My mind is changed, how about yours....

[Reece]

the bottom line is it isn't too much to ask of tireless running and a decent league return. look at tevez for the mancs.

Tevez who is going to cost the Mancs about 3 times what we paid for Kuyt. I'm sure we could find someone better than Kuyt if we could spend £30m on them.

[wiw]

Over the years I was a fan of Whelan and nobody else seemed to appreciate what he brought to the team. I have always been a fan of Kuyt and if anybody would just stop following the ball and watch for what he does off it , you will then really appreciate what he brings to the team. His intelligent running off the ball is magical.. True he has games where his touch lets him down, true his goal scoring record can be average, however he plays in a similar role to Callaghan(never a prolific goal scorer). I wouldn't swop him for anybody else. His work allows him to be a defender ,mid-fielder and forward.We almost have 12 men. If ever there was a duracell-bunny footballer, Dirk epitomises the description. I think he is an essential team member.He always does his shift. er that's it. I'll get my coat

Dad?!

[pondus]

Over the years I was a fan of Whelan and nobody else seemed to appreciate what he brought to the team. I have always been a fan of Kuyt and if anybody would just stop following the ball and watch for what he does off it , you will then really appreciate what he brings to the team. His intelligent running off the ball is magical.. True he has games where his touch lets him down, true his goal scoring record can be average, however he plays in a similar role to Callaghan(never a prolific goal scorer). I wouldn't swop him for anybody else. His work allows him to be a defender ,mid-fielder and forward.We almost have 12 men. If ever there was a duracell-bunny footballer, Dirk epitomises the description. I think he is an essential team member.He always does his shift. er that's it. I'll get my coat

Agree

[carheex]

Not a dig Carheex, just wondering who you think we could realistically get to play Alonso's position who is better? And please don't say Barry

Heskey?

[Reece]

Heskey?

In Alonso's position?

[pondus]

Over the years I was a fan of Whelan and nobody else seemed to appreciate what he brought to the team. I have always been a fan of Kuyt and if anybody would just stop following the ball and watch for what he does off it , you will then really appreciate what he brings to the team. His intelligent running off the ball is magical.. True he has games where his touch lets him down, true his goal scoring record can be average, however he plays in a similar role to Callaghan(never a prolific goal scorer). I wouldn't swop him for anybody else. His work allows him to be a defender ,mid-fielder and forward.We almost have 12 men. If ever there was a duracell-bunny footballer, Dirk epitomises the description. I think he is an essential team member.He always does his shift. er that's it. I'll get my coat

Dad?!

[carheex]

In Alonso's position?

hell yeah - i think he'd make an exceptional holding striker!

[Reece]

hell yeah - i think he'd make an exceptional holding striker!

Serves me right for trying to take you seriously for once I guess.

[RedReet]

So you copied and pasted from "your mind" did you?

No, I did a search for a Xabi related thread and knew you would be there bashing. That was the first I found, and although there were a lot more damning posts/threads, I thought it pretty apt because it almost mirrored what you said in this particular thread about Kuyt (i.e. I based my opinion over a longer period [regardless of circumstances] so I’m obviously right).

I stick by everything I said - Kuyt HAS had a few decent games recently and so has Xabi but over the last 18 months on the whole, both of them have seriously underperformed...in my opinion (not MOTD's!).

Xabi wasn’t fit and Kuyt had problems with his father.

In Xabi's first season he was excellent but hasn't even shown a glimpse of that since. A good start to this season has done nothing to change my mind that he isn't suited to the Premiership, and it doesn't wipe out his poor performances for the last 18 months.

Xabi has had to change his style since his first season because he has a different role in the team, and although he mightn’t be as flamboyant some of his performances have been just as effective which is often missed.

The fickle fans on here forget very quickly in light of the odd spectacular goal, and seem to accept sub standard performances as long as they say the right things in interviews. I'm not so easily fooled and if that's a problem then I apologise.

Ha ha, so where is you’re Xabi out campaign now he’s playing well, after all he was **** for 18 months?

[I][U]Kuyt was bought as a striker (20 goals and 20 assists according to him and Rafa if I remember correctly) and despite getting some important goals, that does not disguise the fact that his lack of composure in the last 3rd of the field means he has underachieved and failed to hit his target continuosly. Sticking him on the right wing might work for a short while but his lack of pace and skill means he'll be found out in no time. A quality striker or a right winger he ain't! We've already had one multi-million pound striker that we stuck on the wing because he couldn't cut the mustard - and he now plays more at his level which is where I'd like to see Kuyt.

I'm not saying that either of them are totally useless - I just think that we should have better players in their positions.

Brilliant, just add he has a bad touch and is too slow to complete the cliché’s.

so do you think we blew 11 million on babel? if the lad doesn't play he won't get a chance to develop.

kuyt and riera can't play all the time but i really do think babel could get himself a game, have a man of the match performance and still be replaced by kuyt next week.

kuyt is rafa's favourite, even when playing **** he gets picked. the same standards are not applied to other players.

as for selling him, rafa's likely to take him with him if/when he goes, before then there's no way it'll happen.

Babel played more or less every game towards the end of last year and was pretty much ineffective. He’s still developing as a player and at the minute he’s best coming from the bench against tiring defences.

Over the years I was a fan of Whelan and nobody else seemed to appreciate what he brought to the team. I have always been a fan of Kuyt and if anybody would just stop following the ball and watch for what he does off it , you will then really appreciate what he brings to the team. His intelligent running off the ball is magical.. True he has games where his touch lets him down, true his goal scoring record can be average, however he plays in a similar role to Callaghan(never a prolific goal scorer). I wouldn't swop him for anybody else. His work allows him to be a defender ,mid-fielder and forward.We almost have 12 men. If ever there was a duracell-bunny footballer, Dirk epitomises the description. I think he is an essential team member.He always does his shift. er that's it. I'll get my coat

[hamshanks]

centre forward who doesn't score goals, limited skill and no pace, so he's not effective as a wide player. Big hearts alone don't win you championships

[RedReet]

centre forward who doesn't score goals, limited skill and no pace, so he's not effective as a wide player. Big hearts alone don't win you championships

****, I never though of it like that???

CF he scored goals for fun in Holland.

Out wide the only league game I can remember us losing was against United. Everyone agrees we hit form when we changed formation last year, the same formation that put Kuyt out wide. This year he’s had to play even deeper but results are still the same. Aye, we’re really suffering playing Kuyt out wide.

[BFG]

****, I never though of it like that???

CF he scored goals for fun in Holland.

Out wide the only league game I can remember us losing was against United. Everyone agrees we hit form when we changed formation last year, the same formation that put Kuyt out wide. This year he’s had to play even deeper but results are still the same. Aye, we’re really suffering playing Kuyt out wide.

You tell them mate.

Seriously though I completely agree with you but gave up with this argument a long time ago. Some people see the more subtle qualities in Kuyt's play and appreciate his overall contribution. Some see it differently.

Fortunately for us and the club Rafa sees it like we do.

[Pablo]

I posted earlier in this thread that Kuyt wouldnt start for any of our competitors, which is a comment I still stand by.

However, that doesnt mean he shouldnt be in our side. Even the top teams have a few players who may not be world beaters, but who perform a vital role for the team.

Im thinking of players like Darren Fletcher and Ji Sung Park. Perrenial under-rated players who do a great job for the team.

Kuyt is one of those for me, not a world beater but a vital squad member. The same could be said for Yossi Benayoun. They are a vital ingredient to a title winning team.

[spider-neil]

I posted earlier in this thread that Kuyt wouldnt start for any of our competitors, which is a comment I still stand by.

However, that doesnt mean he shouldnt be in our side. Even the top teams have a few players who may not be world beaters, but who perform a vital role for the team.

Im thinking of players like Darren Fletcher and Ji Sung Park. Perrenial under-rated players who do a great job for the team.

Kuyt is one of those for me, not a world beater but a vital squad member. The same could be said for Yossi Benayoun. They are a vital ingredient to a title winning team.

those players don't start every league and CL game they are fit for, big difference.

[carheex]

You tell them mate.

Seriously though I completely agree with you but gave up with this argument a long time ago. Some people see the more subtle qualities in Kuyt's play and appreciate his overall contribution. Some see it differently.

Fortunately for us and the club Rafa sees it like we do.

I notice you using a subtle slant on the old "rafa agrees with me so I must be right" line. Rafa wanted to sell Alonso 2 months ago but you didn't. Does that make Rafa wrong now......?