Dirk & Keane

[mchaggis]

Well then he shouldn't have been in the squad. Being on form is 95% about being confident & having Keane as an unused sub isn't gonna help his confidence, is it?
All I'm saying is he needs games as much as anyone.
As the saying goes form is temporary, class is permanent - but without game time u cannot change your form can u?

Just cause Shaggy doesn't fancy him he shouldn't have been in?
Uhm, ok.

We won 5-1, Dirk played really well, Keane played 90 mins 2 days ago. Sounds just ok.

[rage]

first of all me and the guys used to call dirk - dirk donkey (harse i know but plenty on here have called him at least that b4 people start), then it was dirk danger (especially after his late winners against city in the champions league qualifier and the overhead against wigan i think) now he's known as dirk decoy - he's our decoy frontman and the goals come from everywhere else.

he plays his best on the right of a 4231 and yes i do think even though we won comfortably today, keane should have played some part.

i actually think we're a striker short. babel is never played as a striker so that leaves keane, torres, n'gog and kuyt. n'gog for me at the very least needs time and has shown very little even though he's had considerable pitch time.

[Nick77]

Just cause Shaggy doesn't fancy him he shouldn't have been in?
Uhm, ok.

We won 5-1, Dirk played really well, Keane played 90 mins 2 days ago. Sounds just ok.

If he had a slight injury then he shouldn't have been included rather than the embarrasment of an unused sub

[Draxdor]

The 1 & ONLY negative from today's game is that Dirk started & played 70 odd mins & did absolutely bugger all & Keane was an unused sub!

Because gawd knows we can't let a game go by without one of our beloved negatives

[dww]

Kuyt was good today, decent movement, good linkup play and he retained possession well. Not much of a goal threat, which is odd for the lone striker, but he played well.

The movement from all four front players was outstanding today. Came close to the sort of fluidity that United showed last season using the 4-6-0 type formation.

[wiw]

Kuyt was good today, decent movement, good linkup play and he retained possession well. Not much of a goal threat, which is odd for the lone striker, but he played well.

I thought he was excellent. He was very selfless and I can't remember him losing the ball. He was the reason we could make so many runs from midfield

[Pass-move]

Thought it was a bizarre decision to drop Keane. 3 goals in 2 games and he's 'rested' while Kuyt again leads the line despite being well off the pace recently. Can't be great for Keane's confidence knowing he'll be dropped regardless of his form.

I know it's a 'squad' game, etc, but 'rotation' seemingly only applies to certain players.

That said, you can't argue with the result, but still a strange one.

[Neil Young]

The 1 & ONLY negative from today's game is that Dirk started & played 70 odd mins & did absolutely bugger all & Keane was an unused sub!
How the hell is the man supposed 2 get into his stride if he doesn't play?!
Kuyt cannot play as a lone striker or as a striker at all 4 that matter as he has absolutely NO 1st touch! He can only play & should only be played on the right or not play at all imo...
And also playing Ngog ahead of Keane also does not do Keane's confidence any good either, that is my 1 & only criticism of Rafa.
But I must say Lucas is starting 2 turn into a decent player so I can't criticise Rafa about him anymore

I can't believe what I just read.
Shaggy hit the nail on the head.
Apart from this everything has been said:
What a bloody silly idea for a thread.

[dww]

I can't believe what I just read.
Shaggy hit the nail on the head.
Apart from this everything has been said:
What a bloody silly idea for a thread.

[Nick77]

I can't believe what I just read.
Shaggy hit the nail on the head.
Apart from this everything has been said:
What a bloody silly idea for a thread.

Ok genius, let's c what happens when we need Keane to perform & he doesn't deliver because he hasn't played very much - idiot! My point is VERY valid because what if we play a match where we need our striker 2 actually score a goal or 2?

[Woobus]

Ok genius, let's c what happens when we need Keane to perform & he doesn't deliver because he hasn't played very much - idiot! My point is VERY valid because what if we play a match where we need our striker 2 actually score a goal or 2?

Keane has played a part in 25 matches for us, I dont think sitting out one match when he played 90 minutes 2 days before will make him that rusty lol.

[MrMichael]

Keane has played quite a lot really. And having been left out once or twice, he's then produced his best performances of the season.

He was left out - and we scored 5. No problem. He'll be even fitter and fresher for the next game he is selected. Ace. No real reason for calling people names then is there?

Oh, and Kuyt played very well in that game, his tireless running created a hell of a lot of space to be exploited by the likes of Gerrard. Benitez took a bit of a gamble.. and it paid off in style.

[redlancer]

Everyone presumes leaving him out is denting his confidence, seems a stronger person than that. And being left out in a 5-1 win and after 2 good performances on the face of it looks 100% tactics.
If Rafa's plans are for him and Torres to strike up a partnership, then the 2nd half of the season when Torres comes back it could be a good move to keep him fresh.

As for having a go at Kuyt, the loan striker in a 5-1 win is beyond me.
Rafa's tactics were spot on.

[Rix007]

good thing with Keane and Alonso...With the pressure on for 2009. CL / FA CUP / PL we need all our players hungry and raring to go. Good on u Rafa, now take us to the finishing line and all this rotation will hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread...Look what rotation did for Fergie's side last season.

[bobbyfallon]

by no means a kuyt fan but i thought he done well. only seen highlights though.