Dirk Kuyt

[Red Chilli]

Aren't you happy with his goal return thus far? He's only went 2 games without a goal which is hardly a drought is it? He has settled reasonably well so far and has contributed not only goals but also assists. Look at Drogba for example, everyone thought that they had signed a donkey for the last 2 seasons and look at him now. Henry was the same when he signed for the arse and Kuyt has settled better than either of those 2 did in their first 5 months here.

He'll be a huge succes and will contribiute at least 15 league goals per season for us over the next few years IMHO.

I think I said earlier in the thread I'm happy with him so far, so happy that he's in my fantasy team. He works hard contributes a lot and will score freely when he settles in etc etc. But he's hardly what I'd call a goal machine, just a very good forward.

[REDSCOUSER]

I think I said earlier in the thread I'm happy with him so far, so happy that he's in my fantasy team. He works hard contributes a lot and will score freely when he settles in etc etc. But he's hardly what I'd call a goal machine, just a very good forward.

We'll start calling him a goal machine come next season

[Flake]

if my memory serves correctly he's actually doing better in terms of goal return, tha van horse face did when he first moved to the scum...

[willa1975]

I like Kuyt, but I thought Crouch should have been brought on earlier on Saturday. Kuyt had a poor performance by his standards.

Overall, I like him. His finishing definitely could stand some improvement. However, in general he does contribute well to the overall team play, and has to be accounted for. I think he's a very smart player--way more often than not, when he gives away the ball, it's the execution rather than the idea that's lacking. And his control, for the most part is quite good--for example, his goal against Spurs, where he did a tremendous job to control a difficult pass from Garcia that was played behind him.

But his performance on Saturday was far from up to snuff, and I would have brought on Crouch much earlier.

[Shaggy]

What were you expecting from him, shaggy?

I thought he was an out and out goalscorer....a finisher.

[AFII]

Kuyt is very hard working and complete striker and that is why he is our number one striker. Our other strikers is good at one thing. Bellamy have his pace, Crouch is a very good link up player and Robbie is good in the box.

Kuyt is a much more complete striker than any of them. He isn't top class at anything but he is very good at almost everything on the pitch.

[Neil Young]

Kuyt was purchased on the strength of 83 goals in 122 games for Feyenoord. Enlighten us....how have you concluded that he isn't a goalscorer?

Was he purchased for that reason? How do you know that? Are you Rafa?

Or are you claiming as true something that backs your point-of-view even though you have no evidence to support your contention?

You saw him as a goalscorer. I didn't.

[AFII]

If Rafa wanted just a goalscorer then he would probably have signed Huntelaar. He is a better finisher than Kuyt but not as complete as Kuyt is.

Another difference is that Kuyt is a team player and always will give 100% for the team.

[philred10]

Kuyt will do fine for us i reckon and will probably be our prem top scorer. i do worry about him having an effect in the big away games as he is a bit one dimensional. for that reason i think next season we could do with another forward who can do the unexpected and win a match with a moment of brilliance, for me i would choose ibrahimovic but thats just me.

for me thierry henry summed up what it is to be a natral goalscorer when he was talking about playing with david trezeguet, he said the ball would hit the post and land right at his feet, same scenario and henry would stand where trezeguet was, the ball would bounce differently right to trezeguet again for another tap in. in other words pure instict that even someone of the calibre of henry cant learn.

[carheex]

Was he purchased for that reason? How do you know that? Are you Rafa?

Or are you claiming as true something that backs your point-of-view even though you have no evidence to support your contention?

You saw him as a goalscorer. I didn't.

I'm pretty sure he was bought as a goalscorer - after all, his record aside, we stepped up our interest in him at a time when the likes of crouch, morientes, cisse etc couldn't score to save their lives. that said, i started a thread a week or 2 ago expressing the same concerns as the person who started this one, ie kuyt looks like a very good footballer but not the goalscorer we were hoping for.

[Redspin]

A talent like Fowler has isn't just taught, although he needs training and coaching to refine that talent, whereas, in my opinion a player like Owen had far less natural goalscoring talent, but really knuckled down to succeed.

With respect, if you don't think that Owen was a natural goalscorer you know nothing about football. The guy is one of the greatest strikers ever to grace the English game. His mark on the game will be a lot more significant than Fowler's when they've both hung up their boots.

[Redspin]

Owen is/was a very good finisher, blessed with an unbelievable turn of pace over 5-10 metres, but he also blew hot and cold, and as we have seen, his sheer pace was something that his body couldn't live with, let alone 6' defenders.

All strikers blow hot and cold. Owen isn't all just pace, he's a very intelligent player who works his socks off, always scores goals at every level (Fowler was a flop at international level) and is an absolute certainty to become England's all-time record goalscorer before too long. To be honest I've never really warmed to Owen, but this laughable deification of Fowler and begrudging comments about Owen - a far superior player as the record books will show - is completely barmy.

[Michael]

In my eyes the best example of a natural goal scorer is somebody who ends up in a position to score a tap from close range, when another player might not think there is a chance to be taken, often using any part of his body….. quite a few examples of Rush and Fowler doing that… less examples of Henry, hence peoples instinct that he isn’t the natural predator/fox in the box that his stats suggest.

For example… Shearer once scored a goal for Newcastle against us with his knee…. He was 5 yards out following up at the back post…. On instinct….

There is the subtle difference between a natural goal scorer and a gifted goal scorer….

Not explained my self well here….. I hope you get my point!

[Michael]

for me thierry henry summed up what it is to be a natral goalscorer when he was talking about playing with david trezeguet, he said the ball would hit the post and land right at his feet, same scenario and henry would stand where trezeguet was, the ball would bounce differently right to trezeguet again for another tap in. in other words pure instict that even someone of the calibre of henry cant learn.

thats it mate... that is what I was trying to say!!!

[disco]

Am I the only one who thinks he is a natural finisher, and probably the best finisher in the team?

Watch any striker, the best in the world, and see what chances they miss. We're over-analysing the last game