Home > Football > Liverpool's second-class Kuyt is more Championship than Champions League
Liverpool's second-class Kuyt is more Championship than Champions League
He might have been a big hit in his native Netherlands, but the bungling Dutch striker is more of a liability than a goalscorer in the cauldron of the Premier League.
by Chris Goldsmith on 12 March 2008
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Dirk Kuyt cost a massive £10 million when Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez bought him from top Dutch team Feyenoord. The giant from the Netherlands promised goals galore - but all we have seen are a few easy ones and a host of missed chances.
Liverpool need a striker who is more of a complete player. They are now real contenders for Champions League glory, not just for this year but for years to come. But while they have found a winning formula in Europe, Kuyt is just not good enough to sustain this form.
He was a revelation in the Netherlands, first playing for FC Utrecht before moving on to Feyenoord. His first couple of seasons there were a success - he scored over 20 league goals in the first year and was an even bigger revelation with a club record 29 in the following campaign.
Benitez saw Kuyt as a goal machine, but what he failed to remember is that the Dutch Eridivisie is poor compared to the Premier League. Players of average quality earning their living in England would look fantastic over in the country of tulips and clogs.
Apart from Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV, the Eredivisie is of inferior quality. It was only a matter of time before Liverpool, their fans and the Premier League realised that Kuyt couldn't cut it England - and especially not meet the famous Anfield side's expectations or ambitions.
Liverpool need to find a new striker to play up front with the likes of Fernando Torres, who with the right partner could be even more lethal than he is now.
The only saving grace for Kuyt was his goal recently in the first leg against Inter Milan in the Champions league. The tall strker will have to score plenty more before the season is out or he could see himself on the transfer market in the early summer. Although a Dutch international, Kuyt lacks the class of his Merseyside team-mates, so who will really be sorry to see him go?
Comments (14)
by Nozzy on March 12, 2008
He is admittedly not that good, and yet he's been to more Champions League Finals than Rooney, Ronaldo, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand and Drogba. Ouch.
by Tony on March 12, 2008
His work rate is second to none, and now playing off on the right as he does for Holland he is proving to be an excellent provider. He can't be expected to bang in 20 goals a season if he's being played out of position. We do need him, I just wish some of our other players shared his attitude and work ethic.
by Peter O on March 12, 2008
His father, who apparently was his biggest source of inspiration, died in the summer. I think that has something to do with it, cause I think he was good last season. And I think he's getting better for each game now. Simply finding his form again. I also think he turned in a decent performance yesterday.
by Alan Barclay on March 12, 2008
Kuyt isn't good enough and only idiots would want the guy to stay. He's a workhorse with no talent. 5 goals from open play all season is a joke. Attitude isn't enough at the highest level and Kuyt CONSISTENTLY shows himself to be 2nd rate. Get rid of him and let anyone saying he should stay buy a pair of BIG glasses.
by Eric Kluitenberg on March 12, 2008
Tall striker? Kuijt is 184cm...I'd be the last to say that we should pin any hope on Kuijt. Not as a starter and definitely not as a pinch hitter. But to say he is tall?
by Chris on March 12, 2008
Last night's performance from Kuyt was as comical as it was dire. The thing is though we've suffered that for over a year now, it wasn't even an off-day. 1 league goal from open play all season tells it's own story. He's making me look fondly back on the days of Baros and Cisse.
by Sam on March 12, 2008
I agree with Alan. Kuyt is utter rubbish. He had the freedom of the San Siro last night and still produced nothing. Rafa is hiding him out on the wing because he has realised that Kuyt is not capable of scoring goals at any decent Level. His control is terrible, He has no pace and Torres makes is crosses look decent. He runs about like a headless chicken to hide the fact that he delivers nothing for the team. He’s a liability , show him the door now.
by A Breen on March 12, 2008
Kuyt was a top performer for us last season. He has had a tough year with his father passing away with a serious illness. Dirk deserves more respect.
by Kenny Harper on March 12, 2008
Hes like a chicken with no head, it makes the 11m Everton paid for Yakubu look like daylight robbery.
by Browny on March 12, 2008
Do you lot not watch the whole of games? Next time you watch, pay attention to his control and passing etc. He isnt even playing up front. If we had 2 out and out strikers like Fernando, do you honestly think they would both be on 26 goals and stevie on 19?? no chance! one creates for the other. If not directly, then indirectly by creating space for his mate. I love Torres, but last night his touch was terrible and at least 5/6 times he ran straight in to a defender and gave the ball away! but because he scored everyone thinks he played well
by Squirrel Squirrel on March 12, 2008
LFC are happy with Kuyt - he's being used out of his natural position which is a second striker. Rafa is using him on the flanks to feed Torres. You can see that he can get past players on the flanks but his crosses are shots really and not crosses - Kuyt is great! You mancs and chelskis look elsewhere...
on March 12, 2008 on March 12, 2008
HES LITTLE MORE THAN A LACKLUSTRE, SKILL-LESS WORKHORSE
by Tony on March 13, 2008
To Alan Barclay and those other so-called Liverpool supporters: how many times have you watched the team play this season, how many games have you attended? Your attitude is so blatantly that of an armchair 'supporter' who thinks they know they game it's untrue. I would ask you if you've watched Kuyt's timing, movement or passing but I think i'd be flogging a dead horse as you clearly no nothing about the sport. You read 'striker' and start piling abuse on a player who, and let's say this for the final time as it's getting tiresome: ISN'T PLAYING AS A STRIKER. Is Carragher a liability for not scoring? No. Why? because it isn't his job; Kuyt is playing as a provider and it's a job he's doing well. As far as your 'people who back Kuyt are idiots' comment is concerned I don't think anyone need worry about an insult from a person with the footballing knowledge of an aubergine.
by Alan Barclaya on March 13, 2008
Mate you are no different to the people who backed Heskey because of his work for the team. In fact Heskey got more goals than Kuyt and worked as hard. Where did Heskey go after Liverpool? Real Madrid? Barce? Milan? No, he went to Birmingham and now Wigan - his proper level. Who will buy Kuyt if we sold him? No big team is the answer because he's totally 2nd rate. Believe what you want but if you think Torres wouldn't score goals because Kuyt was gone then you haven't a clue. Kuyt is a liabilty to Liverpool most times he plays; he played striker often enough this season and was terrible. He just isn't good enough.
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