The new Dirk kuyt thread

[rage]

Or maybe, just maybe we could keep him as a valuable asset to the squad.

Rafa says "every team needs a player like Kuyt" and he's right.

squad player fine, starting 11 week in week out as the preferred option in a 4231 no thanks, we need better if we're to compete for the title next year.

[BFG]

squad player fine, starting 11 week in week out as the preferred option in a 4231 no thanks, we need better if we're to compete for the title next year.

Don't really agree, we need better options though for sure.

Against Arsenal a player like Kuyt on the right was invaluable as his workrate and intelligence nulified the attacking threat of Clichy but against worse teams that are going to sit back and try and get a draw we maybe need someone with a little more invention in the final third and their defensive work and game intelligence may not be so important. Horses for courses mate.

[DeeTheDog]

squad player fine, starting 11 week in week out as the preferred option in a 4231 no thanks, we need better if we're to compete for the title next year.

Who would you suggest?

As one Dirk's strongest advocates, I am glad to see his name linked to thread not full of vitriol for a player who gives 100% every game.

By his own admission, he was not up to the standard required for half this season. That is a fact that cannot be denied; however, since being dropped by Holland and with the change to our formation, he has been a integral part of our success, with the defeat to United as the only blot, in which he was head and shoulders, our best player.

He appears to have the ability to score important goals in vital games, which is a priceless commodity; we certainly would not be in the semi final of one of the most challenging competitions in the world, without his contribution.

I think many do his technique a disservice, he has controlled some extremely difficult balls, has the ability to beat a man one on one and if you look back at his career has incredible shot technique.

This coupled with his undeniable workrate and endeavour, creates a fine asset to any team.

[Vermilion]

Above post......

[rage]

Who would you suggest?

As one Dirk's strongest advocates, I am glad to see his name linked to thread not full of vitriol for a player who gives 100% every game.

By his own admission, he was not up to the standard required for half this season. That is a fact that cannot be denied; however, since being dropped by Holland and with the change to our formation, he has been a integral part of our success, with the defeat to United as the only blot, in which he was head and shoulders, our best player.

He appears to have the ability to score important goals in vital games, which is a priceless commodity; we certainly would not be in the semi final of one of the most challenging competitions in the world, without his contribution.

I think many do his technique a disservice, he has controlled some extremely difficult balls, has the ability to beat a man one on one and if you look back at his career has incredible shot technique.

This coupled with his undeniable workrate and endeavour, creates a fine asset to any team.

fine. i think he's limited you don't, i've yet to see him beat a man one on one regardless of whether he has the ability to do so, as for controlling some extremely difficult balls i've seen him regularly have a poor touch.

as for better players - from the top 3 teams i'd take anyone of their comparable players that could play in that position. Even from the lower teams i think the likes of robbie keane or bentley would do a better job.

Not doubting that he hasn't done well recently but good enough as a regular in a premiership winning team far from it

[hamshanks]

Kuyt worked hard again, admirably so, but he's still not a wide midfield player. Ask yourself who would you prefer out wide Dirk or Walcott?

[Shaggy]

I can’t think of a single top team in world football who has a Kuyt equivalent in their first team – i.e. a workaholic ‘defensive forward’ who doesn’t really score any goals.

United have Tevez who works his bollocks off, just like Dirk, but a) he’s not a regular and b) he scores goals and offers plenty going forward.

There’s a place for him in the squad but we can’t afford to have Dirk making 40 odd starts next season. We can never win the league with Kuyt as a regular whether it’s up front or on the right in a 4231.

[dom9]

he's been asked to play a new role 'cos he's **** at the role he's been bought for. Nevermind, if so many of you on here rate him maybe some dutch team will buy him back form 7 or 8 million or we could px him for Huntelllar

You could argue that he is playing there because Pennant is **** at the role he was bought for too.

[Vermilion]

Are there people here actually saying he deserves a place in the first eleven ? As far as i can see it's a place in the squad that's being suggested. Which the people arguing against Kuyt seem to agree with.

[Parm]

I think over the past few months, he has adapted to the new role very well and bought himself at least another year with us. Well done Dirk,

[dom9]

Are there people here actually saying he deserves a place in the first eleven ? As far as i can see it's a place in the squad that's being suggested. Which the people arguing against Kuyt seem to agree with.

I would say at the moment yes, because the alternative, Pennant, is not up to the job against the best teams. Pennant is a weak link, Kuyt is not as much. Next season, it should be a different story hopefully.

[DeeTheDog]

Kuyt worked hard again, admirably so, but he's still not a wide midfield player. Ask yourself who would you prefer out wide Dirk or Walcott?

Walcott is a young player with a few excellent cameos but has yet to prove himself at the highest level. He could turn out to be an excellent player but at this present stage I would rather have Kuyt, who as mentioned before has a knack of scoring important goals in big games and can handle big game pressure.

I can’t think of a single top team in world football who has a Kuyt equivalent in their first team – i.e. a workaholic ‘defensive forward’ who doesn’t really score any goals.

United have Tevez who works his bollocks off, just like Dirk, but a) he’s not a regular and b) he scores goals and offers plenty going forward.

Tevez and Kuyt are not comparable, United will end up paying almost £30 million for a undoubtably a World Class player.

For a player who was bang out of form for half a season 10 goals and 10 assists is a good return, especially as they are now being deployed on the inside right.

Many players have bad seasons for whatever reasons, you only need to look at Nando's return last season.

Since the defeat by Barnsley and the reverting to the new formation, we have played 11, won 9 including Inter, Everton, Arsenal, Drawn 2, and were beat as usual by United. That looks like a team that could certainly challenge for the title and Kuyt is an integral part.

[Vermilion]

I remember his first few games for us, he was ok, he hit the woodwork so many times it was unreal & a little unfair, if a couple of those had gone in who knows, ( yes i know..Aunty..Bollocks...Uncle) but things like that can have an effect on players.

[Vermilion]

I would say at the moment yes, because the alternative, Pennant, is not up to the job against the best teams. Pennant is a weak link, Kuyt is not as much. Next season, it should be a different story hopefully.

Ah no, i agree, i'm more talking about next season when we have hopefully bought well. I would advocate keeping him as a squad player, but yes at present he's worth his place while the goals are flowing from elsewhere.

[dww]

I can’t think of a single top team in world football who has a Kuyt equivalent in their first team – i.e. a workaholic ‘defensive forward’ who doesn’t really score any goals.

United have Tevez who works his bollocks off, just like Dirk, but a) he’s not a regular and b) he scores goals and offers plenty going forward.

There’s a place for him in the squad but we can’t afford to have Dirk making 40 odd starts next season. We can never win the league with Kuyt as a regular whether it’s up front or on the right in a 4231.

I think in some ways that is fair enough comment. I think putting a number of games that is too many is unfair and actually in general I think that teams like Chelsea have done well this season while a number of players have been contributing little on a regular basis. I think the big difference is we need to bring in more players in the team and squad who offer goal threat.

I actually think we need to look at the combinations of players in the team. We certainly can't afford to have two fullbacks who never score, no centre backs chipping in with headers on a regular basis (assuming Sami is no longer a first choice next year), Alonso and Mascher in midfield and Kuyt. Whether if we replaced Alonso with a more regular threat and improved a couple of the other areas he could be more easily accommodated is open for debate.

Obviously a reasonable model is United and they have CBs who chip in, no goals from central midfield, few from FB and 3 or 4 attacking players all capable of getting goals. However a lot for the recent match against us they have played Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes as the attacking 4 with Scholes and Giggs between them having mustered 4 goals this season. So a lot of the way they play big games is about control of the ball and the areas of play - on form Kuyt is very good at this but off form like he was for a large part of this season he puts no fear into the opposition.

I do wonder whether we will get closer to United next season merely by the fact a year on Scholes and Giggs will be less effective and if we can have Agger, Skrtel and Carra fit for an extended period then their experience and psychological fear causing ability is reduced and our defense should be expected to improve.