Seems like Dirk Kuyt is untouchable

[Bender]

Not aimed at you Kop, just anyone who still thinks Kuyt is gonna get dropped from the team and moans every time he doesn’t regardless of how he plays or the result.

i know mate

[Rashid]

Kuyt playing right, and Gerrard playing right etc is far more down to other players bought for the right - Pennant, Benayoun, Babel etc not stepping up and doing as well as they can there.

[RedReet]

I'd say that the fact that Rafa's about to purchase Riera for the left is a good sign that he thinks Kuyt is holding his position on the right. IMO Babel has far more promise than Kuyt as a winger, so Rafa should be seeking a starting right sided winger to strengthen. Rafa see's Benny and Pennant as nothing more than squad players, Kuyt however plays every game.
Rafa really doesn't seem to have either much luck, any idea or not enough funds to purchase a proper winger. If he has got the financial backing to spend, then he seems to be of the idea that 3 mediocre wingers will be as good as one decent one.

Babel is more of a liability at the minute than Kuyt. Kuyt offers a lot more than Babel with his ball retention and clever movement. Nando has already praised Kuyt for making space for him, but Kuyt also takes up the central role when Nando pulls the defenders out wide. If Reira proves to be half decent and stays out wide then we’ll see a lot more potent attack force.

[Rashid]

This clever movement, how many times have you seen Kuyt move in between the centre back and the right back, splitting open the defence? How many times have our full backs done it? How many times has our left midfielder done it? We need to improve our movement without a doubt.

[FatTony]

Babel is more of a liability at the minute than Kuyt. Kuyt offers a lot more than Babel with his ball retention and clever movement. Nando has already praised Kuyt for making space for him, but Kuyt also takes up the central role when Nando pulls the defenders out wide. If Reira proves to be half decent and stays out wide then we’ll see a lot more potent attack force.

I think Babel offers more than Kuyt as a winger, pace, skill and a wicked boot. He has most of the attributes you'd expect for a winger and you can see the potential. Babel also takes up a central role and is more clinical in front of goal.

Kuyt on the other hand is as good as he's going to get IMO and thats average.

[MrMichael]

"He's also a fantastic teammate, so he's a player any manager would want in his squad. He is always the same in every game and training session – a very good professional and a nice boy."

I couldn't agree with Rafa more on this. In many ways Dirk is a somewhat limited footballer, but he is a cracking pro who only can have a positive impact on the squad in terms of ethos and mentality. Perhaps, in an ideal world he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter, but I genuinely see him as an attacking version of Carragher, and really don't understand the consistent level of negativity aimed towards him from so many of our "fans", whatever the lad does on the pitch.

[Rashid]

I couldn't agree with Rafa more on this. In many ways Dirk is a somewhat limited footballer, but he is a cracking pro who only can have a positive impact on the squad in terms of ethos and mentality. Perhaps, in an ideal world he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter, but I genuinely see him as an attacking version of Carragher, and really don't understand the consistent level of negativity aimed towards him from so many of our "fans", whatever the lad does on the pitch.

I take issue with that. An attacking version of Carragher would be limited defending but absolutely amazing in attack. An attacking version of Carragher is someone like Ronaldo - not Dirk Kuyt.

[MrMichael]

I take issue with that. An attacking version of Carragher would be limited defending but absolutely amazing in attack. An attacking version of Carragher is someone like Ronaldo - not Dirk Kuyt.

No it isn't, that's just missing what I'm trying to say. Jamie Carragher has never been the most technically gifted of players, he's had to work extremely hard to become the player we all know and love. There are plenty of defenders out there with greater technical attributes than Carra, what's set him out for us has been his 110% commitment and willingness to give it all for the red shirt in every single game. Hence why he was never the same player for England, or seen as the same by England.

The analogy I'm making would have someone like Rio Ferdinand as the Ronaldo of defending.

[Vermilion]

No it isn't, that's just missing what I'm trying to say. Jamie Carragher has never been the most technically gifted of players, he's had to work extremely hard to become the player we all know and love. There are plenty of defenders out there with greater technical attributes than Carra, what's set him out for us has been his 110% commitment and willingness to give it all for the red shirt in every single game. Hence why he was never the same player for England, or seen as the same by England.

The analogy I'm making would have someone like Rio Ferdinand as the Ronaldo of defending.

Exactly. Perfectly put, surely Rash gets it now. The Carra analogy is a perfect example of why Kuyt is so valued by Rafa.

As you say Carra has never been the best defender skill wise, but he more than makes for it with that extra will, commitment to a cause, and a never say die attitude....as does Kuyt.....NO ball is a lost cause to these guys.

Their professionalism is a credit to them and their team.

[RedReet]

I think Babel offers more than Kuyt as a winger, pace, skill and a wicked boot. He has most of the attributes you'd expect for a winger and you can see the potential. Babel also takes up a central role and is more clinical in front of goal.

Kuyt on the other hand is as good as he's going to get IMO and thats average.

I agree, but how often do you see Babel put these attributes to good use? When coming off the bench against tiring defenders it works a treat as his pace alone is enough to get past the player. When starting games, unfortunately he struggles at the minute and is quite wasteful in possession.

He should be a lot better off having got his first season under his belt, but I’m glad we got another winger to take some of the pressure off Babel so he can develop at his own rate without the responsibility of playing every week for a team that gets criticised for having useless wingers.

[Tatterdemalion]

I don't think we will ever sign an out and out winger under Rafa, and that's why people get confused about him playing Kuyt 'out there'.

This quote is after the Middlesbro' game, and the context is a comment about El Zhar
Benitez said: "That is the reason why Nabil was a key player for us at the weekend. I was saying to him 'stay wide, stay wide' and he offered the wide areas.

"Andrea Dossena was going forward in the first half and Alvaro Arbeloa in the second half but really our wingers are not players who play on the lines. We have to try through our full-backs and keep the other team back."

I think if you were going to play wingers you wouldn't have to tell them to stay wide. Seems to me that Rafa wants attacking midfielders whom he can push out wide if needs be, but that normally the width will come from the attacking full backs.

So why fuss about Kuyt playing 'right wing'? He's either a good attacking midfielder (or deep lying striker) or not - I don't think he's even playing as a winger is he?

[Scratch]

I actually see this the other way, he's not untouchable, if he was why would rafa have to descibe and pinpoint what he brings to the team and more importantly the squad?

Kuyt is important for the attitude he brings, as we improve though this will not be enough to stay in the side

Attitude though is very, very important

Think that's the point Rafa is trying to make to the team, that attitude is paramount, above skill and above technique...you can be the most skillful player in the world, but if you don't apply yourself, you'll never get anywhere...i'd read his statement as a dig at the team, that certain players are just taking their places for granted, and he's not afraid to drop people.

[Rashid]

Michael I got what you were trying to say the very first time - but see it slightly differently although I do agree with the Ferdinand and Ronaldo comparison.

What I meant was is that Carragher is a defender, great at stopping strikers and his defending itself he is top class. He isn't good on the ball and he isn't great getting forward but at HIS JOB which is to defend he excels.

Kuyt's job is to score goals and to make goals, to get past defenders and make things happen. He doesn't excel at those, he "works hard".... Carragher for one is more than just about working hard, he is a blood good defender. Kuyt works hard but he isn't a "Blood good attacker" - hence for me why the comparison is incorrect.

A good example of a defender who is like Kuyt is Djimi Traore IMO - decent enough, has his detractors but has put in great performances for us in the Champions League.

[MrMichael]

Michael I got what you were trying to say the very first time - but see it slightly differently although I do agree with the Ferdinand and Ronaldo comparison.

What I meant was is that Carragher is a defender, great at stopping strikers and his defending itself he is top class. He isn't good on the ball and he isn't great getting forward but at HIS JOB which is to defend he excels.

Kuyt's job is to score goals and to make goals, to get past defenders and make things happen. He doesn't excel at those, he "works hard".... Carragher for one is more than just about working hard, he is a blood good defender. Kuyt works hard but he isn't a "Blood good attacker" - hence for me why the comparison is incorrect.

A good example of a defender who is like Kuyt is Djimi Traore IMO - decent enough, has his detractors but has put in great performances for us in the Champions League.

OK, understood. However....

I don't think Kuyt's attacking play is at all as bad as people make out. His goal return last season was not good enough, but he does tend to weigh in with a good number of assists too. You say "Kuyt's job is to score goals and to make goals, to get past defenders and make things happen" - is that the job Rafa is asking him to do, or the job we would like to see him do?

Revisiting the Carragher analogy, he had a spell earlier in his Anfield career when people thought he didn't have enough technical ability to make it, and for a long time was played as a full back, where some of the usually required attributes were not really his at all. A bit like Kuyt at the moment. But Carra's determination, desire, and awareness of his own strengths and limitations then played a major part in allowing him to become the legend he is today.

I would like to make it clear that I'm not saying Kuyt is the best thing since sliced bread, I'm more than aware of his limitations and the need we have in our squad and first team for more genuinely creative and classy wide men who could make the position he currently occupies their own, but some of the outright abuse the lad gets from sections of our own fanbase is simply disgusting, as well as impossibly myopic in view of what he actually puts into doing for the team. A player like Kuyt adds something different to the squad, his workrate and attitude are not just "good" but outstanding, and I believe could genuinely contribute something to a title challenge if (and its a big if), the balance, fluidity and overall technical quality of the other players around him is good enough.

[Craig_H]

I hope Kuyt bags a goal tonight, it'd do his confidence a lot of good. Keane too.