Topic: Dirk Kuyt

[Beninger]

I'm hoping with a bit of a break, he can begin to come back into the form we saw in the second half of 08-09.  Then again, I think we need to make sure we play Raul, Stevie and Cole. 

[Kopout]

Already missing dirk, the sexy beast. think we will miss him terribly if we ever sold him.

[rafa4sure]

Before Dirk got injured he wasn't looking his usual self to me. It looked like someone had replaced his Duracell batteries for an inferior brand. Whether thats due to the new instructions from Hodgson, lack of fitness (due to World Cup), or a dip in form, I don't know. The players are struggling to come to terms with Roy's methods from what I can see. I cannot think of a player signed under the previous regime who is revelling under Hodgson. Maybe that's because of the tough fixtures we've played so far, and players low on confidence with all the uncertainty at the club?

Maxi vs Kuyt? Kuyt's not impressed, and is now injured. So, it's Maxi, Johnson, Babel, Cole or one of the youngsters? Or maybe Gerrard should do a shift there? I'm struggling to see what Roy's "vision" is so I don't know how he wants us playing. For me, it wouldn't matter who played there. The team on paper against United looked pretty good to me, but didn't start performing until the second half, (a common trait of this side this season). It was interesting to me though that the team started performing when we went 2 goals behind and he threw on Ngog to partner Torres. A bit of positivity maybe, an act of courage? The shackles seemed to be off though, or maybe that was just a coincidence? Thought Benitez was supposed to be the negative one, and Roy would be taking the shackles off? Seems just the opposite to me, but maybe I'm just thick.

[chuckmynorris]

Oh god how I miss him already

[Cid]

Well at the moment I have to say Maxi is doing a fine job.
Of making me miss the Dirkster.

I really thought Maxi would take his chance with two hands, but he doesn't seem at the races yet.  Best improve soon or Dirk will slot right back in.

[Leecher9]

Well at the moment I have to say Maxi is doing a fine job.
Of making me miss the Dirkster.

I really thought Maxi would take his chance with two hands, but he doesn't seem at the races yet.  Best improve soon or Dirk will slot right back in.

Not sure but by that comment are you trying to say you really don't rate kuyt that much and would prefer maxi instead?

[Cid]

Not sure but by that comment are you trying to say you really don't rate kuyt that much and would prefer maxi instead?

I've rated Maxi highly for many years and I was quite excited at the prospect of him getting a few chances on the right.  The chance to make the spot his own, clever passing, movement and width.  He has struggled to make any sort of impact though.  I'm hoping he settles soon and shows what he is truly capable of because right now his performances are making me appreciate Kuyt a little more.

[Leecher9]

I've rated Maxi highly for many years and I was quite excited at the prospect of him getting a few chances on the right.  The chance to make the spot his own, clever passing, movement and width.  He has struggled to make any sort of impact though.  I'm hoping he settles soon and shows what he is truly capable of because right now his performances are making me appreciate Kuyt a little more.

Ah okay yeh i see what you mean do you think maxi is better suited on the right or center of midfield. I think that maybe he would do a better job in the center with his passing being up there among the whole squad. But then again we already have alot of competion for central midfield where do you think he is best suited?I also forgot to add pace which is not something he is blessed with so maybe a central role would be better for him and the team.

[Marko B]

You do know counter attacking is a huge feature of a negative team, don't you ? 

I hope you don't actually think that for the last few years we have been a counterattacking side?

[Terry De Niro]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Dirk Kuyt is a Shankly type of player, and it doesn't matter that football has changed over the years.
Every successful team needs that type of player who is prepared to die for the club..

I fucking love him..

[Chakan]

Sorely miss on the weekend.

[Cid]

I think Maxi is best on the right (not the left) but it remains to be seen if he has enough left in his locker to be effective in our league.  He has very good technique, but he seems to be one step behind everyone else right now.  There have been a few moments where he was about to create a 1v1 for a runner but he just slightly underweighted the pass, or it needed a little more pace to make the distance, or he delayed it..it seems like nerves.

I don't think pace is that much of an issue.  He's no slower than Kuyt really.  Kuyt seems better at holding the ball though, he is more willing to use his body to shield and wait while Glen comes up for support..and Kuyt's single biggest attribute is positioning, put him anywhere on the pitch and he will drift into danger areas.  We are missing both these things..it's one of the reasons our attack has looked more isolated, and why Glen has looked worse.

[Leecher9]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Dirk Kuyt is a Shankly type of player, and it doesn't matter that football has changed over the years.
Every successful team needs that type of player who is prepared to die for the club..

I fucking love him..

I agree with you mate love him as a player every single team needs a player like him good or bad game always 100% effort in each game that's the best type of footballer imo. Did they say which game he might be back for?

[El Campeador]

Utrecht

[Neil D]

he was talking about results rather than performance dude, which was the same as last year.

He said "If anything we've played ever so slightly better", so I'm not sure that's right mate. He inferred the performances were better too, which they haven't been.

I knew we would miss Dirk, and sadly that has been the case. I rate Maxi, and really hoped he would step up. Hopefully he will get more time on the ball and impress this weekend.

[Sangria]

I think Maxi is best on the right (not the left) but it remains to be seen if he has enough left in his locker to be effective in our league.  He has very good technique, but he seems to be one step behind everyone else right now.  There have been a few moments where he was about to create a 1v1 for a runner but he just slightly underweighted the pass, or it needed a little more pace to make the distance, or he delayed it..it seems like nerves.

I don't think pace is that much of an issue.  He's no slower than Kuyt really.  Kuyt seems better at holding the ball though, he is more willing to use his body to shield and wait while Glen comes up for support..and Kuyt's single biggest attribute is positioning, put him anywhere on the pitch and he will drift into danger areas.  We are missing both these things..it's one of the reasons our attack has looked more isolated, and why Glen has looked worse.

Rodriguez and Kuyt are both pass and move players, but while Kuyt has some qualities that can be useful in a direct game, Rodriguez specialises in that style of game. If the team is set up for pass and move, Rodriguez will fit in seamlessly, while Kuyt will fit in but with some joins. If the team is set up for counter attacking, Rodriguez doesn't have many relevant qualities, while Kuyt still has his stamina and strength. The problem with the team is the squad was assembled with the aim of pass and move (although the spine, crucially, wasn't pass and move). However, the manager who assembled it is gone, and the new manager is trying to impose a new style with players who don't fit. If the players don't fit the system, you need new players to fit the system or a new system to fit the players.

[SkinHimHesShite]

just to remind everyone, dirk played against arsenal, city and west brom this season, and didnt magically transform us into world beaters.

[drpepe]

just to remind everyone, dirk played against arsenal, city and west brom this season, and didnt magically transform us into world beaters.

no one mentioned him turnign us into world beaters.... but  i spose you could credit him with playing in our only league win and setting up the winner ? 

[yorkykopite]

just to remind everyone, dirk played against arsenal, city and west brom this season, and didnt magically transform us into world beaters.

He also played in the defeat at Man U last season and the draw away at Brum.

[Dr Manhattan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Dirk Kuyt is a Shankly type of player, and it doesn't matter that football has changed over the years.
Every successful team needs that type of player who is prepared to die for the club..

I fucking love him..

This, this, this and this.

[J-Mc-]

^ That.

[El Campeador]

Yeah but Yorky - I never claimed those results would have been different *without* Dirk.

The point may be that Dirk's not the weakest link on this team.

[Cpt_Reina]

We're missing him at the moment that's for sure. His industry and wor rate aside i think he just helps us work as a unit. We're able to then get the most out of Johnson, Torres always has someone busting a gut to get up in support, he's always likely to pop up with a goal or assist. Can't come back soon enough for me.

[Slave]

It's odd. I remember when Dirk's goals had dried up, and having to defend him on here, for all the intangibles he still offered the team. You've all heard them trotted out I'm sure. His positioning, stamina, strength, vision and workrate. A good football brain. He still offered these to the team, no wonder Rafa still picked him, we argued.

Gotta admit though, it was a hard time to defend him. He did go through a period where he scored something like one goal in three or four months. It was that season just after his father died. Obviously there were still criticisms about his (overstated) poor first touch and his lack of trickery, but they were only of secondary importance compared to this barren period in front of goal.

Now though, c'mon, there's no argument to be had. He's proven his effectiveness. He scores and assists at about the same rate as fucking Gerrard. From the right wing. He's scored over 50 goals in 4 seasons.

So now it's being said he's only useful in a long ball, counter attacking team. Well he was scoring and assisting when we were playing some of the best football in Europe and were quite rightly ranked #1 in UEFA's ratings. In fact that was his most productive season. He also helped lead the Netherlands, those long ball merchants, to their first world cup final for 30 years, scoring 1 and assisting 3.

He's boss. What more does he have to do for everyone to realise it?

[Neil D]

just to remind everyone, dirk played against arsenal, city and west brom this season, and didnt magically transform us into world beaters.

He played well against Arsenal, especially in the second half, and set up our winning goal against West Brom.

He also played in the defeat at Man U last season and the draw away at Brum.

The defeat in which he set up our goal when we took the lead at Old Trafford.

[Neil D]

not a great player and in an ideal world he wouldnt be a starter for us - but i don't think i've seen Maxi have a good game (other than the Fellaini derby)

Sunderland at home he was boss, West Ham at home, Burnley away...

[yorkykopite]

Yeah but Yorky - I never claimed those results would have been different *without* Dirk.

The point may be that Dirk's not the weakest link on this team.

Nor did I. I claimed - and still claim - we will player better without Dirk in the team.

The weakest link? I believe that's Carragher. And I have form on that too. But I would have to say that Carragher and Kuyt share the same fundamental weakness. They are both very slow and unathletic (with and without the ball) and they are incapable of eliminating opponents from the game when in possession. They slow us down. They are also both doughty fighters who would die in the last ditch for the badge, and I recognise that. But so are half the Bolton team and I wouldn't want them playing for Liverpool either. You need more playing for us.

[Mal]

He's boss. What more does he have to do for everyone to realise it?

He has to NEVER fail to control the ball & he needs to learn to run at twice the pace he's currently capable of.

I thought everyone knew that he's shite until he's leaned those basics?

[Neil D]

Nor did I. I claimed - and still claim - we will player better without Dirk in the team.

The weakest link? I believe that's Carragher. And I have form on that too. But I would have to say that Carragher and Kuyt share the same fundamental weakness. They are both very slow and unathletic (with and without the ball) and they are incapable of eliminating opponents from the game when in possession. They slow us down. They are also both doughty fighters who would die in the last ditch for the badge, and I recognise that. But so are half the Bolton team and I wouldn't want them playing for Liverpool either. You need more playing for us.

Dirk beats men in possession all the time, it's simply not true to say he can't eliminate opponents from the game when in possession when this season already he has beat one and two men coming in off the wing and delivered crosses. He did it in the first 15 minutes against Arsenal on the opening day of the season. Stop talking in absolutes Yorky.

A team needs artisans and fighters. United and Chelsea have both.

[yorkykopite]

Dirk beats men in possession all the time, it's simply not true to say he can't eliminate opponents from the game when in possession when this season already he has beat one and two men coming in off the wing and delivered crosses. He did it in the first 15 minutes against Arsenal on the opening day of the season. Stop talking in absolutes Yorky.

A team needs artisans and fighters. United and Chelsea have both.

He was generally awful against Arsenal. He kept over-running the ball in his own half and losing it to faster men, like he often does, in dangerous situations. Yes, he provided an assist for the goal. But you also saw the madness that led to their equalizer. The idiotic run he made which left Johnson nothing to pass to. The decision to stand absolutely still and let the fella cross as if it were a free kick. He had a poor game. Though he got worse against Man City and West Brom.

A team needs artists and fighters. They should be the same people too.

[5BigCups]

Its funny that now he's finally been out of the team people are claiming how much we miss him, how important he is to the team, etc....

He'll be back in the team before long and have us all eating our words, pulling our hair out i'm sure of it

[Spanish Al]

Top player. He may not be great technically, but he is a player every team needs. The workhorse, chips in with vital goals, and knows what it means to wear the shirt and shows it with passion on the pitch. People will realise this when he comes back and notice our right side is better with him, and also our team balance.

[Cid]

In the long run his injury may be a blessing.  He had a superb world cup but looked very tired for us when he came back.  He wasn't tracking back properly and it is the first time in a few seasons I've seen him walking around the pitch when we don't have the ball.

Hopefully he'll come back with his famed energy restored.

[5BigCups]

Top player. He may not be great technically, but he is a player every team needs. The workhorse, chips in with vital goals, and knows what it means to wear the shirt and shows it with passion on the pitch. People will realise this when he comes back and notice our right side is better with him, and also our team balance.

You've just spouted every pro-Kuyt cliche in the book.

Will be useful to have him back but lets not go overboard

[Red-juvenated]

Agree with the benefits of the break, especially in a new-look team finding its feet.

Really miss his energy, and his knack of scoring vital goals when there seems no hope.

[iwear no colours]

Most underated player since the great Ronnie Whelan

[freedom]

Kuyt injury tonic for Hodgson



Roy Hodgson today revealed how Dirk Kuyt could return from injury earlier than expected - either against Sunderland at the weekend or Utrecht next Thursday.

Liverpoolfc.tv reported a fortnight ago that the Dutchman would be out for up to a month with a shoulder injury sustained on international duty.

However, the 30-year-old has made a faster-than-expected recover and is already back in training.

Hodgson said: "Dirk has trained the last couple of days. We're trying to protect him a little bit but he's made a remarkable recovery, so it'll be interesting to see how he progresses on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in relation to Saturday's game and the game next Thursday.

"We thought three to five weeks, so we're at the quick end of the scale."

Kuyt will be desperate to make the trip to Utrecht, the club where his professional career got up and running.

Meanwhile, the only other fitness concern for the Liverpool boss is Fabio Aurelio, who is out with an Achilles problem.

Hodgson added: "With Fabio it's a little more tricky. The sports science people are very anxious they get him 100 per cent right before they throw him back in because they don't want a situation where he's dropping out again. But he's making very good progress and if push came to shove we could use him."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kuyt-injury-tonic-for-hodgson

good news! 

[PaisleyPrint]

Kuyt injury tonic for Hodgson



Roy Hodgson today revealed how Dirk Kuyt could return from injury earlier than expected - either against Sunderland at the weekend or Utrecht next Thursday.

Liverpoolfc.tv reported a fortnight ago that the Dutchman would be out for up to a month with a shoulder injury sustained on international duty.

However, the 30-year-old has made a faster-than-expected recover and is already back in training.

Hodgson said: "Dirk has trained the last couple of days. We're trying to protect him a little bit but he's made a remarkable recovery, so it'll be interesting to see how he progresses on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in relation to Saturday's game and the game next Thursday.

"We thought three to five weeks, so we're at the quick end of the scale."

Kuyt will be desperate to make the trip to Utrecht, the club where his professional career got up and running.

Meanwhile, the only other fitness concern for the Liverpool boss is Fabio Aurelio, who is out with an Achilles problem.

Hodgson added: "With Fabio it's a little more tricky. The sports science people are very anxious they get him 100 per cent right before they throw him back in because they don't want a situation where he's dropping out again. But he's making very good progress and if push came to shove we could use him."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kuyt-injury-tonic-for-hodgson

good news! 

Expect nothing less from Dirk 

[drpepe]

Roy Hodgson today revealed how Dirk Kuyt could return from injury earlier than expected ...the 30-year-old has made a faster-than-expected recover and is already back in training.

Meanwhile, the only other fitness concern for the Liverpool boss is Fabio Aurelio, who is out with an Achilles problem. Hodgson added: "With Fabio it's a little more tricky.

[freedom]

Expect nothing less from Dirk 

Dirk is fit!! In every way!!