FAO Shaggy

[El Jefecito]

He is far more effective at defending and breaking up the oposition play (be it his natural game or match instructions) than he is at attacking. I believe that the person filling his slot in the team should be biased more towards attacking then defending. I am not suggesting that we should play with 4 people constantly in the opositions half with no regard to defending.

You may have a diferent opinion, fair enough that is why the game is interesting.

No I agree with you, but on the odd occasion we need to adapt to the game and Kuyt is able to do that better than most. From an attacking perspective we definitely need an upgrade.

[El Jefecito]

Thought Dirk was excellent tonight

Will be interesting to see if Rafa rests him on Saturday. Maybe Crouch and Voronin up front?

Kuyt doesn't need resting he is a man machine.

[Shaggy]

A good night for Dirk. Delighted.

10. Not 18 though is it!

[lfcruleus]

I beleive in starts! on tonights performance he is on 12!

[jonesie]

Dirk was superb tonight. I'm well happy for him.

[Reece]

He was our best player on the pitch tonight.

[Guest]

Ultimately he's no where near good enough, but fair play to the lad, he was superb tonight.

You're kidding ? He's a fantastic player, one you won't get often. Fantastic in the sense of the amount of work he puts and the all round excellence of his game. At his best, he can score, defend and set up other players and do all these very well. He's just not flashy enough for some and had for the most part a poor season. But last night, he was close to his best. On that performance alone he deserves to be in the starting 11 and it would take a pretty special player to oust him if he keeps up this level.

He was our best player on the pitch tonight.

But I would probably nominate Gerrard for superbly creating our goal and for his all round excellence once again. Between Kuyt and Gerrard last night, only a cigarette paper stands between them. Mascher & big Sami deserve a big pat too.

[Ron_Mexico]

You're kidding ? He's a fantastic player, one you won't get often. Fantastic in the sense of the amount of work he puts and the all round excellence of his game. At his best, he can score, defend and set up other players and do all these very well. He's just not flashy enough for some and had for the most part a poor season. But last night, he was close to his best. On that performance alone he deserves to be in the starting 11 and it would take a pretty special player to oust him if he keeps up this level.

For me Kuyt is not near good enough- he simply does not offer enough in the attacking third. So many attacks break down when he receives the ball, he either miscontrols it (his touch is appalling) can't keep possession, picks the wrong option, or does not have the quality to pass. his shooting/finishing is equally as poor. workrate is not enough, especially against the best teams, teams we are trying to overtake in the league. if we are going to get there we need better. he's a good squad player and i love his enthusiasm and workrate, but overall i don't think he is good enough to start

i know following that performance against arsenal he probably doesn't deserve criticism, but i'm looking at the bigger picture.

[Guest]

For me Kuyt is not near good enough- he simply does not offer enough in the attacking third. So many attacks break down when he receives the ball, he either miscontrols it (his touch is appalling) can't keep possession, picks the wrong option, or does not have the quality to pass. his shooting/finishing is equally as poor. workrate is not enough, especially against the best teams, teams we are trying to overtake in the league. if we are going to get there we need better. he's a good squad player and i love his enthusiasm and workrate, but overall i don't think he is good enough to start

i know following that performance against arsenal he probably doesn't deserve criticism, but i'm looking at the bigger picture.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

It's difficult for a player to produce that much in an offensive sense when he's doing all these other things well also. I can see why Rafa likes him. He's a manager's dream player, in the sense that he can do so many things. His goal last night was excellent, in the way he pounced on that ball from Stevie.

If he can performat that level on a consistent basis, it would take a special player to displace him, one who will display all of these qualities in one package. You could get a terribly good attacking player but one who's all round game isn't as much polished as Kuyt, and as a team we'll all realize how much we miss him.

[Skillz]

For me Kuyt is not near good enough- he simply does not offer enough in the attacking third. So many attacks break down when he receives the ball, he either miscontrols it (his touch is appalling) can't keep possession, picks the wrong option, or does not have the quality to pass. his shooting/finishing is equally as poor. workrate is not enough, especially against the best teams, teams we are trying to overtake in the league. if we are going to get there we need better. he's a good squad player and i love his enthusiasm and workrate, but overall i don't think he is good enough to start

i know following that performance against arsenal he probably doesn't deserve criticism, but i'm looking at the bigger picture.

Whilst I agree with that sentiment it was much, much better last night. His 1st touch was nowhere near as bad as it has been and IMO has been improving of late.

I think he is slowly warming to the role he has and is now starting to build his confidence again. The goal and performance last night should give him a further boost. Well in Dirky, you may not have enjoyed much of a season but noone can say you have hid and for that alone you deserve much credit.

[Helios Creed]

His hard work and perseverence will be rewarded with a goal in the final.

[Harv]

he's not good enough to start every game in that position. He was great last night, but we need better not he RW if we are to challenge.

[Guest]

he's not good enough to start every game in that position. He was great last night, but we need better not he RW if we are to challenge.

If we get a right back cum winger we're sorted. We need another striker of Torres caliber and another left back to replace JAR and possibly a left winger to replace Harry. If Babel progresses as expected, he might be like another player signed. Based on last night, Dirky is starting 11 material.

[Harv]

If we get a right back cum winger we're sorted. We need another striker of Torres caliber and another left back to replace JAR and possibly a left winger to replace Harry. If Babel progresses as expected, he might be like another player signed. Based on last night, Dirky is starting 11 material.

If we get a Alves type fullback...then yes Kuyt will be solid. He gets into good spots, and a better fullback will be able to take advantage.

Aurelio looked good the past few games he's played IMO. The one player that we have that i would ship out, as much as it hurts me to say, is Xabi. He is not the player he was. I dont know if its due to the injury, or his head is back in Spain already, but he is playing nowhere near his level.

Id ship him back to Spain and get a more attacking player in.

[Guest]

If we get a Alves type fullback...then yes Kuyt will be solid. He gets into good spots, and a better fullback will be able to take advantage.

Aurelio looked good the past few games he's played IMO. The one player that we have that i would ship out, as much as it hurts me to say, is Xabi. He is not the player he was. I dont know if its due to the injury, or his head is back in Spain already, but he is playing nowhere near his level.

Id ship him back to Spain and get a more attacking player in.

Re: Xabi

I think they showed the stats on how much he ran last night and he ran more than 10 kms, more than Kuyt, Stevie and Mascher. He did a lot of donkey work last night. He even reached this figure despite not finishing the match.

I think we maybe ask Xabi too much, as his game is based on keeping possession and to be a calming influence in the center of midfield, which on the whole he does. But I agree, he ain't the one pinging 40-50 yards passes like he did when he first came. His passing is more sloppy right now.

Could be because he hasn't played that much this season, so his fitness isn't up to scratch or that his game has changed a little bit based on his role in the team with Rafa's new system.