Is Kuyt above criticism?

[DeeGame]

get your facts straight, he played 16 premiership games in his first season and scored 4 goals

if, as I suspect, all were played upfront, then in his second season he would have had to play 25 out of 33 games out of position to back up that he played "most" of his games out of position. I suspect he did not.

Sorry 10 starting 6 off bench

[Mr Tourette]

Wasn't Kuyt one of those world class players that everyone with Football Manager said we needed years ago? Now that hes here, and seems to be in a bit of a bad patch after a good start and its probably the same people that are now all over him saying hes ****e and not good enough.

The current "must have" player, Alves, will no doubt go through the same thing if he comes here. When he goes through a slump in form, the knives will be out and suddenley hes ****. Not having a go at some of the more decent posters on here who make some good, and valid points, but there are others on here who really piss me off with their fickleness (if thats a word).

I dont think thats totally fair - i dont think people are saying he's ****e - but i think he has his limitations. Alunevans post was absolutely spot on - at the minute we have three strikers and robbie and unfortunately its hard to have a favourite among them. They all have their endearing qualities - crouch has great touch and offers a ridiculous looking presence up top, while bellamy is raw pace and probably the most likely to beat a man, then there is dirk, hard working and a pretty instinctive finsher when he gets the chance - i actually thought he had decent game yesterday but wasnt on the ball enough in the box.

unfortunately while i would be disappointed to lose any one of them - at the same time i know that we need another special striker thats going to knit it all together - and they are incredibly difficult to buy we just dont have a rooney, ronaldo, henry, drogba - we used to have owen - and although i woldnt want him back he was a top drawer goal getter that oppositions feared and unfortunately we have not replaced him. None of our strikers are clinical enough, bellamy is clearly a bit of a tosser, crouch is too nice and kuyt just looks a yard short of pace to frighten teams.

That saidI thought we absolutely battered them and although i feel like ive been burgled - everyone knows we were the better team which is a small but significant comfort im taking today.

[Marky]

He's been piss poor for the last few weeks to be honest, his touch more times than not has been awful, he doesn't really look convincing when he gets a chance at goal.
I'd start Crouch on tuesday night(along with Bellamy).

[Shaggy]

His first touch is ****ing rubbish.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

sincerely believes he needs a rest!
he looked very good when he first joined, the first 5-6 matches he played for us was brilliant, control, passing and vision...but he seems to be getting worse since 2-3 months ago...maybe he is exhausted

[kurtangle01]

His first touch is ****ing rubbish.

Tut, tut, tut Shaggy. You really have a downer on Dirk don't you?

I don't see what all the criticism is for. Momo was far worse yesterday yet no one has the knifes out for him and he's had a full year to settle.

[marcgerard]

sincerely believes he needs a rest!
he looked very good when he first joined, the first 5-6 matches he played for us was brilliant, control, passing and vision...but he seems to be getting worse since 2-3 months ago...maybe he is exhausted

I think you are right, tiredness is playing a part; he has nt played well since the Chelsea game. Even given his whole hearted approach to playing the difference in terms of speed and physicality between the Premiership and the Dutch league is marked.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

The simple truth is that none of our forwards are penalty area hounds like an Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen. In this respect we've been spoiled over the last 25 years with forwards with natural predatory instincts.

Our current crop don't naturally think to be selfish with their movement in and around the penalty area. It's always drop off the front to show for the midfield or move wide to create space, problem is that all our strikers do this, even Robbie now. We don't have someone to make the right runs, have the right instincts and intelligence, or most importantly the ability to take advantage of any spadework the likes of Kuyt, Crouch or Bellamy do for the team. It also doesn't help that apart from Garcia and Gerrard that our midfielders don't try to get beyond the ball or into goalscoring positions. Which makes it even harder for our non-natural goalscorers to find space for goalscoring opportunities.

Re Kuyt. I think he's a good player, the ultimate allrounder, good at everything, exceptional at nothing apart from workrate which should be a given for every LFC player.

Whereas Bellamy and Crouch have more glaringly positive attributes; Bellamy's pace and Crouch's technique and height.

Bottom line. Partner any of those three with a goalscoring centre forward, who's completely and utterly selfishly obsessed with scoring goals and we're on the right track.

[kurtangle01]

The simple truth is that none of our forwards are penalty area hounds like an Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen. In this respect we've been spoiled over the last 25 years with forwards with natural predatory instincts.

Our current crop don't naturally think to be selfish with their movement in and around the penalty area. It's always drop off the front to show for the midfield or move wide to create space, problem is that all our strikers do this, even Robbie now. We don't have someone to make the right runs, have the right instincts and intelligence, or most importantly the ability to take advantage of any spadework the likes of Kuyt, Crouch or Bellamy do for the team. It also doesn't help that apart from Garcia and Gerrard that our midfielders don't try to get beyond the ball or into goalscoring positions. Which makes it even harder for our non-natural goalscorers to find space for goalscoring opportunities.

Re Kuyt. I think he's a good player, the ultimate allrounder, good at everything, exceptional at nothing apart from workrate which should be a given for every LFC player.

Whereas Bellamy and Crouch have more glaringly positive attributes; Bellamy's pace and Crouch's technique and height.

Bottom line. Partner any of those three with a goalscoring centre forward, who's completely and utterly selfishly obsessed with scoring goals and we're on the right track.

Spot on.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Have one already but he is made to sit at home and watch the game instead most of the times.

Bottom line. Partner any of those three with a goalscoring centre forward, who's completely and utterly selfishly obsessed with scoring goals and we're on the right track.

[Neil Young]

Have one already but he is made to sit at home and watch the game instead most of the times.

Assuming you don't think Rafa is either blind or a complete cock, why do you think that is?

[FowlerLeftFoot]

i am not sure if Rafa is blind or what, maybe he is just very stubborn and a hypocrite

Assuming you don't think Rafa is either blind or a complete cock, why do you think that is?

[Neil Young]

i am not sure if Rafa is blind or what, maybe he is just very stubborn and a hypocrite

Yeah maybe. Or maybe Robbie just isn't good enough any more.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Have one already but he is made to sit at home and watch the game instead most of the times.

Take off the rose tinted Robbie Fowler circa 1994-1999 glasses and what do you see now?

Like the rest of us you see a player - by modern day standards - in poor to mediocre physical condition, mostly the fault of injuries.

The ability is still there, the body is no longer willing.

[nbryan1764]

i am not sure if Rafa is blind or what, maybe he is just very stubborn and a hypocrite

a hypocrite? what makes him a hypocrite?