Liverpool Director of Football Damien Comolli had a lot to say during his TV interview with Canal+ Sport last week. He spoke on a range of subjects including the club’s interest in Luis Suarez and Ashley Young as well as stating his admiration for Eden Hazard and Gervinho of Lille. Probably the most interesting thing for me though was when he was asked where Liverpool needed to improve as a team:
“We want a forward because we lack pace and penetration on the flanks.”
I think most Reds fans would completely agree with Comolli’s sentiments and I am glad for one that both Comolli and Kenny are thinking on the same lines as most fans on transfer priorities. I have banged on in the past about Liverpool’s lack of pace, both in forward positions and on the wings, and it is evident this will be where the Reds can do some business before the January window closes. With Luis Suarez seemingly covering the striker target, what about the wings where Comolli states we need “penetration on the flanks”?
Both Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez showed their qualities at the weekend against Wolves, but I firmly believe that if we are going to compete at the top of the table again, frightening pace and devastating speed on the counter attack are the way to go. With Kuyt, 30, and Rodriguez, 30, not getting any younger, and FSG’s stated aim of bringing in young talent, it’s fair to assume that if Comolli buys a winger, he will be both young and possess a great deal of pace to give the threat from the wide areas needed. So where would this leave our Dutch workhorse Dirk Kuyt?
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He still have atleast 3 more years of football life with him. Maxi should be raplaced as soon as possible
Suarez bid has been rejected …. Hope thts nt true. Pls Comoili spent sme bucks and get Suarez
How can Meireles be above Kuyt in the pecking order he has had maybe 2 god games. Some people forget all the important goals he has scored for us.
Totally agree, its not just that, this comment about inter wanting him and him being in the top 5 was made in the summer and as meireles was a late signing in the transfer window was probably said before he was even there which is besides the point as meireles has had 2 excellent games and the rest slightly above average or average at best. Poor article
Think you mean carthorse not workhorse!
Good heart but totally lacking in ability. Not good enough for Liverpool since day one!!!
completly disagree, maybe not anyway near the greatest lfc player of all time but he’s been well worth the 9.5million we spent on him regardless of whether he came as a striker or not. As Paul says below hes also an important memberof the dutch first 11 that got to the world cup. Great attitude as well. Put your hands up for dirk kuyt……. He loves this city!!!
I think people underestimate the talent and impact of Kuyt. He may not look good but he is good. His finest quality is not his work rate, but imo his game intelligence. It’s no coincidence he was always in the Dutch starting 11 at the WC which went all the way to the final. His main vice unfortunately is his lack of pace.
I would add to that a never-say-die attitude. Together with Gerrard, Kuyt is the player who can pick himself and the team up when the chips are down. No wonder he has scored some of the most important goals in key matches, grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat.
We need the following; Defence: buy Mertasacker Sell Skrtl / Kyrigos Left Back: Buy Coentro or Taiwo Sell Konchesky / Aurelio Left Wing: Buy Arda Turan Sell: Joe Cole / Jovanovic Right Wing: Play Glen Johnson or sign Hazard / sell Kuyt / Maxi Central Midfield: Sign Stefan Defour Sell: Poulsen / Lucas finally a Stiker; Sign Suarez / Schwinestigger or play Pacheco Sell: Ngog
Total Signs: Mertasker, Coentro, Turan, Hazard, Defour and Suarez – total £80 – 90m or £75m if we keep Johnson
Total Sells: Skrtle, Kyrigos, Konchesky, Aurelio, Joe Cole, Jovanovic, Poulsen, Lucas, Maxi, Kuyt, Ngog – Total £45m
I know the investment from FSG would be a little more, but dead wood gone, youth, pace and pedigree. Space for youngsters to play i.e. Wilson, Pacheco, Shelvy, etc
Your Thougth’s…..??????
Stick to football manager cocker, never gonna happen.
you can’t treat real life like Football Manager. Even if the club wanted to sell Joe Cole, it is not like many other clubs would be looking to sign him, especially not any top teams. He is on a 4 year contract on at least 90k a week…who else wants him enough to pay him this kind of wage? The same goes for many more of the players you suggested selling. In terms of the players you suggest we target, it does not seem likely Coentrao or Hazard would join LFC over Arsenal, United or Real Madrid whilst Schweinsteiger would most definitely not join LFC.
I think we will see Pacheco, Shelvey and Wilson getting more chances under Kenny though!
Kuyt deserves to play a few more years with us or get a good money move,,, agreed we need some pace on the flanks,,, but do feel he is an awesome squad player and if the youngsters coming through had half the heart and engine he has we shall be building an extension to the trophy room very soon.
Kuyt is decent – Babel is useless and should now train with the kids only
I would say that the key players at Liverpool at this time are Reina, Kelly, Agger, Carra, Lucas, Meireles, Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres. Johnson could become key on the right wing as a fast-paced alternative to Kuyt, while I hope that Shelvey, Pacheco, Suso and other talented young players can become the keys of the future.
Easy…Squad player, backup striker behind Nando and Suarez (God willing).
With the exception of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, who else apart from Dirk Kuyt gives 100% every match?
Kuyt may not be the most skillful or the fastest player in the team but some fans really don’t know how much he contributes to the team. His work rate, attitude and game intelligence is brilliant. He chips in his fair share of goals and provides numerous assists. Also, without Kuyt helping Johnson on the right when defending, Johnson would have been f***ed big time. People also seem to forget that Kuyt was in the Dutch team that got to the World Cup final and he started every match, providing some very important assists. He is no doubt a great asset for us and for what he lacks in pace, he more than makes up for with his game intelligence, work rate and attitude.
I agree that a young, pacy winger is needed but maybe Maxi should be replaced instead. Kuyt is an important figure for the club and with his ability to play both out wide and up front, he will still be an important player for us in the next two to three years.
if you think Kuyt is not an important player for the LFC… think again, he was by far, by far by 4th best performer, in the 2008/09 season, but people like the media keep easily forgetting, he was absolutely stunning last world cup, and i kept wondering how come we have him and we still lose games, with him the team is way better than without him by far… he’s very intelligent, he may not posses the pace, but he definitely has the football intelligence and he does the (defenses) unexpected.. in the final third, he always manage to come up with a magical pass, and he’s very good next to or right off Torres or the main striker.. he’s definitely not a winger, never was never will be, but just like GJ at LB, he should be thanked and appreciated the amount of effort and heart he put in his game, and he’s still very solid in the starting XI, I for one like to see and/or feel good when i see his name on the starting lineup, agree or disagree.. Kuyt should be more appreciated in this team, he’s in love with the team overall, and just like Hyypia, he’s not born in liverpool, but he knows what the city and this team is all about.