Dirk Kuyt

[Nic83]

Crouch should start nearly every match IMO.

He does FAR more for us than either Kuyt of Voronin.

[Nic83]

I think if Torres and Crouch started yesterday (and benayoun even) we'd have slaughtered them. Alonso has been sorely missed in the last few matches too.

[lfcruleus]

Who says it isn't important to work hard as a striker?

Torres works hard.

But here's the thing, he scares the ****e out of defenders.

Are you saying that the way Rafa uses Kuyt tactically makes him ineffective?

Its the fact people are saying "so what he works hard", thats Rafa game, he buys workhorses, Torres is a completely different animal for Rafa.

I think where he plays at the mo stops him getting into the box often enough to score the sort of goals he scored for Feyenoord, Dickheads on here saying STAY UP FRONT DIRK seem not to realise that if he wasnt doing what Rafa was asking him he wouldnt be bloody playing.
Rafa never plays 2 out and out strikers, not many teams do nowadays, he is told to play in the hole, i dont think it particularly suits his game but he plays there because of his closing down sorry workrate again...When Dirk gets chances in the box he usually hits the target, Newcastle/Chelsea last season frankly unstoppable, but from outside the box he wont score many (West Ham away last season was a cracker though).

[lfcruleus]

But Ian Rush scored goals.

Ian Rush scored goals prolifically as an out and out striker in a team that played the ball on the deck through the midfield, when we lost that ability Rushies goals dried up people forget that, If Dirk played up front with that midfield and service he would score more goals.

[AFII]

We need a Totti type of player in Kuyts position. A player that is able to score and create goals.

I don't care what he costs because we need him, very much.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Its the fact people are saying "so what he works hard", thats Rafa game, he buys workhorses, Torres is a completely different animal for Rafa.

I think where he plays at the mo stops him getting into the box often enough to score the sort of goals he scored for Feyenoord, Dickheads on here saying STAY UP FRONT DIRK seem not to realise that if he wasnt doing what Rafa was asking him he wouldnt be bloody playing.
Rafa never plays 2 out and out strikers, not many teams do nowadays, he is told to play in the hole, i dont think it particularly suits his game but he plays there because of his closing down sorry workrate again...When Dirk gets chances in the box he usually hits the target, Newcastle/Chelsea last season frankly unstoppable, but from outside the box he wont score many (West Ham away last season was a cracker though).

Here's my biggest problem.

If, as you say, Rafa plays a front man with somone in the hole, I just don't think Kuyt is anywhere near talented enough for that position.

To play in the hole you have to have - to play for LFC at least - good technique, awareness of others and good passing ability to take advantage of those attributes. Kuyt does none of those things well IMO.

It's not his natural position, throw in his second rate technical ability and it's not a good combination.

Bottom line; I want somebody better wearing the Liverbird.

[kurtangle01]

I'm going to stick up for him. I like Kuyt but I'm not going to try and go against what has been said about poor first touch etc... What I will say though is that for him to perform consistently to his best he has to play with a regular strike partner. Some one who runs in behind while he drops deep. If rafa starts picking Kuyt and Torres consistently I think we could star to see the makings of a good strike partnership.

Kuyt is also, imho, much better than Peter Crouch and is more deserving of a place in the side than him.

[AFII]

The player we should break the bank to sign and play in Kuyts position is Diego or Nasri.

[Sarb]

Agreed Kurt. Crouch should be nowhere near the first team...sulking ****. Kuyt and Torres looked good at the beginning of the season until Rafa started ****ing around. I think Rafa needs to find another interest as he thinks way too much about football

I think we should take a leaf out the India Cricket Team's book and play without a manager. Just have coaches as the only thing that is going to cost us the title this season is Rafa's constant tinkering

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Kuyt is also, imho, much better than Peter Crouch and is more deserving of a place in the side than him.

I respect your opinion.

And I don't want to make this a Kuyt V Crouch thing, but what specifically is he better than Crouch at?

[kurtangle01]

I respect your opinion.

And I don't want to make this a Kuyt V Crouch thing, but what specifically is he better than Crouch at?

Better movement, more mobile, better in the air. Just an all round better player. imho of course.

Crouch has been woeful so far this season and while he might improve he's not going to get any quicker or more mobile, is he?

The problem with Crouch is that all to often he slows our attacks down. If anyone should be sold out of our strike force it should, imho, be Crouch.

[Sarb]

The other problem when Crouch plays is that we tend to hoof it more. Much like what we started doing when we bought Heskey!

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Better movement, more mobile, better in the air. Just an all round better player. imho of course.

Crouch has been woeful so far this season and while he might improve he's not going to get any quicker or more mobile, is he?

The problem with Crouch is that all to often he slows our attacks down. If anyone should be sold out of our strike force it should, imho, be Crouch.

Fair enough.

Again it's all about opinions but to me Crouch is more of a goal threat. The whole purpose of the game is to score.

Rafa left our 2 most effective forwards on the bench for most of yesterday. Baffling.

[ningnangnong]

I agree with old Charlie boy here.

I went into this season defending Kuyt and his abilities, but he's beginning to frustrate me.

I'm not a massive fan of Crouchy, but he deserves a chance ahead of Kuyt at the moment, because Kuyt just isn't really providing anything.

That said, if Rafa is going to continually rest Torres, which i hope he doesn't, i think he needs a backup striker with a bit of pace, rather then having to choose from Kuyt, Voronin or Crouch who are, well hardly the quickest players going around. He could always use Babel, but i doubt he will.

[Guest]

Dirk Kuyt needs to up his game of he'll be off or playing second of 3rd fiddle to another striker next season, that is a fact. He's got a fantastic work rate and could never be faulted for not giving his all but he isn't offering us the dimension required in attack. I'm sure he can score more goals though. If only Torres was instructed to play slightly behind him but we would be losing Torres' goalscoring ability.