Kuyt offers Liverpool a different option, and should be in the starting line up whether as a right winger or a striker. He isn’t the most natural right winger, but he certainly offers more in that role at this time than Henderson, who has looked completely out of his depth and has not really done anything of note. Kuyt gives 110% every time, chases everything down, and can fit into the Liverpool pass and move system. He also seems to be on the same wavelength as Suarez, something which Carroll hasn’t quite yet mastered. Liverpool look more inventive, aggressive and fluid with Kuyt alongside Suarez.
As well as options going forward, Kuyt also offers good cover at the back, and certainly would have offered more help to Martin Skrtel in the Tottenham game than the Slovakian received from Henderson. It was astonishing that he didn’t start, or at least come on to shore things up after Charlie Adam was sent off. His vast experience would have paid off in that situation, and he would have run himself into the ground for the sake of the team.
Kuyt offers a different option, as well as his attacking abilities, he is always willing to drop back and help out, and his maximum effort rubs off on the others around him, with the team playing at a higher tempo. He isn’t the most technically gifted player of all time, but at this time he is the best option Liverpool have, either wide on the right, or supporting Suarez up front. Even if he isn’t at his best, he still puts a shift in, and that commitment and passion is what epitomizes the club best and what they need at the present time.
It seems that too much respect is being shown to spent money, and there is a stubbornness shown by Dalglish in sticking with the players he has purchased. The players playing clearly aren’t ready for the Liverpool first team, and experienced players must be played ahead of them, especially in the biggest and most important games. At the age of 31, Kuyt certainly isn’t past it, and he should be starting, with the younger players, like Henderson, coming on to replace him in the second half, gradually phasing them in, rather than throwing them straight into the deep end.
There comes a point where you can’t continue to keep sticking with something that isn’t working. New players have had a valid chance to prove their worth and they have yet to show that. Now is the time to bring in the old experienced heads, to sure up the Liverpool side and teach the young players a thing or two.
The article was written by Lauren Rutter for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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Usually I do not comment on these stories but you have a valid point. I for one believe that Kuyt should have started the Tottenham game and definitely should be used for all of the top four games in the league (including our idiotic neighbours). My only concern comes from the talk of discontent.If we didnt play Carrol or Henderson then fans would be saying what a waste of money. Where as Dalglish is showing faith in his squad. I dont agree that Henderson is nothing special as of this moment as I believe in certain games he has looked comfortable and will only improve. The same stands for Carrol, I didnt hear anyone complaining about him when he scored 2 against City or Henderson when he scored against Bolton.
Perfoming for 1 half against mediocre opposition in Bolton who are being overrun by every team is nothing to get excited about. Other than that game Henderson has done nothing. Why should he automatically start against a proven performer in Kuyt? People dont care how much players have been bought they care about how the players perform on the day and put simply Henderson hasnt shown enough in the first 6 games to warrant a starting place.
The first kick was blocked by defender and he only scored on 2nd try. Any player worth putting on Liverpool jersey could have scored that too! Look at his skill, poor first touch and poor passes and most of the time, back passes. Is this kinda player worth 20M? If he is not English, how much do you think he is worth?
“you can’t continue to keep sticking with something that isn’t working”? Huh silly me hadn’t realised how bad we were I was labouring under the illusion that if we’d had better Refs against sunderland and stoke we’d be 15 points out of 18 having only lost against spurs having gone down to 9 men 1 nil down with half hour to go. Silly me for not spotting how awful things are! Also fancy not noticing that players who played amazing for 45 minutes and ok for 45 minutes against Brighton (newly promoted to the championship) would be the answer to all the problems that you’ve just made me see that we have! Silly me. P.s. this is sarcasm aimed at a stupid over reaction. Just in case the idiots who make comments like this story are too stupid to realise what’s staring them in the face which in the case of LFC is a work in progress giving young players who need game time to reach their potential time on the pitch so they can be great for us for years to come, whilst keeping consistent experienced players, who can be relied upon to maintain their levels of ability whether they play or not, around for emergencies. All done whilst not having an impact on how many points we’re collecting. unless you believe we would have been able to go the season on 100% record somehow? Because so far we’ve only dropped one game due to our own bad form.
If your happy with the way we played at home against Sunderland who cant win a game against anyone else and your proud of the performance against Wolves then we are just fine. However these are teams we should be burying instead of getting over the line by the skin of our teeth. I mean really who would have thought that WOLVES of all teams could outpossess us at Anfield and have similar amount of shots. Our midfield is virtually non existant. You cant rely on our experienced players to come on and get us out of trouble as you say if they are given only 20 odd minutes per game. Starting positions should be earned on merit not on what money has been spent on a certain player. Put simply Henderson , Adam and Carrol have yet to earn that privilage. Leave the best players to start and give the youngsters game time when the game is safe after all they were purchased for the future werent they? If the starters fail to fire replace them with someone who has come in and showed hunger and form. Competition for a starting place is what will bring the best out of all the squad. Kenny though seems to be hellbent on starting his new signings regardless of form. This can only heighten the murmurings of discontent at Kennys starting selections if the experienced squad members arent getting a fair crack.
The point is the likes of Carroll, Henderson and Adam need game time to get up to speed, Bellamy, Kuyt and Maxi don’t. Play the older players pick up some injuries the younger players wont be ready to cover. If its only having a negative impact on performance not result what’s your problem? It’s a marathon not a sprint managers base their selection on 3/4/5 games down the line not just the one game.
It has already cost us…against Sunderland , Stoke and Tottenham..i rest my case
I think Kenny is either arrogant or confused wit his team selection….we had da best results towards da end of the last season my question is why I we starting getiing restless…? Forget Henderson nd bring back Kuyt…
its amazing how fans can get against players. Everyone seems to be against Henderson, imagine what you same people would say if even with Kuyt, Bellamy and Maxi on Liverpool lost, Kenny would be the one being slaughtered here! If Bellamy didnt shine, then Kenny would have bought players way past their prime!! Its all just a complete vicious blame game cycle. Give the players all the support they need and watch them grow. if they are not good enough in the end let them move on other than slaughter your own players!!! It wont change the fact that they are the ones we have and United have the ones they have. If players are judged after 6 games Evra wouldnt be at United, Dzeko wouldnt be at City, Adebayor would not be playing at top European clubs!!!!
Redsimon its not a questin of judgin our players after 6 games. Its more to the fact that players arent being picked for the starting lineup on merit. Dont take it personally WE ALL want to see the REDS fly high again. I wont comment on Adebayor cause im not sure but you mentioned Evra and Dzeko. Sure if they were judged after 6 games they wouldnt be at their respective clubs but they were not picked week in week out regardless of form. They had to sit on the pine and earn there positions back into the team.
mr.henry pls stand up and warn dalglish seriously abt team selection before it is too late or sack him if he is sturbon i do not undstand his game plan
Just stop supporting liverpool you fool, we don’t want fans like you
We are like sailing in water and we still have the gut to defend our phrases .is early hours as well is late. If we dont make amends we have our self to blame. We have the best and the most experince players in our team. Their is no time for pratical or decisions to backup esteem and perdegree.whereas is suppose to be defend in our matches and it outcome. And the right decisions should be made through merit. Liverpool is not a club for one person. It is for all of us far and near. We know the truth and the shall speak for it self.
Correct me if I am wrong but last season when Roy Hodgson was playing Maxi and Kuyt week in week out, weren’t every Liverpool fan under the sun complaining about them?
I guess there are some fans that will complain no matter what!
You know well enough when Hodgson was in charge we had no gameplan but to hoof the ball up forward. However when Kenny took over dont you agree that we played some scintillating football with Kuyt and Maxi players from then on? Sure Downing is an improvement on Maxi but in no way should Henderson be starting ahead of Kuyt or Bellamy for that matter.