The strikers thread

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Me and my mates who were watching on TV were also surprised (again) by Bellamy substitution. He looks the bigger threat and more potent force especially when were playing counter attacking football late on. Kuyt has no use up front alone. It was much better when Crouch came on.

Our finishing is worst than ****.

Seriously it's awful, we should have battered both barca and man utd.

It is really starting to piss me off. Kuyt always seems to be the one staying on the pitch rather than Bellamy even when playing the poorer of the two. I see no logical reason as to why this is happening.

Whenever Bellamy gets taken off our attacking play looks so ****.

Kuyt is so flipping slow he looks like he's running backwards

[FowlerLeftFoot]

PS Respect to Pennant - I thought he did very well when he came on. Possibly caught out of position for their goal but did a good job of running at their players and gave the defence a bit of respite

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Hopefully! The off season break will do him a world of good as well! If he is not asked to work so hard all over the pitch and just concentrate more on the attacking part, i believe he would be a hell lot better, like the first few games he played for us.

dunno about that Marcus mate
Kuyt is playin' in a new league that is much higher in standards than the Dutch league. He's got 10 goals so far which is not bad. I really believe that he will improve & score more goals next season.

[marcus50bucks]

dunno about that Marcus mate
Kuyt is playin' in a new league that is much higher in standards than the Dutch league. He's got 10 goals so far which is not bad. I really believe that he will improve & score more goals next season.

My concern is we don't have that killer instinct up front and it could cost us dearly in the latter rounds.

I'm sorry for having a go at Kuyt but he frustrates me at times, as does Bellamy. It is really annoying to see Benitez continue taking off Bellamy when it is clearly as day light our attacking play becomes non existent without him. I really don't see Kuyt as a threat when up front on his own.

[lfc4ever]

Everyone knows this is a key position now to be filled in the summer, christ it's going to cost us isn't it?

Imagine if we'd had a Drogba over the last 2 matches <sigh>

[redlancer]

Was right in line with Barca's forwards last night and they don't half work the defence hard, there movement dropping back running trying to catch the defender on the back foot was brilliant.

We have Kuyt who is the ideal 2nd striker, missed a bit of grass last night but that was it.
He can read the game, link up players and make the runs. But justs lack that bit of pace and composure at times, maybe he needs a bit more time to settle in.

Whereas Bellamy, has all the pace in the world will skin a player and then have to do it again as he goes on the scenic route to the goal. The lad has no idea of possitional play, no anticipation. He's becomming the new Cisse/Heskey IMO.
Last night that defence should of been like Christmas come early.
Kuyt worked the defence like Rush of old but unfortunatly he was in a single partnership.

There was one player on the pitch last night that supported the attack, came in at the right times and looked to anticipate the ball in the box and that was Riise.

[Airman]

I do hope Kuyt improves next season. His work rate can't be faulted, neither can his commitment. However, his first touch is appalling 80&#37; of the time and his judgement on when to release the pass is also questionable. The second is something that would definately improve, but the first touch? Surely he should be better with that?
Sorry, but this season, he is frustrating the hell out of me more than any other player. Just my opinion, and I really do hope he improves because of the obvious committment he gives, but right now, if I had to choose one of our strikers to replace, it would be him. I know he offers a lot of team play, but that does no good if we can't put the ball in the back of the net.

[AFII]

Rafa will sign the striker we need in the summer whatever the cost IMO.

If he need to pay £30m+ for him then he will do that.

My guess is that Villa will join us in the summer. He wouldn't have changed his tune the way he has if he hadn't heard from Valencia that they will consider to sell him.

[Airman]

Rafa will sign the striker we need in the summer whatever the cost IMO.

If he need to pay £30m+ for him then he will do that.

My guess is that Villa will join us in the summer. He wouldn't have changed his tune the way he has if he hadn't heard from Valencia that they will consider to sell him.

I thought that about Villa too. Let's just hope we get the striker(s) we need for number 19.

[Mr Tourette]

where has this thread gone?

[Airman]

Looks like I killed it!

[dww]

To be honest I think a large part of the problem is that we don't create clear chances in the box. Although part of that might be the fact that our strikers move away from that area too much, I think the real problem we have is fashioning decent openings.

I suspect that our strikers would look much better if we had:
a/ midfielders who occasionally gambled to get into the box, taking away or moving defenders
and/or
b/ genuinely class creative midfielders, preferably on the wings, who are capable of taking the ball in tight situations and threading balls through well set up defences.

I'm not sure that Rafa will ever buy a van Nistelrooy like pure poacher, and I can't see an Henry like player who would create there own chances who is available. So I think that in the summer we have to concentrate on getting intelligent, attacking midfield players who offer a threat on goal.

[anfieldanfield]

To be honest I think a large part of the problem is that we don't create clear chances in the box. Although part of that might be the fact that our strikers move away from that area too much, I think the real problem we have is fashioning decent openings.

Crouch, Bellamy and Kuyt should have scored last night.

[AFII]

Rafa have tried to sign Owen a couple of times so he is willing to sign a pure poacher if the right one is available.

[REDSCOUSER]

Hopefully! The off season break will do him a world of good as well! If he is not asked to work so hard all over the pitch and just concentrate more on the attacking part, i believe he would be a hell lot better, like the first few games he played for us.

I have noticed that Kuyt drops deep way too many times instead of hanging around the penalty box to pick up the pieces.
Rafa should drill it into him, no problem linking up with mids but at times you need to stay in the box so when the ball is there you are ready to take it.
At times last night we had noone in the box waiting to receive the ball because Kuyt was way out and Bellamy was wide on the flank.
Another thing I think Kuyt HAS to learn is to be MORE SELFISH in the box. Strikers need to have that bit of selfishness and single mindness when it comes to shooting & scoring.
Cisse used to be that but unfortunately not all his strikes were on target.