Dirk Kuyt: My pain and struggle at Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt has revealed for the first time the private hell that has lurked behind his torrid season for Liverpool.

The Dutch striker, who has scored just three league goals this season, has suffered a dip in form and confidence following the death of his dad, Gerrit, from cancer in June.

"I'd be lying if I said it hasn't affected me, because it obviously has," Kuyt explained.

"He was my biggest supporter and someone I always turned to for advice. I know if he was here right now he'd help me with the difficulties I have been having on the field.

"Naturally it's had a major impact on my life but at the same time my performances just haven't been good enough.

"It's my job to score goals and I haven't done that on a regular basis. Now I've got to keep going and turn this situation around."

Liverpool will be without star striker Fernando Torres for 10 days with a hamstring tear - ruling him out of Sunday's trip to Chelsea. He picked up the injury during Spain's 1-0 win over France on Wednesday.
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Fowler and Gerrard have both admitted to alarming slumps in form due to off field family problems, why could it not affect Kuyt?

Granted he'll never be of the quality we need but his performances of late are not a true reflection of his ability in my opinion.

My sympathys are with Dirk, as I know his relationship with his father was one that appeared to be tighter/closer than the usual father-son relationship. And the grieving process can vary from one person to the next.

I can understand to a degree why Rafa is playing him, to keep his spirts up etc etc but he should not be getting into the starting line up infront of Crouch or Babel.

2nd season syndrome too.

His first season was hardly fireworks...

Football Genius wrote:His first season was hardly fireworks...

But he actually did score every now and again, now I have just no confidence in him scoring whatsoever.

ricardo was always Kuyt greatest fan

what does he have to say now

Ade Alves wrote:

Football Genius wrote:His first season was hardly fireworks...

But he actually did score every now and again, now I have just no confidence in him scoring whatsoever.

Its a shame because hes a genuinely nice guy, who puts everything into his performances, he just lacks that bit of quality or guile required.

Football Genius wrote:

Ade Alves wrote:

Football Genius wrote:His first season was hardly fireworks...

But he actually did score every now and again, now I have just no confidence in him scoring whatsoever.

Its a shame because hes a genuinely nice guy, who puts everything into his performances, he just lacks that bit of quality or guile required.

No arguments from me, personailty wise. He seems like a top bloke which makes this season very disheartening.

Just send him back to Holland, under a decent manager he'll be back in Oranje in no time

Axeslammer wrote:Just send him back to Holland, under a decent manager he'll be back in Oranje in no time

@ Axe

Have the Dutch press said anything note worthy about his current situation at Liverpool over this season so far?

Yep bring the boys back home!

we want Kuyt, Van Persie, all Kalous, Tomasson, Julio Ricardo Cruz, Elmander back to partner Makaay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VAsi0IShg

De Guzman wrote:

Yep bring the boys back home!

we want Kuyt, Van Persie, all Kalous, Tomasson, Julio Ricardo Cruz, Elmander back to partner Makaay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VAsi0IShg

You want Cruz back because you want to be as much as a diving team as Ajax (Suarez) ?

Try Buffel instead, looks like he has to leave Scotland anyway

Ade Alves wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:Just send him back to Holland, under a decent manager he'll be back in Oranje in no time

@ Axe

Have the Dutch press said anything note worthy about his current situation at Liverpool over this season so far?

Yup, saw one article that he was under pressure.

That there might be a cleansing and that he would have to go in the summer.

In a tv show one of the Elder Statesmen of Dutch television (Koos Postuma), who's been out of the loop for a while, claimed he heard from a reliable source Kuyt would move to a big German club in the summer.

....sounds dodgy, but Koos isn't the kind of guy to say these things lightly....

In terms of the amount of goals scored, Kuyt isn't Van Nistelrooy or Henry, and Benitez knew (or should have known) that when buying him.

Axeslammer wrote:

De Guzman wrote:

Yep bring the boys back home!

we want Kuyt, Van Persie, all Kalous, Tomasson, Julio Ricardo Cruz, Elmander back to partner Makaay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VAsi0IShg

You want Cruz back because you want to be as much as a diving team as Ajax (Suarez) ?

Try Buffel instead, looks like he has to leave Scotland anyway

I hate that part of Cruz, but he is a great striker. And I loved the 'Cruz-chant' in the stadium.

There were rumours about Buffel before this transfer window. He would be useful, but is no way near all the others mentioned. My God! forgot Henke Larsson. We really had some topstrikers in recent years...

De Guzman wrote:We really had some topstrikers in recent years...

Pffft : Martin Drent > all of them !


(taller that is )

De Guzman wrote:
Yep bring the boys back home!

we want Kuyt, Van Persie, all Kalous, Tomasson, Julio Ricardo Cruz, Elmander back to partner Makaay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VAsi0IShg

Guz: you are a disgrace

Although the death of your father must be a horrible thing to go through, Ronaldo also had to go through this a year or two back I'f im not mistaken

Luis wrote:Although the death of your father must be a horrible thing to go through, Ronaldo also had to go through this a year or two back I'f im not mistaken

He did and to be fair his form was shocking for a good couple of months. This has been much longer though.

Ronaldo was also a lot younger, must have more of an effect on a 20-year old than a 28-year-old.

Roger Hunt wrote:Ronaldo was also a lot younger, must have more of an effect on a 20-year old than a 28-year-old.

Can't really say that, it all depends on people's individual relationship with the deceased person.

kas wrote:

Roger Hunt wrote:Ronaldo was also a lot younger, must have more of an effect on a 20-year old than a 28-year-old.

Can't really say that, it all depends on people's individual relationship with the deceased person.

Kuyt sounded like he was extra-close with his father.

Feel sorry for him. Not easy losing someone so dear to u.

Hope he starts replicating his feyenoord form for pool.

Agooner wrote:Feel sorry for him. Not easy losing someone so dear to u.

Hope he starts replicating his feyenoord form for pool.

He wont...he had a great partner in Kalou...and to be fair Liverpool dont have such a player. And Benayoun is a poor version of Castelen.

26-Otto-19 wrote:ricardo was always Kuyt greatest fan

what does he have to say now

I think you are a bit mis informed.

I always rated him as a very moderate player who works hard. Sometimes he could be useful but he lacks the talent to be a good player.

If you read back all my posts about Kuyt you'll notice that. Having said that, I feel for him and wish him all the best.

kas wrote:

Roger Hunt wrote:Ronaldo was also a lot younger, must have more of an effect on a 20-year old than a 28-year-old.

Can't really say that, it all depends on people's individual relationship with the deceased person.

and yet you hear of other players who have lost a loved one who turn up and give a performance saying "I did it for dad" or "I did it because mum would have been proud of me". OK everyone handles these things differently but you do wonder if it has just become a convenient excuse in this case.

On FM Kuyt has a finishing of 16 o_0

I am contemplating to change this to 12

Kuyt is a good player and works very hard, he has lost his confidence and as we well know confidence is a strikers main allie.

Kuyt's the same age as me and I couldn't begin to wonder how I would feel if my dad were to die, or how it would affect my performances on the pitch. We're all so used to objectifying players and seeing them as statistics. I read that before he played for Liverpool Kuyt missed only five games (over seven seasons) that alone has to be a culture shock coming to Rafa's Liverpool. I really like him as a player, although his performances this season have been poor I remain a fan of his.

If Kuyt can get a few goals before the end of the season, take the summer to rest and get his head together and come back next season a new player then I'd be delighted, I can't see it happening but it would be great.

Voronin on the other hand just needs to be sold as soon as possible

Given his role I thought he did rather well yesterday, his ball retention vastly improved and his crosses were very good.

Still needs to play up front and stay up front for 90 mins.

L'Arse your a c**t