bench for 90 minutes

happy new year dan
what do you think of our other strikers this season ? leaving KUYT aside as he's proved his worth

[Kopite_Colin]

Kuyt needs a partner

He was sat on the bench for 90 minutes

And that's where he needs to stay as 4th striker if we're ever going to compete for the top prizes again. That's why we need 2 goalscoring strikers.

[kopdan]

Bellamy has been stop start stop start but he has started to look a threat when playing with Kuyt.

Fowler...well he's a great trainer but isnt good enough to make an impact in the premiership. Just the way it is.

Crouch has scored goals but done very little else. His heading is poor which has cost us games but I said when we signed him his greatest strength was ball on the deck which he keeps showing. Its a shame he isnt quick as he would be great.

As individuals, the lads are fine. All with their own qualities but as a pairing? I cant find one that really stands out apart from Kuyt and Bellamy.

I am starting to think selling Crouch is the way to go and letting Robbie go. Bring in two others.

[Kloppster]

Bellamy has been stop start stop start but he has started to look a threat when playing with Kuyt.

Fowler...well he's a great trainer but isnt good enough to make an impact in the premiership. Just the way it is.

Crouch has scored goals but done very little else. His heading is poor which has cost us games but I said when we signed him his greatest strength was ball on the deck which he keeps showing. Its a shame he isnt quick as he would be great.

As individuals, the lads are fine. All with their own qualities but as a pairing? I cant find one that really stands out apart from Kuyt and Bellamy.

I am starting to think selling Crouch is the way to go and letting Robbie go. Bring in two others.

I also think that Crouch should go, if only to free up a slot for a natural goal poacher (who can head a ball). I'd like to see Fowler stay on with backroom staff to work with the likes of Bellamy and any youngsters we can bring forward over next couple of seasons.

[Kopite_Colin]

Bellamy has been stop start stop start but he has started to look a threat when playing with Kuyt.

We DO look better with Kuyt & Bellamy - but for me Bellamy simply isn't good enough if we are compete at the highest level. He simply doesn't score enough goals.

Fowler...well he's a great trainer but isnt good enough to make an impact in the premiership. Just the way it is.

Whole-heartedly agree - he sinply isn't good enough anymore.

Crouch has scored goals but done very little else. His heading is poor which has cost us games but I said when we signed him his greatest strength was ball on the deck which he keeps showing. Its a shame he isnt quick as he would be great.

I agree he's better on the deck, but he isn't quick enough and doesn't score enough (or the simple) goals.

As individuals, the lads are fine. All with their own qualities but as a pairing? I cant find one that really stands out apart from Kuyt and Bellamy.

I agree - but that's indicative of the poor quality we have.

I am starting to think selling Crouch is the way to go and letting Robbie go. Bring in two others.

Agree completely. And bring them in NOW, not the summer.

[REDSCOUSER]

Two more strikers look likely Dan, agree.
As I said before the Crouch rumours aren't just that. Maybe Rafa is figuring out that he's not what cracked up to be.
I'll take Villa & maybe give a young lad a chance to prove himself.

[kopdan]

Darren Bent?

[Rosco]

I do. Rafa has a way of getting the players he want. Even if Valenthia wanted 20-25£m, think we'll get him.

[Kopite_Colin]

I'm still not convinced about Darren Bent. For me he's at the top end of the Bellamy category of quality. Not top notch. But he HAS done it (10 goals I think) for the 2nd consecutive season in the Prem in an awful Charlton side who are not creating chances. If we were to get him for £6-7m (i.e. what we paid for Crouch) I might take him as 3rd striker. But we still need a top quality partner for Kuyt. Bent offers more than Bellamy as he has similar pace, better physical presence, scores more goals, and doesn't have dodgy knees.

[kopdan]

who then?

realistically

[fatistuta]

I think Bellamy is the man to partner Kuyt.
I'm sure Rafa thinks the same.

It all comes down to whether you think it's worth risking losing Bellamy for another five games with an injury or not.

To use Bellamy to his full effect we would need to draw Arsenal out to create space behind.

That's something we never did in 90 mins.

Arsenal however are masters of it. (they fail to win some games through the same thing though)

[tomasjj]

huntelaar perhaps?
or is that 4-5 mill more than bent?

I reckon podolski is out of reach.
I liked that nelson valdez guy, paraguayan who plays in germany.

[tomasjj]

I think Bellamy is the man to partner Kuyt.
I'm sure Rafa thinks the same.

It all comes down to whether you think it's worth risking losing Bellamy for another five games with an injury or not.

To use Bellamy to his full effect we would need to draw Arsenal out to create space behind.

That's something we never did in 90 mins.

Arsenal however are masters of it. (they fail to win some games through the same thing though)

your 90 minute comment made me think, maybe the tempo in the PL makes it hard for us to play rafa style domination possesion footy for more than 20 minutes at the time, then we have to sit back and relax a bit, letting the other team into the game. Without bellers that is hard, cause we dont have speed to counter with when we have to soak it up.