Kuyt "needs to be dropped"

[bazza76]

Kuyt is told where to play by Rafa, as far as I can see, he carries out his job to the letter, working tirelessly for the team, he deserves praise for this. I am sure Kuyt would love to play closer to goal, but he realises what he has to do for LFC and does so without complaint. I have no problem with Dirk. If he wasn't doing the job he was asked, Rafa would not pick him.

[Shaggy]

If Kuyt was missing many clear cut chances I'd have a problem with him

In the 2 games hes played V Villa & Chelsea hes had nothing like a clear cut chance

And that is even worse. I don't worry when a striker is missing chances. The time to worry is when your striker isn't even getting in positions to miss them. It's an old cliché but that's because it's true.

[bazza76]

And that is even worse. I don't worry when a striker is missing chances. The time to worry is when your striker isn't even getting in positions to miss them. It's an old cliché but that's because it's true.

That is why were are the kings at making world class club sides look bad though, we have players who sacrifice personal glory for the sake of the team so we can nullify our opponents in important areas.

[Charlie_B]

His goalscoring record was 12 in 27 last year right? Just under 1 in 2, and IMO he's only going to score more. I'd be happy with him if he got 15 league goals this season, after all, that's the target the manager has set for all four strikers, is it not?

The Kuyt/Torres partnership, admittedly after only 2 league games, is looking very promising. They're the best two strikers we have in terms of footballing ability. Let it develop I say; playing with someone who's game you know better, and who is of a higher quality of player can only improve both Torres' and Kuyt's game, and therefore their goal tally. I'm happy with Kuyt for now.

[Shaggy]

That is why were are the kings at making world class club sides look bad though, we have players who sacrifice personal glory for the sake of the team so we can nullify our opponents in important areas.

I appreciate that but...y'know....we're Liverpool. I don't wanna be solely a team of destroyers. I want us to destroy the opposition with pass and move football, with goals, not by nullifying and strangling the life out of the opposition. I appreciate that side of it, having been a victim to it when Rafa's Valencia murdered us, but that side also played killer football and we can too.

Our 2nd striker should be a puller of strings, a creator and a goalscorer. Not a destroyer.

[tomasjj]

If Kuyt was missing many clear cut chances I'd have a problem with him

In the 2 games hes played V Villa & Chelsea hes had nothing like a clear cut chance

People often say forwards should be judged on goals for me its not that fundamental, if it was then we probably wouldnt have considered Dalglish to be such a good player

Well, he has had some pretty good chances... header against Chelsea went over. Imo he should have tried to head back across and not just at goal..

Also against Villa he was played in, but opted to try and turn to get it on his right foot and then got crowded out when a shot with the left was the way.

[Tom]

That chance was a reaction header, he did well to control it at all and forced a save.

I though Kuyt was outstanding yesterday, his agression, work rate and link-up play was superb.

[Lecter]

The problem is that he's not getting into positions to have clear cut chances. He's a forward that has hardly had a shot on target despite being first choice. He needs to at least get some shots in, and stop playing in midfield.

I can't believe you're comparing Kuyt's play to Kenny's they are not similar players. There is a gulf in class between the two.

Kuyt needs to step it up a bit to be considered the first choice striker that he currently is and Voronin or Crouch should be given the chance in the big games ahead of him, until either he, or they, prove otherwise.

Of course theres a gulf in class between Kenny and Kuyt

Kuyt isnt getting on the end of things, but Dalglish was rarely a fox in the box player

Also if you are criticising Kuyt then Torres must also be criticised because I didnt see him getting on the end of crosses into the box

The fact of the matter is the two clear cut chances we've had in our two league games have both fallen to Torres who has created them virtually out of nothing

[AFII]

The problem is that if Kuyt plays as deep as he has done then our midfielders will need to make the runs into the box and that isn't happening.

Rafa will have to make a choice. Either he tells our midfielders to make more runs or play Kuyt as a striker together with Torres so he will make that runs into the box.

That was our problem last season and still is.

[Lecter]

That chance was a reaction header, he did well to control it at all and forced a save.

I though Kuyt was outstanding yesterday, his agression, work rate and link-up play was superb.

Exactly

The chance yesterday was a difficult one I'd be surprised if any other forward would have done much better

He aint infallible but the criticism of Kuyt's play could easily be laid at Torres' door

Neither of them got on to any of the crosses put into the box yesterday

If you look at the 2 league games and even the Toulose game our goals and chances have invariable come from great individual play

Its not as if we have been consistantly creating chances for the forwards to miss

[Lecter]

The problem is that if Kuyt plays as deep as he has done then our midfielders will need to make the runs into the box and that isn't happening.

Rafa will have to make a choice. Either he tells our midfielders to make more runs or play Kuyt as a striker together with Torres so he will make that runs into the box.

That was our problem last season and still is.

So lets get this straight

Kuyt is dropping deep leaving Torres as the focal striker, yet its Kuyts fault for not getting on the end of balls into the box

Hmmm shouldnt Torres also bear some of the criticism then???

[Ritchi3]

My criticism of Kuyt is not based on yesterdays game, but his game in general. He doesn't seem to get involved in goal mouth action often enough, and I don't see that changing. One of the other two strikers, who do seem to be in better form than him, deserve a chance to show what they can do against the top sides.

[bazza76]

I appreciate that but...y'know....we're Liverpool. I don't wanna be solely a team of destroyers. I want us to destroy the opposition with pass and move football, with goals, not by nullifying and strangling the life out of the opposition. I appreciate that side of it, having been a victim to it when Rafa's Valencia murdered us, but that side also played killer football and we can too.

Our 2nd striker should be a puller of strings, a creator and a goalscorer. Not a destroyer.

I understand what your saying mate.
It is just Rafa's way though to play such players (destructive types).

[Lecter]

I appreciate that but...y'know....we're Liverpool. I don't wanna be solely a team of destroyers. I want us to destroy the opposition with pass and move football, with goals, not by nullifying and strangling the life out of the opposition. I appreciate that side of it, having been a victim to it when Rafa's Valencia murdered us, but that side also played killer football and we can too.

Our 2nd striker should be a

puller of strings, a creator and a goalscorer. Not a destroyer.

The thing is shaggy your post seems to have fallen into the age old trap.

IE that our previous title winning sides all played ultra attacking, attractive football

Shanks' and Paisleys sides did use to strangle the life out of the opposition first and foremost


Yesterday we stifled and ruffled Chelsea but I also thought we played the best football, we showed some great interplay at times particularly in the final third

[Shaggy]

The thing is shaggy your post seems to have fallen into the age old trap.

IE that our previous title winning sides all played ultra attacking, attractive football

Shanks' and Paisleys sides did use to strangle the life out of the opposition first and foremost

How patronising.

Yes I know all that but I don't recall ever having a striker whose main job is to "destroy" and whose main asset is work rate.

Keegan, Rush et al all worked extremely hard - just as hard as Kuyt - and defended from the front. But they also offered a constant goal threat.