Poll: Liverpool’s Most Underrated Player

Vote: Dirk Kuyt. Simply because the rest don't deserve it. And because he's Deadly Dirk.

I was watching the highlights for the Carling Cup match so I don't know the whole story but although I voted Dirk Kuyt as underrated at first, I voted for Jay Spearing the second time. I for one, at this stage in time, rate Spearing over Adam to be honest. Even though Spearing does make drastic mistakes sometimes, he makes it up for a whole game of tenacity and will. He's almost like the second duracell bunny and I'd rather that than a leaky hole in midfield that Adam seems to cause lately. And this is coming from someone who used to scream at the computer screen at why Spearing was playing.

i think jay spearing is underrated and should be given more time to play..he does an excellent job with lucas and never gives up and his long shots are also good!!!

To me Glen Johnson is one of the best attacking right fullbacks in the world.  Dani Alves is better.  Maicon and Sergio Ramos might be better as well, but the list stops there for me.  And a lot of fans don't seem to understand what a proper footballer Maxi Rodriguez is.

i dont think u can be considered an elite at ur position if u only play 20 games a season... agger cud be the best cb on the planet not named pique, but it doesnt rly matter when he's watchin the game from the couch... i wud take both da silva twins, lahm, boateng, richards, sagna, maggio, even lichtsteiner over johnson. kelly's our best rb, i truly believe that.

and maicon's off that list - bale literally ended his carrer. 

A lot of fans don't appreciate the subtle difference between a good old English full back and the modern day full back: http://www.zonalmarking.net/20... 

Maxi is a real footballer, but he doesn't have the pace that most peope associate with attacking players. To cement himself in the side he really needs to demonstrate that he can orchestrate everything good in the final third. If he does that, he'd be my pick as one of the first names on the team sheet. Thats why I think he's underated.

The only 2 contenders will be Maxi & Spearing. Carra, Kuyt & Johnson shouldn't be in the list at all.
So the pick go to ....Maxi. He score 2 hat trick last term in a short spell of time.

I always felt Maxi is good in going into scoring position, just that his finishing fail him many times. I will definitely play him over Henderson. Sub him with the latter probably after 60 min, let Henderson settle in to the team slowly. Maxi tend to be effective at the left, meaning Downing will be going to the right.

Maxi and then Dirk Kuyt. Both get the best out of Suarez and I think that should be a priority this season.

ok, I've picked Maxi because he's surprised me and started to produce a lot of end product.

However Spearing is worth keeping an eye on, not because he's going to be a superstar but because he could turn out to have a progression path like Lucas.  

He may turn out to be the most under rated in a couple of seasons (except Comolli will sell him!)

Wish we had bought Odemwingie in January.  He's under-rated for sure.

Why have so many people chosen Kuyt as under rated?  He's not under rated.   KK isn't playing him so much now is NOT because he doesn't rate him.  It's because

1) he's getting the new guys playing and settled in.  Perhaps he should mix it up more, but there you go.  They're being tested.
You can do the mixing up on Fifa 'slip me a buck' Xbox (am I the only one who thinks that's a rude name for a kids product?)

2) The season is long, the old guard are over 30.  They'll get plenty of game time but its a fact we have to be ready to replace them.

This squad is 5 games in.  It won't be the same in January or next May.

Johnny, for me, any time Dirki doesn't start, he's been under rated. There's plenty of time to get Hendo settled and firing over 38 games. Why try to compress it in 5 games? Unless, of course, Hendo is rated over Dirki. In which case, for me, the Dirkster is being under rated.

yes sure, they could be integrated more gradually, especially with the bigger games ( - hasn't done Steve Bruce any good) but that's the manager's perogative, no?  

You could argue that in a very short space of time he's left the new guys with no illusions as to what they have to step up to.  Motivation will be high without the early euphoria.  

It's possible that over a gradual period they might get a little soft and rely too much on those around them.  
And with Adam's position, there's no getting away from having to have a pretty sound game in his locker. 

No point in pussy-footing around.  I'm sure this week has been a massive wake up call for him.  Rather now than in 3 months time.

Will be interesting to see the team against Everton and ManUre to see if he mixes it up a little.

If you really want to head down Conspiracy Avenue then Kenny is trying to show up Comolli and FSG's nutjob Opta stats transfer selection.  Stranger things have happened between here and the boardroom - and quite recently too!!  Have I just started a rumour?

Man I reckon I could start WWIII if I put my mind to it.

Sure. Integrating the guys and picking the team is always the manager's perogative. Formulate a plan, train hard, watch the guys in training and do your stuff. Sometimes it works well immediately, often not. Learn from your mistakes, of course, and move on. Victory goes to the bold (and prepared). End of the day, the manager has to answer for the results. And yes, massive wake up call for all really, we'll see the reaction, beginning Saturday.

Next up Wolves at Anfield. One game at a time. Everton away and United home. Three huge games.

Wee Jay hands down. Was Dirky, then Lucas, then Maxi and now it's Spearing that's dividing opinion. Guts, a great engine, efficient passer and possesses more flair than he's credited with. Top man. Fucking atrocious balance in his own penalty box though...!!!!

Yeah, falling over is kind of tedious.

Kelly.  He's rated, sure, but when fit and firing he truly transforms that side in a way i have only seen johnson manage a handful of times in his career, and he's still, wat 21?

very classy.  very pleased with the youth we're turning out.   Just have to find the next Fabregas now (cos I reckon Stevie G is irreplaceable).

if the question is underrated by supporters - then Spearing's my pick. not that he's un-loved, mind. most people appreciate his tenacity and we all love the story.  the kicker for me is that he's the only real back-up for Lucas, but for most supporters, Jay remains more or less, an afterthought.

if the question is underrated by BRII- i'd have to say Flanno.  he was a rock last season, and while he's not the finished article technically, he's no nonsense and plays within the system. not saying he's first XI, but i think he's under-used.

*results forthcoming

That's going to be an under the radar fascinating one watching Spearing develop.  

He could turn out to be more than competent in a couple of years as his game comes on.  

Imagine if Adam fails to push his game on sufficiently and Spearing keeps improving?    Interesting scenario.

No one benefits from Suarez's movement, passing, defender-dragging, defender-biting and overall fiercely intimidating rottweiler style of play more than Maxi. I wouldn't be so bold as to start him every game, but definitely an impact sub at 60 minutes when the game needs an extra oomph or a new style, so to speak. I think Maxi would be the man to give us said oomph. And he deserves the odd start here or there.

On somewhat of a sidenote, I want to see a front four of various combinations of Downing, Suarez, Maxi, Bellamy and Kuyt. Roundabout way of saying give Carroll and Henderson a spot on the bench for a while. Let our "core" players develop an understanding and those who already have an understanding to develop it further, strengthen our spine... THEN try to incorporate new players into it. Not start a 20 and 22 year old for all our most important games, close our eyes, cross our fingers and hope for the best... my two cents.

Shame Maxi has been pushed down the order it seems.  As you say, he's shown the finishing that we keep saying is missing. 
It's almost as if because they are simple finishes, he's not appreciated so much for it.  Probably not enough of a bull dog for the manager.

Oh, and I didn't vote Kuyt because Kenny's consistent selection of him last season shows that he clearly rates him. Kenny's the one who moved him back to striker, after all. His relegation to the bench isn't a lack of confidence, just experimenting with the side, I would think. 

He chose a match against Spurs to experiment?  And the experiment takes the full 90 minutes?

Damn, the guy has guts...

Ended up with egg on his face for that one though.  Oh well, hopefully the return fixture will be a whole different story.

Yes, he got that wrong but let down in the middle particularly.

Lucas Leiva....

I don't want to start praising any of the team at this moment. After all we praised Meireles and look where that got us - He was thrown out! Best thing is to keep quiet about anyone you think is playing really well!

Is that a secret name you've got there?

i'm more worried that in the next transfer window chelsea will try to buy whoever scores the winner against them.. i've noticed a pattern developing

I really don't get people NOT rating Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt or Maxi.

But I understand why some wouldn't rate Spearing. For right now, he's an excellent option for replacing Charlie Adam in the side whenever Adam does all that stuff everybody hates. He's showed time and again he can be effective alongside Lucas, and his shorter range of passing doesn't particularly matter when you've got Suarez, Bellamy and indeed Kuyt and Maxi running around in front of him.

Vote: Spearing.

Maxi, who's looked entirely comfortable w/ the liverpool groove when in, though only b/c Glen's injured. 

Question - is there any way this (partial) line-up works?:                        Suarez       Bellamy                                DowningMaxi                                        Kuyt                       LucasDowning's looked dangerous cutting in from the right the time's he's done so (that monster shot off the crossbar in the early going this year comes to mind immediately). Kuyt would take a different role (and one he's capable of performing) to get into the starting 11, right? Lucas might be a little exposed... 

ur asking that maxi play the deep lying playmaker role, and while he cud prolly do it in an emergency scenario, he's wayyyyy to lightweight in his style of play for that position.

but i rly, rly need to see downing doing what he supposedly does best - hitting the left byline and slapping in pacy crosses - instead of doing his cristiano ronaldo immitation.  we get it, he's versatile, but that switching flanks ish only works if uve established dominance on one of the two flanks, which he just straight up hasnt done this year... he shud be taking carroll's lack of form on the chin far as im concerned, since we bought him mostly to get the best out of the big lug.

Ummmm, that formatting didn't work at all - Suarez up top. Bellamy supporting from left. Downing a little farther back and shifted on the right. Maxi as LM. Kuyt as RM. Lucas Defensive / Holding CM.

Wee Jay all the way! He's not a match winner, but the work he does allows others to excel. With Spearing sharing or shouldering the defensive midfield duties, Lucas is free to pass and move--to be the "wheel" that makes that style of play effective. When Lucas is paired with a more "offensive" partner, we seem to have trouble diliberatley moving the ball forward and  concede possession far too easily with longer passes trying to get the ball to our forwards farther up the pitch. Because Spearing enables us to play pass and move more than any other player, I think his contribution is the most underrated of any of these choices.

vote often! what kind of democracy is this?

I'd like to see more of Johnson under this regime, but certainly have few complaints about him from his first 2 seasons. the 'more of an attacking full-back, less solid defensively' cliche gets used too much cos he isnt the archetypal English defender and perhaps (but hopefully not) cos of his race.

I think with a higher line and a decent defender ahead of him (Maxi or Kuyt) then he could balance someone quicker like downing/bellamy on the left and build attacks for us from the back. used to love seeing him come inside for those left footed shots as well *blissful sigh*

"vote often! what kind of democracy is this?"

Chicago-style?

must be, although I tried to dick with the results, it won't let me... sad day.

Hit Maxi ten times in a row, Chicago style, and his % went DOWN. Damn Noel. He's tricky.

Maxi. Does so many things well. Defends back, move well, fits the system, links play well, pretty good finishing, intelligent with assists. The way he held the ball for that extra moment under pressure before putting Dirk in on Wed. says it all. Well rounded intelligence. If I was answering who is the most underated by KK, would have to say Dirk. He showed why last night. 

don't think KK underestimates him, just recognises his effort, age and that its a long season and people will get injured.  

Add the job of getting the new guys game time, very important to get that out of the way, though a touch more rotation would have helped them I believe.  

The stalwarts are proving most reliable (no surprise) plus Suarez and Downing and Bellamy so we will need to use them more.  

Shows how much the new guys have to step up.  Question is what path of progression do we use for Adam and Henderson?  Not playing them holds back development, not playing the old guys perhaps compromises results.

Tough job unless you've bought very high quality players in the first place that don't need much development.  

Brings the NESV strategy nicely into the frame for discussion and how that's affected transfer choices.

actually, i think hendo and adam have had enough pt in these early days to be getting on with, and kenny can afford to bring back the older players.  kind of reverse from how u wud conventionally break new players into a squad, but whatever.  i thnk reminding adam and hendo that there are other players that can do the job just fine wud perhaps be a positive pyschological ploy...

the nesv point is valid.  i thnk its obvious how hendo fits into that, but ppl seem to have a hard time allowing adam to be described as a developmental player cuz he's 25-26.  my argument - admittedly one that errs on the side of optimism - is that adam is a late bloomer and won't hit his peak until 28, as opposed to say now, which is when most players do.  He has the type of game, like xavi, xabi alonso, that allows for less than stellar mobility, so physically its not like he's gotta use it or lose it right now (as does, say, gareth bale), and his game should come on leaps and bounds once he corrects the mental errors at gamespeed.  to underline this point, lets look at drogba, who is the pinnacle of elite players that we late bloomers - his best statistical years came when he was 29 and 32!  i thnk we're looking at a year long process (maybe longer) of adam sorting his game out mentally, and then he'll be an automatic selection in the starting 11.  Which only adds more credence to the idea that our january transfer window might be more active than perhaps we anticipated prior to raul's departure.  we need another mature cm to add to the mix in that cm berth, someone who's done developing, is economically priced, keeps it simple, but meshes well with the ball-on-the-ground style.  some would say spearing is in the mix there, and he does tick most of those boxes, but he's a CDM at heart, we rly lose too much dynamism when both him and lucas are on the pitch, works for some games, not for others.  prolly wuda been perfect for spurs tho...

100% agree.  

I share the optimistic view that KK saw things in Adam he likes, which we know of, and can bring him along from there.

It's clear now though that rotation needs to be more subtle and we need the ability and experience of the older guys.

Q. Do we have enough penetration without Suarez?  Still think we have to prove that.

i think downing needs to be that guy, but he's kinda trying too hard it seems like right now.  he has a competitive advantage with his pace and trickery on that left hand side, when he goes right and cuts in, its just too predictable.  the reason suarez can do what he does is he's so friggin unpredictable its jaw-dropping at times...  downing needs to establish some dominance on that left, then start mixing in the flank switches and central runs... but to answer ur question, no we dont, not on current form.... but one of the reasons im ok with the transfer fee for downing is that he can potentially be that penetrative foil for suarez.  bellamy also offers something there, we're kinda gettin carried away with what he'll offer us over the course of a season i think - he should still be considered no more than a spot starter and first off the bench...

in other words, lucas, hazard or bundesliga wunderkind for january...please...

Johnson needs to cut down on the weights. He's looking more like a cruiser weight boxer than a footballer these days.

Kind of an oxymoron here.  If any of these players is rated enough to win this poll, then technically he wouldn't be that underrated would he...

And that Mobius strip thing, it really only has one side?  

The intricacies of life...

I went for Maxi. Tough choice though, what with Dirk being a hall-of-famer in my book and Glen still needing to reach his full potential. Which kinda explains why I didn't pick either of them. I think a good group of fans doesn't underrate either of these players, and sees them in thier first 11 for Liverpool (okay...maybe just me).

Maxi on the other hand, isn't in my first 11 week in week out. But, his contributions can be immense, even if they can be so subtle as to go unnoticed. Pass n move, clinical finishing, calm head, and vast european experience make his presence priceless even if it doesn't guaruntee him a starting berth in most matches.

Maxi for me, with Glen a close second. Dirk's not underrated for me because I think he actually is rated fairly highly, it's just a few who (wrongly) don't rate him. As for Maxi, his game intelligence and technique are top notch. He consistently tracks back to cover the full back and provides outlet passes from defense to start attacks. Glen's really underrated defensively- he's very solid positionally when we're not defending on the top of our 18. Higher up the pitch, he's very good in the tackle and his pace lets him get back to cover effectively.

I wonder if we'll lose Maxi end of the year, with age meaning Comolli will be happy to let him go.

Glen is clearly better on the left than the right which is weird. 

his positioning is the questionable bit about him when he's on the edge of the box on the right - surely that's the most important job he has to do and costs us goals.

Glen isn't under rated, he hasn't fullfilled his potential being largely an excellent player.

ya, he sure as shit isnt gettin paid like an underrated player...gets paid like the premier rb in the league, actually...