Kuyt

[Mattshark]

Dirk's one of my favourite players. I know exactly what he can't do (although, anyone see that 60 yard cross field ball not so long ago?),

Against Villa to Riera for the pen?

[The Birdman]

League? Really?

Riera baffles me a bit. He's had some great games, and some anonymous ones; he was poor against ManU but great v Villa. Goal scoring is not something I think he'll ever be very regular at, which is a bit of a quandry was really we need both the wide right and left players in this formation to be weighing in with close to double figures/season. Particularly as Masch/Alonso rarely find the net.

For me Riera has added a calmness in possession, we keep the ball so much better now, he is always available to receive it from whoever is playing left back and we have played far fewer long punts upfield as a consiquence.
Technically very good and although maybe not as spectacular as Babel can be he is much more reliable and a threat in the air

[RedReet]

Good thread.





Dirk's one of my favourite players. I know exactly what he can't do (although, anyone see that 60 yard cross field ball not so long ago?), and do feel our squad could do with an alternative in that position that has different attributes from him, but with goals in his game Dirk Kuyt adds massively to our team and is a fantastic example to every young player in the squad.

If only I could find the thread from last summer in which I bet someone on here he's score 10+ this season.

I too was wondering who made that bet when reading this thread. Don't think it was as early as summer though, nearly sure Dirk already had a couple of goals when the bet was made.

[kev776]

Tautology.

Bitch.

You're just avin a pop cos I never went to Uni, but I can use Google.

[Craig_H]

Well he is only 3 off that.

Riera has 3 league goals mate, so he's got less than half the '7 or 8' i mentioned.

[MrMichael]

I'm not so sure about this. I think a valid alternative is to get more goals from set pieces. I think Riera does a decent job of getting into the middle when playing well and always gives the team good shape. I think we need players in the squad certainly if not the team whose primary job is to stretch teams. Unlike Pennant for example Riera does this and adds some threat on goal.

I don't disagree with any of that, I like Riera, but he is more of a wide midfield player than a wide forward. As a whole the rest of our team do need to be supporting Gerrard and Torres a bit better on the goal scoring front, and this formation does put a lot of pressure on the 2 wide players to be a major part of that imo.

[Craig_H]

Good thread.





Dirk's one of my favourite players. I know exactly what he can't do (although, anyone see that 60 yard cross field ball not so long ago?), and do feel our squad could do with an alternative in that position that has different attributes from him, but with goals in his game Dirk Kuyt adds massively to our team and is a fantastic example to every young player in the squad.

If only I could find the thread from last summer in which I bet someone on here he's score 10+ this season.

That 60 yard ball is exactly what he can do when he's given time and space. I've often said that when he's put under pressure, he doesnt have the pace or power to cope with that very well, but when he has time and space, he can be deadly. Both in terms of finishing (i mean clear chances, not shots from the edge of the box) and in terms of direct passes, or crosses.

That's one reason why he finds it so much easier on the right, there's more space and he's less likely to run into 'traffic', compared to playing as a centre forward.

[dww]

I don't disagree with any of that, I like Riera, but he is more of a wide midfield player than a wide forward. As a whole the rest of our team do need to be supporting Gerrard and Torres a bit better on the goal scoring front, and this formation does put a lot of pressure on the 2 wide players to be a major part of that imo.

I may have said this before () but I think that a more dynamic central midfielder would help.

[Craig_H]

League? Really?

No. Dont listen to Mattshark, he must've been meaning all comps. Riera has 3 league goals, 1 FA Cup goal and 1 CL goal.

[Charlie_B]

Riera's goal return is poor really, considering how well he played at the start of the season, and how well he's started playing recently. His technique would suggest he's capable of many more.

Kuyt is an ace player to have in the squad. His fitness and workrate are second to none, and in the last 18 months or so he has followed that up will consistantly good performances.

[MrMichael]

I too was wondering who made that bet when reading this thread. Don't think it was as early as summer though, nearly sure Dirk already had a couple of goals when the bet was made.

I may be getting 2 arguments, and possibly even 2 summers confused, been going in circles about Kuyt for ages on here, but I found this in the trash from last July

Not that I particularly want Dirk as first choice for that position either, but I'd bet anyone a significant amount that Kuyt would get more goals and assists for us from that position than Quaresma ever would.

I'd take that bet everyday of the week.

Quaresma may do well there if signed. Kuyt will not. Dirk is a striker, not a RF or RW.

Kuyt did pretty well for us there in some very big games in the latter half of last season. Tell you what, if we sign Quaresma (which we won't), you're on

[MrMichael]

Riera's goal return is poor really, considering how well he played at the start of the season, and how well he's started playing recently. His technique would suggest he's capable of many more.

Kuyt is an ace player to have in the squad. His fitness and workrate are second to none, and in the last 18 months or so he has followed that up will consistantly good performances.

Indeed.

Hey stranger

[Kenneth]

I don't disagree with any of that, I like Riera, but he is more of a wide midfield player than a wide forward. As a whole the rest of our team do need to be supporting Gerrard and Torres a bit better on the goal scoring front, and this formation does put a lot of pressure on the 2 wide players to be a major part of that imo.

Think you mean he is not a wingforward.

[MrMichael]

Think you mean he is not a wingforward.

[Neil Young]

Bitch.

You're just avin a pop cos I never went to Uni, but I can use Google.

I would never have a pop at you. Quite apart from any other reason, you might shoot me.