My man of the match

[Skillz]

Gerrard was MOM by miles imo.

Oustanding performance in every respect, looked the complete midfielder.

I havent seen anyone comment about how after, after last years substitution for being
too passionate, this year he was controlled, measured and showed that he had perhaps learned a lesson.

Its the best performance ive seen from him in a long long time.

Me too. He has more productive games but it's the best game he has played in CM for a long time. I have no doubt Rafa reminded him of what he wanted from him in this game and I bet Rafa is ecstatic with Gerrards performance.

[rage]

Rafa also sold his 2nd striker in the close season and binned off his 4th choice it was obvious he was going to purchase someone else not because he didn't think kuyt could do a job there but because we were pretty short in that department. If he thought Kuyt wasn't good enough do you really think he would have played him upfront with Keane against the champions of England and Europe?

As for Kuyt's weaknesses I started this thread to discuss Kuyts performance on Saturday NOT to bleat on about the same old stuff the Kuyt bashers bleat on about. The lad played well on Saturday but posters like you give him praise for 2 seconds before you start slagging him off again.

It's a joke.

really? a joke or just selective interpretation, something you're just as capable of doing as I. For instance, perhaps he started with keane and kuyt because torres had been injured? what's a joke is that people like you open threads about players in a forum with different views then get upset when you get a differing opinion. Have you actually read what i said about him? what particular did you disagree with?

[Pacman]

really? a joke or just selective interpretation, something you're just as capable of doing as I. For instance, perhaps he started with keane and kuyt because torres had been injured? what's a joke is that people like you open threads about players in a forum with different views then get upset when you get a differing opinion. Have you actually read what i said about him? what particular did you disagree with?

Perhaps you misunderstand me.

I started this thread in praise of Kuyt's performance on Saturday. This thread wasn't started so people can highlight Kuyt's deficiencies or comment on why you or anyone else thinks he isn't good enough to play for Liverpool.

I know Kuyt has got his limitations and I don't think he's a world class winger but I DO think he played well on Saturday and I think he deserves praise for that. Why do you have to give him praise in one sentence and then in the next make a comment on him not being good enough? Do you find it difficult to praise any player who you clearly don't like without then having a little pop?

[El Jefecito]

Rafa wrote a column during the Euros about pretty players vs. effective players (I can't find it, can anyone else?).

The trouble I think is that a few on here know how to spot a pretty player but couldn't tell an effective player if he shafted them up the arse. Kuyt is effective and definitely not pretty, hence the hard press and on here. And hence why intellectuals of the game a la Rafa continue to pick him.

Liege, Manure, Everton we wouldn't have won those games without his (spit) effectiveness.

[rage]

[QUOTE=Pacman;1170396]Perhaps you misunderstand me.

I started this thread in praise of Kuyt's performance on Saturday. This thread wasn't started so people can highlight Kuyt's deficiencies or comment on why you or anyone else thinks he isn't good enough to play for Liverpool.

I know Kuyt has got his limitations and I don't think he's a world class winger but I DO think he played well on Saturday and I think he deserves praise for that. Why do you have to give him praise in one sentence and then in the next make a comment on him not being good enough? Do you find it difficult to praise any player who you clearly don't like without then having a little pop?[/QUOTE]

the first bit i agree with. as for the latter, i did praise him BUT praise also commented on what he didn't do well.

i remember one game where after the final whistle went, rafa came on the pitch clearly unhappy with one of our players even though he'd played well and we'd won. i think it was alonso or garcia. there is clearly room for improvement as far as he was concerned, for me - that is the mentality of a winner.

my observations of kuyt in the context of this thread was made in a similar manner. even though there were some positives in kuyt's performance there are other areas where he falls short.

[dww]

I have to say that in the last two games Kuyt has added a lot to the team despite playing in the position I don't think really suits him. Admittedly both have been against teams with poor midfields but at the minute his movement and link play with the forwards is really benefiting the team more that I would have thought. Not sure that we could play him there with Mascher in the middle though.