Post match wash-up/reaction/moan thread

[Neil Young]

Bergkamp's a different type player though, surely ?

Kuyt was supposed to be THE elusive goalscorer for this season.

By no means would I claim to be an expert on the Dutch League (or any other) but I knew when Kuyt arrived that he wasn't "THE elusive goalscorer" (for this or any other season). At Valencia Rafa had a team which scored goals from all over the pitch and didn't have a twenty goals a season striker. Naturally he might well like one and perhaps he thinks it's more important in England than in Spain but I seriously doubt he saw Kuyt as the man to do that.

Of course other people might be disappointed with Kuyt's goal tally but then maybe they just had totally unrealistic expectations based on hope rather than analysis of Kuyt's abilities and likely contribution in his debut season.

In short, if someone is disappointed with Kuyt they should maybe blame themselves rather than him. I believe he is an improvement on the strikers who were at the club. Is he as good as David Villa or Wayne Rooney? No. Few are.

Maybe this summer we can start signing players of that calibre.

[Red_Al_77]

Kuyt was poor today but I'd still keep him. I think we need a top class scorer and two wingers before we even think of getting in another expensive striker. Fowler to go and a top notch striker to come in.

[Sir Bob]

There are 11 Premiership games to go this season, he could easily score 4 or 5 from the remaining games. That would give him (if it happens) a tally of around 15 goals.

If that were to happen we would have to be happy with his contribution in his 1st season.

Yes but its more than the number of goals he scores, for me he's just not quite good enough. Hand on heart, would you say kuyt is in the top handful of strikers in the league, because I wouldn't, and you won't win the league until to we have a really top class forward.

[Kopite_Colin]

The root of the problem doesn't just lie with the strikers though - it's the service from the 2 wings which is also not up to scratch.

[rage]

did anybody really think we would win a game with zenden and pennant starting?
Clear as mud we need proven quality left back, a quality prospect right back to replace finnan in the long term, 2 quality wingers, minimum 2 proven strikers and a playmaker more consistant than garcia to unlock defenses like last week with everton. Then and only then will we be competing for the title.

[cobain]

All I can say is... and

[AFII]

Kuyt was poor today but I'd still keep him. I think we need a top class scorer and two wingers before we even think of getting in another expensive striker. Fowler to go and a top notch striker to come in.

---------------Reina
---Richards----Carra----Agger----
Alves-----Alonso--Mascherano----Lahm
------Gerrard--Klose--Villa

Would probably cost £70m-£80m to get that team.

[cobain]

did anybody really think we would win a game with zenden and pennant starting?
Clear as mud we need proven quality left back, a quality prospect right back to replace finnan in the long term, 2 quality wingers, minimum 2 proven strikers and a playmaker more consistant than garcia to unlock defenses like last week with everton. Then and only then will we be competing for the title.

Blimey, we need the whole new team then...

[Guest]

I think that we've been missing Stevie's goals this season. How much did he score last season ? Nearly 20 goals isn't it ... I haven't got the figures but he was our top scorer. This season he's played most of our matches in the centre and he's been having less freedom to roam on the pitch ... That's why Rafa is a big fan of him when he plays right wing. He's more effective scoring wise and we've missed that so much this season. That's the difference and that's why we're 16 points behind this season.

[Guest]

That's what Rafa had to say and echoes exactly my sentiments from this game really.

In the first half we should have been three or four nil up but we then conceded a stupid goal and a stupid penalty. It's difficult to explain how we got nothing from this match.

"We need to learn, when you create clear opportunities you need to take them and finish off the game.

"It's clear the conditions were not the best but I cannot complain about that because we dominated the first half. But we let them win the game in the second half.

[Sir Bob]

You say Drogba. Would you have said him a year ago?

No probably not, and if Kuyt turns it round as Drogba has done, then I'll be the first to admit I was wrong about Kuyt.

Its a big big season next year for Rafa. The yanks may not be so patient as Moores has been. we need to mount a serious title bid next season. Can kuyt help to deliver it, not in my book but i guess time will tell.

[rage]

Blimey, we need the whole new team then...

not a whole new team, but honestly look at it if we dream of winning the league then those are the areas we need to improve

[Kopite_Colin]

Sorry Frdeo mate but that's not true. SG's strike rate went up this season when he was moved into the middle when Momo was injured. Ironically, it's only been when Rafa's asked him to be more disciplined and hold behind Alonso recently that SG hasn't been getting forward as much.

[Guest]

Sorry Frdeo mate but that's not true. SG's strike rate went up this season when he was moved into the middle when Momo was injured. Ironically, it's only been when Rafa's asked him to be more disciplined and hold behind Alonso recently that SG hasn't been getting forward as much.

Stevie can't play with more freedom when he plays center midfield as he has to be more discipline. He scored 3 or 4 goals this season, hardly a great return compared to the past 2 seasons. Rafa plays him on the right because he has freedom to roam mate.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Need a goalscorer.

Kuyt, Crouch and Bellamy are all good players, but are we winning the league with those 3 as our main striking options? No.

People shouldn't blame Rafa for this one. The players made a **** of it. Poor finishing and individual errors cost us. It reminds me of our defeats earlier in the season.

Still a work in progress. Hopefully we can add the players required this summer to take us up a level.