Liverpool FC Forum

[Espionage]

Kuyt:
Cant complain about the lad.  He is doing well but the thing that worried me about the purchase was that he was not going to solve our striking issues.  My theory was that Rafa was just delaying until he forked out big for a top notch striker.  Kuyt is good, but he would be a strong Tottenham/Newcastle buy but I think that if we want to move to the next level we need someone better.  I know that this is harsh on the lad, but I believe that his supporting act is better then Henry's and not much under Rooney and Drogba's but our attack is often disappointing.  Regardless of what I thought we needed at the time, he is definately good enough.

Crouch:
Big fan, I was one of the few that backed him and was excited about him coming to the club.  He is a great striker for the role that Rafa bought him for.  To be first choice until something better could be found.  Now he is a reliant squad player that any team in the world would welcome.  He is good enough.

Bellamy:
Very similar to Crouch and is a mid range striker that can make do as a first teamer until we find someone with real quality.  I rate him, and he was a bargain at the price we got him for.  He is barely good enough.

Voronin (spelling?):
Have not really got much to say.  TBH I have not seen much, I vaguely remember him in the world cup but thats it.  From what I understand he will fall in a similar bracket to Crouch and Bellamy

Robbie:
Does not really matter what I think of him as it seems that his time is up as a first teamer.  He is cover and nothing more.  Kinda sad that he is reduced to this but I dont think he fits in Rafa's plans.

Conclusion:
Well I guess our forwards really are not good enough.  Kuyt is very close to being a striker that you build your team around but just not quite there.  At the end of the day, I think that when the right striker comes along Rafa will make that big name purchase but until then we are going to have to settle for it (which isnt so bad). 

One of Liverpool's weaker areas but not as bad as our wings.  At least with the signing of Mascherano Gerrard can focus on being right wing (with Pennant as cover) but Gonzalez is not first team material and Garcia is good but we need a pure winger.  If we had Kewell this season I seriously believe that he would have been a star.

p.s. 1 positive for our wings:
http://www.liverpoolfc-newkit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=20757

[stmichael]

Another point that I think is often overlooked is the effect that being presented with lots of chances has on strikers. All strikers thrive on confidence to a greater or lesser extent, and with a few goals in successive games even a reasonably competent striker can reach the stage where you expect them to score when given a good chance. If you know you're likely to get lots of chances in a game, then you'll feel less pressured and more composed whenever you get one.

If we got better wide players who could go past people, improved our passing and attacked teams more vigorously, then we'd create more chances for our strikers, and the chances of them getting 'in the zone' and going on a scoring spree would increase dramatically.

[Bammo]

hey everyone, I've finally got round to registering so i can join in the debates now!

We're lacking a cutting edge up front that I don't think any of our current strikers can provide. All through Saturday's game I was never convinced we were enough of a threat. There isn't a player who bursts into the six-yard box to become a poacher. Although Fowler is (was) this type of player he no longer has the pace to provide the workrate Rafa requires and then get into the box.

It will be interesting to see what Voronin is like. His stats aren't too impressive but having watched him on youtube clips many of his goals are poacher's goals. I realise youtube can give a distorted impression of players but it shows he has potential.

One of the reasons I feel the strikers aren't performing as well as they can is down to the wingers. Pennant has improved recently and started to look like a decent player. We still need a right winger but he can definitely do well for us if he maintainshis improvement.

As for the left wing, we have missed Kewell. Gonzalez probably had one of his 45mins for us in the first album but he needs to choose his options better. Too many times on Saturday he chose to lay it off or take on the defender when he should have crossed it. There were other times when there was acres of space behind Neville to run into (and we all know who'd win that race) but instead Speedy cut inside or layed it back.

With the recent rumours about West Ham's clearout, how would everyone feel about Ashton?

[Ola Mr Benitez]

Alright Bammo, nice first post mate.

I think Ashton isn't a bad call.  But only if we also buy an out and out superstar.  Would Ashton not just be another Crouch?

I also agree with a lot of posters who talk about better wingers.. but if we do have better wingers we need to ensure our forwards are in the box waiting for the cross which our current crop just don't do

[heimdall]

I am happy enough with Bellamy and Kyt as supporting stikers but we desperately need a proven goal scorer, someone like henry or Drogba who can generate a goal out of nothing. If we had that then Bellamy and Kuyt would grow in confidence and score themselves. I am really undecided about Crouch he does score goals but I just wish the lad would learn how to head he would be so deadly then and terryfy defences, in any case I'm fairly certain he is of in the summer together with Robbie and my dream purchases would be David Villa and Ashton.

[jaytoothetee]

not after tonights game. 2 be fair, we were desperately unlucky, but we should've won that at least 2 -1.

[Rush Job]

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve but statements like our strikers arent good enough is just pig poo, we have just knocked out the best side in the world over two legs and people are still having a go you dont do that with sh.t up front.
What if we sign Villa and he "only" has a recored like crouch after two seasons would that mean he isnt good enough?
I think some folk just want a trophy player a "name" up front, well its not all about that and thats not Rafas way its a team game and as i keep saying with better wingers scoring say 10-20 between them and setting up another 10-20 we would be top of the league.

[alxy]

Yes, compared to the other top sides' forwards, I believe ours are on par with them. Only difference is Drogba is having the form of his life while Scum forwards are having the luck of their lives. I have no problems believing Bellamy or Kuyt or Crouch can score tons of goals with a purple patch. They certainly have the quality in them.

[106-1173536062]

Yes, compared to the other top sides' forwards, I believe ours are on par with them. Only difference is Drogba is having the form of his life while Scum forwards are having the luck of their lives. I have no problems believing Bellamy or Kuyt or Crouch can score tons of goals with a purple patch. They certainly have the quality in them.

i agree.

i know, i just liked the alliteration.

[Rafa D]

Yes, compared to the other top sides' forwards, I believe ours are on par with them. Only difference is Drogba is having the form of his life while Scum forwards are having the luck of their lives. I have no problems believing Bellamy or Kuyt or Crouch can score tons of goals with a purple patch. They certainly have the quality in them.

i agree.

i know, i just liked the alliteration.

[106-1173536062]

carra talks:

i dont feel so mouthy now my leg is hurting!

[jonnymac1979]

carra talks:

i dont feel so mouthy now my leg is hurting!

Enough of this b*ll*c*ks.  Zero fucking tolerance.

[redsince2001]

when do you reckon we'll start scoring again? manu,barca,aston villa....too many scoreless games..... Dirk Kuyt hasnt scored in ages...a pity thou...the man gives his everything in each and every game...

[club_Levis]

when do you reckon we'll start scoring again? manu,barca,aston villa....too many scoreless games..... Dirk Kuyt hasnt scored in ages...a pity thou...the man gives his everything in each and every game...

His everything then isnt good enough if it doesnt result in lots of goals.He is a good acquisition but am yet to see qualities of a 20-25 goals a season striker.

[redmikey]

what are those qualities mate?