Liverpool FC Forum

by **Kerry07** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:54 pm

Dirk is limited yes (he'd still be the best player for teams outside top 4 or 5)...but you can win major trophies with such a player as he brings the grit, the tireless work ethic (Craig Johnston)... that would compliment the more technically gifted players.

However you dont win major trophies with the ilk of Lucas in central midfield... you dont get away with a non productive limited player slap bang in the center of the field where the game is won or lost. The downgrade from Alonso to Lucas has been devastating this season...as we no longer control games, no composure or panache in midfield, hence our wins this season havent been pretty...its been sheer hard graft. But that aint enough against the very best. Mascherano is the world class destroyer...he needs a classy passer beside him.

What i love about Dirky is the importance of his 50 goals (also his match winning CL semi final shoot out penalty vs Chelsea)...its never the last 2 in a 5-0 win, instead its so often the decisive goal in a game....ie..

His 118th minute winner vs Liege in Champions League qualifying (10million pound goal) when it was heading for pens. He instantly paid off his transfer fee with that goal alone.

Decisive opener vs Chelsea in Rafas only league win over Mourinho

92nd minute penalty vs Bitters at Woodison (his 2nd pen) clinching a 2-1 win.

Late 3-2 winners vs both Man City and Wigan (when we were 2-0 down)

Equaliser vs Arsenal at the Emirates in the CL

Both goals against Spurs in a HUGE game this January...lost that the top 4 were out of sight.

Yesterdays winner was just another example of his decisiveness in big games. Then theres his assists...ie.pulling the ball back for Babel's winner vs Man United.

While kuyt may be limited ability wise, he's honest, hes a great guy (one of the very few players i respect as a decent person) he wont cheat us the public (as Shanks once said) as he works his :censored:

off and gets every ounce of what he has to offer out on the field, the complete opposite to the very gifted but lazy Berbatov. I'd have Dirky everytime.

by **Sir Roger** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:57 pm

His first touch is woeful
He cant pass further than three feet
He makes terrible decisions
He is not creative
He cant defend
But
He scores winning goals

He is, in effect the best sh'it player weve ever had

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:04 pm

Kerry07 wrote:Dirk is limited yes (he'd still be the best player for teams outside top 4 or 5)...but you can win major trophies with such a player as he brings the grit, the tireless work ethic (Craig Johnston)... that would compliment the more technically gifted players.

However you dont win major trophies with the ilk of Lucas in central midfield... you dont get away with a non productive limited player slap bang in the center of the field where the game is won or lost. The downgrade from Alonso to Lucas has been devastating this season...as we no longer control games, no composure or panache in midfield, hence our wins this season havent been pretty...its been sheer hard graft. But that aint enough against the very best. Mascherano is the world class destroyer...he needs a classy passer beside him.

What i love about Dirky is the importance of his 50 goals (also his match winning CL semi final shoot out penalty vs Chelsea)...its never the last 2 in a 5-0 win, instead its so often the decisive goal in a game....ie..

His 118th minute winner vs Liege in Champions League qualifying (10million pound goal) when it was heading for pens. He instantly paid off his transfer fee with that goal alone.

Decisive opener vs Chelsea in Rafas only league win over Mourinho

92nd minute penalty vs Bitters at Woodison (his 2nd pen) clinching a 2-1 win.

Late 3-2 winners vs both Man City and Wigan (when we were 2-0 down)

Equaliser vs Arsenal at the Emirates in the CL

Both goals against Spurs in a HUGE game this January...lost that the top 4 were out of sight.

Yesterdays winner was just another example of his decisiveness in big games. Then theres his assists...ie.pulling the ball back for Babel's winner vs Man United.

While kuyt may be limited ability wise, he's honest, hes a great guy (one of the very few players i respect as a decent person) he wont cheat us the public (as Shanks once said) as he works his off and gets every ounce of what he has to offer out on the field, the complete opposite to the very gifted but lazy Berbatov. I'd have Dirky everytime.

Good post. For some a goal is a goal is a goal but I've always placed importance on the significance of the goals scored and I agree that Kuyt has scored his share of vital goals.

For the record (for the likes of Ben and Bam), I'm perfectly willing to acknowledge that Kuyt has been in poor form earlier in the season and that, at times, he offers tremendous work rate and little else. That's all fair enough. What winds me up, though, is that he is now allying his always prodigious work rate with some very vital end product and yet he's still taking it in the neck from the likes of Penguins on here. For me, when a player of Kuyt's calibre bangs in 4 in the last 4 games (3 of them match-winners) you simply should applaud it because he's performing to the very maximum of his ability. I'm not interested in discussing what he was doing before his purple patch, I'm interested in discussing what he's doing right now--which is winning us key matches. When his goal-scoring drops off again and the general quality of his attacking play declines (which it will) I'm sure we can revisit the issue of whether he deserves his place. Until then it would be refreshing to see a little more acknowledgment of the excellent work he's doing. Otherwise, it just sounds like people have an entrenched view that they'll rehash match after match regardless of the performance. I find that kind of approach hard to take seriously, hence my responses to Penguins (which seem to ruffle Bam's feathers a tad).

by **stmichael** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:54 pm

you can slag him all you like but the fact is he's been fasr more productive this season than a lot of technically superior players.

by **Sir Roger** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:49 pm

stmichael wrote:you can slag him all you like but the fact is he's been fasr more productive this season than a lot of technically superior players.

Maybe Rafa should be looking for more "technically challenged" players...?

by **Liverpool442** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:43 pm

I simply cannot believe the criticism Kuyt gets especially from a fan base that is proud of the support it offers its managers and players !
Simple facts: Kuyt is not a world class striker who will score you 30+ with clinical finishing however he is a top level striker capable of playing in the best League in the world and for a strong international team and scoring his share of goals, for gods sake he did'nt stumble to 50 by accident. In addition he gives 100% every game without fail and does alll the hard work that is essential for the sytem Rafa plays, and as for important goals as already highlighted on this thread there are very few better at grabbing a vital goal.
We do need another striker to support him and Torres but I would dread to think were we would be if we lost him and his attitute, probably stuck with players like Babel who just want to pick up their pay cheque and dick around on twitter. Kuyt is one of my favourite Liverpool players simply because for me he gets Liverpool and all it stands for and conducts himself accordingly, on and off the pitch and alongside Reina, Carra, Gerrard and Torres is the nearest thing you will find to an old style pre premiership Liverpool footballer.

by **Fowler_E7** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:13 am

Kuyt was made for the derby match, all the blood and guts suits his game down to a tee. His workrate and stamina come to the fore in these type of games, and he deserves the credit he's getting for his peformance on saturday.

by **NANNY RED** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:18 am

Liverpool442 wrote:I simply cannot believe the criticism Kuyt gets especially from a fan base that is proud of the support it offers its managers and players !
Simple facts: Kuyt is not a world class striker who will score you 30+ with clinical finishing however he is a top level striker capable of playing in the best League in the world and for a strong international team and scoring his share of goals, for gods sake he did'nt stumble to 50 by accident. In addition he gives 100% every game without fail and does alll the hard work that is essential for the sytem Rafa plays, and as for important goals as already highlighted on this thread there are very few better at grabbing a vital goal.
We do need another striker to support him and Torres but I would dread to think were we would be if we lost him and his attitute, probably stuck with players like Babel who just want to pick up their pay cheque and dick around on twitter. Kuyt is one of my favourite Liverpool players simply because for me he gets Liverpool and all it stands for and conducts himself accordingly, on and off the pitch and alongside Reina, Carra, Gerrard and Torres is the nearest thing you will find to an old style pre premiership Liverpool footballer.

Good post mate

by **skatesy** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:18 am

Sir Roger wrote:He is, in effect the best sh'it player weve ever had

I honestly had a really good laugh out loud after reading this. haha.

by **kazza** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:30 am

Liverpool442 wrote:I simply cannot believe the criticism Kuyt gets especially from a fan base that is proud of the support it offers its managers and players !
Simple facts: Kuyt is not a world class striker who will score you 30+ with clinical finishing however he is a top level striker capable of playing in the best League in the world and for a strong international team and scoring his share of goals, for gods sake he did'nt stumble to 50 by accident. In addition he gives 100% every game without fail and does alll the hard work that is essential for the sytem Rafa plays, and as for important goals as already highlighted on this thread there are very few better at grabbing a vital goal.
We do need another striker to support him and Torres but I would dread to think were we would be if we lost him and his attitute, probably stuck with players like Babel who just want to pick up their pay cheque and dick around on twitter. Kuyt is one of my favourite Liverpool players simply because for me he gets Liverpool and all it stands for and conducts himself accordingly, on and off the pitch and alongside Reina, Carra, Gerrard and Torres is the nearest thing you will find to an old style pre premiership Liverpool footballer.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:03 am

Kuyt has barely played in his favourite position (striker) in the last couple of seasons but not a peep of discontent. We could ask him to play anywhere on the pitch and he would come out and give it everything he has. It puts into perspective when you think about Carragher refusing to play at right back against Boro last year and Gerrard having a moan every time he has to play on the right.

It may not always be pretty but Kuyt is a true grafter and a genuine team player.

by **Dutchsky** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:11 pm

Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez Hails 'Fantastic' 50-Goal Hero Dirk Kuyt
Dutchman "sacrifices everything" for Reds...
By Mick Maguire
08-Feb-2010 7:13:00 AM
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has heaped praise upon Dirk Kuyt, saying that everyone must now realise what a valuable contributor he is to the Kop club's cause.

The Dutch forward has divided public opinion during time in the Premier League, with the detractors dismissing him due to his lack of pace, heavy-legged technique and clunky shooting.

However, he has forged a reputation as big-game player who produces goals when they are needed most - as illustrated by his headed winner in Saturday's Merseyside derby.

And while Benitez has no delusionals over Kuyt's limitations, he feels that the 29-year-old has proven his worth a thousand times over with his unmatched work ethic and selflessness.

"I think everyone knows now what Kuyt can do for us. He’s not a player that is very skilful; not in the way we would normally understand of a skilful player with that kind of ability," the Spaniard said in The Mirror.

"But he has quality and is fantastic in every game, working really hard for the team. He can do so many different jobs, and sacrifices everything for his team-mates.

"Against Everton, we knew that Baines has been having a very good season so Kuyt made sure he worked hard keeping him busy. Attacking has sometimes been a problem for him but he is scoring more goals now. His team-mates know he is a very good player, as do the fans."

Kuyt's decisive strike at the weekend marked his 50th goal for the Reds, whom he joined from Feyenoord in a £10.5 million deal back in 2006.

The Netherlands international was bought primarily for his poaching skills, but it is his ability to work in wider and deeper roles that has his made him such an asset to Benitez.

The Anfield boss added: “Fifty goals for any player is a good achievement, especially in the Premier League. He has played as a right and left winger, striker and second striker. He is very important for us." [B]

The Kop may adore Torres for his goals and his grace, but they are well aware that in Kuyt they possess another very special footballer.

Not that the down-to-earth Dutchman would ever admit it, of course.

by **Aussie Style** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:04 pm

Cool Hand Luke wrote:Kuyt has barely played in his favourite position (striker) in the last couple of seasons but not a peep of discontent. We could ask him to play anywhere on the pitch and he would come out and give it everything he has. It puts into perspective when you think about Carragher refusing to play at right back against Boro last year and Gerrard having a moan every time he has to play on the right.

It may not always be pretty but Kuyt is a true grafter and a genuine team player.

I read somewhere that he even offered to fill in at RB after Johnson got injured. I must admit I haven't always been his biggest fan, but fuk he tries his heart out every single time he puts on the shirt. If a few more tried as hard as Dirky does we'd be doing alot better then we have been.

by **Penguins** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:25 pm

So he tries very hard. Give the man a medal and legend status... :no

I am adamant you will not win trophies with Kuyt like players.
As support players yes, but to strive for a team with "hard work" as the main priority will get you nowhere.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:36 pm

Penguins wrote:So he tries very hard. Give the man a medal and legend status...

I am adamant you will not win trophies with Kuyt like players.
As support players yes, but to strive for a team with "hard work" as the main priority will get you nowhere.

I sort of agree with you. I don't think you'll win trophies with a bunch of Kuyts in your team but I think it's vital to have one or two in the mix. Without some proper graft, silky skill will get smothered. So, keep Kuyt and get some more skilled players around him...that's the ticket.

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