The OFFICIAL Liverpool Supporters thread

[corn02]

Dirk Kuyt is not good enough.

Have to disagree, his record in Europe is superb and has a nack for important goals. He is not playing a striker of course but with Reira coming in, Keane will have to look over his shoulder at Dirk.

[full back]

Kuyt is a good enough player is you are happy to finish 3/4th in the league every year
Keane & Torres will benefit greatly if you have a conventional winger not a workhorse

[AZOffaly]

Kuyt is a good enough player is you are happy to finish 3/4th in the league every year
Keane & Torres will benefit greatly if you have a conventional winger not a workhorse

Exactly. What do we want as a player in that position? A hard grafter, honest as the day is long, but with the first touch of a rampaging bull elephant, or someone who can go past people, get in crosses, and generally treat the ball as a friend, rather than a plague infected rat?

I like Kuyt. I like his energy, his workrate and his honesty. I hate his ability. He's a squad player on a good team, and a starter on an average team. If he starts for Liverpool, regularly, then we are an average team, in my opinion.

The amount of times moves break down when he gets involved is unreal, and a lot of his workrate is needed because he gave it away in the first place.

I don't want to be hard on him, as I said, I do admire him as a 'pro', but in terms of ability, I just don't think he's good enough.

[full back]

For an Offaly man you talk a lot of sense AZ

[Mentalman]

Dirk Kuyt is not good enough.

Have to disagree, his record in Europe is superb and has a nack for important goals. He is not playing a striker of course but with Reira coming in, Keane will have to look over his shoulder at Dirk.

"What are you doing back there Dirk?"

I think if and when they get Kuyt off the wing, there will be a good bit of roatation of the three strikers, in fact Dirk and Robbie might not be a bad combination. I don't think Robbie has done badly at all, worked hard, on Saturday he joined up the play well, himself and Nando just haven't clicked yet. To be honest Torres hasn't looked great, all be it with only 4 games gone, a bit leaden of foot, perhaps the after effects of the Euros. Benitez wants to be having a word with Babel, toughen the wee wimp up, send him over to train with the Meath juniors or something. And another word with Arbeloa, a simple message really, when you're on the overlap don't take the extra touch before crossing, just hit it - a real sign of a player low on confidence. What was really disturbing last night was the lack of options on the bench to change the game - I mean even if Lucas & Masch were available it's not like they offer a real option going forward. All that said, they are in the draw, and hard to believe as it may be that's the best they have played so far this season - they actually passed the ball once Standard were on the back foot (despite Beny/Kuyt/Babel's constant bad passing). Don't Standard have some great young players? None out wide really where Liverpool need them, but I doubt that team will still be together this time next week.

[AZOffaly]

and hard to believe as it may be that's the best they have played so far this season - they actually passed the ball once Standard were on the back foot

I agree with that. Granted it's 'tallest pygmy' territory, but at times last night they looked in control, just never looked like scoring. And then there'd be 10 passes and Kuyt would kick it into the stand.

[el_cuervo_fc]

Paper talk Liverpool forward Andriy Voronin has emerged as a transfer target for Nantes. The Ukrainian forward may not have many opportunities to impress this season and Rafa Benitez could decide to let him head to France.

http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896_4059494,00.html

[Billys Boots]

Bad news for poor oul Nantes, after a poor start to their season. 

[Minder]

I know the "Kuyt problem" has been visited many times but i feel compelled to keep it going. He is not good enough, his goal sums him up, off his knee. He does not have the pace, skill levels or intelligence to play out wide. Liverpool will never win the Premier League when he is atrting the majority of games. I remember a game last year against United, he was chasing ball with Evra, Evra was running about 75% speed and easily beat him to the ball. Nobody doubts his work rate, it is immense but it isnt enough at the highest level.

[stevo-08]

agree with alot of what's being said here. That was a very frustrating performance last night. Yes, kuyt works like the duracel bunny, and gets important goals, but his touch is absolutely shocking. Numerous times last night, the play broke down due to kuyt giving the ball away. I was screaming for Kuyt to be taken off early in the 2nd half. Is pennant that bad that he couldnt have got a place on the bench - i would have left keane on and put pennant on instead of kuyt if that option was available. Or even switch benny to the right and bring babel on for kuyt. Rafa will feel justified cos kuyt got the winner but in all honesty we got very lucky last night.

Dont want to be too hard on the lad as he has come up trumps in important games, but I thought this season he'd be playing a much smaller part - maybe in difficult away games when its important to defend. but obviously rafa is continuing with his loyalty towards dirk. that doesnt bode well for the season ahead, IMO.

also was very disappointed with Babel, more of the same from him - just running the ball into trouble every time. Alonso again was poor, carrying on with his form of last season. Easy to see why rafa was looking to let him go and bring in Barry. Gerrard struggled also but for a guy playing in pain, he worked very hard and when Masch comes back, it should free up gerrard to help the attack. As expected we got nothing from the full backs and its difficult to see how Finnan can be frozen out if Arbeloa is the main right back.

A winger is definitely needed (Riera or milner or downing - anyone with the ability the beat a man and deliver a cross) to provide an an option, & then when Masch comes back & stevie joins the attack, things should start to improve through the middle. But with gerrards injury, it's going to be some weeks before we're back to full strength. I just hope we can ride our luck against Villa & Utd in the meantime and not drop too many points...

[gawa316]

Glad to see masch back, now hopefull we can revert back to the 4231 cause we don't have the personell for 442.

If reira signs and is ready for this wkd, I'd go for this against villa

              Reina
Carra, Skertal, Agger, Dossena
        Masch, Alonso
Babel      Keane       Reira
            Torres

But no doubt this will look nothing like the team that lines out on sunday

[Mentalman]

Glad to see masch back, now hopefull we can revert back to the 4231 cause we don't have the personell for 442.

If reira signs and is ready for this wkd, I'd go for this against villa

               Reina
Carra, Skertal, Agger, Dossena
         Masch, Alonso
Babel      Keane       Reira
             Torres

But no doubt this will look nothing like the team that lines out on sunday

"Off The Ball" have an interview tonight with Masch on Newstalk 106.

[Yes I Would]

I know it sounds absurd, but Kuyt scoring that goal although crucial could be our downfall in later games.

The reality was we got lucky last night, and the better team over two legs are out. I
feel that over the course of the season Rafas persistence and pure stubborness in sticking with Kuyt will prove costly. Now i hope im wrong, but i just get that horrible feeling in my stomach, when i think of his first touch!!

Yes he is a work horse, but so is Kevin Kilbane!! Its fecking quality thats needed out wide if we are to make any impact this year.

Keane is working hard and making the runs, but he does need a goal and the further he goes without one the greater the pressure as no doubt the media will be on his back like a shot!!

[corn02]

Kuyt has been a lot more efective at the start of this season than Keane, and that is playing out of position.

[Minder]

Kuyt has been a lot more efective at the start of this season than Keane, and that is playing out of position.

I would think Keane will improve when he settles as the season goes on, we have seen what Dirk has to offer and it isnt great.