Kuyt & Riera

[Leo No.8]

I think a huge part of our great start this season and our new found balance has been down to Kuyt & Riera.

 

Which is ironic really as one has been the subject of some pretty vitriolic criticism over the last 18 months, and the other was derided as an average or 'fill in' signing who had already shown he couldn't cut it in English football.

 

However against the odds and general opinion I can't emphasise how big an influence the form and positional play of the two aforementioned players has had over not only the team as a whole, but also other players.

 

For example, I believe Alonso's improvement which has seen him back on world class form this season has a lot to do with the extra width we now have. Kuyt and Riera stick to their touchlines like glue when they play left and right and both try to work the ball outside as well as inside, and the additional space has seen Xabi a big beneficiary.

 

The pitch has been stretched leaving far more time and space for Xabi to impose his magnificent passing ability on games, unlike the congested central areas of the last couple of seasons. The last time Xabi played this well was 2005 when Kewell actually played a full season and Gerrard was on the right - coincidence? I don't think so.

 

Also at full back Arbeloa has been supported exceptionally well by Kuyt which has seen him find hs best form for Liverpool and Aurelio, a proper footballer has found a player in front of him he can link with to create opportunities down the left.

 

Steven Gerrard has always had the pace and athleticism to thrive even in those more crowded areas of the pitch, but he looks to have more space and to be enjoying his football. Mascherano on the other hand has been slightly less prominent as the ball hasn't been mired in his area causing him to make tackle after tackle.

 

I think crucial to Kuyt and Riera's success has been both players' first touch. Alonso has invariably been the one to find them with long distance passes, but both players have time and again produced instant control and then positive movement. Kuyt has been derided for his touch at times, but he has been immaculate this season on that front.

 

So good has Kuyt been there is a bit of reclassification needed. He has gone beyond 'hard working trier' to add 'outstanding technique, link play, control and finishing'. His goalscoring record this season considering he plays most often fron the right has been absolutely superb and he has thrived when playing up front.

 

Riera has been a revelation - he's tall, strong and has shown fantastic skill, pace, work rate, delivery and game intelligence.

 

In total honesty I personally would have seen Kuyt out the door last Christmas befor the change in formation and his move to the right as part of a 5 man midfield, and I was lukewarm about Riera's signing. So I take my hat off to those two players who have had their fair share of criticism and doubt, because they are two of the main reasons we are up there with Chelsea.

 

I'm not sure many would have seen that coming from a City flop and one of the most heavily criticised Liverpool players in recent years but there it is - they are the biggest difference for me.

[Tones]

I think a huge part of our great start this season and our new found balance has been down to Kuyt & Riera.

 

Which is ironic really as one has been the subject of some pretty vitriolic criticism over the last 18 months, and the other was derided as an average or 'fill in' signing who had already shown he couldn't cut it in English football.

 

However against the odds and general opinion I can't emphasise how big an influence the form and positional play of the two aforementioned players has had over not only the team as a whole, but also other players.

 

For example, I believe Alonso's improvement which has seen him back on world class form this season has a lot to do with the extra width we now have. Kuyt and Riera stick to their touchlines like glue when they play left and right and both try to work the ball outside as well as inside, and the additional space has seen Xabi a big beneficiary.

 

The pitch has been stretched leaving far more time and space for Xabi to impose his magnificent passing ability on games, unlike the congested central areas of the last couple of seasons. The last time Xabi played this well was 2005 when Kewell actually played a full season and Gerrard was on the right - coincidence? I don't think so.

 

Also at full back Arbeloa has been supported exceptionally well by Kuyt which has seen him find hs best form for Liverpool and Aurelio, a proper footballer has found a player in front of him he can link with to create opportunities down the left.

 

Steven Gerrard has always had the pace and athleticism to thrive even in those more crowded areas of the pitch, but he looks to have more space and to be enjoying his football. Mascherano on the other hand has been slightly less prominent as the ball hasn't been mired in his area causing him to make tackle after tackle.

 

I think crucial to Kuyt and Riera's success has been both players' first touch. Alonso has invariably been the one to find them with long distance passes, but both players have time and again produced instant control and then positive movement. Kuyt has been derided for his touch at times, but he has been immaculate this season on that front.

 

So good has Kuyt been there is a bit of reclassification needed. He has gone beyond 'hard working trier' to add 'outstanding technique, link play, control and finishing'. His goalscoring record this season considering he plays most often fron the right has been absolutely superb and he has thrived when playing up front.

 

Riera has been a revelation - he's tall, strong and has shown fantastic skill, pace, work rate, delivery and game intelligence.

 

In total honesty I personally would have seen Kuyt out the door last Christmas befor the change in formation and his move to the right as part of a 5 man midfield, and I was lukewarm about Riera's signing. So I take my hat off to those two players who have had their fair share of criticism and doubt, because they are two of the main reasons we are up there with Chelsea.

 

I'm not sure many would have seen that coming from a City flop and one of the most heavily criticised Liverpool players in recent years but there it is - they are the biggest difference for me.

 

Good post and points Leo. i think they have given the team a great balance this season. Riera has settled in very quickly and Kuyt has been one of, if not the, best player this season.

 

Watching Kuyt against Bolton on saturday and he was superb especially in the first half. His first touch was very noticable, as he plucked some passes out of the air with beautiful control. Great to see him playing so well especially with the unwarranted stick he took last season and at the start of this season.

[Knox_Harrington]

So good has Kuyt been there is a bit of reclassification needed. He has gone beyond 'hard working trier' to add 'outstanding technique, link play, control and finishing'. His goalscoring record this season considering he plays most often fron the right has been absolutely superb and he has thrived when playing up front.

His movement is terrific. It goes way beyond there being loads of it with and without the ball.

[Mikey]

Good post and points Leo. i think they have given the team a great balance this season. Riera has settled in very quickly and Kuyt has been one of, if not the, best player this season.

 

Watching Kuyt against Bolton on saturday and he was superb especially in the first half. His first touch was very noticable, as he plucked some passes out of the air with beautiful control. Great to see him playing so well especially with the unwarranted stick he took last season and at the start of this season.

I've been a big critic of Kuyt since he arrived but am happy to admit that so far this season he is proving the doubters wrong - I've been very impressed with him to be honest.

 

The stick he took wasn't unwarranted at all though, he was gash for quite a while and the fact that he has improved almost beyond recognition doesn't rewrite history!

[Hassony]

I think the only difference with Kuyt between last season and this season is his goals, I think his first touch is the same as always (Excellent for 90% of the time, awful for 10%)

[matty]

I'm happy to say I always believed in Dirk, and now I've been proven right.

 

It's clear that Kuyt and Riera are 'rafa'type players. They work hard, they are totally committed to the team above all else, they know the role Rafa wants them to play and they fulfil it to the letter. It's no surprise that the players who have been jettisoned couldn't or wouldn't do that.

[Chili Palmer]

Last season when Dirk was struggling I was cursing him up and down, any time my wife was in she would say 'why are you always slagging him off, everytime I watch he is the one trying or getting a chance'

 

obviously I told her to not talk about things she knows nothing about and to get in and make me a cheese sandwich.

 

after she hit me, i could see her point of view...

[Hassony]

Last season when Dirk was struggling I was cursing him up and down, any time my wife was in she would say 'why are you always slagging him off, everytime I watch he is the one trying or getting a chance'

 

obviously I told her to not talk about things she knows nothing about and to get in and make me a cheese sandwich.

 

after she hit me, i could see her point of view...

 

 

made me laugh

 

my wife used to say the same thing about Baros!! she was telling me last week that it was a mistake that we sold him

 

but my wife used to fancy Baros, Shirly your wife doesn't fancy Dirk!

Edited November 19, 2008 by Hassony

[usualsuspect]

quite a w***fest in here

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

It's clear that Kuyt and Riera are 'rafa'type players. They work hard, they are totally committed to the team above all else, they know the role Rafa wants them to play and they fulfil it to the letter. It's no surprise that the players who have been jettisoned couldn't or wouldn't do that.

 

exactly right.

 

if we go through a lean patch and aren't scoring, some people will say we should have kept Cisse. even if he was banging goals in for us, the fact that he wasn't a Rafa player (as you describe) would mean he'd be wrong for our team.

[Kahnee]

Last season when Dirk was struggling I was cursing him up and down, any time my wife was in she would say 'why are you always slagging him off, everytime I watch he is the one trying or getting a chance'

 

obviously I told her to not talk about things she knows nothing about and to get in and make me a cheese sandwich.

 

after she hit me, i could see her point of view...

 

[Dee]

I've always believed in Dirk

 

now Babel where's his epiphany?

[AE]

I think losing his father had a deep affect on him.

He was only "bad" for 4-6 months of last season.

And as I recall we were quite impressed with him after his first season?

 

Lucky Rafa stuck with him

[Earl Hafler]

I think the only difference with Kuyt between last season and this season is his goals, I think his first touch is the same as always (Excellent for 90% of the time, awful for 10%)

 

That's crap - his touch last season was terrible for months. He's an almost completely different player so far this season to the one that misfired his way through last winter

 

Riera's ball retention and the balance given to the midfield and attack has been a big factor - we keep the ball for longer periods now and are less reliant on the hurried or hollywood pass.

Edited November 19, 2008 by Earl Hafler

[Foo]

I think the only difference with Kuyt between last season and this season is his goals, I think his first touch is the same as always (Excellent for 90% of the time, awful for 10%)

 

 

Aye, the that precentage needs a bit adjustment. At best 50/50. At best, mind you...

[Magic8Ball]

That's crap - his touch last season was terrible for months. He's an almost completely different player so far this season to the one that misfired his way through last winter

 

Riera's ball retention and the balance given to the midfield and attack has been a big factor - we keep the ball for longer periods now and are less reliant on the hurried or hollywood pass.

This is critical to our success, but we need to move onto the next level which is being able to use the ball better in the final third.

Retention is good but we don't probe for weakeness with a feeling of efficacy.

I was watching keane work his socks of and couldnt shake the thought that a young Fowler may actually be the perfect foil for Torres - where's a young Fowler when you need one

Clinical finisher, can play main striker or link striker - could in theory play with Babel or N'gog - I think that's the type of striker we need to move on.

As a link striker Keane is an improvement on what we had but so far I've not seen the ball control or the skill at opening a defense we need to move on to the next level

 

Regarding Kuyt, he's been impressive - I can only hope Babel is watching and learning

[Ben 23]

I think his first touch is the same as always (Excellent for 90% of the time, awful for 10%)

 

Making a late attempt for quote of the year.

[Earl Hafler]

This is critical to our success, but we need to move onto the next level which is being able to use the ball better in the final third.

Retention is good but we don't probe for weakeness with a feeling of efficacy.

I was watching keane work his socks of and couldnt shake the thought that a young Fowler may actually be the perfect foil for Torres - where's a young Fowler when you need one

Clinical finisher, can play main striker or link striker - could in theory play with Babel or N'gog - I think that's the type of striker we need to move on.

As a link striker Keane is an improvement on what we had but so far I've not seen the ball control or the skill at opening a defense we need to move on to the next level

 

Regarding Kuyt, he's been impressive - I can only hope Babel is watching and learning

 

Fowler and Torres are similar in my opinion but would have been smart enough to make the partnership work.

 

You watch Torres score tap ins, deft touches past the keeper but also flick it through the defenders legs and then whack it past the keeper from 20 yards and it reminds you of Robbie - all in one game against Villa !

 

Staunton's still trying to figure out where he went...

[MFletcher]

As someone who felt the need to resolutely defend Kuyt in every topic last year when he was going through his 'bad' patch, I feel vindicated.

 

He has been great this season. He's up there with Alonso and Reina as player of the year so far.

[San Diego Red]

Oh here we go with the Kuyt activists. He's done well, good for him. Give the pendulum a rest, eh?

[Smith]

s*** for most of last season, great so far this season.

 

He had a very good game for Holland last night, his first touch was immense. Scored in the dying seconds sa well. Played the full 94 mins, which pretty much sucks though.

[Woodsyla]

As a link striker Keane is an improvement on what we had but so far I've not seen the ball control or the skill at opening a defense we need to move on to the next level

 

Everton away

[Will]

Oh here we go with the Kuyt activists. He's done well, good for him. Give the pendulum a rest, eh?

Good God, how terrible. A poster praising one of our players. Get over yourself.

[Gravy]

To be honest I don't think Kuyt was cut any slack for his personal situation with his father. that is going to affect anyone in all walks of life for quite some time so why not him?

 

Glad he's getting recognition and people are starting to eat some humble pie.

[Swipe]

His first touch has been noticably better this season.

 

Xabi's been pinging the ball out to the right a lot and i've noticed how well Dirk has taken the ball down