Kuyt-Hit or Miss?

[Michael]

I'm just comparing him with the strikers/attackers our immediate rivals have…. I guess your comment makes my point. Thanks!

[Michael]

All these people saying Rafa is responsible for Kuyt being so deep...are you sure?

For example - on Saturday, Kuyt was the striker with Gerrard off him. Are you seriously trying to make out it was down to Benitez that Kuyt, yet again, spent most of his time on the wings or in the centre circle? Seriously?

Rafa bought wingers to play wide, and he has his two defensive midfielders to play in the middle - so why would he tell Kuyt to be everywhere but the box? I'm not having it.

Agree!

[Shaggy]

Do you really believe for a moment that Rafa would continue to play a player who doesn't obey instructions?

I knew someone would say that.

Then why would Benitez instruct the team to play in a way that has no strikers? Using Saturday as an example again - Gerrard clearly was the 2nd striker....float around behind Kuyt, make things happen. Yet Kuyt spent the sum total of about 5 minutes in the box. What's that all about?

It's not as if Kuyt is a shirker. It's not the same as Cissé disobeying the gaffer's instructions - when Djib did that, he offered nothing but moans and gesticulation. When Kuyt is neglecting his striker duties, he's buzzing around all over the shop working his arse off for the team...something that clearly endears him to Benitez.

Something's not right, anyway.

[tomasjj]

Acutally, he not much of an upgrade from Morientes.

[Neil Young]

I knew someone would say that.

Then why would Benitez instruct the team to play in a way that has no strikers? Using Saturday as an example again - Gerrard clearly was the 2nd striker....float around behind Kuyt, make things happen. Yet Kuyt spent the sum total of about 5 minutes in the box. What's that all about?

It's not as if Kuyt is a shirker. It's not the same as Cissé disobeying the gaffer's instructions - when Djib did that, he offered nothing but moans and gesticulation. When Kuyt is neglecting his striker duties, he's buzzing around all over the shop working his arse off for the team...something that clearly endears him to Benitez.

Something's not right, anyway.

I'm not convinced by our attacking play and haven't been all season. I simply don't think it makes any sense to blame Kuyt for all that. Rafa never played an expansive game at Valencia and so far he hasn't here. I think he will adapt his approach a bit - he already has by sometimes playing two strikers.

Kuyt's a good player. Is he good enough? I don't know and I certainly think it's too soon to tell.

I also think people's expectations of him were too high. Improvements are always slow and gradual, and the higher up you go the smaller the increments are. Is he the best striker in the world? No, why would anyone expect him to be at £10m? I know that transfer fees aren't the only way to judge a player but you can use them as an indicator of how players are judged. Shevchenko, Drogba, Rooney - all these cost loads more. Carrick FFS - strikers are always more expensive relatively-speaking and we've got three and arguably four better central midfielders than him.

Has Kuyt improved the squad? I think the answer is a clear yes. Everything else remains to be seen IMO.

[anfieldanfield]

All these people saying Rafa is responsible for Kuyt being so deep...are you sure?

For example - on Saturday, Kuyt was the striker with Gerrard off him. Are you seriously trying to make out it was down to Benitez that Kuyt, yet again, spent most of his time on the wings or in the centre circle? Seriously?

Rafa bought wingers to play wide, and he has his two defensive midfielders to play in the middle - so why would he tell Kuyt to be everywhere but the box? I'm not having it.

Kuyt to me appears to lack self-belief. Bit of a Heskey-syndrome. There's no hiding place on a football pitch but I think Kuyt is trying to hide. Cover up his lack of goals (or even lack of chances) by working hard, tackling, grafting...anything, just so long as he doesn't have to have a shot.

Maybe I'm being ludicrously harsh but I just don't believe for one minute that Kuyt is following Rafa's instructions by playing as a striker who offers no goal threat.

It should be fairly obvious by now Shaggy, Rafa doesn't like goalscoring strikers.

He didn't like them in Valencia (Mista, Carew etc) and he doesn't like them at Liverpool. He's done his best to keep Crouch out the side in favour of our 'huff and puff' strikers like Bellamy and Kuyt, but credit to the big man, he's made himself almost undroppable.

Our top scoring striker in 2004 was Owen, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2005 was Baros, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2006 was Cisse, we sold him.

Sense a pattern ?

[Jayesh87]

Acutally, he not much of an upgrade from Morientes.

true true but in fairness its not like we create alot of chances is it? I think we will struggle to find someone who will score 20 league goals while we play this cautious style of football.

Kuyt isn't anything special, wouldn't really be fussed if he left and was replaced by Trezeguet (or someone in that mould) At least he runs alot

[Neil Young]

Acutally, he not much of an upgrade from Morientes.

It's debatable how much he is an improvement over Morientes but the fact that he is to any extent should be recognised and not undervalued.

He's scored a lot more Premiership goals than Morientes anyway.

[cobain]

Our top scoring striker in 2004 was Owen, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2005 was Baros, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2006 was Cisse, we sold him.

Sense a pattern ?

Conspiracy!!! I knew it!

[red g]

It should be fairly obvious by now Shaggy, Rafa doesn't like goalscoring strikers.

He didn't like them in Valencia (Mista, Carew etc) and he doesn't like them at Liverpool. He's done his best to keep Crouch out the side in favour of our 'huff and puff' strikers like Bellamy and Kuyt, but credit to the big man, he's made himself almost undroppable.

Our top scoring striker in 2004 was Owen, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2005 was Baros, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2006 was Cisse, we sold him.

Sense a pattern ?

Soa re you saying Crouch will be sold in the summer???

and Owen wanted a move, Baros was frustrating as ****, ditto with Cisse., would you like to see Owen, Baros and Cisse instead of Crouch, Kuyt and bellamy?

[anfieldanfield]

Soa re you saying Crouch will be sold in the summer???

and Owen wanted a move, Baros was frustrating as ****, ditto with Cisse., would you like to see Owen, Baros and Cisse instead of Crouch, Kuyt and bellamy?

All I am saying is that Rafa doesn't value 'goals' as particularly important when he picks his strikers.

[cobain]

Soa re you saying Crouch will be sold in the summer???

and Owen wanted a move, Baros was frustrating as ****, ditto with Cisse., would you like to see Owen, Baros and Cisse instead of Crouch, Kuyt and bellamy?

Ufff... I'd like to see Owen, Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy tbh

[Shaggy]

It should be fairly obvious by now Shaggy, Rafa doesn't like goalscoring strikers.

He didn't like them in Valencia (Mista, Carew etc) and he doesn't like them at Liverpool. He's done his best to keep Crouch out the side in favour of our 'huff and puff' strikers like Bellamy and Kuyt, but credit to the big man, he's made himself almost undroppable.

Our top scoring striker in 2004 was Owen, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2005 was Baros, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2006 was Cisse, we sold him.

Sense a pattern ?

Haha. I see what you're saying Jamo, but none of those strikers were Rafa's. He bought Crouch and I don't see him being shipped out.

[Mumsafan]

Still waiting for him to show us how Shearer like he is.

[Red_Polo]

It should be fairly obvious by now Shaggy, Rafa doesn't like goalscoring strikers.

He didn't like them in Valencia (Mista, Carew etc) and he doesn't like them at Liverpool. He's done his best to keep Crouch out the side in favour of our 'huff and puff' strikers like Bellamy and Kuyt, but credit to the big man, he's made himself almost undroppable.

Our top scoring striker in 2004 was Owen, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2005 was Baros, we sold him. Our top scoring striker in 2006 was Cisse, we sold him.

Sense a pattern ?

I do indeed sense a pattern. Rafa thinks a few extra goals a season isn't worth keeping a striker for if they can't perform the more basic functions of team play. And he's right. Because of that policy we'll end up with players who are quality team players AND score a pretty good amount of goals instead of a collection of unintelligent head down kick and rushers with fairly average goalscoring records.