Kuyt....

[sean_lfc]

I think once Alonso is fit a case could be made for playing him and Mascher in the middle and then picking Gerrard + 2 behind Torres. This would give us a greater number of realistic alternatives to Kuyt.

So you're saying we'd be playing without wide players or do you mean something like this...?


Alonso Mascherano

Gerrard

Benny Kewell

Torres?



Regardless of, I think formation discussions are bollocks, because we chop and change pretty much every game, Rafa wants us to be able to play several different formations and tactics, and this whole "best formation" talk seems to just spring from Football Management games where you find your best formation, walk the league and the European Cup etc. (this is no personal whatever against anyone, just my opinion)

[Craig_H]

Let me put this question out there to the regular match-goers amoungst us. Is there something that Kuyt does that I can't see on the telly?

Not really. Runs his arse off yeah, but you know this. His movement is decent, except in the opponent's box. Can link the play alright and yes, he does harry defenders into the odd mistake.

Nothing different to what you see on your telly.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

So you're saying we'd be playing without wide players or do you mean something like this...?


Alonso Mascherano

Gerrard

Benny Kewell

Torres?



Regardless of, I think formation discussions are bollocks, because we chop and change pretty much every game, Rafa wants us to be able to play several different formations and tactics, and this whole "best formation" talk seems to just spring from Football Management games where you find your best formation, walk the league and the European Cup etc. (this is no personal whatever against anyone, just my opinion)

4-4-2 always worked for me.

[dww]

So you're saying we'd be playing without wide players or do you mean something like this...?


Alonso Mascherano

Gerrard

Benny Kewell

Torres?



Regardless of, I think formation discussions are bollocks, because we chop and change pretty much every game, Rafa wants us to be able to play several different formations and tactics, and this whole "best formation" talk seems to just spring from Football Management games where you find your best formation, walk the league and the European Cup etc. (this is no personal whatever against anyone, just my opinion)

I disagree about your last point (but then I would ). In particular in this instance I think it is worthy of discussion as it affects the range of players you would consider as competing for a starting berth. I'm not saying it is something we will, or even should, use in every game.

I was thinking that there are several possibilities in the general framework - Gerrard either playing centrally or on the right. Although generally I like the idea of three attacking midfield players who are relatively interchangable. In practice though I imagine us at least starting with something similar to the formation you show.

[reddragon]

I don't think so. That isn't Rafa's style at all, and certainly not what he's done with his acquisitions for us in the past. Rafa, as I see it, supports his players and uses them as he has to, until such a time as he is in a position to move them on. Morientes, Bellamy, Josemi and Nunez all come to mind instantly. All of whom he continued to play (as he didn't have many better oprions) until he was able to move them out. Which he then did without prejudice. Assuming that Rafa thinks Babel isn't ready to be starting upfront, his option today was Kuyt or Voronin with Torres, and for me at least, I'd rather he played Dirk.

There's no point in him binning one of the options we are stuck with until he can actually bring in better. And in the case of our strikers, its arguable that there's 3 out of the 4 to be considered to be replaced, I'm not sure Kuyt should be the first of those either, so what else is the man supposed to do?

didnt i already say this

[desertscouser]

That's a kop out mate, he does have a choice, and we both know it.

He could easily play Gerrard, Babel, Kewell or Benayoun in that position, and when Crouch has been avalible he's still chosen not to.

This concerns me. Still in no way shape or form do I think that Rafa thinks that Kuyt has been up to standard on anywhere near it.

But there's no reasonable explanation as to why Rafa hasn't played Babel up front with Torres yet.

The whole thing's bizarre.

Let me put this question out there to the regular match-goers amoungst us. Is there something that Kuyt does that I can't see on the telly?

I suppose he does have a choice but I was just trying to highlight how poor our squad is when it comes to forwards. It's not good enough and it will be our undoing in the league. If I had the choice between playing Crouch or Kuyt, well it's a no brainer, Crouch would win every single time. As for Babel, I've been hoping he'd get given a chance up front with Torres for quite sometime now but Rafa seems hesitant to throw him in.

As for your last question, the answer is no. On the tele or live in the stands, Kuyt works his arse off with minimal goal threat as an end result.

[Revo]

didnt i already say this

he runs the site now so its means more when he says it

[Sir Bob]

That's a kop out mate, he does have a choice, and we both know it.

He could easily play Gerrard, Babel, Kewell or Benayoun in that position, and when Crouch has been avalible he's still chosen not to.

This concerns me. Still in no way shape or form do I think that Rafa thinks that Kuyt has been up to standard on anywhere near it.

But there's no reasonable explanation as to why Rafa hasn't played Babel up front with Torres yet.

The whole thing's bizarre.

Let me put this question out there to the regular match-goers amoungst us. Is there something that Kuyt does that I can't see on the telly?

Rafa seems to have a blind spot with Kuyt in the same way GH had one with Heskey. Today I'd have played with 5 across the midfield with SG given licence to break forward at will. City were always going to play 5 across the middle with only 1 upfront.

Lets face facts here, Rafa has made many fine buys but Kuyt has been a turkey. Now before anyone starts that he only cost £10m, you can buy many a good striker for that. Berbatov cost just over £10m, both Adebayor and Van Persie at Arsenal cost less. Christ when EFC bought Yakubu for £11m, how we all laughed but he's looking cheap compared to Kuyt.

Now I know its easy to pick players who have done well with the benefit of hindsight but as its likely we won't have bucket loads of cash to spend on a new striker, Rafa may well have to unearth a gem for around the £10m mark.

Its not easy but can be done and as we reckon rafa's one of the best managers around, its time to show that like Wenger, in particular, he can find someone we've never heard of and turn him into a genuinely top notch player.

[reddragon]

I suppose he does have a choice but I was just trying to highlight how poor our squad is when it comes to forwards. It's not good enough and it will be our undoing in the league. If I had the choice between playing Crouch or Kuyt, well it's a no brainer, Crouch would win every single time. As for Babel, I've been hoping he'd get given a chance up front with Torres for quite sometime now but Rafa seems hesitant to throw him in.

As for your last question, the answer is no. On the tele or live in the stands, Kuyt works his arse off with minimal goal threat as an end result.

1. A no-brainer?? So, the man who has masterminded 2 Spanish titles and various other Cup wins, and is an aknowledged master tactician has .................... no brain?????
2. Kuyt's movement is certainly something that needs to be seen live to appreciate [and even then some can't]

[desertscouser]

1. A no-brainer?? So, the man who has masterminded 2 Spanish titles and various other Cup wins, and is an aknowledged master tactician has .................... no brain?????
2. Kuyt's movement is certainly something that needs to be seen live to appreciate [and even then some can't]

It's a no brainer for me. Did I say I was comparing my tactical skills with that of Rafa's?

And I've seen Kuyt's 'movement' live a few times, it's great...with no end result.

You can defend him all you want and I certainly won't belittle your opinion of the player but I don't rate him.

[reddragon]

Rafa seems to have a blind spot with Kuyt in the same way GH had one with Heskey.IMO you're wrong. Rafa likes Kuyt's movement as it opens up loads of space for Torres. Crouchie hasn't got the football intelligence to do it Today I'd have played with 5 across the midfield with SG given licence to break forward at will. City were always going to play 5 across the middle with only 1 upfront.HINDSIGHT ALERT - if we'd have put away one of 5 or 6 good chances today then the tactics would've been proved correct

Lets face facts here, Rafa has made many fine buys but Kuyt has been a turkey. Now before anyone starts that he only cost £10m, you can buy many a good striker for that. Berbatov cost just over £10m, both Adebayor and Van Persie at Arsenal cost less. Christ when EFC bought Yakubu for £11m, how we all laughed but he's looking cheap compared to Kuyt.

Now I know its easy to pick players who have done well with the benefit of hindsightbut you've done it anywaybut as its likely we won't have bucket loads of cash to spend on a new striker, Rafa may well have to unearth a gem for around the £10m mark.

Its not easy but can be done and as we reckon rafa's one of the best managers around, its time to show that like Wenger, in particular, he can find someone we've never heard of and turn him into a genuinely top notch player.

Not sure if this is likely to happen - we can all wish but Rafa doesn't always have the best track record bringing in the new kids. Wenger is a special case in this respect - even Taggart buys ready made top quality strikers

[Sir Bob]

I've seen Kuyt live loads of times and whilst his movement is decent, its no more than that in my book. However, all that is secondary. 1 goal from open play this season isn't going to make a title challenge possible let alone winning the thing.

[desertscouser]

Lets face facts here, Rafa has made many fine buys but Kuyt has been a turkey. Now before anyone starts that he only cost £10m, you can buy many a good striker for that. Berbatov cost just over £10m, both Adebayor and Van Persie at Arsenal cost less. Christ when EFC bought Yakubu for £11m, how we all laughed but he's looking cheap compared to Kuyt.

.

That's it though, he's been a poor buy but just because Rafa's a top class manager some people fail to see the possibility that like ALL top class managers they make the occassional mistake in the transfer market. Demento has made several, as has Wenger yet that doesn't make them poor managers. Irritating that because some of us think Kuyt's a poor striker people jump on our backs claiming that we think we know better than Rafa.

[Tee]

Kuyt is a CF who just cannot score goals, despite being presented with some fairly clear chances. Great penalty taker and worker, but if we want to win Championships I am afraid he just is not up to that standard. He has had a great chance to prove us wrong and he just cannot cut it at this level in this team. Sad but true.

[MrMichael]

didnt i already say this

Great minds......

he runs the site now so its means more when he says it