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

[Rashid]

It was Martin Jol who said this, calling him a 20/20 player.

That's why Martin Jol has won **** all in his career.

[Laz]

That's why Martin Jol has won **** all in his career.

I'd do a bit of research before making claims like that if I was you. You might be caught out.

[Joe Le Toff]

If offered 12 million i think id take it.

The points already been made about the chances he misses and i think thats a valid one, along with him being a very limited player. I dont deny hes a grafter but i honestly dont believe that should be considered as to my mind it should be a given when playing top level football.
I like him and his attitude, i just dont feel he's good enough for a top club, but that said hes certainly worthy of a starting place at the moment and hes playing probably the best ive seen from him since he joined.

I dont think he'll ever be sold anyway as long as Rafa is manager.

[El Jefecito]

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.

Not saying you are right or wrong, but FYI, based on the Liege game Babel + Kuyt = 10M!

[Rashid]

I'd do a bit of research before making claims like that if I was you. You might be caught out.

I have, he has won **** all unless you want to count 2 bob trophies.

[El Jefecito]

I have, he has won **** all unless you want to count 2 bob trophies.

Has he won stuff? Laz = 1 - Rashid = 0.


**** off Rash, we're tired of you misrepresenting FACTS.

[Rashid]

A non league title and the Dutch cup?

Right.

[Shanks]

I often judge this on whether he would fit in to the other three teams we are up against, ie Manc, Arse, Chelsea.

Would they be in for Kuyt if he was available etc and would he fit in with their set up.

I hate the fact that we bought him as a striker, then someone decided he would fit out on the wing.

[pondus]

I often judge this on whether he would fit in to the other three teams we are up against, ie Manc, Arse, Chelsea.

Would they be in for Kuyt if he was available etc and would he fit in with their set up.

I hate the fact that we bought him as a striker, then someone decided he would fit out on the wing.

Mancs and the Arse play a totally different type of football to us, so that he wouldn't fit in to their team/system is not so strange.

Why is it a problem that that we bought him as a striker? Players, managers, tactics, personnel etc is a work in progress, there are other examples of players not playing in the same position all their careers.
Hyypia was (apparently) playing as a defensive midfielder when we scouted him.
Plastic-Ronaldo is more of a forward these days, not as much a winger as first thought.
Carra being a prime example of a player taking his time to find his best position.
Henry a winger at Juve, more of a attacker at Arse.

Could probably go on forever.

Doubt that the other three clubs would be in for him if he was sold though, but that doesn't mean he is not good enough for us.

[Shanks]

Mancs and the Arse play a totally different type of football to us, so that he wouldn't fit in to their team/system is not so strange.

Why is it a problem that that we bought him as a striker? Players, managers, tactics, personnel etc is a work in progress, there are other examples of players not playing in the same position all their careers.
Hyypia was (apparently) playing as a defensive midfielder when we scouted him.
Plastic-Ronaldo is more of a forward these days, not as much a winger as first thought.
Carra being a prime example of a player taking his time to find his best position.
Henry a winger at Juve, more of a attacker at Arse.

Could probably go on forever.

Doubt that the other three clubs would be in for him if he was sold though, but that doesn't mean he is not good enough for us.

The difference being:

Kuyt will never be a winger...He isn't a winger...

Henry WAS a winger and hates playing there for Barca


We would take, Drogba, Ronaldo, Adeybayor, Walcott, Tevez, Rooney, Giggs, etc.

They would fit into our way of playing without having to change to much.

They would have to change a lot to accomadate Kuyt.

[dww]

I find it a very odd criticism to say the Kuyt isn't the forward we (as fans) thought he was when he came. He is playing wide and doing well. He has to be judged for what he does bring to the squad not by our original expectations. Just because JC broke into the team as a fullback and originally played as a defensive midfielder does not make him any worse a central defender.

I think we have took at Kuyt as a wide player at the minute, who is capable of doing jobs across the attacking line in effect an attacking utility player. Unlike pondus I think we do play a related tactic to United and as such I think there are comparisons that can be made in their squad. For me they are Park and Rooney and he comes in the middle of the three in quality for me. They all work hard but Rooney ultimately has the most cutting edge. To replace Kuyt in our squad I don't see a player out there who would bring what he does to the team who costs anything other than enormous amounts of cash. Even if we bring in someone (probably of a different style) in who got in the team ahead of him he will always be a huge asset to the squad, much as Park is at United.

[wiw]

I find it a very odd criticism to say the Kuyt isn't the forward we (as fans) thought he was when he came. He is playing wide and doing well. He has to be judged for what he does bring to the squad not by our original expectations. Just because JC broke into the team as a fullback and originally played as a defensive midfielder does not make him any worse a central defender.

I think we have took at Kuyt as a wide player at the minute, who is capable of doing jobs across the attacking line in effect an attacking utility player. Unlike pondus I think we do play a related tactic to United and as such I think there are comparisons that can be made in their squad. For me they are Park and Rooney and he comes in the middle of the three in quality for me. They all work hard but Rooney ultimately has the most cutting edge. To replace Kuyt in our squad I don't see a player out there who would bring what he does to the team who costs anything other than enormous amounts of cash. Even if we bring in someone (probably of a different style) in who got in the team ahead of him he will always be a huge asset to the squad, much as Park is at United.

you and my dad are spot on

[Red Chilli]

I have, he has won **** all unless you want to count 2 bob trophies.

What's a "bob trophy"?

[Reece]

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

I notice you still haven't given me a genuine answer to my question. Who would you realistically replace Alonso with? (Barry aside as that's been done to death)

[Reece]

What's a "bob trophy"?

Well I certainly couldn't win won