john craig wrote:Fowler_E7 wrote:john craig wrote:On the whole, I agree that we need a decent strike partner for Torres.
Kuyt works hard, but each game he plays he just looks less and less of a goal threat to me. I think his all-round game is deteriorating because he's low on confidence - his link-up play isn't even what it used to be. He looks like he's playing with the weight of the world on his shoulders these days. IMO he either needs to have the shackles taken off - forget about the defensive side for a few games, just get into the box and try and put the ball in the net. Unfortunately I can't see him turning it around and he needs to be sold.
To be honest though I can't see the yanks giving Rafa money for a new striker in January and I fear we're stuck with what we have. We do have options though. Crouch and Torres haven't had a decent run in the team together yet and I think it's worth a go. Babel could be tried up with Torres. Failing all that, the young lad Nemeth in the reserves looks a very good player to me who scores all different types of goals. Why not give him a chance if the other first team strikers aren't performing?
as bad as Kuyt been, his still ahead of Crouch and Voronin IMO. He may be lacking goal threat but he still has good movement and links quite well with Torres, something that the other strikers have failded with. He creates space, has intelligent movement as when he does getting himself in a scoring position he usually tucks it away. His confidence is clearly shot, and i agree with u that he should concentrate on getting himself in the box and scoring and forget about the defensive side for a while.
Disagree with a few things there mate.
How can you really say that the other strikers have failed in linking up with Torres, but that Kuyt has succeeded in doing so? What is the evidence for this? Torres is a lone striker. Even if another striker is on the park, Torres plays as a lone striker. His intention is always to shoot or run at players when he gets the ball, he rarely looks to link up with his strike partner. I think he must be difficult to play with if you're Kuyt/Voronin/Crouch, as Gerrard/Kewell etc are always looking for Torres. My point is that I don't think any of our strikers have necessarily hit it off with Torres. Torres is the main man and he'll get us goals. What we need is someone else to provide a bit more of a goal threat alongside him, not necessarily someone who links up well with Torres specifically.
You also say that when Kuyt gets himself into a goalscoring position he usually tucks it away. Firstly I don't necessarily agree with that. Secondly, Kuyt's problem is that he hardly ever gets into clear goalscoring positions. He doesn't have the pace to get in behind defences and he doesn't have the guile to drop off and be a playmaking second striker.
Agree with your point about Torres being a bit of a solo player, and its something i think he needs to work on as he is guilty of going it alone to often sometimes. With regards to Kuyt when i say he has linked quite well with Torres, i mean that his movement and non stop running often create space for Torres and he has shown an abilty to get the ball to him.
I also agree completly with your point about Kuyt not getting into goal scoring positions, that why i said he needs to concentrate on this aspect of the game rather than tracking back and working hard, as i beleive he is quite a good finisher and can get goals when he gets in the right places. He lacks pace but he has intellingent movement and a good shot on him, but he dosnt use these weapons enough, and wastes energy busying himself with defensive duites.
Hopefully 
