Kuyt / Carroll

[Cooger]

I think these two are going to have a right battle to be first choice striker for us this season.

 

At times we might see both of them in the same XI, with Kuyt on the right. However I suspect most of the time we'll play one leading striker with Downing on the left and Suarez on the right.

 

Given we have so many midfielders 4-3-3 is looking likely more often than not.

 

Now I think Kuyt was superb at the end of last season. Given his constant movement he really suit the new pass and move brand of football and thrived alongside Suarez. With pass and move the emphasis is more about the team, rather than individual brilliance and no doubt Kuyt is a team man with all the work he offers.

 

Carroll was disappointing last season, bar that one game against Man City. Now OK the service to him was poor and hopefully that will be improved with the signing of Downing in particular. Also he had a few injuries which didn't help his form or fitness. If he gets fully fit and we get the right service to him, he can be unplayable as we saw for Newcastle earlier in the season. However if we see the Carroll that wore the red shirt last season, then I personally think Kuyt offers more upfront with his better movement.

 

It is nice to have two different options, but I think Carroll has to get his head down and work hard, otherwise Kuyt will grab his spot. Kenny will select players on form, not how much he paid for them and if Kuyt plays like he finished last season, he'd be hard to drop.

[Falconhoof]

I think these two are going to have a right battle to be first choice striker for us this season.

 

Carrol will start almost every game if he's fit.

 

He'll probably get 20 goals

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Dirk is hard to drop. One of our big money signings (Carroll, Downing, Suarez, Henderson) will be making way for him.

[Epic Swindle]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. I can't see Kuyt keeping up the same level of intensity as he approach's the twighlight of his career but if he's keeping Carroll out of the side on merit that can only be a good thing for the team. The positive is Andy is only 22 and time on his side.

[Cooger]

Carrol will start almost every game if he's fit.

 

He'll probably get 20 goals

 

If he plays like he did last season for us, he is easy to drop.

[Falconhoof]

If he plays like he did last season for us, he is easy to drop.

You make it sound like he stank, far from it.

He was fine, rehabilitation from a long injury. Goals to games last season was very good.

[Epic Swindle]

If he plays like he did last season for us, he is easy to drop.

 

Haven't you just outlined the reasons why he was under par?

 

Sick of people being on the lads case.

[Cooger]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. I can't see Kuyt keeping up the same level of intensity as he approach's the twighlight of his career but if he's keeping Carroll out of the side on merit that can only be a good thing for the team. The positive is Andy is only 22 and time on his side.

 

 

Not at all.

 

It is going to be a right battle for that shirt I think. Basically we have three places upfront and one is going to be for Suarez. That means Kuyt, Downing, Carroll and whoever else stays - maybe Maxi? battling it out for the other two spots.

 

It is up to Carroll, if he gets himself fit and we improve the service to him, he will be unplayable. But if he plays like last season, I'd have Kuyt.

[Epic Swindle]

Not at all.

 

It is going to be a right battle for that shirt I think. Basically we have three places upfront and one is going to be for Suarez. That means Kuyt, Downing, Carroll and whoever else stays - maybe Maxi? battling it out for the other two spots.

 

It is up to Carroll, if he gets himself fit and we improve the service to him, he will be unplayable. But if he plays like last season, I'd have Kuyt.

 

It's a squad game now, be happy that we finally have some quality depth.

[Cooger]

You make it sound like he stank, far from it.

He was fine, rehabilitation from a long injury. Goals to games last season was very good.

 

 

Haven't you just outlined the reasons why he was under par?

 

Sick of people being on the lads case.

 

 

Just saying Kuyt offered more than Carroll did upfront last season under Kenny.

 

Not getting on Carroll's case at all, but he needs to play better if he wants to get in the side over Kuyt. He has the talent to be able to do that.

 

It's a squad game now, be happy that we finally have some quality depth.

 

I'm delighted, haven't said otherwise.

[Alonso]

You can get 25/1 on Carroll being top scorer next season.

[Cooger]

80/1 Carroll top goalscorer and we win the league!

[Maldini]

Dirk isn't good enough as a forward to be our first choice.

[Cooger]

Dirk isn't good enough as a forward to be our first choice.

 

Good enough at what?

 

He scored 15 goals last season and many times he was on the right.

 

If he plays like he did under Dalglish last season, he is good enough.

[Maldini]

Good enough at what?

 

He scored 15 goals last season and many times he was on the right.

 

If he plays like he did under Dalglish last season, he is good enough.

 

Good enough at doing what a forward playing up front on his own has to do ie: being a focal point for the attack, maintaining the correct position, bringing others into play. Dirk's too eager to get involved all over the pitch and so we're left with nobody up front when he plays there. Nobody loves Dirk more than me but he's not right for us up front as anything more than a stand in, he's far better suited to the right.

[Gunga Din]

Good enough at doing what a forward playing up front on his own has to do ie: being a focal point for the attack, maintaining the correct position, bringing others into play. Dirk's too eager to get involved all over the pitch and so we're left with nobody up front when he plays there. Nobody loves Dirk more than me but he's not right for us up front as anything more than a stand in, he's far better suited to the right.

 

 

Spot on

[windy city red]

Good enough at doing what a forward playing up front on his own has to do ie: being a focal point for the attack, maintaining the correct position, bringing others into play. Dirk's too eager to get involved all over the pitch and so we're left with nobody up front when he plays there. Nobody loves Dirk more than me but he's not right for us up front as anything more than a stand in, he's far better suited to the right.

 

You need to put one of those dog collars around Dirk that gives off a mild electric shock when the animal crosses a boundary. Make arrangements for our groundkeepers to lay one line along the halfway line.

[RBM]

being a focal point for the attack

 

Point of order.

 

I believe you mean "Point of reference" for the attack

[Cooger]

Good enough at doing what a forward playing up front on his own has to do ie: being a focal point for the attack, maintaining the correct position, bringing others into play. Dirk's too eager to get involved all over the pitch and so we're left with nobody up front when he plays there. Nobody loves Dirk more than me but he's not right for us up front as anything more than a stand in, he's far better suited to the right.

 

I disagree with that.

 

He is a nightmare to mark, but he can be the focal point of attack.

[Antynwa]

Dirk Upfront towards the later end of last season was just as good as how he played on the right during the year we finished 2nd

[stressederic]

Kuyt and Suarez worked together pretty well last year.

[Cooger]

Kuyt and Suarez worked together pretty well last year.

 

So good that it shouldn't have been changed for the match against Spurs.

[Eskimo]

Bit harsh there Maldini, though he struck up a pretty good partnership with Suarez last season. We certainly saw less "air ball" put it that way.. Obviously depends on how/who we line up against but I could see him getting a fair few games in the coming season, also think a Suarez, Kuyt, Downing, front 3 could be pretty good and I ain't a big Downing fan.

 

Having said that I think we seem to be shaping up to play 4-2-3-1... with a front 6 something along the lines of:

 

 

Carroll

Suarez - - Gerrard - - Downing/Kuyt

Lucas- - Adam

Edited July 15, 2011 by Eskimo

[Maldini]

I disagree with that.

 

He is a nightmare to mark, but he can be the focal point of attack.

 

He can't, he moves about too much. You need your centre-forward to move within an area the width of one 18-yard-box and the depth of two. Sometimes you need an out-ball and you want to be able to get it up to someone standing within that area rather than on the touchline chewing the leg off a table.

[Cooger]

There are different wyas of playing upfromt Maldini.

 

Carroll is a traditional number 9, Henry used to be wide more than central for Arsenal. Kuyt mixes his game up well.

Edited July 15, 2011 by Cooger