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Depending on who you believe, or perhaps the colour shirt you wear, Holland international Dirk Kuyt is either one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League or a poor forward who was converted into a hard-working right-midfielder to fill a hole in the Liverpool starting XI.

Certainly a player who was a permanent fixture in a Holland side that navigated their way to the World Cup Final this summer must be doing something right. Unfortunately Kuyt’s disciplined and regulated approach along the touchline has failed to capture the imagination of Reds fans during his time at the club. While his hard labour doesn’t go unnoticed, many fans would prefer to see a more natural option on the right-side of the Liverpool midfield.

Offensive wingers were all the rage when Liverpool last won the league title in 1989-90. A 26-year-old John Barnes scored an astonishing 22-league goals from midfield as The Reds secured their joint-record 18th league title. Since then, the club’s affiliation with flying wingers, much like its rate of collecting trophies, has severely diminished.

Attacking wingers were synonymous with the success of LFC throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Jamaican-born Barnes was among the best of them, terrifying defenders in a sea of red with his electric acceleration, dazzling skills and mazy runs.

Under Benitez however it was his side’s chronic lack of width which came to symbolise the Spaniard’s failure to deliver a side capable of unlocking the league’s most stubborn defences. Particularly during the 2008-09 season when 11 draws ended the club’s slim title chances. Benitez’s persistence in continuing to play Dutchman Kuyt on the right-wing after his arrival in 2006 was systematic of this.

After bagging an impressive 71 goals in 101 appearances for Dutch side Feyenoord, few had predicted Kuyt would spend the next four years chasing lost causes and tracking back on the right-hand side of the Liverpool midfield. Converted from a leading marksman in his native Holland to a makeshift winger with a one-in-four ratio at Anfield, Kuyt had to adapt his game to fit into the Benitez’s side.

Kuyt is clearly not your stereotypical touchline speedster and his lack of pace, guile and creativity can often leave Reds fans frustrated. The 30-year-old’s industry and application along the touchline is unmatched however and this supplements somewhat for what he lacks in inventiveness.

It has been reported Spanish boss Benitez is keen on a reunion with his former charge at the San Siro with Inter Milan. The Italian side have reportedly offered Liverpool £7.5m for the player’s services, with 23-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Obinna moving in the opposite direction as a make-weight in the deal. While Obinna is highly-rated, does Hodgson really want a player deemed not good enough to cut it at Inter? Liverpool would prefer a straight cash deal and an offer of £12m plus for an aging player would be a good piece of business by Roy Hodgson.

The deal is an interesting one for Liverpool’s new manager to consider and it could well be time for the Merseysiders to finally ditch their aging proverbial workhorse. Liverpool are simply not going to win a major honour with a player of Kuyt’s limited quality on the wing. Kuyt is certainly open to the idea of a reunion with Benitez, revealing:

“On Thursday night, during the Europa League game against Trabzonspor, the board of Liverpool informed me officially that they have received a fax from Inter.

“You can call this a luxury situation for me now.”

The former Utrecht player certainly gets his fair share of goals and assists but to start challenging again Liverpool need to change their style of play and address their lack of width and Kuyt should be the first to go.

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Leon Osman rescued a point for Everton after Norwich threatened to upset the odds and leave Goodison Park with all three points leaving the Mersysiders just four points above the drop zone.

It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the blue half of Merseyside as the hosts failed to break down the stubborn Canaries despite dominating the game from start to finish. After failing to keep a clean sheet all season Paul Lambert’s side were only nine minutes away from recording their first shut out of the season before Osman’s deft finish found a way past John Ruddy to break Norwich hearts. They looked on course for a rare away win following Grant Holt’s third goal in two games just before the half hour mark but will consider themselves lucky after being forced to defend for much of the games as the Toffees threw everything at them in search of victory. Moyes’ side had lost their last two games without scoring and it looked like they would have to endure another strike out before the last gasp equaliser.

Supporters will be unhappy that their side’s weaknesses in front of goal cost them dearly once again with Marouane Fellaini seeing his toe poke from Tim Cahill’s knock down saved by Ruddy. Osman then saw his strike headed away by Russell Martin before Magaye Gueye volleyed wide and Cahill tried his luck with a tame effort. Chances were coming and going for the home side and they should have had the game wrapped up before Holt opened the scoring for the Canaries. The bruising striker scored twice against Newcastle again and found the net again showing great strength and composure to swivel on Steve Morison’s knockdown to power the ball home from inside the six-yard box via the far post. His afternoon should have ended soon after he appeared to elbow Fellaini in the face following an aerial challenge with referee Lee Probert deciding to keep his cards in his pocket.

Everton were clearly rattled after going behind with Moyes deciding to send Louis Saha on for the second half and the Frenchman almost made an instant impact playing in Osman who saw his shot tipped wide by Ruddy. He then forced the Norwich keeper into a superb instinctive block after latching onto Denis Stracqualursi’s flick. Ruddy then almost cost his team rashly coming off his line allowing Saha to clip the ball towards goal only for Martin to clear it to safety. With time running out it looked as if an equaliser would never come with the away side not giving the Toffee’s a sniff. However they were finally breached with nine minutes left on the clock as Osman improvised to cleverly flick Royston Drenthes free kick into the net to lift the doom and gloom that was seeping in around Goodison Park. Drenthe then tested Ruddy twice before Stracqualursi was denied the chance to write his name in lights by a Martin who produced a goal saving tackle to thwart the striker as he closed in on goal.

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West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson sung the praises of his players after they won 3-2 at Sunderland on Saturday.Hodgson’s dream run as Albion manager continued as he went unbeaten for the seventh match in succession and saw his side enter the top half of the English Premier League table.

West Brom trailed twice but second-half strikes to Youssouf Mulumbu and Paul Scharner wrapped up a terrific away win, which left Hodgson glowing.

“I thought the players showed enormous character and ability in the second half to come out again and I thought, quite frankly, we were good value for our 3-2,” Hodgson said.

“Today was a very important victory, because it’s not easy to come to the Stadium of Light at any time and win matches.”

“And when you’re fighting for your life at the bottom to win, it’s even better.”

But despite sitting 10th on the table, Hodgson says his side are not safe from relegation.

“We’re not over the line, 39 points isn’t over the line,” he said.

“But it’s a lot happier position to be in, with 39 with six to play rather than 31 or 32 with six to play, which some of our rivals have got at the moment.”

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce lamented his side’s defensive errors and the fact they could not hold onto their 2-1 lead.

“We had a disappointing 20 minutes after taking the lead twice,” Bruce said.

“When you take a 2-1 lead at home you should be good enough to stay on and take the three points.”

“Defensively, we’re all over the place. That’s the big situation. We were rock solid there up until the turn of the year and now we have to score three or more goals to win a football match.”

“We have to go back to the training ground, keep working at it and get our defensive shape back.”

The result means Sunderland have won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions and Bruce admits his side will have an uphill battle to turn around their form.

“It’s a big disappointment and we’re up against it at the moment. The only thing we can do is batten down the hatches, keep going and come out fighting,” he said.

“We’ve got to keep on going. All we can do is keep plugging away.”

Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher will be offered a new contract in the near future, according to Reds boss Roy Hodgson.

The 32-year-old's current Anfield contract expires at the end of this season but Hodgson has no doubts that the one-club man will be offered a new deal once the uncertainty about Liverpool's ownership comes to an end.

"I'm sure it (a contract extension) will be a priority," said Hodgson."Quite frankly so much has happened in the last five weeks, the hours I've spent at the club are enormous, that we haven't actually got round to discussing contracts with players.

"I now know that Carragher has got one year left. That's the only contract of a player that I know about. If you asked me how many years the others have got, I haven't got a clue.

"I can see players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard never leaving Liverpool Football Club. I can see them always being part of the club.

"In the same way I'm a bit disappointed that my attempts to bring Sami Hyypia back failed. It only failed because he's so important to Bayer Leverkusen.

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"We couldn't get him out of his contract. He's one I would also put in the Jamie Carragher-Steven Gerrard mould, Liverpool for life.

"Unfortunately he was let go at the end of the season before last and we can't get him back. He's too valuable to them."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Name: Leandro Damiao

Age: 22

Position: Striker

Club: Internacional

With January fast approaching, Arsenal and Tottenham are preparing to battle it out for the signature of Brazilian superstar Leandro Damiao. The 22-year-old striker currently plays his football in his native Brazil but could be open to a move to Europe if the £25million asking price is matched. Juventus have also expressed an interest in the Internacional striker and the player’s agent has held talks in Turin this week. Damiao earned his first International appearance this year in a friendly with Scotland after scoring 40 goals in 52 games for his club.

Arsenal are looking to sign the striker to bolster their attack, along with proving to Robin Van Persie that they don’t lack ambition as the Dutchman ponders over a new contract. Van Persie has been on great form for the Gunners this season but appears to be the only Arsenal player capable of putting the ball in the net. Arsene Wenger has money to spend from the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer and Damiao would certainly give them much needed strike power to combine with Van Persie.

So, Wenger has money to spend and the Brazilian forward could be right up his street. He is young, quick and composed for someone of his age. Along with wonderkid Neymar, Damiao is a part of a young breed of South Americans who could be taking over the European game. With Marouane Chamakh not getting a look in at the Emirates and Niclas Bendtner on loan at Sunderland it is looking ever more likely that the Gunners will sign a striker in January.

Harry Redknapp had two bids rejected in the summer for the Brazilian striker but Spurs fell short of the asking price.  With Jermaine Defoe perhaps looking to move away from the Lane to find regular football in January ahead of Euro 2012, and Emmanuel Adebayor only on loan at the North London club, this promising youngster could be the answer to their long term striker problem.

Roman Pavlyuchenko is almost definitely leaving White Hart Lane and two strikers may not be enough to get the title chasing Spurs through the second half of the campaign. Damiao’s deadly touch in front of goal would suit a side that create as many chances as Spurs do. Width of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon can gift a striker numerous chances in every game. Damiao came to London last year and scored at Craven Cottage for Brazil in a friendly, where Kenny Dalglish was an interested onlooker and Liverpool could also come in for the striker who is attracting plenty of attention from our shores.

Damiao is not your stereotypical Brazilian player, his awareness and off the ball play is more noticeable that his silky skills and dribbling, although he has both. A goalscoring record as a youngster which could compare with the great Ronaldo, it is not hard to see why the £25million price tag is just the beginning price. Damaio can score with his left foot, right foot and head all equally and is a natural in front of goal that is clear to see in his video. A future World Cup star in the making, Damiao can also rough it with the best and would suit European football down to a tee.

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Damiao would fit in to both North London rivals squads extremely well but whether they match the £25million asking price or Juventus get their first, he is certainly one to look out for in the coming years.

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Newcastle United’s Alan Pardew is concerned about the threat of Rory Delap’s long throw as his team prepare to take on Stoke City.

Pardew has identified 12 key areas his side must address ahead of the English Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium.

And he has warned his players they must rise to the physical demands of Saturday’s clash.

“It’s a big statistic that they score from throw-ins,” Pardew said. “Rory has an unbelievable throw and you have to cope with it.”

“That’s the good thing about the Premier League, you have different flavours, and this one tests your character.”

Newcastle go into the game in 10th place on the Premier League table and are closing in on the 40-point mark that will ease their fears of relegation back to the Championship.

“We’re not really concentrating too much on the points tally, just Stoke,” Pardew said.

“We’re not concentrating on anything but them. They can make it very difficult.”

“The pitch is small which means the set pieces are more accurate.”

“That’s something we have to cope with. We have to make sure we cope with it and concentrate on our own strengths.”

“We have to hope we don’t get too distracted from it.”

Newcastle come into the match on the back of a two-week break, while Stoke are on a high after reaching the last four of the FA Cup at the expense of West Ham.

“It’s been a productive two weeks in terms of people getting some rest,” Pardew said.

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“Our injury issues aren’t behind us but it has eased a little bit and we’re looking forward to the game.”

“When you have two weeks off in the Premier League it can be difficult to focus, so we’re trying to make sure the players are ready for what will be a tough game.”

Pardew hopes Joey Barton will return from a thigh injury but Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez are doubtful with hamstring problems.

“We think Joey has a good chance. Jose Enrique looks very doubtful and Jonas looks doubtful but Nile Ranger is fine.”

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will not rush into making new signings ahead of their first season in the Premier League.

Holloway has revealed he has been inundated with calls and requests from agents to take a look at 'thousands' of players since winning the Championship play-off final in May.

The Seasiders boss has yet to sign any new players but, despite the Premier League season now being just four weeks away, he is refusing to rush his player recruitment programme.

He said:"I'm being serious when I say we've had thousands, not hundreds, of players recommended to us by agents.

"But although I need players, I won't be launching myself into the transfer market and making crazy signings of overpaid and overrated players.

"Everyone else has fallen into that trap but I'm not going to.

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"I am going to take my time, work with my chairman and try to get some real good people in to help my lads, who were so fantastic last season."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Football has always been a game which divides opinion and certain issues polarise people further. In many a debate or commentary will you hear someone branded as “quality.” Actually defining it though is difficult.

Classifying quality is something very subjective; such is the gregarious nature of football. Everyone involved in the game whether they are a fan, player or chairman has their own views on how it should be played and how it should be run. In this way, even in England, each fan will have their ideas of what quality is. A Stoke supporter used to the direct style of Tony Pulis may have a differing vision of quality to an Arsenal fan used to the flowing football Arsene Wenger has preached in North London for the last 15 years.

What’s more they will have an opinion on who is quality and who isn’t quality. The greatest player of all time, that is to say the player with the most quality, is something consistently debated for example. Some feel the best players were from yesteryear and include the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff in their argument. Others more familiar to 21st century football can’t get their head around the twinkle toed maestros that are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However this is the beauty of the debate for several and the bane for others. No matter how strong your opinion is on the matter or whether you have a plethora of statistics at your mercy, there is no correct way of proving which player is the best.

Even if the statistics may show for example that Pele has a much better record than Messi, the debate will probably have to wait until the Argentine finishes his playing career to do a more accurate comparison. What’s more, who you play against affects your supposed quality. Was Pele playing against lesser defenders than Lionel Messi is now?

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This is where the argument becomes relative, for a team or a player’s quality is dependent on what league they are playing in. Gateshead’s striker Jon Shaw is quality in the Blue Square Premier as the current top scorer in the division. However, compare him to Wayne Rooney and it’s much harder to call him quality.

At the higher level, it’s perhaps easier to define. “Barcelona are absolute quality,” is a phrase you would have probably heard from many a begrudging Manchester United supporter after the demolition their team suffered at their Catalan rivals in the Champions League final in May.

If the best are “quality” though, then where does everyone else fit in? Football is not necessarily worse off from not knowing exactly what quality is. Trying to decide who’s good and who’s bad in football fuels hours of endless debates on the radio, in the pub or at work.

Raphael Honigstein’s book “Englischer Fussball” appreciates how fans in different countries appreciate different styles as the German football writer recounts a conversation with José Mourinho. “Italy has the tactical league, Spain the technical one.” He continues, “And in England passion dominates,” emphasising how various elements are valued in different footballing cultures.

There is one quote which accurately pinpoints the nature of quality in football.

“Beauty is in the eye of beholder.”

Ultimately, there is no correct answer as to what quality is. It comes down to any lover of football’s personal taste. It’s for the best that quality remains indefinable in the sport. After all, it leaves greater room for new sides to leave an impression on us and the beautiful game. Quality is something that as long as football is played will be redefined for years and years to come. That doesn’t mean however there will be any universal agreement on what it is in football.

Do you think it can be defined? What are you views? Feel free to comment below.

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If you’ve enjoyed this article, then why not follow me on Twitter – @arhindtutt – Or visit my blog ‘Gone with the Rhind’ for more football opinion

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Tottenham fans will still be grinning from ear to ear as the north Londoners find themselves in the last eight of the Champions League. It is a phenomenal achievement for a football club that have ultimately proved to be a breath of fresh air in the tournament.

At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Tottenham blogs that includes an ideal signing to beef up the Spurs attack; £9m well spent by Levy, while Defoe is too good to be warming the WHL bench.

We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.

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The Tottenham WAG arena just got better

The Greatest Premier League XI of all time?

Has Harry highlighted the one flaw halting Tottenham’s progress?

Too good to be warming the Tottenham bench?

Caption Competition: Crouchy like you’ve never seen him before!

£9 million well spent by Tottenham?

Top TEN Tottenham Cult Heroes

Tottenham youth must wonder what hit them with THIS crazy crowd

The IDEAL signing to beef up the Tottenham attack?

Top TEN Premier League Free-Kick takers of all time

Rafinha welcomes Tottenham link

*Best of WEB*

Not a bad result at all really. – Spurs Musings From JimmyG2

Testing Testing – Tottenham On My Mind

Referendum for Spurs fans – Martin Cloake Online

This is beautiful – Dear Mr Levy

Friday Sermon With Keysy & Gray – Harry Hotspur

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Click on image below to see a gallery of Christian’s lady wife

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Fabio Capello will not rush the appointment of an English coach to his backroom staff despite the World Cup failure.

Capello has agreed to add a homegrown coach to his staff following England's disappointing last 16 exit in South Africa.

Stuart Pearce and Ray Clemence are currently the only English coaches employed by the Italian, whose communications skills have been partly blamed for the below-par tournament showing.

Capello agreed to the request following a meeting the Football Association after they decided to retain his services following a brief period of reflection.

But Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has moved swiftly to play down suggestions that the FA are becoming frustrated with a lack of action from Capello.

"Fabio volunteered he wanted another English coach to join his set-up when we met him last week," Bevington told the association's official website.

"We were pleased to hear this as we want to introduce a wider pool of English coaches moving forward.

"Fabio was clear he didn't want us to offer names immediately, instead stressing he wanted more time to consider who it should be, then discuss it in more detail with (director of football development) Sir Trevor Brooking during the first week of August.

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"Therefore, any speculation as to who it might be cannot be made with any real conviction.

"Fabio hasn't offered his preference, we haven't said ours and no one has been approached."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email