Dirk Kuyt....

[carrsim]

first up, i am a fan of dirk (and crouchy) and can't see why some people have agendas to slag them off no matter what.

i would say dirk is following rafa's instructions to the letter

he drops deep to link midfield and so that torres can lead the line. h gives the opposition that "who picks him up?" dilemma, which can buy our lot half a second of time in the attacking third

yesterday, he went wide when the crow came on and got on with it. he shoots when he can- and often it is on instinct because he wants to score.

however, his shooting boots are a little off most of the time. which i would put down to the pressure of knowing he shoudl score more, so his efforts get dragged/scuffed slightly (he rarely forces saves from keepers i notice)

he was prolific in holland, so its not like he doesn't know where the net is- and you don't score as many as he did by luck.

he probably needs a few goals in the league to boost his confidence and he'll be away

it looks like all our strikers this year will get games and goals so as long as he is doing what rafa tells him, he's training hard and the team is winning i don't see the problem to be honest

[checkpoint]

No of course he cant. But the point is, arent strikers usually meant to be lurking around the 6 yard box for those kind of goals? Remember a certain welshman called Rush? He adopted that style a fair bit, and it didnt do him much harm

I see your point, but using yesterdays Voronin goal was a bad example on where Kuyt should have been, as he practically made the goal

I think Kuyt is doing what he is told by Rafa. If not, wouldn't Rafa sorted out a player not listening to given instructions?

I think that Rafa is tactically way beyond any of us and with the results at hand he could use Kuyt as a waterboy if he wanted too

[Craig_H]

Yes, but why do we need to have him there in and around the 6 yard box when someone like Torres or Voronin are there instead?

it's different when he's playing as the lone striker (a la Athens) - then he simply must stay in the centre (which he didn't do), but when he is partnering Voronin, Crouch or Torres, I think that is less of a concern as all these players seem much more inclined to stay central than Dirk.

What I am wondering is if it is his natural inclination to goo wide or deep or if he is following instructions? Either way, he plays the link-man very well, and we have already seen how much Torres can benefit from that.

My main concern is that Kuyt is not very clinical, if he could bury the one or two good chances he gets in the game we'd all be a lot more satisfied.

One other thing, he is not a lone-striker and should never, ever be played in that role.

I too wonder whether it's Rafa's instructions, or just Dirk's own style. Did he really score all those goals in Holland by doing what he does for us??

As for others being in the box to gobble up chances, yes if Voronin and Torres are there more often than not, it's much less of a problem.

But usually there'll only be one other striker on the park, so if CMs and/or the other winger dont get themselves into the box, then you're left with 1 option in there, which has been a big problem for us for ages.

[StevieG08]

Kuyt is great at linking midfield and forward play together, he also works unselfishly to pull defenders out of position to create space for others to exploit, invaluable to the way we play.

All strikers go through periods where they don't put their chances away, the important thing is they keep working hard to get into areas where they get chances to score. Dirk is mentally tough enough to keep doing this and will start scoring soon i'm sure.

[reddragon]

Before yesterday I have to say I was wondering whether the Kuyt knockers had a point. But he blew me away again, I watched a masterclass in movement from him, he had a lot to do with most good things we did yesterday.

I remember a quote from Kevin Keegan who was man marked by a defender early in his career at Liverpool. When they were coming off at the end of the game the defender said to Keegan 'Marked you out of the game today didn't I?' Keegan:' Yeah followed me everywhere didn't you? When i took a corner you were there, when I went back to defend you were there, when I made runs down left or right wing you were there.' Defender:' Yeah, I had a great game' Keegan: 'Remind me where you were when we scored again' Defender: 'Following you down the left wing'

Paraphrasing that but it proves the point - you cannot understand how good Kuyt is by watching on the tv because he does so much great work away from ball.

[Dhav]

I too wonder whether it's Rafa's instructions, or just Dirk's own style. Did he really score all those goals in Holland by doing what he does for us??

As for others being in the box to gobble up chances, yes if Voronin and Torres are there more often than not, it's much less of a problem.

But usually there'll only be one other striker on the park, so if CMs and/or the other winger dont get themselves into the box, then you're left with 1 option in there, which has been a big problem for us for ages.

I always thought Dirk was playing to instructions. I would have thought that a striker who is so prolific (in Holland admittedly) would not spend so much time away from the goal by choice. But looking at him in Athens, he spent so much time out wide and deep, and that made us so blunt up front and also gave Gerrard no options when he got the ball, I found it difficult to believe that Rafa would deliberately want to play that way.

You certainly make a fair point regarding playing with one striker. It was much less of a problem when we had Garcia supporting the lone striker, as he would often be in and around the box to get on the end of loose balls and crosses. Dirk simply must not play the lone striker role, it gives you no options in the middle with him playing so wide and deep.

[willa1975]

As much as I appreciate Dirk's workrate and all-round contribution to the side, he's got to start putting away his chances. I don't criticize him for not being in the box constantly--Torres is going to be played up top and Dirk will be the link man. Period.

However, Dirk is still seeing a few chances fall his way, and hasn't been taking them. There's no way he should still be scoreless in the league. And, while that doesn't matter so much against the likes of Derby and Sunderland, it could be more significant when we face better opposition.

[Dhav]

As much as I appreciate Dirk's workrate and all-round contribution to the side, he's got to start putting away his chances. I don't criticize him for not being in the box constantly--Torres is going to be played up top and Dirk will be the link man. Period.

However, Dirk is still seeing a few chances fall his way, and hasn't been taking them. There's no way he should still be scoreless in the league. And, while that doesn't matter so much against the likes of Derby and Sunderland, it could be more significant when we face better opposition.

This is what's getting my goat as well. Needs to be more clinical when the chances do come his way. BUt the exact same thing can and should be said of Crouch as well.

[MascheredUp]

He can't be everywhere can he?

He should be more like Stevie. Getting on the end of his own crosses.

[Cisseshairdresser]

I agree. The only beef I have with Dirk is that when a few chances do come his way he tends to waste them. He needs to work a little on his finishing, or more specifically, his composure whilst finishing. He does seem often to rush his finishes, or snatch at them, opting for power over precision and placement. I still think he is a very important asset for our club though.

[Darth Marty]

I can kinda see where you are coming from but honestly if you see how kuyt played in holland you know he is a poacher and fairly clinical, it must be that Rafa appreciates his stamina and workrate more and asks him to do a job that isnt his usual game. To be fair it is a team game and certainly in my opinion Kuyt more than deserves to be Torres regular partner. I think Dirk has been nothing short of excellent this season.

[Alpha]

I want to buy a pack of all black wine gums.

I think Maynards do packs with just red and black wine gums, if that helps.

[sonsofthedesert]

I think Maynards do packs with just red and black wine gums, if that helps.

Really, where you seen that? As a fat ******* I would be interested in that.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

As been said take Kuyt as he is....im not his biggest fan but i have been happy with him so far this season and been frustrated at times, but what i called for last season is for him to be more greedy and he certianly is this season, having more shots and more up front rather then an extra midfielder

[Morph]

wow another Dirk Kuyt thread, this becoming a bi-weekly thing now?

My stance is that I don't give a **** as long as we win, he's looked a bit off form this season so far, but if he plays and we win i don't give a ****, and if he sits on the bench and we win I don't give a ****. If his missed chances become detramental to our performances, or if benching him and missing his hard work becomes detramental then i'll give a ****, until such point as either happens, I don't care.

In short and in case you missed it I don't give a ****