Dirk Kuyt

[ElRobbie]

Ive been watching him closely for a while now but last night has confirmed it for me, we really need to replace Kuyt if we are going to continue playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, if you play that formation you need the players in the 3 behind the striker to offer a lot more than Kuyt does.

Yes he works hard there is no denying that but he just doesn;t have the talent we need to unlock defences in that position if we are going to challenge for the title.

In the first 20 mins of the game last night he gave the ball away 3 times, 4 if you include the foul, and he pushed a player over for the goal that was dissallowed so wasted a great chance rather than trying to win it legitimately.

His first touch is dismal, he has no pace, no end product, he can;t really cross very well and his passing is average.

I honestly think once everyone is fit and if Aquilani makes an impact we will be a force again but we desperately need an attacking winger to replace Kuyt who can make an impact and a striker to replace or play with Torres.

When Aquilani is fit we should drop Kuyt.

[SimonNo7]

Ive been watching him closely for a while now but last night has confirmed it for me, we really need to replace Kuyt if we are going to continue playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, if you play that formation you need the players in the 3 behind the striker to offer a lot more than Kuyt does.

Yes he works hard there is no denying that but he just doesn;t have the talent we need to unlock defences in that position if we are going to challenge for the title.

In the first 20 mins of the game last night he gave the ball away 3 times, 4 if you include the foul, and he pushed a player over for the goal that was dissallowed so wasted a great chance rather than trying to win it legitimately.

His first touch is dismal, he has no pace, no end product, he can;t really cross very well and his passing is average.

I honestly think once everyone is fit and if Aquilani makes an impact we will be a force again but we desperately need an attacking winger to replace Kuyt who can make an impact and a striker to replace or play with Torres.

When Aquilani is fit we should drop Kuyt.

I don't think he is the only one with a dismal first touch, there appears to be quite a few who have the same problem. It's the simple things that we seem to have problems with.

When you suggest dropping Kuyt when Aquilani if fit who do you envisage playing on the right as I would have thought that Lucas will be the player to drop out once Aquilani is fit.

One thing I would like to see, and it still involves dropping Kuyt, is Aquilani coming in for Lucas, Stevie moving out to RM and Benny playing behind Torres.

[badpiggy]

when we play badly, kuyt is the easiest one to blame. when we play well, he's like the heart and soul of the team. a necessary evil i think.

[Parr_Zee]

I don't think he is the only one with a dismal first touch, there appears to be quite a few who have the same problem. It's the simple things that we seem to have problems with.

Totally agree, I was thinking the same myself. The Lyon players were passing the ball crisply, and killing the ball with every first touch. It seemed that each of our players 2nd touch after recieving a pass, was a tackle

[Rich]

Kuyt was immense for most of last season, he's reverted back to previous form - but he's a cracking player on form. The whole team is malfunctioning at the moment, to single out Kuyt is imo wide of the mark.

[dww]

I think it's one of those things where confidence is the key. This season most of those criticisms could be laid at Gerrard's door too. We do need to blend the team together better and get confidence back but Kuyt is a key player. I said in the summer I thought another type of option in the 3 behind the striker would be nice unless Babel was to really kick on. At the minute we are asking a lot of those three as both play makers and attacking threats and none of the players we have used have really taken to it. I'm not sure whether it is because they are ill suited or just need to adapt and for us to have a better platform from deeper positions.

I agree with badpiggy that Kuyt is just a convenient scapegoat at the minute. I disagree that Kuyt is any sort of evil though.

[Le Chef]

Dirk's never had a first touch, but to be fair when he first arrived it used to take him 3touches to control, now its around 2.

[carheex]

Ive been watching him closely for a while now but last night has confirmed it for me, we really need to replace Kuyt if we are going to continue playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, if you play that formation you need the players in the 3 behind the striker to offer a lot more than Kuyt does.

That has been obvious for quite some time now. There can't be a less skillful player in top flight football throughout europe.

[MrMichael]

How on earth is Aquilani going to replace Kuyt?

Isn't Dirk like our 2nd top scorer this season so far too?

Played on the right in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with a spine that actually includes fit, quality, creative players, there is no issue with Dirk at all imo. He's just an easy target when things are going badly, and admittedly should never be played as a lone striker in this league, but his return in goals and assists from the right was excellent last year and he was showing signs of doing the same this season before the wheels fell off the whole team's wagon.

Areas of priority (for me)

1) Some sort of genuinely composed and creative playmaking ability in the middle of the park
2) A defence that isn't conceding really stupid goals on a regular basis
3) A consistent left side rather than constant mix and match out there
4) Some real striking options apart from Torres

If we addressed all those first then perhaps we could start looking at the right side... although by that point it might no longer look like an issue.

[qabiri]

If it would make a difference may i suggest break the bank and get Pandev.

[MrMichael]

If it would make a difference may i suggest break the bank and get Pandev.

I have it on good authority that we already did that, there was about £3.50 inside. Oh, and a couple of buttons.

Reckon that would be enough?

[ElRobbie]

I don't think he is the only one with a dismal first touch, there appears to be quite a few who have the same problem. It's the simple things that we seem to have problems with.

When you suggest dropping Kuyt when Aquilani if fit who do you envisage playing on the right as I would have thought that Lucas will be the player to drop out once Aquilani is fit.

One thing I would like to see, and it still involves dropping Kuyt, is Aquilani coming in for Lucas, Stevie moving out to RM and Benny playing behind Torres.

When Aquilani is fit, drop Lucas and play Benni on the right. Then hopefully Aquilani will offer more going forward to support the 3 as well.

We really need a left winger as well as I don't really see Riera or Babel cementing that place and doing well, we could push Aurelio up there but thats not a long term plan.

This is where our problem lies though nobody other than Gerrard and Torres nobody scores enough goals or creates enough.

[cream]

Ive been watching him closely for a while now but last night has confirmed it for me, we really need to replace Kuyt if we are going to continue playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, if you play that formation you need the players in the 3 behind the striker to offer a lot more than Kuyt does.

Yes he works hard there is no denying that but he just doesn;t have the talent we need to unlock defences in that position if we are going to challenge for the title.

In the first 20 mins of the game last night he gave the ball away 3 times, 4 if you include the foul, and he pushed a player over for the goal that was dissallowed so wasted a great chance rather than trying to win it legitimately.

His first touch is dismal, he has no pace, no end product, he can;t really cross very well and his passing is average.

I honestly think once everyone is fit and if Aquilani makes an impact we will be a force again but we desperately need an attacking winger to replace Kuyt who can make an impact and a striker to replace or play with Torres.

When Aquilani is fit we should drop Kuyt.

He played the position perfectly last season. The position is a strikers position, not a wingers position.

[MrMichael]

When Aquilani is fit, drop Lucas and play Benni on the right. Then hopefully Aquilani will offer more going forward to support the 3 as well.

We really need a left winger as well as I don't really see Riera or Babel cementing that place and doing well, we could push Aurelio up there but thats not a long term plan.

This is where our problem lies though nobody other than Gerrard and Torres nobody scores enough goals or creates enough.

Agree with that last bit certainly. I just don't think replacing Kuyt should be that high in the list of priorities, at least he can chip in with some end product at times... not that its feasible anyway given our financial situation, but that's another story.

Personally I don't think Benny is a winger, playing him out on either side seems to minimize his effectiveness imo. I much prefer him playing in an advanced midfield role.

[SimonNo7]

When Aquilani is fit, drop Lucas and play Benni on the right. Then hopefully Aquilani will offer more going forward to support the 3 as well.

We really need a left winger as well as I don't really see Riera or Babel cementing that place and doing well, we could push Aurelio up there but thats not a long term plan.

This is where our problem lies though nobody other than Gerrard and Torres nobody scores enough goals or creates enough.

Yeah Benny on the right is another option and I agree with you about LW/LM.

Babel just isn't good enough, Riera is but lacks pace so I would like to see someone out there with real pace.