Dirk Kuyt

[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).

It begs the question though; why didn't Rafa buy a player specific to that position?

Because it's certainly not a position where Kuyt is effective.

[Tatterdemalion]

I'm really hoping that your description of Kuyt as a hard working, but ultimately sub standard player is correct, because sadly, the alternative is, I think, that he is being asked to play in such a way which denies him the ability to show his true skills.

I honestly think that Rafa is asking him to play that way - I dunno - I'm not smart enough to know, but run between defenders, track back, defend from the front..

I've lost a little faith after the week-end. I was hoping that Torres was carrying an injury. I don't care if he's a player who needs space. FFS - all players need space, but smart ones create it for themselves. Poor players just 'work hard'.

[lfcruleus]

It begs the question though; why didn't Rafa buy a player specific to that position?

Because it's certainly not a position where Kuyt is effective.

I dont think he is totally ineffective there, as he does the defensive side very well, i think Rafa feels you cannot afford a luxury player in that position in england, he played Aimar there in Spain but the slow build up play over there gives more time for the midfield and defense to organise. If he could find a player who will run his arse off and be a genuine creative spark in that position then i think he wouldnt play Dirk there. I would love to see Dirk play in front of such a player as i think given chances he would take them.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I dont think he is totally ineffective there, as he does the defensive side very well.

FLMAO

I know I shouldn't laugh, but **** me the lad's a striker/forward.

I believe in "defending from the front" and all the rest, but a forwards first priority is to create/score goals, not close down the opposition defensive midfielder.

Imagine you bought Kaka or Messi for £100m, put them in that position then told them "**** trying to score or create goals, make sure you shut down Joe Cu nt average premiership defensive midfielder, we can't allow him to pick us apart".

I just think it's utter, utter madness.

[lfcruleus]

FLMAO

I know I shouldn't laugh, but **** me the lad's a striker/forward.

I believe in "defending from the front" and all the rest, but a forwards first priority is to create/score goals, not close down the opposition defensive midfielder.

Imagine you bought Kaka or Messi for £100m, put them in that position then told them "**** trying to score or create goals, make sure you shut down Joe Cu nt average premiership defensive midfielder, we can't allow him to pick us apart".

I just think it's utter, utter madness.

For the record i agree, but not conceding is as important as scoring, i just think thats the game Rafa thinks works, and it obviously does in the CL, yesterday was a game when we needed something special from a player, Dirk aint gonna give us that, tbh if Stevie doesnt or maybe Benayoun i dont know who can.

[The Glove]

If Utd were next up on the fixture list who would everyone pick as the front 2?

99% would say Torres and Kuyt.


I'll admit I like Kuyt, Ive got a lot of time for anyone who puts in that much effort but he is starting to fall short. He gets a lot of chances on goal but the header wil go over or the shot will go wide. Im not sure a spell on the bench will do good for him. We persisted with Crouch for months on end and then he was flying. Maybe Rafa is doing the same with Dirk right now. Trying to get his strikers all into some kind of form. Torres is up and running, Quo is getting trying to get there same as Kuyt. Crouch will be in next to see if he can improve as so far he has been the worst of the bunch.

[El Diego]

Torres & Voronin

[Shaggy]

Torres & Crouch.

[Joe King]

Torres with Gerrard off him

[Dan]

Torres and Babel for a few games

[thesilverfoxlfc]

He is absolutely useless, i would sell him in a heart beat and id have Bellers back instead of him

He's a great worker but so is the man on the street. Sell him in the summer and get an actual good striker

[Shaggy]

Torres with Gerrard off him

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I would start Torres and Crouch for a bit

[The Glove]

Torres with Gerrard off him

Torres and Babel for a few games

So if the next game is Utd you'd start with that attack force?

[Joe King]

I still think Gerrard has his best games in the hole even though he wasn't at his best against Milan in the final.