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Liverpool Need To Replace Dirk Kuyt To find A Cutting Edge
Liverpool proved yesterday against Manchester City that they should only fear their own profligacy rather than any team, but is it time that the Dutchman was replaced?
Dirk celebrates successive five-yard passes
Liverpool proved yesterday against Manchester City that they should only fear their own profligacy rather than any team, but is it time that the Dutchman was replaced?
It might be time to send Dirk out to pasture
I love Dirk Kuyt. His enthusiasm, constant harrying of opposition defenders and love for the club have made him a player that Liverpool can always count on when the chips are down. Yet when the chips are up, as they were for long periods against Manchester City yesterday, his inability to keep control in the tightest areas, and also his at times woeful passing, lead to too many potentially good moves breaking down at this feet. Replacing Kuyt with a player of similar indefatigability yet increased technique will be a huge ask and will, undoubtedly, cost in excess of £15 million. But Liverpool are increasingly profligate at present, and with Suarez playing as a false nine and finding goals hard to come by, the players wide of him in advanced positions also need to start chipping in if our rapidly emerging style of football is to bear fruit at the business end of the season. Neither Downing or Kuyt, who have started the majority, have scored in the league. Contrast this with the other teams in the top seven and we’re lagging.
Aldo, although not quick, had the instinctive movement of a predator. Carroll hasn’t, and it’s a huge problem.
More than ever, we need Steven Gerrard
A few months ago I wrote an article stating that Liverpool were a better team without Steven Gerrard, arguing that other players stepped up in his absence. I stand by what I said at the time, but now that Adam has joined Lucas in cementing his place in the midfield, we need the skipper back in the side and back to his best. I saw a lot of fans giving Henderson hammer on Twitter and forums yesterday. Technically, I think he’s fine, he’s neat in possession and offers good support positions to his teammates, but physically he isn’t ready. Adam, Lucas and Gerrard all bristle with physicality. Lucas had Yaya Toure’s number yesterday, which is no mean feat, and Adam outplayed Gareth Barry in every aspect. One can only imagine then, how things would’ve panned out if Gerrard had been on the pitch. Although yesterday was a day of positives – besting the league leaders and being incredibly unfortunate not to win – we need a cuter edge to the often-frenetic passing and also someone who is deadly from range.
Andy Carroll can’t be a £35m super sub.
On a number of occasions yesterday before the big fella was summoned from the bench, Liverpool whipped cross after cross into the box only to see them wasted. Despite nearly winning the game with that stooping header, the deliveries into the box got worse when Carroll was on. In all honesty, I’m not sure this is Carroll’s fault. The team without him are set up to play a fast pass and move game the puts the opposition on the back foot, yet when he comes on the pace has to drop. In Liverpool’s sense there is nothing wrong with this, if you are going to have a super-sub, why shouldn’t it be a hulking centre-forward who scares the bejeesus out of opposition defenders. Yet for Carroll there is no benefit. Every game he sits on the bench and fails to score when he comes on will fuel the media’s obsession with his price, and no matter how much Kenny protects him, his mindset will become increasingly negative. I’d love nothing better than to see a style of football evolve that can get the best out of Suarez and Carroll as a pair, but can’t see it happening. Carroll was said to be the Aldridge of Kenny’s new team with Suarez the Beardsley, but Aldo, although not quick, had the instinctive movement of a predator. Carroll hasn’t, and it’s a huge problem.
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COMMENTS
Good article , i agree 100 % Ive has said time and again Kuyt has to be replaced , he offers nothing for the team except for running around like a headless chicken , very clumsy ,cannot control a ball, Maxi is a better player and can score goals, Maxi should have started yesterday against Man City considering he scored at Chelsea,KD has to find replacement for Kuyt and quickly as well, otherwise we can prepare to play Europa League next season
I can see where you're coming from with this Owen, i do really like Kuyt but at times he can slow our play down and give defenders the chance to get back into position when we're on the counter. One thing i do like about Kuyt though is his decision making, hes never had the best technique in the world but i think he has a half decent footballing brain, that pull back for Adam in the first half yesterday was great awareness. To be honest i've been more disappointed with Downing, especially after his decent performance for England (against Sweden). Twice yesterday the ball came back to him on the edge of the box and i, like you, was thinking if only that was Stevie G. We've got a winnable run of games now and i'm hoping we'll be top 4 by end of the year (fingers, toes, everything crossed!)
Good article in relation to the question pitcher about kuijt then I'm of the opinion that Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo is the answer to that.
Dirk (or 'Derek' as we call him) has a great third touch. Unfortunately, his first touch is so bad that his second touch usually involves a tackle of some description. But if he gets that third touch, then it's usually quite good. However, let's not forget who won the ball off City and passed the ball to Charlie Adam for our goal yesterday. Dirk's a legend, leave him be.
Kuyt is a good squad player and is not a week in week out starter anymore, however replacing him with somebody with his work rate is hard given that a lot of wingers now don't have the nonestop running he does. As for Carroll he got one good delivery the 9 minutes he was on and if it wasn't for a fantastic save would have scored. He's young and scored 10 in 17 last season for Newcastle he will regain his form with games.
he always looks like he's running the wrong way up an escalator made of sand. ars*hole lucky footballer. seems to get the odd important goal here and there and i guess that's why he gets a look in.
We`ve already got a replacement for Dirk, he`s called Glen Johnson. I would love to see him playing right mid` with Martin Kelly as right back. Keep Dirk as a squad player allowing for injuries. Problem solved and no money spent.
I'd more worried about Suarez doing a runner to Barca or Madrid in the summer when you don't qualify for the Champions League...
About time somebody talked sense. For years any observation that Kuyt was technically limited was met by an indefatigable cry of "yeah but he works hard" so often I'd be a millionaire if I got a pound each time I heard it. You cannot be sentimental: Kuyt needs to be replaced, but it cannot be from within. Jordan Henderson in particular is not the answer to any problem.
Jack of all trades...Master of none I'm afraid
Kuyt was on superb form in the latter half of last season, his link-up play with Suarez was excellent and he was scoring goals (including a hat-trick against Manure). Wasn't he our top-scorer last season? I love how short some people's memories are! Whether he could have carried it on into this season will never be known as he lost his place to Henderson (who was terrible on the right) and Kuyt has lost all form/confidence since. Why we didn't buy an out n out right winger in the summer, instead of buying Henderson - who I do think will develop, but I don't see an immediate (£16m-£20m) use for, whilst selling Meireles and loaning out Aquilani is beyond me. But we need to buy one soon. Plus another striker. Plus another holding-midfielder. Plus... YNWA
Not the best article ever... I completely disagree. Kuyt is responsible for keeping Liverpool above board. He works harder than any other player and delivers the goods on the right occasions, e.g. Carling Cup final, CL final, hat trick against Utd, superbly taken goal against City, played all throughout the World Cup just to name a few highlights but there are plenty more. How the hell Carroll and Henderson beat him to the 1st XI is beyond me. Kuyt starts for Holland and rightfully wears the No. 7 shirt and brings more to the LFC than most Premier League players have ever delivered to theirs. Yes I agree, his touch is not as elegant and controlled as it could be but he gets the job done 9 times out of 10 and above all provides more stability and value to Liverpool's game. YNWA Dirk Kuyt - DO NOT LEAVE!
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