Pepe Reina

[BobTheCharmer]

I've heard plenty of people questioning over the years if Pepe was that good because they couldn't remember 'that many great saves'. He never had to make them though and that was his greatest strength as a keeper.

I still thought he was a good shot stopper too but the past couple of seasons have been slightly worrying. I've no concerns about him at all though and look forward to him having a great season next year.

come and explain your

[RedReet]

come and explain your

In the past couple os seasons he has let in some disappointing goals, but I believe he may have had genuine and acceptable excuses for his form dipping. If Rodgers gets things right and gets the team playing well then I can see Pepe frourishing in his system and getting back to the Pepe of old.

[BobTheCharmer]

In the past couple os seasons he has let in some disappointing goals, but I believe he may have had genuine and acceptable excuses for his form dipping. If Rodgers gets things right and gets the team playing well then I can see Pepe frourishing in his system and getting back to the Pepe of old.

so basically he's been average for 2 seasons but he may come good again if we all cross our fingers and hope for

[Rishi73]

Isn't it simply the case that since Rafa left, Pepe's form has dipped. Probably due to a different gk coach and different defensive tactics.

Sounds like Rodgers will use tactics similar to Rafa so we will hopefully see a massive improvement in Pepe's form.

[Exiled_red]

Who is our goalkeeper coach under Rodgers?

[Daniel 7]

Yeah, what happened to the talk of Valero coming back?

[RichC]

Achterberg at the moment but I am sure there will be changes

[Exiled_red]

Yeah, what happened to the talk of Valero coming back?

That's what I was wondering - but I've been away for a couple of weeks so I may have missed some stuff.

[CJ]

didnt achterberg get sacked before Kenny

[Exiled_red]

didnt achterberg get sacked before Kenny

He's still listed as GK coach on the official site

[RichC]

Ah you're right, he's still up on the official site though

[Mostar]

Pepe desparately need a new coach or old one like Valero.

His form has been dipping for last couple of seasons but last year not only he didn't have many great saves he had tons of soft goals and errors that normally you don't see from Pepe.

He needs a big season again but imo for that to happen he needs to go back to basics and Valero would be great for that.

[SB]

Talk today that we may be looking at Vorn ?

Paper talk or substance I've no idea ?

As Brendan Rodgers himself has acknowledged, some Liverpool fans are not happy with the Northern Irishman's appointment. Clearly, that's to be expected as you can't please all the people all of the time, and that apparently includes some of the current Liverpool squad. Yesterday, Pepe Reina (belatedly) offered his public support to the new manager, but the fact remains that on the day Rodgers was appointed, Reina's first reaction was to remind everyone that his preferred choice was Rafa Benitez. Well, according to reports in Holland, Reina's time at Liverpool could be coming to an end.

On the 30 May, Swansea City officially confirmed that Rodgers had been offered the Liverpool job, and that a compensation deal had been agreed. A few hours before that, Pepe Reina - one of Liverpool's most senior players - said this to Radio Marca:

"For many of my colleagues and me, Rafa Benitez would be the ideal candidate. It is true I’m not objective, it is the coach who most shaped me. He is the best".

Reina is entitled to his opinion, but to say something so divisive in public is totally out of order IMO, and just served to undermine the manager. What makes it worse is that Reina stated that 'many' of his 'colleagues' wanted Benitez, which raises the unwelcome spectre of dissatisfaction in the ranks.

It's reasonable to assume that when Reina made his 'Benitez is best' statement, he knew Rodgers was going to be appointed. Indeed, Steven Gerrard stated the following a couple of days after the Rodgers announcement was made:

"I can go on record and guarantee he was first choice. I've been kept in the loop all along by the board and the owners"

If Gerrard knew what was going on, then Reina almost certainly would've known, yet he still decided to make his ill-advised and incredibly undermining Benitez statement.

As regular readers will know, I am not a fan of Reina, or indeed any player who regularly displays their lack of loyalty in public. Yes, he made a statement of support 7 days later (!), but his initial reaction is the one that counts.

I am sure Rodgers has taken note of Reina's position, and it would come as no surprise to me if he signed a new goalkeeper over the summer, and according to Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, Rodgers could be about to make a move for Swansea 'keeper Michel Vorm.

The report in Voetball International states that Vorm is interested in following Rodgers to Liverpool, and I personally would love for such a deal to go through. Vorm is a fantastic goalkeeper with great potential, and he showed his worth for Swansea all last season.

Vorm arrived at Swansea from FC Utrecht, and according to General Manager Wilco van Schaik, Utrecht would receive a cut of any future transfer deal. He said:

"We have agreed to a percentage of sales by Michel [Vorm]; The percentage would be around thirty percent".

According to Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins, Rodgers is barred from signing any Swans players for the next 12 months, but the fine details of the deal have not been made public. There are always loopholes, and if Vorm was to put in a transfer request, I don't see how Swansea could stop him leaving.

Reina is clearly unhappy with the appointment of Rodgers, so Liverpool should cut their losses, sell him to the highest bidder, and - if possible - replace him with Vorm, or some other promising goalkeeper.

Reina will then be free to sign for Benitez at whatever club he ends up at next.

Jaimie Kanwar

[RichC]

Jamie kuntwar I.e. drivel

[RedReet]

Idiot.