6-0 and we could easily have scored more

[anfieldanfield]

Pompey away is now a HUGE game in my opinion. Win it it and we can all look forward to Birmingham at home the following weekend (3 pts surely!) while Chavs and Scum go head to head the day after!

It's a massive game. I mean, they all are, but you know what I mean ?!

Masher and Carra will be out. This team should pick up three points...

---------Torres--Kuyt
Riise-------Gerrard----Pennant
------------Alonso
Arbeloa--Agger--Hyypia--Finnan
-------------Reina

[sonsofthedesert]

Pompey is going to be hard, chavs struggled at home and scum drew away. Very good team.

[dww]

To be fair - its your opinion that it's an exaggeration.

He missed two chances with poor finishing down the annie road end and the 'shot' for Voronin's goal was never going to beat a premier league keeper and it's even debatable it was going in.

I really like his work ethic etc but Dirk simply has to improve in and around the box before patience begins to wear thin.

I have to say I think Kuyt adds more than he takes away from the team when he plays. He does need to improve, particularly his shooting but he makes more chances with his movement, hustling and crossing than any of our other forwards would (bar Torres) IMO.

It is a valid tactic if lacking in confidence to make sure you test the keeper in my opinion. Not sure if that was what Kuyt was doing but his shot seemed sort of cautious and if that is the way he feels then it is the right sort of shot - you see a lot of players try to put in a 'better' shot to beat the keeper and end up ****ing it over which gives no one a chance on the rebound. I think in lots of ways that Dirk is liked by Rafa because he is a sort of percentages player - always there around the area hustling defenders to start attacks and he always looks to keep attacks going.

I think we will all agree though that over the season he will have to improve his goal contribution to be at least on the level of last season and if he doesn't do better than that we will need to replace him or there will be more pressure on Gerrard/Babel/Pennant to score.

[sonsofthedesert]

I have to say I think Kuyt adds more than he takes away from the team when he plays. He does need to improve, particularly his shooting but he makes more chances with his movement, hustling and crossing than any of our other forwards would (bar Torres) IMO.

It is a valid tactic if lacking in confidence to make sure you test the keeper in my opinion. Not sure if that was what Kuyt was doing but his shot seemed sort of cautious and if that is the way he feels then it is the right sort of shot - you see a lot of players try to put in a 'better' shot to beat the keeper and end up ****ing it over which gives no one a chance on the rebound. I think in lots of ways that Dirk is liked by Rafa because he is a sort of percentages player - always there around the area hustling defenders to start attacks and he always looks to keep attacks going.

I think we will all agree though that over the season he will have to improve his goal contribution to be at least on the level of last season and if he doesn't do better than that we will need to replace him or there will be more pressure on Gerrard/Babel/Pennant to score.

[captainfog]

Pompey is going to be hard, chavs struggled at home and scum drew away. Very good team.

Pompy were **** today

[sonsofthedesert]

Pompy were **** today

I wasn't to know that, also could mean they step up a gear for us.

[Howard_lfc]

I have to say I think Kuyt adds more than he takes away from the team when he plays. He does need to improve, particularly his shooting but he makes more chances with his movement, hustling and crossing than any of our other forwards would (bar Torres) IMO.

It is a valid tactic if lacking in confidence to make sure you test the keeper in my opinion. Not sure if that was what Kuyt was doing but his shot seemed sort of cautious and if that is the way he feels then it is the right sort of shot - you see a lot of players try to put in a 'better' shot to beat the keeper and end up ****ing it over which gives no one a chance on the rebound. I think in lots of ways that Dirk is liked by Rafa because he is a sort of percentages player - always there around the area hustling defenders to start attacks and he always looks to keep attacks going.

I think we will all agree though that over the season he will have to improve his goal contribution to be at least on the level of last season and if he doesn't do better than that we will need to replace him or there will be more pressure on Gerrard/Babel/Pennant to score.

.

This sounds like you're trying to 'big up' an average player by accentuating the positives about mediocrity. You can talk about hustle & bustle and percentages all you like - but if the fella keeps missing the kind of chances he missed yesterday he'll soon lose his starting place. At the moment he's doing enough to warrant a place in the starting XI. Just.

[carlton]

.

This sounds like you're trying to 'big up' an average player by accentuating the positives about mediocrity. You can talk about hustle & bustle and percentages all you like - but if the fella keeps missing the kind of chances he missed yesterday he'll soon lose his starting place. At the moment he's doing enough to warrant a place in the starting XI. Just.

I agree. Kuyt works hard and is very enthusiastic but misses a lot of chances and now that there is depth in the squad he must finish better or he will lose his spot in the team. I would like to see him score the sort of goal Voronin scored against Derby. I know he supplied the shot the eventually led to the goal and cant be in 2 places at once but that instinctive poaching seems to be missing from his game at the moment.

[Gray]

I thought Pennant was awesome when he switched to the left. He didn't have to come inside all the time and crossed the ball well with his left. Babel on the right and Pennant on the left. Winger problem solved.

[dww]

.

This sounds like you're trying to 'big up' an average player by accentuating the positives about mediocrity. You can talk about hustle & bustle and percentages all you like - but if the fella keeps missing the kind of chances he missed yesterday he'll soon lose his starting place. At the moment he's doing enough to warrant a place in the starting XI. Just.

I think parts of his game are exceptionally good. There is no point pretending the same about the areas which obviously are not. I think Kuyt is much better than average but I can see his flaws.

At the minute I would say he is by far the best option to partner Torres and adds a great deal to our team.

[Pacman]

Oh,..Torres... I am so glad we got him....and a lot of people on here said he was not the man for us.

And I was one of them

So far he's been great and I'm prepared to eat a big slice of humble pie

[anfieldanfield]

Oh,..Torres... I am so glad we got him....and a lot of people on here said he was not the man for us.

We were both desperate for Torres to come here.

[Harv]

We were both desperate for Torres to come here.

not as desperate as me

He's been one of my faves since he took Spain by storm as a teenager. It was clear how good he was when he was only 17. After the last WC i was hoping we would of signed him...he showed how good he could be during those games. But people still held great reservations about him, saying he never looked that interested, and was patchy in his displays.

The problem was he became a tad stale at Atletico. Because Atleti were pretty average, he would often find himself marked out of the game by both CB's, La Liga also frowned upon physical battles between strikers/defenders, so he wouldn't "battle" against the CB's, he would try avoid them. Here, he can do this, and show his strength when battling for the ball, i think he has mentioned this too, it was a part of his game that he liked, but wasn't able to fully use in Spain.

He should of moved 2-3 seasons ago IMO.

Im so glad he chose the right move though.....i would of been devistated if he went to Manure. He is going to get better and better with us. Wait till he has gotten completley settled, and gained a understanding with our midfield. He will be unstoppable.

El Nino

[Neil Young]

To be fair - its your opinion that it's an exaggeration.

He missed two chances with poor finishing down the annie road end and the 'shot' for Voronin's goal was never going to beat a premier league keeper and it's even debatable it was going in.

I really like his work ethic etc but Dirk simply has to improve in and around the box before patience begins to wear thin.

You said he didn't 'test the keeper'. If the keeper made a save, I'd suggest that's a test and it's not a matter of opinion.

I knew this would happen so I'm ducking out of a Kuyt's good enough/not good enough debate right now.

[sonsofthedesert]

not as desperate as me

He's been one of my faves since he took Spain by storm as a teenager. It was clear how good he was when he was only 17. After the last WC i was hoping we would of signed him...he showed how good he could be during those games. But people still held great reservations about him, saying he never looked that interested, and was patchy in his displays.

The problem was he became a tad stale at Atletico. Because Atleti were pretty average, he would often find himself marked out of the game by both CB's, La Liga also frowned upon physical battles between strikers/defenders, so he wouldn't "battle" against the CB's, he would try avoid them. Here, he can do this, and show his strength when battling for the ball, i think he has mentioned this too, it was a part of his game that he liked, but wasn't able to fully use in Spain.

He should of moved 2-3 seasons ago IMO.

Im so glad he chose the right move though.....i would of been devistated if he went to Manure. He is going to get better and better with us. Wait till he has gotten completley settled, and gained a understanding with our midfield. He will be unstoppable.

El Nino

and on a 6 year contract, great business by Parry and Rafa.